WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Tokyo 24th Ward Episode 7, "Golden Sunrise," now streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
The 24th ward of Tokyo is still mired in controversy and debate in Episode 7, and in the wake of the violent "Drug D" epidemic in that ward, a new battle soon unfolds. Shuta and his friends have already taken down the rogue hacker Kunai, but now a familiar threat returns, armed with the power of graffiti.
In the 24th ward, graffiti is more than counterculture street art or pranks. Here, graffiti is more akin to propaganda, and the messages in that street art can sway the minds of hundreds of people one way or another. This is why Aoi Shuta and his old enemy Carneades fight so hard to dominate the graffiti scene in Episode 7.
Carneades made his big debut when he used a surprise tornado to strike during the GourFes event, which claimed the life of Mr. Kaba, Kozue's father, and he presented a distinct emblem on the TV when he taunted Shuta and his two friends that day. Ever since then, the mysterious Carneades seemed to fall silent, but now he returns, meaner than ever. Shuta doesn't yet know who Carneades is or what his goal might be, but he does know that Carneades is determined to sway the minds of everyone in the 24th ward. Street by street, Carneades overwrites Ran's inspiring graffiti about Mr. Kaba's heroic sacrifice, and he even overwrites graffiti about the controversial KANAE system too. Ran's friends notice this trend as well.
In a tense place like the 24th ward, public opinions mean everything, and graffiti is an excellent way for parties such as Ran and Carneades to promote their message and reshape the ward in their image. Even if Carneades' goal is unknown, his methods may prove effective, and it's hampering Shuta's morale in a big way. Carneades seems determined to undermine the ward and stir its people into a frenzy while robbing them of any and all symbols of hope and unity. Perhaps Carneades wants the people to revolt against the ward's admittedly heavy-handed government, or Carneades may simply be an anarchist who wants to prove a point with the chaos, Joker-style. And his graffiti is the essential first step.
Carneades' graffiti campaign not only emphasizes the philosophical cyberpunk themes of Tokyo 24th Ward, but it also means something for Shuta personally. Shuta is an aspiring hero who wants to keep the peace in this ward, and he and Ran aimed to inspire the people with graffiti of Mr. Kaba's heroic actions during GourFes. Then Carneades arrived and started ruining it, and in Episode 7, Shuta resolves to face this mysterious foe so he can reclaim the streets and protect the people from tyranny and fear. Shuta sees the late Mr. Kaba as a symbol for the ward, and icons like that must not be erased under any circumstances. Ran's graffiti must stand.
At the same time, Shuta finds himself torn between his two friends, with Ran's group encouraging him to become a rebel and Koki sticking to SARG and supporting the government as an insider. Shuta wants to maintain a balance and not go too far in either direction, but this graffiti war draws him closer to Ran's side since Ran was the one who drew Mr. Kaba in the first place. Shuta isn't certain that SARG can protect the people and their hope, but Ran's graffiti can, and Shuta can do something about that.
For now, Shuta appears split 60/40 in Ran's favor, and with that in mind, he storms into a certain building to face his enemy. Inside, he confronts Ran's old mentor 0th, who appears to be on Carneades' side, and Shuta may soon find out why 0th is fighting for that terrorist. Or perhaps he is Carneades. Either way, Shuta is certainly about to get some answers, moving one step closer to restoring peace in this troubled ward.
