Ryuko Matoi

Origin

Unknown to Ryuko for most of her life, she is the second-born daughter of Soichiro and Ragyo Kiryuin. When their experiments on her older sister failed, they then attempted to bond Life Fibers to her almost immediately after birth. She was thought to have died in the lab, but she was secretly raised by Isshin Matoi, who was actually a disguised Soichiro.

She was sent to a boarding school at a young age and rarely saw her father, Isshin. One day when she returned home to respond to a letter he had sent, she found Isshin on the verge of death. Ryuko only caught a glimpse of the female attacker, and Isshin passed on the Red Scissor Blade that he had been stabbed with. Bent on finding this mysterious woman, Ryuko sets out in search of the owner of the other half of the Scissor Blade.

Appearance

Ryūko is a seventeen-year-old girl of medium height and mid-length dark-blue tinted hair with a single left-swept red highlight on her bangs. Her blue eyes have peculiar gear-like pupils with eight grooves around the edges. Her outfit at the start of the series is a simple white shirt with a red ribbon tie, a black miniskirt, white sneakers, and a black & white jacket with rolled-up sleeves. During her childhood, she wore a red collared shirt with a white skirt and white shoes.

Her clothing is later replaced by Senketsu, a living navy blue sailor uniform. Her shirt (Senketsu's upper jaw) is a crop top with mid-length sleeves that bares her midriff. Her sailor-style collar with red stripes is tied by a multicolored scarf that also serves as Senketsu's left "eye." Senketsu's right eye is covered by a black "eyepatch" with an X-shaped scratch over it (perhaps emulating her father's right eyepatch). Her skirt (Senketsu's lower jaw) is held up by suspenders attached to a belt. Aikurō Mikisugi later provides her with a Seki Tekkō, a red, finger-less, left-handed glove with a built-in syringe designed for Ryūko to conveniently draw blood and feed it to Senketsu.

Ryūko's appearance changes further when using Life Fiber Synchronize with Senketsu. Her hair becomes even more feathery and is accented with vibrant red undertones and horn-like clips. Senketsu himself also undergoes a significant change in appearance after Synchronization; his "eyes" extend into wing-shaped crests jutting out from Ryūko's shoulders and his upper and lower parts transform into a black, skimpy suit of armor with red stripes. The top section of the armor covers Ryūko's neck, lower jaw, arms, and upper breasts, and possesses a red, triangular ventilation grill centered on Ryūko's upper back. The top armor piece is connected to her skirt by three red garter belts/suspenders (two in front, one in back), leaving everything between the underside of her breasts and her waist exposed. Her legs are also covered with thigh-height, high-heeled boots.

When Ryūko wears Senketsu Kisaragi, Senketsu's eyepatch is broken, revealing his hidden eye, his color scheme changes to reddish-orange and yellow, the headpiece becomes more elaborate like a rabbit's ears, yellow energy bands form a skirt that looks like jaws around Ryūko's waist and her hair becomes blond.

Personality

Ryūko has a relatively simple personality: fierce and stubborn. She fears little, which is demonstrated when she directly and disrespectfully addresses Satsuki Kiryūin, demanding that her questions be answered, and when she fights Takaharu Fukuroda even though she is clearly overpowered. Later on, she is shown to be quite embarrassed when she is forced to fight in Senketsu's very revealing alternate form, though she overcomes her embarrassment in Episode 3 showing that while she is not afraid of fighting to her death, she is somewhat self-conscious.

Sometimes she can be shown calm, polite, content, and warmly flattered. This is mostly seen when eating with the Mankanshoku family and Episode 7. She admires the way Mako's mother makes food and has kind manners. She later is seen telling Senketsu how fun dinner was with them because of how her mother died when she was young and her dad sent her to a boarding school, never knowing how a family dinner was like. Her flattery is highlighted in Episode 1 when Mataro tried to steal Ryuko's wallet and mug her, she was cool with the intention of fighting, criticizing how street punking doesn't work for him and how goofy his gang was. After defeating them, she lets it slide by not fighting people who can't fight back. This is also seen with most opponents she faces when she often states the obvious.

She shows fierce determination in finding her father's killer. Her stubbornness was taken up to ridiculous levels when she managed to free herself from Ragyō's mind control by merely punching herself. This same episode, however, has one of few demonstrations of shock on her part, when Ragyō defeats Satsuki, rips out Ryūko's heart and reveals to be her mother.

When Ryūko is brainwashed after being forced to put on Junketsu by Ragyō, her personality changes to be wild and sadistic, destroying everything around her without reason. After she is freed she goes back to her usual personality but is somewhat calmer and more mature. She also makes peace with Satsuki and is able to fight with her as a comrade, but is still having trouble recognizing her as her sister. Although, after Satsuki catches her when she is falling back to earth and welcomes her home warmly, Ryūko replies by calling her "sis."

Relationships

Senketsu

At first, Ryūko was embarrassed to wear Senketsu due to the rather revealing appearance of his transformed state. However, she understands later on that the only way to be able to use Senketsu to his full potential is to wear him proudly and be open to him. Ryūko cares for Senketsu and considers him a dear friend, even to the point of saying that if Senketsu were to be taken from her they would have to pry him from her cold dead fingers. She was also very concerned when Senketsu was being washed very roughly by Mako's mother. Originally, she decided never to wear Senketsu anymore because she feels that she is a Life Fibers monster herself. After coming to her senses and separating herself from Junketsu, she has rekindled her bond with Senketsu.

Aikurō Mikisugi

While Ryūko does not yet seem to trust him completely, Aikurō seems determined to help her uncover the truth behind her father's murder. He is also constantly watching her fight from behind the scenes, always on high alert should something go wrong. He is shown to be especially concerned about Senketsu's fast evolution. When in Ryūko's presence, he has a tendency to show off his well-built body. This flusters her and makes her uncomfortable. Aikuro has notably shown hesitation in any case of disposing of Ryūko as suggested by Tsumugu Kinagase, even when Ryūko lost control and was consumed by her Kamui, hesitating in shooting her and alerting her berserk form to his presence.

Mako Mankanshoku

After Ryūko enrolled in the academy, Mako quickly became attached to her. At first, Ryūko felt slightly uncomfortable by Mako's excessive attachment, but with time the two grew to care a lot for each other and quickly became best friends. Mako is always cheering for Ryūko during her fights, and, as Senketsu cleverly noted, is the key to get Ryūko to relax. Prior to Ryūko's final battle, Mako asks her on a date, and Ryūko is seen holding the promise as motivation to keep fighting. They are later seen going on that very date with Satsuki as a company as the credits roll.

Satsuki Kiryūin

Ryūko and Satsuki had a strong mutual dislike initially, mostly due to Satsuki withholding information about her father's murder. While they seem to respect each other a bit more after their fight in Osaka in episode 16, her hatred for Satsuki is challenged near the end of episode 17, when Satsuki reveals her coup d'etat behind her mother's back in order to take revenge for her father and baby sister, thought to have been disposed of after a failed attempt to fuse her with Life Fibers. When it is revealed that Ryūko is actually that sister but had actually survived and successfully fused with Life Fibers, by episode 22, Ryūko and Satsuki have come to good terms with each other and team up to defeat Ragyō and the original Life Fiber. Eventually, Ryūko and Satsuki fully accept each other as sisters and are shown to love each other, much to the confusion and heartwarming of the rest of the cast.

Nui Harime

Ryūko has a strong hatred towards Nui, especially due to her being the killer of her father. Ryūko was especially angry to see her, which eventually causes her blood to boil so much that she made Senketsu go Berserk. In Episode 13, however, Ryūko instead fears seeing Nui again due to her fear of going into another rampage, which might lead to her death. In Episode 22, after being released from being brainwashed, Ryūko cuts off Nui's arms and absorbs its Life Fibers, which leads to Nui losing her cutesy demeanor and swearing revenge. In addition, by this point, her hatred toward Nui had cooled into more of an annoyance, which maddens Nui even more as she had previously thrived on Ryūko's hatred of her and makes her hateful toward Ryūko now.

Ragyō Kiryūin

Head of the Revocs Corporation and Satsuki's mother. When they finally meet in Episode 17, Ryūko scorns her for her self boasting. This disdain, however, turns into seething rage when she learns not only that Ragyō is her mother, but that she has been fused with Life Fibers as a baby at her very hands. After Ragyō's defeat, though, Ryūko does show some consideration for her and attempts to get her to surrender peacefully but Ragyō chooses to pull out her own heart and would rather commit suicide instead of returning to Earth with Ryūko.

Junketsu

In Episode 20, Ryūko fell victim to Ragyō's trap and was "worn" by Junketsu, Satsuki's former Kamui. While being worn by Junketsu, Ryūko's personality underwent a complete reversal: she became battle-crazed and bloodthirsty, turning against her own allies. Additionally, her strength and speed increased dramatically. After the mental control was dispelled, Ryūko felt furious and disgusted for having been forced to wear Junketsu, promptly and forcibly tearing it off.

Creation

Ryuko Matoi (纏 流子, Matoi Ryūko) is the protagonist of the Kill la Kill anime series that was produced by Trigger. It's directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by Kazuki Nakashima. The character design was done by Sushio.

A tie-in manga series illustrated by Ryou Akizuki began on October 4, 2013 in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine.

Major Story Arcs

Honnouji Academy

Ryuko's search for answers led her to Honnouji Academy, and the student council president, Satsuki Kiryuin, recognized the Scissor Blade. Although, Ryuko failed to attack when she was assaulted by Takaharu Fukuroda, the Boxing Club captain, and his Goku Uniform. She ran back to the ruins of her home and fell through a trap door, into a large room. In this room she was attacked by a living sailor uniform that seemed to know her father. She named it Senketsu, and together they returned to Honnouji Academy to defeat the boxing captain, who had taken Mako Mankanshoku hostage. After her victory, she had to flee due to blood loss from activating Senketsu.

A few days after defeating the Tennis Club captain, Satsuki appeared to challenge Ryuko and wearing Junketsu, her own Kamui. Satsuki was now grossly outclassing Ryuko but with no idea why. It wasn't until she understood that it was her hesitation about Senketsu transformed state that she was unconsciously rejecting him. When she finally allowed herself to fuse with Senketsu, the battle became an even and devastating conflict. Though ending in a draw, Satsuki challenged Ryuko to defeat all the heads of the student council. If she could, Ryuko was promised the answers that she was after.

After several victories, Ryuko found herself being attacked by a strange man who was after Senketsu. Tsumugu Kinagase tried to take her Kamui from her, but Senketsu went so far as to try shielding her by sacrificing himself. Ultimately, Tsumugu refused to separate them after he realized how close the two have become. Uzu Sanageyama, one of Satsuki's Elite Four, openly challenged Ryuko. She won the battle and destroyed his Goku Uniform, but he returned with a new one for a rematch and had his eyes sewn shut. His senses had so improved, Ryuko was unable to win and ran from the battle.

Not long after, Ryuko tried forming the Fighting Club and tossed off all the administrating duties to Mako. It created a rift between Ryuko and Mako, as Mako's duties was providing a better quality of life for her family. However, it was making them all cold and greedy. It peaked when Satsuki gave Mako and Two-Star Uniform to fight Ryuko. As a test of their friendship, Ryuko allowed Mako to strike without fighting back, and eventually Mako relented then gave up her uniform and status for their friendship.

First Annual Naturals Election

In the coming days, Honnouji Academy was thrown into chaos as Satsuki initiated the First Annual Naturals Election. This served as Ryuko's best opportunity, and she was able to challenge all of the Elite Four one at a time in a tournament setting. With each battle, Ryuko found new and inventive ways of using and evolving Senketsu's abilities. First was Ira Gamagoori, Houka Inumuta, then Nonon Jakuzure. The next rematch with Sanageyama was stopped before it could start by a strange young girl named Nui Harime, who destroyed Sanageyama's Goku Uniform by pulling a single thread. Most shocking of all, she presented the second Scissor Blade and admitted to being her father's killer.

Ryuko's rage completely took her over as she faced her father's remorseless killer, and despite Senketsu's warning was completely taken over. She lost her mind and transformed into a monster that was after Nui or anyone who got in her way. Satsuki attempted to stop her rampage, much of Honnouji Academy was destroyed, and Satsuki resigned herself to finish Ryuko until she was tackled by Mako, who was finally able to reach her. Some days later, Ryuko went to see Satsuki to find Nui. Instead, Satsuki took responsibility for sending Nui after her father for the Rending Scissors and his kamui. To Ryuko's surprise, she even thanked her. Her battles with the Elite Four provided the data she needed to improve her Goku Uniforms for completion of her plot.

Tri-City School Raid Trip

Ryuko struggled with going out of control again with Senketsu until she was inspired to rescue Nagita, but he turned out to be Nui in disguise. Her hesitation have Nui the advantage, and she shredded Senketsu to pieces. When she woke up, she learned from Aikuro what became of the shards of Senketsu, and he returned the Senketsu scarf to her. After rescuing Mako and reclaiming the Kamui pieces in Osaka, she made her way to get the Seki Tekko, that was being held by Satsuki. After ripping the last piece from Satsuki, the two had an intense battle across Osaka. It took a desperation move, but she blinded Satsuki with blood to get her sword from her. The two were in a tense stand-off till Satsuki agreed to stand down. However, Nonon had already found and destroyed the Nudist Beach's underground base.

With the battle over, Aikuro agreed to take her to the remains of their base and finally explain to her all that he knew about this conflict. He told her that Isshin was the Nudist beach founder after leaving Ragyo's cooperation, and that Life Fibers are part of an alien species that were the cause of humanities evolution. She didn't like the idea of using Senketsu to kill his own kind. While flattered by her anger on his behalf, he still wanted to fight with Ryuko.

Cultural & Sports Grand Festival

Not long after, they discovered that Satsuki and Ragyo were putting their plan into motion. Aikuro, Tsumugu, and Mako joined them back to Honnouji Academy. However, as soon as they caught Ragyo's attention, Satsuki pierced her mother through the back and was declaring open revolt. In the following battle, Ryuko was possessed by Ragyo's Mind Stitching to fight Satsuki, but she managed to will herself free. Nui then appeared to try and provoke Ryuko and admitted that Satsuki lied about taking responsibility for Isshin's death. This time, Ryuko outclassed Nui in speed and power, but she was unable to defeat her when everyone was distracted by Ragyo's victory over Satsuki and stole Junketsu from her. Ragyo then proceeded to rip Ryuko's heart from her chest to see it was laced with Life Fibers. Ryuko was the daughter that Ragyo and Satsuki both thought to have died in the experiments.

Summer Break

Ryuko was rendered unconscious in the aftermath of Satsuki attempting to kill Ragyo by blowing up Ragyo stadium. Senketsu had dragged her out to the care of Aikuro. She was unconscious for nearly a month in Nudist beach underground base until she was awoken by the song of the COVERS. She however awoke in a rage to the discovery of her true origins. She saw herself as a monster and refused to ever wear Senketsu again, and she fell for Ragyo's enticement to return to Honnouji Academy. She threatened to kill anyone who tried to top her.

Upon arriving, she was met by Nui. After stabbing Nui through the chest, she revealed that she too was a child of Ragyo but grew in a womb of Life Fibers. This was all part of Ragyo's trap, and Junketsu was forced onto her. Her mind and body were now under the control of the Life Fibers, and she was sent to retrieve the recently rescued Satsuki on the Nudist Beach ship, the Naked Sol.

On the Naked Sol, she was met by Satsuki wearing Senketsu. Ryuko was on the defensive in their fight until she realized the opening between each of Satsuki's transformation. However, Satsuki proved to be the distraction so her Elite Four could capture Ryuko in a trap to remove Junketsu. Yet this would also fail since Junketsu had been fused with the Life Fibers in her own body. Nui and Ryuko were nearly ready to defeat Satsuki and Nudist beach until Satsuki broke the armor of Junketsu enough so Mako could force Senketsu into the wound. Together they were able to give Ryuko enough control to rip Junketsu from her body at risk of her own life. Now free, she was reunited with Senketsu, claimed both halves of the Scissor Blades from Nui, and sliced off both of her arms..Nui was rescued by Rei Hououmaru, and Ryuko was prevented from chasing after her, due to the injuries she had already suffered.

Life Fiber Rebellion

After settling their grudges and forming a strategy, Ryuko and Satsuki teamed up to face their mother atop the Original Life Fiber that was heading to Honnouji Academy. When Ragyo proved too powerful to face directly, Ryuko planned to fake her death and use that time to break into the core of the original Life Fibers. With a little help of Mako and the Naked Sol, Ryuko was able to destroy the core.

With Ragyo still to be defeated, Ryuko, Satsuki, Mako, the Elite Four, Nudist Beach, and the rescued Honnouji Academy Students rushed into their school to take it back. Although, Ragyo was there to greet them wearing Shinra-Koketsu, the Kamui Nui had just completed. It had the power to freeze and depower all of the other Kamui and Goku Uniforms. Ryuko tried fighting without Senketsu but was overpowered by Ragyo. She was rescued when Senketsu broke free of Shinra-Koketsu's control and broke its spell that repressed everyone's power. Ryuko and Satsuki defeated their mother together using the Scissor Blades, but Nui cut off her own head on Ragyo's command, merged with the Original Life Fiber, and then fused with Shira-Koketsu. Ragyo then ejected into space to activate the Life Fibers across the globe directly at her satellite.

With no other options, Ryuko absorbed all of the Life Fibers from Junketsu and the Goku Uniforms to create Senkestu-Kisaragi and follow Ragyo. In their battle, Ryuko reformed the Rending Scissors and took advantage of her regenerative abilities. She purposefully took the brunt of Ragyo's attack to maximize her and Senketsu's absorption ability to take over the Absolute Submission field of Shira-Koketsu. She took that power to free humanity from Life Fiber's control. She offered Ragyo to return peacefully, but her mother ended her own life. Already falling apart from the power he absorbed, Senketsu pulled Ryuko back to Earth and shielded her on reentry. He was destroyed as he burned up completely, and Ryuko was saved when she was caught by Satsuki and everyone at Honnouji Academy.

Graduation from Ragyo

A few weeks later, everyone and Honnouji Academy was ready for graduation, but Ryuko noticed something wrong with Satsuki. At the graduation ceremony, a fake Satsuki and Elite Four attacked with the power of Life Fibers. They were created by Rei Hououmaru, who had captured the Mako and the real Satsuki. She activated the Honnouji Last Stitch Defense System, which turned the school into a giant robot. Ryuko fought as best she could without any weapons, but it was all too much. As she was falling, the Rending Scissors fell from space to her and were guided by the spirit of Senketsu. She grew the Scissor Blades to an enormous size to crush the Last Stitch Defense machine and free Satsuki and Mako.

With Honnouji Academy and the island sinking, Ryuko left with Mako and her family and agreed to meet with Satsuki again soon. The Scissor Blades were left on the sinking island.

Anime Synopsis

Episode 1

Ryūko's search for her father's killer brings her to Honnō City, where she enrolls in its academy as a transfer student. On her way to the school she encounters Mako Mankanshoku, who she ends up sitting next to in class. Mako informs Ryūko of the Student Council that rules the academy under its president, Satsuki Kiryūin. She immediately confronts Satsuki, showing her the red Scissor Blade used to kill her father, and is convinced by Satsuki's surprised reaction that she knows something about it. Ryūko is intercepted by council member Takaharu Fukuroda, who overwhelms her with the power of his Two-Star Goku Uniform.

Beaten and faced with the confiscation of her Scissor Blade, Ryūko flees to her old home near the city. As she laments her weakness, Ryūko is dropped down a trapdoor by her homeroom teacher Aikurō Mikisugi, who had followed her against her knowledge. She lands in a large basement atop a massive pile of clothes, the blood from her reopened wound seeping into it and awakening a Kamui—a living sailor uniform—created by her father. The Kamui springs to life and forcefully puts itself on her, craving more of her blood. Ryūko discovers that the uniform possesses immense power, and names it Senketsu.

Imbued with Senketsu's power, Ryūko returns to Honnōji Academy and battles Takaharu again in a boxing match, this time overcoming his Goku Uniform powers with Senketsu's indestructible armored form, and destroying his uniform with her Scissor Blade. She reveals to Satsuki that both her outfit and weapon are keepsakes from her father, and once more demands Satsuki to reveal what she knows. However, she is fatigued from her battle and retreats.

Episode 2

Ryūko retreated and collapsed when she stepped off the tram heading down the tall mountain. When she awoke, she found herself in the house of the Mankanshoku family and reluctantly had dinner with them that consisted of questionable food. Ryūko reminisced how she first met the talking Kamui uniform and partnered with it after naming it Senketsu as in “Fresh Blood”.

Ryūko came to school along with Mako and is invited to stay with the Mankanshoku family. They both found themselves under fire by the tennis club and its newly two-star Goku Uniformed captain, Omiko. Ryūko tried to fight back but found herself in trouble when she failed to awaken Senketsu. She escapes by falling into the sewers and by clinging onto her guitar case as she drifted along with the current.

Ryūko awoke to find herself in the presence of her homeroom teacher, who does not seem to be what he appeared. He extracted some of her blood with a needle, despite her excessive refusal, and showed her that Senketsu needed to be in contact with her blood to be fully utilized. Ryūko wanted answers from him but she first had to fight Omiko in a rematch and again rescue Mako.

After Ryūko saved Mako, who was being barraged by countless tennis balls, Ryūko somehow found herself fighting against Omiko in a tennis match, all due to some twisted logic of Satsuki’s minions, Uzu Sanageyama. She was able to win by using her scissor blade as a tennis racket, and with sheer force, she blasted Omiko away, stripping Omiko of her Goku Uniform in the process. Afterward, Ryūko was forced to fight Satsuki and was nearly dominated by her skill with the blade. Ryūko was alerted by Senketsu that she was about to pass out due to blood loss, so she escapes along with Mako in an improvised cover of steam.

Episode 3

While meeting with Mako, she discovered a note that was pinned to Mako’s back, it was from Aikurō and it stated where they can meet. Aikurō told her about a term called Life Fibers, and how Isshin Matoi and the Kiryūin clan were the only two that knew of its full capability. She learned that Aikurō used to work as an assistant for Isshin and had infiltrated Honnōji Academy to learn more. She also learned that the Kamui’s awakened form was apparently the idea of Isshin, her father.

After spending another night at the Mankanshoku’s house, Ryūko went to school with Mako and found Satsuki waiting for her. Ryūko asked Mako to step aside for safety and readied herself to fight Satsuki, who revealed that she had her own Kamui, Junketsu, and had already mastered it. Ryūko fights Satsuki, but she is overwhelmed by her. To keep Ryūko from nearly losing consciousness, Senketsu reverted back to his dormant state to stop feasting on her blood. Before the victor was decided, Mako intervened and her speech made Ryūko finally understand the true meaning of wearing Senketsu. She finally accepted the revealing form, and now had better synchronization with Senketsu. With strength anew, Ryūko was able to fight Satsuki on the near-equal ground.

When the fight came to an end, Ryūko declared to Satsuki that she will tear down her ambitions, utterly destroy them, and then will have Satsuki tell her about her involvement with her father's murder. Satsuki accepted her claim and announced that from then on, Ryūko will be made the target of every club. Only when she defeats every opposing student in the school, will they once again fight one another, and if Ryūko wins that fight, only then will Satsuki reveal her involvement in the death of Isshin Matoi.

Episode 4

Ryūko has to participate in an annual school event called “No-Late Day”; where the students of Honnōji Academy have to go through 999 obstacles and get to class in time or risk getting expelled. During the event, she and Mako encounter a girl name Maiko Ogure, who supposedly was injured during one of the obstacle courses. They decide to take her along out of kindness; however, the girl betrays them near the end and steals Senketsu. Maiko reveals herself to be the Head of the Trap Department of the Disciplinary Committee, and she wanted Ryūko’s Kamui so she could usurp the control of the school from Satsuki. Maiko tries to attack them but her mobility is restricted by Senketsu and this allows Ryūko to beat her up and reclaim Senketsu. Afterward, Ryūko and Mako learn that they were tricked once again by Maiko’s “fake school” trap; they are able to make it to school on time by crashing into the classroom after commandeering a cable cart.

Episode 5

The episode starts with the arrival of a mysterious man with a red mohawk, who makes his way to the terrace of one of the school blocks, and positions himself with what appears to be a rifle, aiming through the window of the adjacent block. He targets Ryūko Matoi but is interrupted by the members of the gardening club who start a fight with him for trampling on their flowers. The scene then shifts, where it's shown that Ryūko faces the biology club's members who have taken Mako as a guinea pig for an unknown experiment. After defeating the members of the biology club, Ryūko scolds Mako for being careless, but suddenly Mako is shot with numerous needles, sending Ryūko in a panic. The attacker is Tsumugu Kinagase, who tells Ryūko that Mako is only unconscious and that she will feel energetic when she wakes up. He then proceeds to attack Ryūko and tells her to strip. Ryūko asks him if he belongs to a "Pervert club", but he tells her that he does not belong to any club and he stops Ryūko from transforming. Before he can finish Ryūko off, he is shot with a pin that pierces his hand, forcing him to retreat but not without warning Ryūko that he will fight her once again. The next day Ryūko and Tsumugu fight each other, but he overpowers Ryūko, even when she transforms. After a fierce battle Ryūko reverts to normal form due to exhaustion. Tsumugu then tells Ryūko that she should hand over the Kamui to him and that a Kamui is murderous parasites which kill their user but Ryūko blankly refuses to which he proceeds to kill her, but Senketsu telepathically threatens Tsumugu that if any harm shall befall Ryūko he will kill him, leaving Tsumugu surprised. Nonon Jakuzure arrives with a plan to capture Tsumugu, but Tsumugu uses a smoke bomb to escape taking Ryūko with him. He arrives at Aikurō's house and they talk a bit, while Ryūko thanks Senketsu for saving her tells him that he is her friend making him pleasantly surprised.

Episode 6

The next day Ryūko confronts Aikurō and demands to know how he is associated with the mohawk man who attacked her in the school. At first, Aikurō feigns innocence but after she shows him the picture of him and the man drinking he tells her that the person, Tsumugu Kinagase is a member of the Nudist Beach and that he was sent to fight Ryūko to test her abilities, but Ryūko does not believe his statements and leaves angrily. At the Honnōji Academy club research laboratory, a huge shipment of life-fiber arrives which is being used by sewing club president Shirō Iori to mass-produce Goku uniforms. Athletics club president Uzu Sanageyama requests Satsuki Kiryūin permission to fight Ryūko to which Satsuki says that he will pay a price for his failure in defeating Ryūko. He assures her that he has confidence in his superior eyesight. The next day Ryūko finds a notice from Uzu telling her that he plans to duel with her. Uzu uses his armor the Blade Regalia and his special ability Higi Tengantsu to momentarily overpower Ryūko and does damage to her but she uses Sunketsu's torn piece of cloth to blind his visor, blocking his vision, giving her time to deal a finishing blow, defeating him. Uzu refuses to accept defeat and asks for a rematch resulting in him being bashed by Ira Gamagōri, who calls him a disgrace. After his defeat, Uzu meets up with Ira Shiori, sewing club president, and tells him to sew his eyes shut as he relied too much on them resulting in his defeat. He then goes to Satsuki who questions his resolve but is impressed when he shows his sacrifice for his overconfidence. He faces Ryūko again and gets back at her for his current state using Shingantsu an upgraded version of his Tengantsu, viciously attacking her and coming close to killing her only to be stopped by the tearing up of his Goku uniform due to its inability to keep up with his sudden surge of power. Ryūko manages to escape but accepts the fact that the Elite Four aren't show-offs and that they are tough as they come.

Episode 7

Ryūko is attacked by three members of the acrobatic club who have split up and formed their own club so as to raise their star uniform ranking by defeating her. Mako tells her that if a club member forms their own individual club and becomes its president they will rise to two-star status and if they manage to defeat Ryūko they will be awarded a Three Star Goku uniform. Mako also tells her that the more stars they have the more luxury the student is offered, giving Ryūko the idea to start her own club. When Ryūko discovers how much paperwork is involved she makes Mako its president instead much to her reluctance. As the club progresses so does the living and social condition of the Makanshoku's. But the family gets too carried away by its newfound grandeur and they become slaves to their materialistic urges greatly saddening Ryūko who resigns as a member of the Fight Club. But Mako refuses and Satsuki uses the rift caused by their views as a tool to make Mako fight against Ryūko by giving her a Two-Star Goku uniform and telling her that if she wants to keep her social status as it is now she should fight Ryūko and defeat her, to which Mako agrees, shocking Ryūko. The pair battle but Ryūko only defends herself at first, after a while she stops fighting altogether and takes a harsh beating from Mako until her friend finally snaps back to her senses. Mako disbands the Fight Club and the entire Mankanshoku family apologizes to Ryūko for their behavior and she accepts but warns them not to betray her like that again.

Episode 8

Ryūko takes Mako to the ruins of her old house, where she tells her about the circumstances surrounding her father's death. that she was sent off to a boarding school by her father at a young age. Her father stayed busy with research throughout her life and she slowly developed into a delinquent. One day she received a note from her father saying he wanted to talk to her. However, when she arrived she found him impaled by one-half of the Scissor Blade. He told her that if she wanted to live a quiet and peaceful life then she could leave right then but that if she wanted to continue his fight then she should take the Scissor Blade and try to find the other half of it. He said whoever had the other half would be his killer. At that moment Ryūko noticed the silhouette of someone pass by the doorway to leave the mansion and she gave chase, leaving her father calling out to her saying he had more to tell her. Outside, Ryūko saw someone jump away and escape as the mansion blew up with her father still inside. Ryūko tells Mako that this was a wake-up call for her as she knew next to nothing about her father before then and decided to find who his killer was.

Finding no further clues in the basement where she found Senketsu, Ryūko, and Mako head home, only for their scooter to run out of gas. They end up encountering the Disciplinary Committee chair and one of the Elite Four, Ira Gamagōri, who, having just attained his driving license and taking the week off, offers them a ride home. During their drive, they are attacked by the Automotive Airsoft Club led by Ryōsuke Todoroki, who are targeting Gamagōri's Three-Star Goku Uniform Shackle Regalia. Gamagōri defeats them with ease and returns the girls back to the city where they refuel and the trio part ways with Gamagōri promising to face Ryūko on the day of the Election.

The day of the Election arrives and Honnōji's strongest assemble for the Sudden Death Runoff Election, with only Ryūko and the Elite Four making their way to the top. There, Satsuki challenges Ryūko by defeating each of the Elite Four in exchange for details concerning her father's death, her first opponent being Gamagōri.

Episode 9

As Ryūko awaits the time for her battle against Ira Gamagōri, Aikurō Mikisugi asks her to drop out of the match, warning her that she is not ready to face the Elite Four, which she declines. The battle soon begins, with Gamagōri activating his Shackle Regalia, attacking himself in order to provide the power needed to transform into Scourge Regalia. Ryūko soon learns that the Shackle Regalia also serves as an armor protecting its life fibers. This pushes Ryūko into a corner, as she is unable to damage the Shackle Regalia without powering up the Scourge Regalia form.

Undeterred, Ryūko keeps on attacking, forcing Gamagōri to bring out Scourge Regalia's full power, attempting to forcefully mold Ryūko into a model student. However, Senketsu sets a plan into motion by pulling Ryūko out of her synchronized mode, allow her to use Senketsu's fangs to break into Gamagōri's uniform and destroy it from the inside using a new form, Senketsu Senjin, winning the match. With Gamagōri defeated, Ryūko prepares to face up against her next opponent, Hōka Inumuta.

Episode 10

The Naturals Election finals continue, with Ryūko going up against Hōka Inumuta's Probe Regalia. Inumuta uses his uniform to analyze Ryūko's fighting abilities and anticipate her movements, but Ryūko counteracts this by pushing herself to her limits and attacking faster than Inumuta's sensors can react. Changing his strategy, Inumuta uses Optical Camouflage to make himself invisible, allowing him to assault Ryūko with unseeable strikes and force her to the very edge of the arena.

However, Ryūko counters this tactic by expanding Senketsu's eye and attacking the entire battle arena at once, leaving Inumuta unable to evade. With the Elite Four member immobilized, Ryūko goes for the finishing blow, only for Inumuta to forfeit the match on his own. To Ryūko's bewilderment, Inumuta explains that his primary concern is collecting data, not winning; thus, he chose to forfeit the match to preserve his uniform, which had collected significant data on Senketsu.

Ryūko's next opponent is Nonon Jakuzure and her Three-Star Goku Uniform, Symphony Regalia. To Ryūko's dismay, Nonon's "uniform" is a titanic war machine that attacks her with massive sonic vibrations and a variety of music-themed weaponry. Nonon tips the odds even further in her favor by transforming her Symphony Regalia into a flying configuration - when Ryūko protests that the fighters are not supposed to leave the arena, Nonon explains that the rule applies only for being knocked out of the arena. Ryūko is displeased by what she perceives to be the Elite Four making up rules on the fly.

Unable to get close to Nonon, Ryūko ties a thread to her Scissor Blade and uses it to lasso the Symphony Regalia. Bracing herself with Senketsu's skirt spikes, Ryūko begins tossing Nonon around, relying on Senketsu's Life Fiber-infused defenses to ward off Nonon's attacks. Unfortunately, Nonon turns her attacks on the arena itself, hoping to disqualify Ryūko by forcing her to fall. Ryūko quickly comes up with a countermeasure: have Senketsu reconfigure into the flight-capable Senketsu Shippu. This persistence pushes Nonon's temper to its limit - declaring that the sky is her world, she resumes her attack.

Episode 11

With her smaller and more maneuverable Senketsu Shippu, Ryūko has the upper hand against Nonon in the air and manages to destroy her Symphony Regalia Presto. Grounded, Nonon begins to take a beating from Ryūko who attacks her with her finishing move. However, she was unable to absorb the Life Fibers in Nonon's uniform and the Elite Four member still has another form up her sleeve as she transforms into Symphony Regalia Da Capo. She starts blasting Beethoven's Fifth Symphony out of her helmet, the sheer loudness causes Senketsu's link to Ryūko to weaken as he is unable to concentrate. Sanageyama yells at Ryūko not to lose to Nonon because he wants to be the one to defeat her, Nonon yells at him and asks him whose side he's on. This reprieve allows Ryūko to get up and she begins to block Nonon's blast by changing its frequency into a pure tone that matches the beat of her heart. Senketsu is then able to focus on Ryūko's heartbeat and they are able to blast Nonon's attack back towards her, managing to defeat her.

This leaves only Sanageyama for Ryūko to defeat and they begin their battle in earnest. However, before they are even able to land a single blow, someone lands on the arena between them and says she is the one who will fight Ryūko next. No one knows who the mysterious person is but Satsuki Kiryūin is shocked to see her. She is revealed to be Nui Harime, the Grand couturier of Revocs Corporation and a trusted ally of Satsuki's mother Ragyō Kiryūin. Sanageyama attempts to knock Nui out of his way so he can battle against Ryūko but Nui blocks him effortlessly and proceeds to destroy his Blade Regalia Mk 2 in a single move by pulling out its Banshi Thread. Nui challenges Ryūko and to encourage her to fight she pulls out the other half of the Scissor Blade, revealing herself to be the killer of Ryūko's father, Isshin Matoi. This sends Ryūko into a rage as she prepares to charge at Nui.

Episode 12

Ryūko Matoi attacks Nui Harime who had revealed that she was her father's killer. Ryūko unleashes a barrage of attacks on Nui, who manages to block each one with ease. Nui then tells the story of how she came to kill Isshin, "a friend" sent her to find out what he had been researching and working on and to retrieve it. Isshin revealed the Rending Scissors as his life's work, a weapon that could cut and destroy Life Fibers. He attacked Nui with them but was unable to do much damage, Nui turned his blade on him and stabbed him with the Scissor Blade. Before she could do anymore, however, Ryūko arrived and began calling for her father, using this opportunity Isshin took the other half of the Scissor Blades and slashed through Nui's left eye. Enraged, Nui attacked him ferociously and sent him flying into the wall. She then made her escape as Ryūko found her father.

Hearing this story, Ryūko asks why she did it and Nui responds that it was to find Senketsu. Ryūko finally loses her temper and the heat of her blood causes Senketsu to lose control and both are transformed into hideous monsters. Seeing this, Satsuki Kiryūin realizes why Nui decided to visit so suddenly and immediately goes to intervene. She asks the Elite Four to evacuate the school and transforms with her own Kamui, Junketsu to try and stop the rampaging Ryūko. At first, she tries calling out to her to get a hold of herself but to no avail. The two then begin fighting, which causes severe damage to the school grounds, Satsuki is ready to kill Ryūko and prepares to go in for the final blow, stating that someone who was being worn by their Kamui was no match for her. Before she can strike a final blow, however, Mako Mankanshoku steps in and successfully manages to get Ryūko to calm down after reminding her of some of the times they had shared. Ryūko reverts back to normal but soon passes out because of the strain she had been put through. With the battle over, Satsuki bans Nui from Honnōji Academy and tells her to leave Ryūko and Senketsu to her, and Nui outwardly agrees.

Several days later, Satsuki oversees the repairs being made to Honnōji Academy, as Ryūko who has regained consciousness, steps up towards her. Satsuki notes that she is back on her feet and tells her that if Ryūko has to hate anyone then it should be her and says that she was the one who ordered Nui to get the Rending Scissors from Isshin Matoi and that all the answers Ryūko seeks are with her. Ryūko attempts to challenge her but Satsuki stabs her in the gut and notes that she hasn't recovered fully yet, going on to thank her for her assistance in helping strengthen the Goku Uniforms. She reveals that the Elections were all a ploy to get Ryūko to help her discover the weaknesses in the Uniforms so that they could be strengthened and now she is ready to take over the remaining schools in Japan that were not under her control. She announces the Tri-Cities Raid Trip as the operation that will conquer these remaining schools and it is scheduled to begin soon.

Episode 13

Mako tries to decide whether she wants to go on the field trip or not, torn by her reluctance to fight and her desire to have fun on a free trip. Aikurō Mikisugi comes and asks her how Ryūko has been doing, Mako responds that she hasn't worn Senketsu ever since she returned from school after recovering. They are then met by Shinjirō Nagita of the Newspaper Club who has been banned from the school grounds. He wishes to meet Ryūko and tell her to put on her uniform so she can fight to make a difference. Ryūko tells him she doesn't fight because she wants to and that she won't fight for anyone, then she kicks him out of the house. The next day, Nagita gets in trouble for distributing his outlawed newspaper at Honnōji Academy, Mako also gets in trouble for handing them out and is forced to participate in the Raid Trip as punishment. The Disciplinary Committee chases after Nagita who leads them to the Mankanshoku household where Ryūko is to ask her to help him. The Disciplinary Committee catches him but knocks out Barazō Mankanshoku in the process. This angers Ryūko who, with some encouragement from Senketsu himself, puts her Kamui on again. She finds Nagita being accosted by the members of the Disciplinary Committee and defeats them with ease. However, it is revealed that they were just puppets being controlled by Nagita to help him get Ryūko to put Senketsu back on. Nagita reveals himself to be none other than Nui Harime in disguise, she asks Ryūko to show her how much power she draws out of Senketsu.

Afraid of losing control again, Ryūko holds back and is unable to defeat Nui, who uses her Scissor Blade to beat Ryūko and cut Senketsu into pieces. Before she can finish Ryūko off for good, however, Satsuki arrives and stops her. Nui leaves and Satsuki takes all the pieces of Senketsu. Aikurō Mikisugi, who had been trying to figure out Nagita's identity, arrives to find Ryūko and sees she still has one piece of Senketsu clutched in her hand. Satsuki asks Shirō Iori to distribute all the pieces of Senketsu to students on the Raid.

Episode 14

Awakening in Mikisugi's home, Ryūko discovers Senketsu's consciousness still lives in the scarf that she managed to hold onto. After learning what had happened to his other pieces, Ryūko heads towards the Kansai region, where Satsuki has begun the Tri-City Schools Raid Trip. As the Elite Four attack the main schools in the tri-city area, Ryūko interrupts each of their raids and recovers the scraps that had been given to some of the students to increase their power before heading to her next destination, eventually reuniting with Mako in Ōsaka. Senketsu notes the ease with which Ryūko was able to take down all the Kamui-enhanced students despite not being able to transform and Mako says it's because she's fired up to get her friend back the way he should be. With nearly all of Senketsu's pieces gathered, Ryūko prepares to face Satsuki, who possesses the final piece.

Episode 15

Ryūko finds Satsuki just as she defeats Kaneo Takarada and starts battling her for the final piece of Senketsu, the Seki Tekkō. Eventually, Nudist Beach makes an appearance in mechs very similar to the one Takarada was using, the Dōtonbori Robo, and Aikurō Mikisugi reveals his true identity to the Student Council. However, they, in turn, reveal that they were already aware of Nudist Beach's existence and Aikurō's true intentions, as well as the true objective of the Tri-City Schools Raid Trip: to uncover and destroy the Nudist Beach organization, which was hiding behind and offering support to the schools of Kansai.

The Elite Four transform into their Mk.II and Mk.III uniforms and engage Nudist Beach in battle. Meanwhile, Ryūko manages to transform even without the final piece and manages to wring the Seki Tekkō from Satsuki's hand, at last completing Senketsu. With Senketsu back to his old self, Ryūko is able to give Satsuki a real challenge and she tells Satsuki that she no longer fights for her rage but instead does it to protect her friends and that if Satsuki seeks to destroy everything to get her way then she would stop her. She manages to fight toe to toe with Satsuki, and they eventually reach a draw.

With blades at each others' necks, Satsuki agrees to call off the battle and return to Honnōji Academy with the students, but not before Nonon Jakuzure destroys the Nudist Beach base. Their objective fulfilled, the Student Council returns to Honnōji Academy. Ryūko, Mako Mankanshoku, Aikurō, and Tsumugu Kinagase gaze at the destroyed city, and Aikurō tells Ryūko that the time has come at last for her to learn the truth about her father.

Episode 16

Mikisugi takes Ryūko to an undamaged section of the Nudist Beach base, an actual beach, to tell her everything about Life Fibers and her father's mission. Mako tags along, wanting to be by her friend's side no matter what. At the base, Mikisugi reveals that Life Fibers are originally from outer space and that they accelerated humanity's development to take over the planet and cover it in Life Fibers.

Senketsu is in shock at learning what he is but Mikisugi has more to reveal as he goes on to explain that Isshin Matoi made the Kamui specifically for Ryūko and only she can use it to its full potential. He says this is because of Ryūko's unusually high tolerance for Life Fibers that Isshin noticed and he did all this so that Ryūko could foil the Kiryūin's plans. Ryūko is disgusted at how Senketsu is being treated as just a weapon and not a being of his own and takes off her uniform, refusing to let him kill his own kind. Deeming Ryūko and Senketsu to be of no more use, Tsumugu prepares to kill them.

Episode 17

Tsumugu prepares to finish off Ryūko and Senketsu but before he can do so Mako interjects and tells Ryūko to put Senketsu back on, Senketsu also agrees by saying that she'll catch a cold. This manages to calm Ryūko down and Tsumugu backs off. Later on the outside, Ryūko and Senketsu talk about what they had just learned and see Tsumugu practicing for combat. Ryūko wonders why he is always so intense and Aikurō Mikisugi tells her it is because his sister Kinue Kinagase who was Isshin Matoi's best assistant died in an accident one day during experiments to make a Life Fiber outfit fit for combat. Her last words to Tsumugu were to let the experiments continue. Dr. Matoi continued his work and finally made Senketsu after splicing his Life Fibers with the DNA from Ryūko's nervous system, Ryūko is shocked at this and asks why he did that. Mikisugi replies that Dr. Matoi said it was to keep her safe.

Ryūko and the others arrive at The Great Culture and Sports Festival just as Ragyō has the Life Fibers begin to devour their wearers and jump into the stadium on Mikisugi's Dōtonbori Robo, which he insists on calling a DTR because he dislikes the full name. As they make their way to Ragyō, they are shocked as a blade suddenly stabs its way through her chest, this is revealed to be an attack from Satsuki who says that she is rising up against the Life Fibers. She continues and says she made Honnōji Academy for the sole purpose of defeating Ragyō.

Episode 18

Satsuki tells Ragyō that she always planned to rise up against her and makes a plea to all the people watching the broadcast of the Festival to burn their Revocs clothing. The Elite Four neutralize Rei Hōōmaru and face off against Nui Harime, to allow Satsuki to finish off Ragyō. Satsuki recalls how her father told her of her mother's plans and that Junketsu would be her wedding dress. She talks about how Ragyō married Soichiro Kiryūin for access to his skills and how she was experimented on as a child but failed to fuse with Life Fibers. Ragyō then attempted to fuse Life Fibers with an even younger child, her newborn daughter. The experiment seemed to have failed however and Ragyō disposed of the child. This left Sōichiro aghast and it was at that moment that he turned against Ragyō and dedicated himself to foil her plans. He secretly retrieved his younger daughter, who was still alive, and revealed all of Ragyō's secret plans to Satsuki, showing her Junketsu and calling it her wedding dress. He fled from the Kiryūin Manor but Takiji Kuroido went after him and attempted to assassinate him, Sōichiro faked his death and managed to escape with his daughter, changing his identity to Isshin Matoi.

All this while, Ragyō had recovered from the injuries inflicted on her by Satsuki because of her being infused with Life Fibers. Satsuki attempts to finish her off but Rei Hōōmaru intervenes and distracts her long enough to allow Ragyō to escape Satsuki's trap. She then Mind Stitches all the students of Honnōji Academy to attack Satsuki, even managing to Mind Stitch Ryūko. Satsuki attempts to snap her out of their mind control and Ryūko manages to get a hold of herself and escape Ragyō's influence. The two then split up with Ryūko fighting Nui and Satsuki facing off against Ragyō. Ryūko manages to achieve true Life Fiber Synchronization with Senketsu and overpowers Nui. Satsuki chops off Ragyō's head but a single Fiber still connects her head to her body and she is able to regenerate. She tells Satsuki she was never able to bring out Junketsu's true power. Satsuki attacks her but she blocks it, snapping the Bakuzan in two, and proceeds to strip Satsuki of Junketsu and wears it herself. Upon seeing how well Ryūko uses Senketsu she becomes intrigued and faces her, pulling her heart out, showing that it is infused with Life Fibers. To everyone's shock Ragyō then states that this proves Ryūko is her second daughter.

Episode 19

As Ragyō shocks everyone with the revelation that Ryūko is her long-lost second daughter, Ryūko chops off her hand and puts her heart back in. Ragyō claims that as irrefutable proof of their relationship, claiming that such strong compatibility with Life Fibers can only be hereditary. Meanwhile, while attempting to evacuate the citizens from the stadium, Mako gets absorbed by the COVERS. Satsuki resorts to her fail-safe and causes Ragyō Stadium to self-destruct.

A month later, Ryūko is comatose in the Nudist Beach base at Ōsaka. Ragyō sends some COVERS to attack Ōsaka, where Gamagōri tries out a new weapon that extracts humans out of COVERS, he manages to rescue Mako after Guts sniffs out the COVER she was in. The other COVERS create a cacophony and wake Ryūko up who destroys them instantly with her Scissor Blade but refuses to put Senketsu on and says she doesn't want anything to do with him anymore.

Episode 20

After Ryūko expresses her resentment towards Senketsu, Mako confronts her and says that she is no longer being herself. Ryūko responds by saying that she is in fact no longer the same after finding out the truth about her parents and her Life Fiber-infused body. Ryūko is interrupted by Nui Harime and Ragyō Kiryūin, who appear as remote-controlled body doubles composed of Life Fibers.

Nui and Ragyō invite Ryūko to face them at Honnōji Academy. Aikurō Mikisugi warns Ryūko that it's a trap, but she doesn't listen and destroys his DTR. She tells him that she's tired of following him around, and how she hates him for not telling her the truth about her past all along. Mako tries one last time to get Ryūko to wear Senketsu but is not able to do so. Aikurō tries to follow Ryuko to explain that he did not know the truth about her past, but is stopped by Tsumugu Kinagase. Ryūko leaves for Honnōji Academy on a motorcycle.

At Honnōji Academy Ryūko fights Nui. After a while, she's able to outpace Nui's movements and stab her in the heart with the Scissor Blades. Nui pretends for a while to be struggling in great pain but eventually reveals that she's also infused with Life Fibers and actually capable of regenerating. Nui also reveals that, after Ryūko's supposed death as a baby, she was created by Ragyō in an artificial uterus made of Life Fibers, as part of her third attempt at making a Life Fiber-infused human. Ryūko is then surprised by Ragyō, who presents her with a modified version of Junketsu. Ryūko is constrained by Life Fibers sewn into her skin by Nui during their fight, and forced to wear Junketsu. Her memories are altered by Ragyō so that she is now loyal to her.

At the Naked Sun 1, Satsuki rests after successfully escaping from Honnōji Academy in the chaos of Ryūko's arrival and enjoys a cup of tea made by Mitsuzō. The ship's radars detect an unknown object incoming at high speed. A light blue ball of light collides with the ship's deck causing minimal damage to the ship and is revealed to be the now brainwashed Ryūko, wearing Junketsu. Tsumugu attempts to face her in his prototype upgraded DTR, which is more powerful than the original one she destroyed but is quickly defeated. When Ryūko is about to kill Tsumugu, Satsuki appears, now wearing Senketsu, and challenges her to a fight.

Episode 21

Ragyō and Nui successfully brainwash Ryūko and she transforms with Junketsu. It is revealed that the Life Fibers inside Nui repel all other Life Fibers and that is why she is unable to draw any power out of Kamui's which is why she chose to make them instead. Before leaving after Satsuki, she kisses Nui for good luck and Ragyō leaves for REVOCS Corporation, taking the officials to be absorbed by the Original Life Fiber, which then transforms into a giant airship made entirely of Life Fibers.

At the Naked Sun, Ryūko and Satsuki begin their face-off and Satsuki uses both of Senketsu's forms, Senjin and Shippu during the course of the battle to throw Ryūko off guard. She also uses a combination of both forms to attack her. Though ultimately Ryūko is too powerful to be kept down for long. She begins to overpower Satsuki and gives her a brutal barrage of attacks, slicing Senketsu off of her. The Elite Four rush in and trick Ryūko into a range of Gamagōri's extraction weapons. They are unable to extract her, however, as Nui Harime intervenes and reveals that Junketsu was stitched onto Ryūko and that trying to remove it from her would kill her from the shock.

Mako attempts to reach out to her friend and save her saying she is still the same Ryūko. Nui finds this annoying and tries to kill Mako, who is saved by Senketsu who forces her to wear him. Satsuki engages Nui in combat and during their fight, she claims that they will be victorious as Nui has still kept her half of the Scissor Blade and that shows they are still unsure of Ryūko's loyalties, Nui becomes agitated at this and her reaction assures Satsuki that her theory is correct. The Elite Four once again barge in to distract Nui and Satsuki goes after Ryūko, slicing open Junketsu so that Mako can throw Senketsu into it and free Ryūko. Mako is also absorbed alongside Senketsu and they both manage to bring Ryūko back to her senses. They are ejected out of her and Nui believes that they failed and asks Ryūko to help her destroy the ship, before she can do anything though, she is impaled in the chest by the other half of the Scissor Blade and sent flying. Ryūko proceeds to tear Junketsu off her herself and causes a shower of blood in the process, saying that it's the only way she can wear Senketsu again.

Episode 22

Ryūko successfully rips Junketsu off of her body without dying. She reunites with Senketsu and fights against Nui Harime, recovering both Scissor Blades. When Nui tries to stab her through the throat, Ryūko gets behind the Grand Couturier and chops her arms off. Although Nui puts on a show of pain and anger, the facade soon becomes real panic when Ryūko destroys the arms, severed thanks to the Scissor Blades. An enraged Nui is rescued by Rei Hōōmaru, to the former's anger; while Ryūko's allies deal with the COVERS, extracting the School Club presidents and gathering the Life Fibers left behind.

Afterward, Ryūko tells Satsuki Kiryūin that she will punch her full force to determine if she's worthy of fighting alongside her against Ragyō. Satsuki accepts the challenge but Ryūko is unable to get a hit in as the Elite Four block her attempts and tell her that they won't let her touch Satsuki while they're around. Ryūko realizes that Satsuki has people looking out for her the same way Mako and Senketsu do for themselves and allows Satsuki to join her for the battle against Ragyō. They all prepare their battle plans, which is to stop Ragyō from taking the Original Life Fiber to Honnōji Academy and using it to send a signal to all the other Life Fibers to devour the planet. They are attacked by missiles and Ryūko and Satsuki both prepare to protect the ship, Mitsuzō Soroi asks "Lady Ryūko" to protect her sister and she agrees though is flustered at having to call Satsuki her sister. Satsuki uses a modified Junketsu which is able to take a new form capable of flight after being infused with Life Fibers from Senketsu. She calls the new form Senketsu Senpu and along with Ryūko in Senketsu Shippu, both sisters protect the ship from the missiles. A giant COVER rises from the ocean in front of the Naked Sun but is met with Mako who has her old 2 Star Goku Uniform back.

Episode 23

Ryūko and Satsuki, reassured now that Mako is defending the Naked Sun, continue on their flight to the Original Life Fiber and Ragyō. They arrive and begin to attack her but she pulls out dual needle blades of her own from the Original Life Fiber and blocks her daughters' attacks. Ragyō explains that both the Bakuzan and the Rending Scissors were based on the needle blades and then she begins to fly herself and attacks her daughters. They are no match for her and as Satsuki steps onto the Original Life Fiber Ragyō immediately rushes to kick her off, saying the Original Life Fiber was not meant to be stepped on, having herself stood upon it with a tissue instead of having direct contact with it. Ragyō then directs the Life Fiber towards the Naked Sun so it can absorb the ship's crew. Ryūko devises a plan and signals it to Satsuki, who understands and nods. Ryūko then charges Ragyō with both her Scissor Blades to perform her finishing move but before she is able to complete it Ragyō stabs her with both her blades and slices her in half, throwing her into the sea. Mako sees this as she is defending the ship and is left distraught. Suddenly, more COVERS appear and catch her off guard but at that moment Shirō Iori drops the Elite Four's now completed new Three-Star Goku Uniforms and they all transform into their Ultimate Battle Regalia. Using their combination special move "Utter Victory", they defeat all the COVERS at once, leaving Mako impressed though Tsumugu believes they were being too flashy. Satsuki continues her fight with Ragyō, enraged at what she did to her sister but is quickly disarmed by Ragyō who grabs her by the throat. She tells Satsuki that they had only gotten that far because of Ryūko and the powers she held due to being infused with Life Fibers. Saying that since Satsuki wasn't infused with Life Fibers, then she and her "makeshift Kamui" wouldn't be able to beat her. Satsuki accepts that she may be a fraud but even so Ragyō would pay if she underestimated her. Suddenly, Ryūko bursts out of the sea and begins to attack the Original Life Fiber, leaving Ragyō shocked. Satsuki frees herself from Ragyō's grip and clacks her heel on the Life Fiber, saying this was all part of Ryūko's plan, where she blocked the needle blades just enough to protect some of her Life Fibers to be able to regenerate underwater and be in the perfect position to attack the Original Life Fiber. Ryūko makes her way to the core of the Life Fiber and opens her Scissor Blades to dual decapitation mode to destroy it but struggles to cut through it. Back at the Naked Sun, Aikurō converts the ship to its closed form, which resembles a seam ripper, and attempts to charge at the Original Life Fiber with it while the Elite Four assist Satsuki in fighting Ragyō and keeping her busy. With the ship's turbines not moving fast enough for it to cause any significant damage, Mako suddenly steps up and starts running a turbine with all her might so that she is able to help her friend and manages to give the ship a huge boost and lets it cut straight through to the core where Ryūko is. She is shocked to see the ship, being powered by Mako come all this way and upon her friend again becomes fired up and with the help of the ship manages to cut straight through the Original Life Fiber, with the Naked Sun ramming straight into the side of Honnōji Academy. Ragyō is surprised and angered that the Original Life Fiber was destroyed and retreats to Honnōji Academy saying that it is not yet over. Everyone takes a break and has some of Mitsuzō Soroi's tea, then Satsuki and Ryūko prepare for the final battle. In the post-credits, Nui shows up, looming comically large over the Academy as she presents the now completed Shinra-Kōketsu to Ragyō who puts it on and prepares to finish off her daughters.

Powers & Abilities

Much of Ryuko's enhanced abilities come from the Life Fibers that were fused to her own body as an infant in Ragyo's experiments. As they were nourished through absorbing more Life Fibers with Senketsu, her own abilities began to grow. The existence of Life Fibers within herself was completely unknown until Ragyo realized that Ryuko was the daughter she thought to be dead.

Swordsmanship

Ryuko is a skilled sword fighter with an unknown level of training. Though originally unrefined, battle experience against stronger and stronger opponents improved her skill to even match the well-trained Satsuki Kiryuin.

Life Fiber Regeneration

One of Ryuko's more unique abilities is in her body's ability to regenerate from damage. This is mainly due to the Life Fibers that were fused to her very body when she was experimented on as a newborn. The Life Fibers will react when the host body is in danger and quickly move to repair any damage. The more dramatic the damage, the stronger the Life Fiber's reaction. This makes Ryuko near borderline immortal when it comes to injury.

Unarmed Combat

Growing up mainly in a boarding school and alone led Ryuko into a life of getting in fights. Finding herself in a constant state of fighting helped to give Ryuko remarkable talent for unarmed combat through sheer experience.

Weapons & Equipment

Scissor Blade

Ryuko's weapon of choice is the Scissor Blade (片太刀バサミ, Kata Tachi Basami) that was created by her father to counter the power of the Life Fibers, and is only half of the Rending Scissors. It was created by using super-hardened Life Fibers.

What Ryuko originally wields is only one-half of the scissors. It was what was left behind by the killer of her father. Through extended use, she discovered that she can manipulate its size to collapse to the size of a small scissor that can be stored in her pocket. She even learned that the blade could grow.

Senketsu

Senketsu (鮮血, Senketsu) is a Kamui in the form of a sailor uniform that Ryuko Matoi wears. Kamui is clothing that is made from 100% Life Fibers, a parasitic alien organism. Senketsu was created specifically for Ryuko by splicing him with her own DNA. As such, only she can hear his voice. She discovered him buried under the ruins of her former home. Though it normally appears to be a less-than-average school uniform, it can transform into an incredibly powerful suit of armor that boosts her strength and speed beyond the limits of a human.

However, Ryuko is less than happy with how revealing it can be when transformed. It was the reluctance that Ryuko felt while wearing Senketsu that led to rapid blood loss. It wasn't until she started treating it as part of her own skin that she discovered it required far less blood and gave her even more power. This ability is called Life Fiber Synchronize - Kamui Senketsu (「人衣一体」神衣・鮮血, "Jin'i Ittai" Kamui Senketsu). The power and size of Senketsu also increased after she learned to synchronize with him.

Senketsu Transformations

Senketsu Senjin (鮮血閃刃, Senketsu Senjin）is the first secondary transformation of Senketsu. In this mode, Senketsu becomes the blade. He's covered in spikes and gives Ryuko three long claws on his head hand. It was first revealed during her battle with Ira Gamagoori and used it to shred away the defenses of his Goku Uniform.

Senketsu Shippu (鮮血疾風, Senketsu Shippū）is the second transformation to be revealed. Senketsu transforms himself to create propulsion jets at Ryuko's lower half and allows her to flight and incredible speed. This was part of Ryuko's idea during her fight with Nonon Jakuzure.

Senketsu Mubyoshi (鮮血無拍子, Senketsu Mubyōshi）is the third transformation where Senketsu essentially creates himself into a tuning fork. This was also used during the fight with Jakuzure to counter her sound wave attack.

Senketsu Shippu Senjin (鮮血疾風閃刃, Senketsu Shippū Senjin) is a fourth transformation that is a combination of both Senketsu's flight and blade form. This technique was first used by Satsuki when she was wearing Senketsu to fight a mind-controlled Ryuko.

Senketsu-Kisaragi (鮮血更衣, Senketsu-Kisaragi) is the ultimate and final form of Senketsu. On top of having vastly superior power, this also allows for flight that can escape the upper atmosphere and into space. This form was manifested when Ryuko absorbed all the Goku Uniforms of the Honnouji Academy students and Satsuki's Junketsu.

Finishing Move: Sen-i-Soshitsu (Life Fiber Lost)

Sen-I-Soshitsu (戦維喪失, Sen-i-Sōshitsu) is the finishing move Ryuko uses along with Senketsu and her scissor blade. After slicing apart her enemy's Goku Uniform, Senketsu then absorbs all the remaining Life Fibers into himself.

Other Media

Anime

Kill la Kill (2013)

Kill la Kill (キルラキル Kiru ra Kiru) is the first original anime production created by Trigger, which was founded by two former Gainax employees in 2011. The series is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, Trigger co-founder; and written by Kazuki Nakashima. The first episode aired on October 3, 2010.

Ryuko's first anime appearance was in Kill la Kill - Episode 1 "If Only I Had Thorns Like A Thistle…". Her character in the Japanese series was voiced by Ami Koshimizu.