High Rise Invasion, Episode 3: I’m Sorry, Mayuko Nise.

Yuri calls her brother Rika on Mayuko’s phone. Rika faces a strong Mask, who reveals secrets about High Rise Hell.

Episode 3 – “I’m Sorry, Mayuko Nise.”

Hmm.

High Rise Invasion made a great scene out of Yuri reconnecting with her older brother Rika when she borrowed Mayuko’s cell phone. For the first two episodes, we saw Yuri show extreme deference and a strong attachment to Rika, whom she admires so much. His shocking order for her to kill her new ally Mayuko, and the resulting fake out scene, put that brother complex to the test. She passed! And not just Rika’s test to see whether Yuri had already fallen into despair. Yuri is a strong character who doesn’t take guff from her older brother, no matter how much it looks like she’d do anything for him. She’s her own person. She just loves her onii-chan very much.

There were many jokes at Yuri’s expense using Mayuko’s blushing face. High Rise Invasion’s irreverent tone caught its stride this episode now that the story can leave all the world parameter building behind. It was also time to officially introduce Rika and stop referring to him as “onii-chan.” The first thing he does is make dark jokes on the phone with his sister. These two are great. Plus, that guy also blushes! Those little gags keep High Rise Invasion from tipping over into a psychological torture suspense drama and remain in the teen popcorn horror-thriller category. The copious amount of blood splashing around also helps. That’s funny violence and gore, not serious gore.

One thing I hope High Rise Invasion addresses is how time works inside High Rise Hell. It looks like Rika has been in there a long time, yet Yuri didn’t act like he’s been missing from home during that time. Is High Rise Hell one of those closed alternate dimensions where people return to the exact place and time as they were in the real world when they leave it? That leads to other questions about how to truly leave High Rise Hell, and who the Command allows to leave, but we’re getting answers from this whole concept of creating God. Will God be a cute, busty girl in white thigh highs? Could be!

Heh.

Yuri and Mayuko shake hands to cement their bond. Yuri is conscientious in destroying the masks they found. Yuri stomps! Yuri smashes! Mayuko blushes. She’s already fallen in love. High Rise Invasion’s episode title foreshadows a rift in the brand-new power couple. Mayuko has a phone! Yuri is orgasmic. Mayuko blushes at Yuri holding her hands!

Back to Sniper Mask. His broken mask lets him remember something about Yuri, her brother, and something he needs to do. That’s vague. Haha! Yuri’s total victory pose when she connects with Onii-chan. She’s so relieved. Mayuko thinks they must be close. She’s perceptive.

Yuri catches her brother up on what’s happened to her during High Rise Invasion so far. And her plans? Gather allies, seize the helicopter, and escape. Onii-chan claims he knows where Yuri is based on the helicopter and sunset information. He can come to her, but she needs to do one thing first. Kill Mayuko Nise. Uh… after imagining shooting Mayuko in the face, how about no, Onii-chan? There’s the episode title. What a fake out. Whew. I’m glad to know Onii-chan isn’t that ruthless, but that was a terrible way to test his little sister’s resolve. Yuri is mad at him, saying he has a twisted personality. The sibling duo of High Rise Invasion makes a wonderful team.

Yuri is such a nice girl! She hugs Mayuko super tight for imagining “something strange.” Mayuko has questions but likes the attention. She’s a tsundere, though, so she can’t say that out loud. Onii-chan took out many Masks at his location. Funny. Yuri takes the rope bridge with two hands, while Mayuko casually strolls along behind her. Mayuko likes what she sees! I do too!

High Rise Invasion finally tells us who Onii-chan is. Sledgehammer Man. He has a complex about his name “Rika,” which doesn’t sound manly to his ear. Yuri is so proud though, because the kanji for his name uses “reason” and “fire” (理火). Rika is relentless with his sledgehammer. Making sure the Masks thoroughly follow their Command to die. Yuri’s commentary about how nice her brother is while he turns a dude’s head into paste is hilarious. High Rise Invasion gives us his past highlights. Rika has a flashback where he learned the hard way about how Masks work even when they’re not wearing their masks. Sniper Mask flashed back to his meeting with Rika.

Rika has buddies. The small helmet kid sounds just like Shinji-kun from Evangelion (checks cast information… ha!) Shinji(!) Okihara has the voice actor Megumi Ogata, who has voiced such characters as Makoto Naegi from Danganronpa, Yuugi Mutou from YuGiOh, and Shinji Ikari from Evangelion. Well, no offense to Helmet Kid, but I hate him already. Just kidding!

Friendly reunion over in an instant. High Rise Invasion never lets up. Uh, there’s blood on the heavy metal ball. It hit somebody! Wow, cartoon violence is bad, kids. Baseball Pitcher Mask throws cannonballs. Or shotputs? Do Masks have supernatural powers? We saw Maid Mask leap between buildings in the first episode, so it’s a possibility. Whoa. Baseball Mask’s throw buzzed Rika’s ear. Watch out, Baka Shinji! Uh, I mean, Okihara. That emergency exit is a trap! Huh? Rika has a sledgehammer, so why should he care about a locked doorhandle? Just smash that thing. Rika recognized that Masks have Commands, but they also have personalities, so why not capitalize on that? That’s a promising idea, but this pitcher obviously likes throwing beanballs.

Hahaha! Rika has funny moments in High Rise Invasion, just like his sister. He’s self-conscious about role playing. Ah. Baseball Mask threw a strike. Rika’s gamble paid off. Ooh, good teamwork. Okihara uses his gun to shoot out lights instead of the enemy. Odd. It was more important for Rika to smash the dude’s mask. All right, now’s the time to pay attention. Baseball Mask (without a mask) refers to “levels” and becoming the “God of this realm.” Is High Rise Hell supposed to be High Rise Heaven? And Baka Shinji ends that conversation. Rika has questions.

O ho. There was someone behind that locked door. Dealer Mask has a frowny mask like that Soldier Mask shooting from the helicopter in High Rise Invasion’s last episode. The Masks have “levels” too. She recommends a path to becoming God — “Be cautious.” Does Sniper Mask know about this High Rise Heaven project? He remembers that his real self is afraid of heights. Uh oh. Rika thinks Sniper Mask is dead because Yuri said so. Plot point! He agrees with Yuri about destroying High Rise Hell because it pisses her off. Do it!

Mayuko loves catching glimpses of Yuri. Me too! Yuri is girly, worrying about using a bush as a toilet. Sniper Mask hates the mask, but he can’t help following the Commands. Whoa. Suddenly a wild, hmm, a mild high school girl appears. Talk, fight, run? Of course, we’ll talk. More High Rise Invasion plot development. The Commands say no making a God candidate despair. The Command voice became quite talkative. Sniper Mask now knows High School Hell is a facility to create God. Well, the more you know. Does this mean he leveled up too, like that Baseball Mask did? My jaw dropped. The Command voice calls Masks “Angels.” Huuuuuh. Mild High School Girl cares. She cares about Angels.

The complete season of High Rise Invasion streams on Netflix.