THE MONEY OF SOUL AND POSSIBILITY CONTROL

Plot
The Japanese government was rescued from the brink of financial collapse by the Sovereign Wealth Fund. For its citizens however life has not improved and unemployment, crime, suicide, and despair are rampant. Kimimaro, raised by his maternal aunt after the disappearance of his father and the death of his mother, is a scholarship student whose only dream is to live a stable, ordinary life. One day he meets a man who offers him a large sum of money if he will allow his “future” to be held as collateral. From then on his fate is radically altered as he’s drawn into a mysterious realm known as “The Financial District”, where he must compete in weekly tournaments called “deals” in order to keep his money and avoid losing his future.

Kimimaro Yoga (余賀 公磨, Yoga Kimimaro^?)Voiced by: Kōki UchiyamaA 19 year old second year university student who studies economics. He seeks to just have enough money to have a normal life with a home, wife, and children, until he is roped into the Financial District and becomes one of its Entrés (short for Entrepreneurs). He is then scouted by Souichirou to join the Starling Guild, as his disinterest in money interests him, and that Souichirou sees his younger self in Kimimaro. He is trying to make sense of the circumstances behind his father’s bankruptcy in the Financial District and subsequent suicide, and also trying to win but not hurt others as much as possible. It is unknown as to why Souichirou wants to groom him. Several people have noted that Mashu being a very powerful Asset, is a blessing for Kimimaro as she is the reason why he is still able to survive in the game. In episode 10, Yoga gains Jennifer’s asset, George. and a black card that is able to either begin or stop the process of printing excess Midas money. The other black card belongs to Mikuni, setting up the final duel of the series on an even playing field in which neither character is truly right or wrong.

Souichirou Mikuni (三國 壮一郎, Mikuni Sōichirō^?)Voiced by: Daisuke HosomiA powerful Entré whose goal is to own Tokyo’s Financial District, Souichirou controls three Assets and holds strong influence over the Japanese Government, the whole of Japan’s finance market, and takes an interest in Kimimaro’s potential. It is said he used to be very similar to Kimimaro, having tried to save Q in his first Deal as well. The founder of the Starling Guild, he aims to control his Deals to win by small margins so that his victories do not affect reality. Born into a wealthy family, Souichiro was a rebel looking to establish himself in the music business on his own; the band broke up just before landing a major record deal, and Souichiro chose to become a personal assistant to his father, and care for his terminally ill sister Takako. Soon afterwards, the elder Mikuni’s corporation starts to crumble as a result of the financial crisis. His father chose to pump all his money into the company so as to save it, denying Takako the funding required to travel and undergo a rare medical procedure unavailable in Japan. Swearing vengeance on his father after Takako falls into a coma, Souichirou bought out his father’s company with the money he earned from his first victory in the Financial District, to take away what the elder Mikuni considered everything.

Masakaki (真坂木^?)Voiced by: Takahiro SakuraiA mysterious man from the Financial District, with a perpetual leer and a top hat who invites people to become Entrés. Masakaki also conducts administrative functions in the Financial District, expelling bankrupt Entrés and dispensing advice. Each Financial District has it’s own Masakaki, each dressed in different colors.He is also modeled after the creator or head of the Financial District in episode 11 as he is similar in appearance to Masakaki except to his attire of clothes.

Terminology

Financial District (金融街, Kin’yūgai^?)

An alternate reality where Entres make transactions using Midas Money. Once a week, each Entre is summoned to take part into a Deal, but other sources of income include gambling on the outcome of another person’s Deal, or information exchange. It is said that there is a Financial District at each of the world’s main economic centers, and when a district goes bankrupt, its respective center disappears, with negative impacts in reality at other countries whose economies had connections with said center. It can be shown that the collateral’s used for a persons future makes up the structures of the Financial District and can be the reason why it mirrors reality.

Entre (アントレ, Antore^?)

Short for Entrepreneur. These are people chosen to join the Midas Bank and participate in Deals in the Financial District. They are given large sums of money with their “future” as collateral. Entres who lose all of their money and become Bankrupt are banished from the Financial District. Since the “future” taken as collateral varies from person to person, so does the outcome of an Entre’s bankruptcy, with tragic consequences to them or their loved ones in reality.

Asset (アセット, Asetto^?)

A creature that fights alongside an Entre in Deals. They are said to represent the “future” that the Entre puts at stake when entering the Financial District. By wagering money, these Assets can attack their opponents. Their attacks are called “Flations”, and are categorized in three levels of power, “Micro”, “Mezzo” and “Macro”. Q alone possesses a special attack called “Cannibalization”. The combined value of all assets is represented in a huge display set atop the Financial District and can vary depending on the situation of the economy at the region it represents.

Deal (ディール, Dīru^?)

A battle between Entres and their Assets. Each Deal lasts 666 seconds (11 minutes, 6 seconds), with hits and damage affecting how much money is gained or lost. Dealers use their money to summon their Assets’ attacks, or perform “Direct” attacks by creating an energy blade to confront their enemies by themselves. Each Entre is obliged to take part on a Deal once per week but can avoid taking part on one by paying half of his/her fortune.

Midas Money (ミダスマネー, Midasu Manē^?)

A type of money used in the Financial District that has entered the flow of money in reality. Only people chosen as Entres have the ability to differentiate Midas Money, shown to them as black notes, from ordinary cash. It is unknown what effect it has on the real world and there is also much concern about what could happen with the world’s economy if Midas Money’s flow into it continues or even if one day it suddenly stops. Special Entres with a darkness card can relenquish a part or even all of their “future” to generate more Midas Money.