Kunio Kariya (刈谷 国雄, Kariya Kunio) is a minor character in Alice in Borderland, who participates in the Jack of Hearts game, "Solitary Confinement".
Appearance[]
Kariya is a bald middle-aged man with a short beard and mustache. He is often depicted smoking a cigarette.
Personality[]
Kariya is a calm and collected individual who quickly finds an ally and stays with him until the end, ready to defend him if necessary.
History[]
When Kariya reveals that he used to work in nightlife entertainment, which is reflected in his manner of speech, the manga page includes a small infobox stating his occupation as a snack bar owner.
Story []
Kariya ends up paired with Eiji Mitsurugi, who explains the logic behind Masaki Aizen's actions and manipulation techniques. Then Mitsurugi suddenly claims to be the Jack of Hearts, which startles Kariya, but it turns out to be a small test to check his reaction, as the shock confirms that Kariya himself is not the enemy. Mitsurugi proposes that they remain a trustworthy duo until the end, and Kariya agrees, lighting a cigarette and speaking in an effeminate tone. He remarks that not everything can be learned simply by observing someone, then introduces himself and agrees to trust Mitsurugi.
During Round 2, Kariya asks for Mitsurugi's assessment of the situation and is impressed by his response. After the third round, Kariya notices that Aizen is the only one without a partner who is still alive and remains suspicious of him. By Round 6, only fourteen survivors remain, and Kariya is shocked to learn that someone has killed a teammate.
During Round 7, Kariya agrees to reveal Aizen's symbol and deceives him, causing his death. As the eighth round begins, Kariya and Mitsurugi decide to carry out their plan of attack and team up with Ippei Oki and Kassai Rokudo, claiming to be stepping down from the game. Kariya points out that since more than half a year's worth of food was prepared in the game venue, it is highly likely that their visas do not expire for the duration of the game. Their plan helps them survive Round 8.
As Round 9 begins, Oki Yaba locks Mitsurugi in his cell, and Kariya prepares to fight him. However, Kotoko Shiga shields Yaba while holding a knife and threatens to stop anyone who comes near. As Yaba reminds her not to kill anyone, referring to the incident with Akifumi Seto, Kariya realizes that Yaba is preventing him from entering the cell, which is technically a rule violation. He insists on getting in, and Yaba complies and opens the door. However, he then pushes Kariya inside and shuts it, despite Kariya's screams. Sunato Banda points out that one of the rules states that no more than one person may occupy a locked cell, which means both Kariya and Mitsurugi will be eliminated by the end of the round. They try to break free, but even together they cannot overpower Yaba, who is holding the door.
With five minutes remaining, the doors are locked, and the two of them accept their inevitable demise. Mitsurugi asks why Kariya killed Aizen instead of trying to save him, and Kariya admits that he simply wanted to survive, even if it meant defeating others. In their final moments, Kariya wonders whether Mitsurugi has identified the Jack of Hearts and learns that it is Enji Matsushita.
Games Played[]
Etymology[]
- The forename Kunio consists of the kanji "国" (kuni) (country, nation) and "雄" (o) (male, masculine).
- The surname Kariya is a combination of the kanji "刈" (kari) (mow, reap, harvest) and "谷" (ya) (valley, ravine).