Thread:Kenji Hiroshi/@comment-3403804-20150505003701/@comment-2182964-20150505173155

Kentaro's definitely the focus. I've got nothing to challenge that with or dispute what you say in any way, though I have posted several -- well, I call 'em filler chapters (they're still considered canon), but they're really reference material -- to show off group dynamics and other characters, specifically the experience and wisdom someone of Kensei's age can bring to Kentaro, and the link Sanada offers to the past; particularly in regards to his relationship with Kenji. Those are but two examples.

Akiye, though, is one character you'll be happy to hear that I haven't even scratched the surface with yet. She drives Kentaro: in that sense she's his pillar, his support, and his confident. He'd operate far less efficiently without her, though the same isn't same in reverse. She's her own woman: strong, dedicated, confident and merciless when she needs to be. Ino, however, was everything you described above. Sure, she was there, but you'll recall how little impact she had: it was all Kenji. Akiye is the exact opposite of that. Like you say she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to do what's necessary to get it. She's the realism tempering Kentaro's naivete. But her role isn't to be a damsel; no, sir. I just haven't had a medium yet to really showcase the advancement in her skills and attitude from Part III. Here's one example from Part III for instance. Akiye fights Ichihara Kohai (a villain whose power was equivalent to Kenji's at the end of Part II when he helped defeat Averian) and she more-or-less dominated the battle. Kentaro, on the other hand, fought Nakajima Kohai (same power as Ichihara) and he was almost killed. The time-skip between Part III and IV is little more than a month or two so that should provide some insight to Akiye's level: the difference is simply exposure.

At the moment I reference characters and events as I go along instead of posting it all in one go, or explaining it all right off the bat. That's where the problem of focus you mentioned comes in: Kentaro's very much at the centre at the moment, everyone else is secondary, but he'll eventually realise that he can't do everything on his own. Kentaro is the strongest, yes, but they still occupy the same "level". Kentaro has just had more of his skills demonstrated. Information on the Collapse is scarce for this very reason. In-story the characters simply don't know what triggered it, other than who caused it, which will all be revealed later.

One chapter I particularly liked was Putting Names to the Faces, which was the penultimate chapter of the first arc of Part IV. There was no combat, a bit of character development for everyone involved, and it served to explain some of the origins of the resurgent Imawashi, and it never got too lengthy either. It's probably one of the ones I had the most fun writing.