Question Corner

On the official World Trigger Twitter, Ashihara answers questions from fanmail. After a while they are gathered into the manga volumes:

Volume 5 - Question Corner 1
Q: Do Border personnel get a salary?

A: It may vary, but Border personnel do receive a salary.

B-Class receive a Trion Soldier-defeating fee-for-service.

A-Class receive a salary + fee-for-service.

C-Class are trainees, so they are unpaid.

Q: Why are all Border personnel young?

A: The main reason is that the Trion organ tends to grow during youth. After 20, the Trion organ stops growing. Many guards have gone to Headquarters' management (like Sawamura-san).

Q: When you enlist into Border, is there an examination, physical test, etc.? What conditions are there?

A: Only once, there is a physical test, academic achievement test, and interview, but, it is unlikely to be dropped other than for Trion amount and criminal record (Osamu was about to be dropped).

Q: Do all of Border's students go to the same school?

A: Due to defense personnel schedule management, it is preferred that they enroll in the same school. They may go to a different high school, though.

Q: Will the Trion Organ grow if you exercise it? Does it recover with time and sleep like physical fitness?

A: Like the cardiovascular system and muscles, exercise will improve it to a certain degree, and if you nourish yourself and sleep, it will recover.

Q: Can Trion bodies feel pain from Trigger attacks?

A: There is enough pain that you know where you were attacked. You can de-activate pain reception in the Trion body settings.

Q: Is Lead Bullet an all-purpose or exclusive-use option?

A: It's an all-purpose attack Trigger that is used simultaneously with a Gunner Trigger. It can be combined with Triggers like Hound to make "Tracker Lead Bullet", but the bullet speed and firing range are lowered.

Q: Can healing be done with Trion?

A: If you mean the healing of the combat body (Trion body), then it's impossible. The combat body is basically disposable. After the Trion body is destroyed, it takes new Trion and time to recreate.

Volume 5 - Question Corner 2
Q: How do you become an operator?

A: You can be one from the very beginning or, you can change from a combatant to one.

Q: Why is Takenoko faction's Narasaka pretending to be a Kinoko?

A: To avoid unneccesary bloodshed.

Q: Are all operators female?

A: Nearly. It is said to be because females have higher parallel-processing capabilities. There are males who are operators, though. However, on the flip side, almost all engineers are males. The males are seeking comfort.

Q: Is Raijinmaru a male or female?

A: By looking at its face, it appears to be female. However, I believe everyone in Tamakoma thinksit's male.

Q: Is there a limit for number of people per team?

A: The limit is 4 combatants and one operator, so 5 people is the maximum. The reason is that if the limit were to increase, it would surpass the operator's parallel-processing capability.

Q: In Chapter 2, did Yūma eat Osamu's lunch?

A: It was his own lunch.

Q: Why are only Osamu and Chika's clothes different? Can you choose it?

A: Chika's clothes are a female C-Class sniper's standard uniform (until junior high). As for Osamu's, Jin arranged for it. That's why it has the Tamakoma epaulet.

Q: How much is Osamu's vision?

A: Both eyes are 0.2.

Q: Does Osamu take off his glasses when he takes a shower?

A: Probably not. I doubt he takes them off when he sleeps. Always glasses.

Volume 6 - Question Corner 3
Q: Does Arashiyama not have parents?

A: He does. His father is a company employee, and his mother has a part-time job and is a housewife. His grandmother, younger siblings, and dog also lives with him.

Q: What part-time jobs does Torimaru have?

A: Various jobs like newspaper delivery, supermarket cashier, waiter at a restaurant, etc. It's rumored that during Torimaru's shifts, the amount of female customers doubles.

Q: Sensei, what do you think the degree to which Osamu sweats?

A: Osamu's relation ship with cold sweat is similar to the relationship between omurice and ketchup (the glasses are in the egg's place).

Q: Is there an age-limit for enlistment?

A: If your Trion is particularly high, then there is not age limit, but, young Trion organs have greater growth potential, so they are more likely to be hired. Youth certainly has its advantages.

Q: Can Teleport be continously used?

A: Distance moved = consumed Trion, so there will be an interval. A long-distance teleport (30 m or more) will require a few seconds, but a short-distance teleport (2-3 m) will take about 0.5 seconds.

Q: Which is the abbreviation for World Trigger, "WāTori" or "Trigger"?

A: The editor uses "Trigger", but the manager uses "WāTori". Ashihara and I simply say "World Trigger".

Q: How far can Jin see into the future?

A: I belive that he can see early established futures (futures where potential of realization is rather high) yearly. On the contrary, predictions where he can intervene (uncertain future), comparitively speaking, he can only see recently.

Q: Who has the greater Trion ability, Chika or Izumi?

A: Chika. Izumi is a genius, but Chika is a monster.

Q: Was Raijinmaru bought from a pet shop?

A: Branch chief Rindō brought it from out of nowhere. It's a mystery.

Q: Why is Kazama-san so short?

A: Small and efficent. That is Kazama-san.

Volume 7 - Question Corner 4
Q: How are Trion suits made and decided?

A: There are different basic designs, and it is arranged for each team. A common design is a jersey that doesn't intimidate citizens. There are also suit with original modifications that include special functions like Kazama Unit.

Q: Is Trion amount hereditary?

A: There is some probability that Trion is hereditary, but parents' Trion ability is not necessarily passed down. For example, Chika's parents' Trion is not particularly high.

Q: Do Operators participate in expeditions?

ALike Usami said in volume 3, operators seem to accompany their teams during an expedition. There are mobile computers which run on Trion from Border, and personnel can support in any expedition, even without power.

Q: Could you please tell me how many A-Class and B-Class teams there are?

A: Currently, there are 8 A-Class teams, and 20 B-Class teams. However, during Rank Wars, these numbers can change.

Q: What does Reiji cook best?

A: Fried meat & vegetables (where there is 3 times more meat than usual). It is a classic on the Tamakoma menu.

Q: How do newly-enlisted personnel find themselves a mentor?

A: The first step is to find videos and matches of a capable person. When things have started to form to some extent, they can directly ask them, or have someone intermediate and have you become their student. They can also earnestly fight in individual rank battles.

'Q: Is there anyone who has risen to A-Class without a mentor (original members excluded)?

A: Yes. Izumi, Kikuchihara, Yoneya, etc. You can become strong even without a mentor if you have a rival.

Q: When Tachikawa cut up the Ilgar, did he use Teleporter, or did he jump from the roof?

A: I think he used Grasshopper, which is a Trigger for maneuvering in battle, to jump through the air. Midorikawa has used this Trigger as well.

Q: Do all the A-Class high schoolers go to the same school?

A: There are 2 schools (regular and university-preparation) which co-operate with Border. Kodera, Narasaka, Usami, Utagawa, Kikuchihara, etc., go to the preparatory school. Pretty much everyone else goes to the regular school. Like, Konami (and Kitora), there are personnel who go to an unrelated all-girls school.

Q: When one uses their Trion body, where does their original body go?

A: It is swapped in the Trigger Holder space, where the Trion body usually is.

Volume 7 - Question Corner 5
Q: Please tell me about the gun Trigger (Shotgun) Suwa was using in chapter 45. A: It collectively shoots bullets that are slightly larger. It's a shotgun Trigger for surface attacks. The trajectory of the bullet can be somewhat adjusted. It has high firepower, but a disadvantage comes in between the shots.

Q: Where can Scorpion change its form? A: It can be changed at will fairly well, but it all depends on the ability of the user. The protractility will reduce the strength, to the point where it's as fragile as glass. If it was Chika, it could be fought with on the whole body.

Q: If Tachikawa-san, who seems to be quite a disappointment outside of battle, has any fail episodes, please tell us. A: He read ‘DANGER’ as dan-gah, he made a fuss about a computer being broken when it was just not plugged in, he only ate the dried fruits in a fruit granola bar, and so on.

Q: Why are Osamu’s glasses an under rim style? A: He received his father’s frames. (His father is still alive)

Q: Is there a meaning in the distinction between using either ‘sempai’ or ‘san’? A: It seems that generally the middle and high schoolers get ‘sempai’ and anyone older than that is called ‘san’. In other words, Osamu calling Kazama-san ‘Kazama-sempai’ means… (trans: Ashihara is probably trying to say that Osamu thought Kazama was a high schooler from his height, hence why he called Kazama ‘sempai’ when Kazama’s age should merit him ‘san’.)

Q: When Kazama Unit uses Chameleon, what will happen with the round part on their clothing? A: Chameleon incorporates a mechanism to reduce Trion consumption. The whole combat body consumption is not very high.

Q: Is Utagawa-kun an Attacker or All-Rounder? A: The comics are wrong here and there; he is an All-Rounder.

Q: Kogetsu ‘cannot be freely extracted or withdrawn’, is that only while Kogetsu is in use? Or does this apply for the entire time the trigger is activated?? A: It applies for the entire time after you’ve chosen the Kogetsu. Sometimes it looks like the Kogetsu had disappeared, that’s just the author forgetting to draw it. The author frequently forgets to draw things.

Volume 8 - Question Corner 6
Q: How heavy is one shot from Miwa's Lead Bullet? A: I think it's about 100 kg. Yūma's Anchor is about twice as heavy, though.

Q: Please explain the relationship between Tsukimi-san and Tachikawa-san. I believe that she is older since she referred to him as "Tachikawa-kun". A: As childhood friends, she was his teacher in tactics. The line is, Azuma-san ⇒ Tsukimi (and a whole lot of others) ⇒ Tachikawa.

Q: When you use Trigger On, your Trion body has a Border uniform, but does the Trion body come with the uniform? A: The clothes that you wear during Trigger activation is the retrofit of the combat body dress that you specify, or retrofit the current clothes to the combat body; you pick which one. You are free to register for any pattern of your choice.

Q: Does Yūma get his wounds he sustained when he was hit by a car healed? A: That's right. Yūma's usual body has less durability than his Trion body during battle, but in turn, his usual body can heal itself. I believe that a regular combat body will not be damaged when hit by a car.

Q: Do Sniper rifles always have the same form? Can they pull it in or out freely, or can they shrink it? A: When you take it out, then it will stay in that form. When you put it out, the next time you take it, it will consume Trion.

Q: Can All-Rounders snipe? A: Fundamentally, no. All-Rounders generally fight in melee to mid-range. Only Reiji-san is a perfect All-Rounder, who can also snipe.

Q: Does eye quality matter for snipers? A: When one uses their combat body, vision is regained, so true eyesight doesn't matter. However, characters with glasses retain them to keep their identity.

Q: Is Satori's Twin Snipe a super-skill, or is it a result from daily practice, or even a born idea. A: It's the result of daily practice. Satori combines firepower and coolness in earnest to one complete form. However, no one else mimicks it.

Volume 8 - Question Corner 7
Q: Is Konami-sempai’s short hair in her combat body to save trion? A: It seems she did it so it won’t get in the way while fighting. It looks like she set it to her old hairstyle.

Q: If Tokieda likes cats, does he have any at home? A: He keeps 2. A dark tiger cat named Arthur, and a white cat with black spots, Tomio.

Q: Why does Yōtarō wear a helmet? A: Because he always puts himself into a fight. The helmet was made by Reiji.

Q: Which is the protagonist of the series, Yūma or Osamu? A: Either one is OK. For me, each of the characters drawn on chapter 1's opening is a protagonist.

Q: If you munch on Bonchiage from Jin's room without permission, will you get yelled at? A: Bonchiage will appear in your room unexpectedly. In the box.

Q: Do gates only open within Mikado City? Have any opened outside of Mikado City? A: They open secretly all over the world and steal people away without anyone the wiser. Because gigantic ones opened up with a bang within Mikado City, the world believes it only happens to Mikado City.

Q: If Tachikawa-san was trained to sword fight in Shinoda Faction, why is he in Kido Faction? A: Kido Faction places an importance on expeditions, Shinoda Faction on defense. Tachikawa was interested in an expedition to the other world. There's no way he's at odds with Shinoda-san.

Q: Do expeditions go to enemy nations unnoticed? A: In principle, you obtain a Trigger through exchange and negotiation during an infiltration. In nations of war and conflict, they also obtain Triggers that have been used to turn tables against an attacking enemy.

Q: Since Arashiyama and Konami-chan are cousins, did they enter Border at the same time? A: Konami was just really early when she entered Border. While Konami is a senior in Border from the early days, Arashiyama enlisted when the current HQ base was created.

Q: Does Kikuchihara like anything? A: Buddies and friends.

Volume 9 - Question Corner 8
Q: Rinji-san is Osamu’s sempai, but how can Osamu call his sempai’s sister (Chika-chan) without any honorifics? A: Because he has no shame, not. It’s because Rinji-san and Chika told him ‘no honorifics is fine’.

Q: Does the New 3 Idiots team have a formation other than the Rooster Battle Formation? A: There's the Dragon, Snake, Ox, and others to make a total of ten. 9 of them are unison attacks, but 1 of them is a full-throttle getaway.

Q: If you cancel the transformation yourself, do you still need to remake a trion body like when you bailout? A: When you cancel the transformation yourself, the situation is treated like you have ‘shut away' your trion body. The next time you transform, you can still use that same trion body, but the damage isn’t fixed.

Q: Is the trap wire that Reiji-san used the same as Kitora's? Also, is the box used in the attack Meteora? A: It is the same as Kitora's, and called Spider. Various other Triggers can be used in conjunction. The box in the trap seems like Meteora (27 divisions).

Q: Izumi combined Viper + Meteora to make Tomahawk, but was it his genius that allowed him to do it? If Osamu knows how and trains, can he do it too? A: He can, but it will take him time to combine them. If Osamu tries to shoot a Tomahawk right now, it will take him about a minute’s time to combine them. It takes Izumi about 2 seconds.

Q: During the fight against Lamvanein, shields were set up remotely, but how far a distance can you cover? A: It changes a bit depending on individual ability, but the distance is about 25m. This remote shielding is one of the areas where Shield surpasses Raygust('s shield mode).

Q: Does B-rank units have no emblems? Can only A-rank units have emblems? A: As long as you were A-rank even once, your unit has their own emblem. Even if you are demoted to B-rank you can keep using it. If the unit breaks up then the emblem is gone too.

Q: If one didn't say "Trigger On", would they still be able to transform? A: Well, if they touched the Trigger Holder, and clearly expressed their will at startup, you can start up even without saying anything. Even without shouting, it would retrofit.

Volume 10 - Question Corner 9
Q: Please tell us if there are any characters who are living in Tamakoma branch.

A: Branch Manager Rindō, Yōtarō, Jin, and Reiji-san live there, but rooms are provided for everyone and people like Konami or Usami frequently stay over. There are plans to provide rooms for Osamu, Yuuma, and Chika too.

Q: During the battle versus Lamvanein, Okudera-kun used Fullguard; does that mean you can use other triggers if you just put the Kogetsu in a sheath without deactivating it?

A: Even without putting it in a sheath you can turn the Kogetsu OFF, but the sharpness will become zero. You won’t be able to use it and you can’t deactivate it either so it’s a big hindrance. Deactivating the Kogetsu and then remaking one later when you need it again will mean it’s not a hindrance, but it will use up trion. It is the same as gun type triggers.

Q: Do trion organs decay with age?

A: It seems it slowly decays if it is not used. Using it maintains it to a certain extent.

Q: What is Osamu’s favourite out of his mother’s home-made dishes?

A: Cream croquettes. Even the white sauce is hand-made.

Q: Are all the agents from Mikado City?

A: Generally they are, but scouting occurs in other prefectures too so there are a small number from other regions.

Q: What is it called when shooters produce trion in cube form?

A: Trion cube, nata de coco (fermented coconut cubes), sugar cube, Suwa, tofu, etc. Everyone calls it whatever they want.

Q: While Chameleon is in use, can Hound bullets track you? And do you show up on Radar?

A: Hound bullets that use ‘Sensor Guidance’ can, but usually they are intercepted by walls and so on. Even during Stealth Mode, you still show up on Radar, so it’s possible to use that to make a rough counter-attack.

Q: Yūma’s C-rank uniform is black; was this also specially arranged by Jin-san?

A: It seems to be something that Yūma’s father, Yūgo, had configured a long time ago. It is a remnant from the times of Old Border.

Q: Why is Suwa-san smoking even though he’s in a trion body?

A: It’s to show off. Since there have been no depictions of ashtrays, there is also the possibility that it might not actually be a cigarette.

Volume 10 - Q&A from Jump Festa 2015
Q: Can Replica eat food?? A: He cannot gain nutrition from food, but as a poison taster he can eat it. Good for survival.

Q: What’s the reason behind Jin-san’s sunglasses not slipping? A: It’s connected at the back.

Q: Can Replica sleep? A: He doesn’t need to sleep to recharge, but he does have a ‘sleep mode’-like feature. To stay out of the way when he isn’t needed, he is on standby (sleep mode) in the ring.

Q: Out of the current characters, who is about as strong as Yūgo? A: Yūgo was as strong as the current Shinoda-san. Four years ago, Yūgo would have been stronger, but Shinoda-san trained every day and caught up.

From Twitter - April 2014
Q: If you become B-rank or A-rank do you have to join units? (I want to read about the stories behind all the units’ formations) A: To participate in rank battles, at the very least you need one combatant and one operator. Naturally, it’s more advantageous to have more members, so a unit with few members is quite a thorny path in comparison.

From Twitter - August 2014
Q: How do you think of names for the characters? A: The surname is something easy and not too specific that suits the character. As for first names, I give them as I think of names parents would give their children.

Q: In the end, did Satori have to face any penalties after Chika blew a hole in the wall of HQ with that Ibis? A: It seems that, due to Azuma-san and Arashiyama covering for him, he got away with just a chop from Kinuta-san.

From Twitter - January 2015
Q: Are radars and wires option triggers? A: ‘Radar’ is a standard equipment trigger like trion bodies or the bailout function. ‘Spider’, a trigger that uses wires, is an option trigger.

Q: When enemies show up on radar, is it possible to use that to snipe? A: Compass points are displayed on radar, but not elevation, so it seems impossible. Combined with the topography data that operators have, it is possible to grasp the approximate location of the mark, but it would be hard to pinpoint a human-sized opponent this way.

From Twitter - February 2015
Q: Can’t you train your trion organ in Virtual Combat Mode? A: You can’t. You can only train your reflexes and increase combat experience in virtual mode. Trion organs can only be trained through using trion.

Q: Is Kunichika from Hokkaido? (trans: a reference to the fact that her favourite food is ishigari nabe/salmon hotpot, a traditional Hokkaido dish) A: Her mother is. Her parents would send salmon hotpot sets, sea urchins, crabs, salmon roe and so on to them. Everyone eats them together.

Q: What is the difference between Shield, Raygust (shield version), and Escudo? A: Shield: Can change shape. Durability changes according to the size of the surface area. Moving it lowers the durability. Raygust: Can change shape. Durability changes a little according to the size of the surface area. Even if you wave it around in your hand the durability will not change. Escudo: Cannot change shape. Cannot be moved. High durability. Needs a place (such as a wall or floor) to grow out of.

Q: C-rank members are only supposed to have one weapon trigger, but why did Chika train with a bagworm on at Tamakoma? A:That was a Tamakoma trigger that Reiji-san provided to drive the foundations of sniping into her. It is set with the three types of sniper rifles and bagworm.

Q: Can Escudo defend from Lead Bullets? A: Escudo converts trion into a material form, so it can. It is treated the same as blocking Lead Bullets with walls or buildings.