beta
I'm not sure I like the direction the story is going, having his "friends" be an extension of Nanba's security is just... wow. It adds a layer of darkness that looms over the entire series, and theres just something sick about them tugging Jyugo in a certain direction.
Especially, since the recent arcs was about Jyugo becoming more independent and making more choices for himself. His friends were instrumental in that, only in reality for them to encouraging him to make decisions that benefits Hiro and by extension them as well. I know that they're doing this to help him, and that they do care for him.
But they're restricting his freedom of choice, which is just fucked when you consider. That very early on in the series, they all had a talk about never wanting to leave the prison with Jyugo calling it his home because he was "free"—free with them. Only for that freedom and friendship to be another prison.
It also means that this whole cat and mouse thing with Hajime was an act, because Hajime is Hiro's successor and the gang never had the intentions of helping Jyugo escape. It was all an act to keep Jyugo stimulated and entertained.
I was already spoiled into knowing Jyugo joins the man with the scar, and now I know why.