Gravel is a gang of young men from the Sunaba District, who banded together and utilize their numbers to find different contracted opportunities to earn enough money for their own survival. These opportunities could range anywhere from conversing with competing parties and see who could pay more for their help to scouring for specific individuals.[1]
In their initial appearance,[2] they were tasked with retrieving Shizuka Narita which brought them into direct conflict with both the Roppo-Ichiza and select members of Bofurin. The conflict would eventually be resolved after every member of Gravel were offered a chance by both members of the Roppo-Ichiza and by Bofurin's Tasuku Tsubakino to work for the local community instead.[3][4][5]
Their group would appear again, serving as one of the three ally groups (alongside Shishitoren and the Roppo-Ichiza)[6][7] to aid Bofurin in their struggle against Noroshi and KEEL[8] when the latter groups invaded Makochi.[9]
Background and Structure[]
ā | We have numbers. We can sell that and get jobs for it. The rewards we get or anything we get in return for someone's work will be divided among the group fairly, no matter what it is. That's the only rule this team will follow. If we do that, then even if one of us goes down, someone else will make up for it and we'll all benefit. All of us will work together and become one unit. Just trust me.
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ā |
— Shuhei Suzuri, marking the formation of Gravel (in a flashback)[10] |
Background[]
Starting with only three (later six) impoverished young boys (including Suzuri himself) meeting at an abandoned yard, it became a worrying factor when their numbers continue to grow over time and food needs to be split into smaller portions. Suzuri stated that everything would be fine as long as the food was split equally amongst them regardless of their numbers. Despite his optimism, it became apparent to Suzuri that he would need to eventually find a way to solve the food problem and the in-fighting that is stemming from that scarcity issue. Since the only proper meals was coming from school lunches, Suzuri admitted he could not remember the last time he felt a full stomach. With the growing number of boys coming together in similar conditions as he was, Suzuri realized that he would need to step up to fix the issue so that all of them would one day be able to enjoy a brighter future.[11]
Structure[]
As both the founder and leader of Gravel, Suzuri have the upmost respect and loyalty out of his fellow members as they look up to him for guidance and inspiration. In fact, Suzuri is so well respected by his men that they have continuously expressed their concerns about him whenever the situation appears troublesome or worrisome for their leader. They have also attempted to approach Suzuri on a number of occasions when he was knocked down, but reluctantly back off when he gave them the order to do so.[12][13][14][15][16] When Suzuri pleaded with the other members to accept the offer to make a fresh start and work for the local community instead, they were not only eager to do so, but also reassured their leader that they are all in this together and thanked him for bringing them this far.[17]
Appearance and Fighting Style[]
Unlike most other groups, members of Gravel do not have any set uniform or dress code, and basically wear casual clothing. Most (if not, every) member(s) (including Suzuri himself) of Gravel identify themselves by wearing a light-colored cloth, either wrapped around their heads, necks, or a certain section of one of their arms.[18]
Like most other groups in the series, they mainly engage in unarmed hand-to-hand combat. Utilizing their strength in numbers, they tend to either directly charge at their outnumbered targets or surround and hold their opponents down for others to attack.[19][20] Due to their initial mentality of functioning as one unit, they are not overtly concerned about any one of theirs being incapacitated in combat[21] with the exception of their leader Suzuri. However, in combat against Noroshi and their allies, each member opted for direct one-on-one confrontation since their numbers are no longer a strength to exploit against their current opponents.[22][23][24]
Members[]
Gravel |
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Leader
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Trivia[]
- Gravel refers to the loose aggregation of rock fragments that could be utilized for a number of structural purposes when mixed together. Similarly, this is in reference on how each member of said group view each other as a part of one unit, working collaboratively to achieve a common goal.
References[]
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 81 (p. 4)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 72
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 82 (pp. 15-18)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 83 (pp. 13-14)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 84 (pp. 14-15)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 114 (p. 21)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 115
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 103 (pp. 10-12)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 99 (pp. 21-24)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 81 (pp. 3-4)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 80 (pp. 15-20)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 79 (p. 19)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 80 (pp. 5-6, 12-13)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 82 (pp. 2-3, 5-6, 11, 14)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 83 (p. 3)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 86 (p. 18)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 83 (pp. 7-13)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 74 (p. 6)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 75 (pp. 13-15)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 76 (pp. 15-18)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 74 (pp. 3, 11)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 116 (p. 6)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 118 (pp. 5-6, 10, 16, 18-19, 21)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 119 (pp. 4-5)
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Organizations |
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Bofurin Ā· Gravel Ā· KEEL Ā· Noroshi Ā· Roppo-Ichiza Ā· Shishitoren |