The Most Tragic Master: Tsubaki Kuruoka and her "Beautiful Hell"

Who is Tsubaki Kuruoka? Explore her unusual role in the Snowfield Holy Grail War, her tragic backstory, and the dark truth behind her manifestations in Fate/strange Fake.

Among all the characters that have appeared in the anime Fate/strange Fake, one of the "Fake" Masters, Tsubaki Kuruoka, is definitely the youngest and most innocent. Throughout the series, Tsubaki looks adorable and unassuming; she doesn't seem to have any special abilities or the potential to win the Snowfield Holy Grail War. However, she actually possesses the wildest Servant of all—one that has created a "beautiful hell" for her and dragged many others into it.

While she didn't realize it, our little Tsubaki is simultaneously the luckiest and unluckiest character. You may wonder what I mean: as someone who is unconscious, she cannot even have pleasant dreams. In fact, throughout episode 11 of the Fate/strange Fake anime, our little Tsubaki is constantly crying, wandering through an empty town all by herself. Tsubaki has been through so much since she was little.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

Although everything happened while she was unconscious, she met a powerful Servant in her dreams and formed a strong partnership with it. With this Servant, "Mr. Black," our little Tsubaki is finally able to have nice dreams and live a happy life filled with loving parents, cute animals, and a friend who fulfills her every wish. What else could you ask for from a Servant? By meeting "Mr. Black," our little Tsubaki has truly become the luckiest girl.

Unfortunately, every wish comes with a cost. While Tsubaki has fulfilled her deepest desires, her Servant has wreaked havoc on the real world and dragged numerous forces into her "beautiful dream." Now that "Mr. Black" has pulled so many characters into this dream world, the "True Boss" for everyone is no longer the "Fake" Archer, Gilgamesh, or even the "True" Goddess, Philia (Ishtar), it is Tsubaki's team. Tsubaki hasn't done anything wrong, yet suddenly everyone is searching for her, and some are even trying to kill her. From her perspective, how is she anything but the unluckiest girl?

Tsubaki isn't just a Master or a minor character in Fate/strange Fake; she is a hidden threat to every team. She is definitely a character worth discussing and diving deep into. It's not just the viewers who are invested; many characters within the anime are also curious to see what kind of ending awaits her. Before we dive in, please note that this post only covers the Fate/strange Fake anime. Even though the story exists as a light novel and manga, I am an "anime-only" viewer and will be sharing my opinions based solely on the show. Additionally, please be aware that this post contains episodic spoilers. If you haven't watched the latest episode or want to avoid spoilers entirely, stop scrolling and leave now!

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

The worst parents and the Fate universe:

Tsubaki Kuruoka definitely has the worst parents in Fate/strange Fake. While one of the "True" Masters, Sigma, also had a difficult past, his parents didn't intentionally set him up for ruin. In contrast, the Kuruoka couple inflicted all kinds of terrible things on their only child. Tsubaki didn't fall into an unconscious state because of the magical world or some rival mage; her own parents caused her suffering.

Tsubaki's parents are "typical" mages: they don't view their daughter as a child to be loved, but as a tool for research to dive deeper into the world of magecraft. As we know, the Holy Grail War system was created by the Three Founding Families: the Einzberns, the Tohsakas, and the Makiri (also known as the Matou). These three families are incredibly famous and powerful in the world of magic, and Tsubaki's father, Yuukaku Kuruoka, was always obsessed with trying to surpass the Makiri family.

The Three Founding Families aren't enemies you can easily defeat. They have the resources, the magical power, the wealth, and—more importantly—they are "crazy" enough to sacrifice their own children to achieve their goals. When an opponent is stronger, has more resources, and is willing to play dirty, it is incredibly difficult for any tricks used against them to have much effect.

It is a tragedy that Yuukaku focused only on an enemy he couldn't defeat, rather than putting any effort into his own daughter. While it's hard to find parents worse than the Kuruoka couple in Fate/strange Fake, they are unfortunately quite common throughout the wider Fate universe. There are two characters in particular from the Fate franchise I want to share who are just as sick as the Kuruokas.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

The first character I want to discuss is Tokiomi Tohsaka from Fate/Zero. Tokiomi was a Master in the Fourth Fuyuki Holy Grail War and famously formed a partnership with the "Fake" Archer, Gilgamesh. Although Tokiomi looks like a sophisticated gentleman, he is actually a cold-hearted parent who gave away his own biological daughter to a family that uses insects in their magecraft.

Tokiomi has two very famous daughters within the Fate universe: one is Rin Tohsaka, whose name appears in episode 12 of the Fate/strange Fake anime, and the other is Sakura Matou, one of Shirou Emiya's love interests from Fate/stay night. Despite Sakura being his own child, Tokiomi gave her to the Matou/Makiri family and allowed them to do whatever they wanted to her. This part of Fate/Zero is incredibly dark; the specifics of what she endured are so disturbing that you're left to fill them in with your own imagination.

For those who haven't played FGO, this will be a spoiler, but Marisbury is essentially as twisted as the Kuruokas. The only difference is that the Kuruoka couple personally did terrible things to Tsubaki, whereas Marisbury allowed others to do whatever they wanted to his daughter, Olga Marie Animusphere. Both the Kuruokas and Marisbury refused to see their daughters as children, treating them only as tools. As a result, Tsubaki was driven into an unconscious state by her parents, while Olga Marie ended up dying at the conclusion of those experiments.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

Human Experiments and the Twisted Fate Universe:

In episode 12 of the Fate/strange Fake anime, Tsubaki's father, Yuukaku Kuruoka, explains to the "True" Master, Sigma, how Tsubaki became a Master. Because he is so obsessed with surpassing the Makiri family, Yuukaku is constantly searching for new methods—or rather, new "tricks"—to defeat them.

Normally, there is no simple shortcut to surpassing a family as powerful as the Makiri, but because Fate/strange Fake takes place in the Fate universe, the impossible becomes possible. Yuukaku discovered a virus in some Latin American ruins; after realizing its potential, the Kuruoka couple deliberately infected Tsubaki's body with it.

After the injection, Tsubaki "awakened" and became a Master in the Holy Grail War. The Kuruoka couple's wish was fulfilled, but because the infection was so potent, it also ravaged Tsubaki's brain, leaving her in a permanent unconscious state. Even after his daughter fell into this coma because of the bacteria he brought back, Yuukaku felt no shame or guilt. Instead, he felt incredibly proud, believing they had finally evolved into a superior mage family.

Infecting one's own daughter is so sickening that even Sigma was left speechless upon hearing Yuukaku's explanation. While viewers and normal characters cannot fathom doing such things to a family member, these kinds of human experiments are unfortunately quite "normal" in the Fate universe.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

The ultimate example of experimenting on the human body is the Makiri/Matou family. For those who haven't watched Fate/Zero, I strongly suggest you do. Although it is quite dark, it introduces vital information about the Fate universe and reveals the horrific reality of the Matou family's insect-based magecraft.

As members of the Matou household, both Sakura Matou and one of the Masters of the Fourth Fuyuki Holy Grail War, Kariya Matou, had their bodies subjected to these experiments. It may be hard to believe, but both Sakura and Kariya were essentially host bodies for these insects. Because of this, Kariya's body became incredibly frail, making him look as though he were constantly on the verge of death.

Much like our little Tsubaki, having foreign objects overrun one's body results in significantly expanded Magic Circuits and magical potential. This is what allowed Tsubaki to form a partnership with "Mr. Black" and let it use its full power, just as Kariya was able to unleash the true strength of his Berserker.

While these kinds of experiments might seem like a "shortcut" to power, they are ultimately just cheap tricks. No matter how much Kariya suffered from the insects, his Servant still couldn't stand against Gilgamesh. The same applies to Tsubaki: while the true form of "Mr. Black" is terrifying, "adult" teams like Alcides, Bazdilot Cordelion, and Philia/Ishtar still have many ways to win. Whether it's a coincidence or an intentional message—similar to how Sigma's former organization was also destroyed—Fate works always seem to suggest that while human experimentation exists, it is ultimately futile and never lasts long.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

The Partnership Between "Mr. Black" and Little Tsubaki:

To truly understand our little Tsubaki, we must look closely at her Servant, "Mr. Black." As the name suggests, it is an entity of pure black with three white lines on its head. While "Mr. Black" doesn't look traditionally scary, it is definitely not something you would want to befriend, primarily because it is impossible to know what it is thinking.

At first, I thought "Mr. Black" couldn't talk, since it always just sits by Tsubaki's side, expressionless and silent. However, it turns out that "Mr. Black" can indeed speak. In Episode 11 of Fate/strange Fake, it asks Tsubaki that iconic, all-important question: "I ask you, are you my Master?" While that scene felt creepy to me, seeing a massive, void-like entity asking such a question—it likely brought relief to someone as traumatised as Tsubaki. To her, it meant she was no longer alone in her world.

While it still seems strange to imagine a void-like entity moving around you, we can actually understand Tsubaki's feelings. She doesn't realize she is dreaming; instead, she believes her parents have abandoned her and everyone in Snowfield has left her behind. In her position, logical thinking is no longer her priority—what she needs is something that will never leave her. This desperate need created a strange and unique bond between her and "Mr. Black."

In other Fate works, there are often Masters who treat their Servants poorly, viewing them as nothing more than "servants" without respect. In the end, most Master-Servant relationships function like a business partnership. Both sides are only able to participate in the Holy Grail War and grant their wishes because of the other; to achieve their goals, they must work together just like business partners.

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On AnimeOshi, 202 scouts have left their reviews on Fate/strange Fake, and Episode 11 has achieved a perfect 100% score, be sure to watch it if you haven't!

Besides Tsubaki, "Mr. Black" could never have found another Master, as an entity like that cannot be summoned through a standard Holy Grail War ritual. On the other hand, Tsubaki could not have found any other Servant except "Mr. Black"; it is the only one that doesn't require a formal ritual and is content to simply stay by her side and grant her every wish.

"Mr. Black" needs Tsubaki to exist, while Tsubaki needs "Mr. Black" to maintain her pleasant dreams. This mutual need has led them to form a much more solid partnership than the other teams. Compared to the other competitors in the Snowfield Holy Grail War—where communication issues often lead to Servants killing their Masters, Masters refusing to listen, or Servants acting recklessly—Tsubaki and her Servant are perfectly aligned. You can see this instability in teams like Ayaka Sajyou and Saber, or the toxic dynamic between Jester Karture and "Fake" Assassin.

"Mr. Black" won't betray Tsubaki, and Tsubaki would never ask "Mr. Black" to kill itself, as they both need each other to exist in that empty dream world. "Mr. Black" even protects Tsubaki automatically; for example, in Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, because Tsubaki was afraid of the lightning, "Mr. Black" jumped out to scare away the "Fake" Lancer. On the other hand, Tsubaki would never blame or scold "Mr. Black" for using her magical energy. Even though dragging others into the dream world surely consumes a vast amount of her power, she is always happy to give everything she has to "Mr. Black."

One could argue that "Mr. Black" only takes care of Tsubaki to ensure its own continued existence, but the facts from Episode 12 suggest otherwise. It seems "Mr. Black" truly views Tsubaki as a friend and is even willing to reveal its true form to secure the Holy Grail for her.

On AnimeOshi, 10 scouts have left their reviews on Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, and Episode 12 currently holds a 100% score, be sure to watch it!

The Dreaming Girl's Innocent Wish and Her Granting Knight:

Although it is difficult for both the audience and the other characters to trust a mysterious entity like "Mr. Black," he truly views Tsubaki as a friend. Even though he is mostly silent—and the "Fake" Assassin even mentioned that he doesn't seem to have thoughts—two specific moments in the anime prove he cares for her. The first is the flower wreath Tsubaki made in the garden.

I realized this detail after Episode 12 aired. Episodes 11 and 12 of Fate/strange Fake should really be watched together; doing so makes much more sense for the story and the development of the bond between Tsubaki and "Mr. Black." In Episode 11, Tsubaki seems happy that her house is full of people, though she may also be worried that these newcomers will eventually leave. While the scene doesn't explicitly state her thoughts, she asks "Mr. Black" if he remembers their first encounter—the time she used flowers to create a wreath for him.

After Tsubaki asks her question, "Mr. Black" suddenly disappears. Because he doesn't give her a verbal response, Tsubaki fears he has abandoned her just like everyone else—but the truth is actually the opposite. In Episode 12, if you look closely at "Mr. Black's" head, you can see the flower wreath resting there. This indirectly gives us the answer we need: "Mr. Black" understands everything Tsubaki says, accepts all her wishes, and truly appreciates what she has done for him.

While his sudden disappearance makes Tsubaki feel abandoned, "Mr. Black" has actually gone to eliminate her enemies, since everyone is discussing killing her. Because Ayaka Sajyou and "True" Saber don't fully understand the situation, it's natural for them to consider taking Tsubaki down. Of course, as a loyal Servant, once you hear someone plotting against your Master, you must act. Consequently, "Mr. Black" summons the monster Cerberus to attack "True" Saber's side, leading directly to the massive battle in Episodes 11 and 12.

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Between the flower wreath scene and the later moment where "Mr. Black" reveals his true form to join the Holy Grail War, it is clear that he functions as a wish-granting machine for Tsubaki. One could argue that he does these things simply to remain in the dream world or to use Tsubaki as a catalyst to gain knowledge. However, even if "Mr. Black" has his own hidden agenda, we cannot deny that he genuinely wants Tsubaki to survive—for better or worse.

When Tsubaki was frightened by lightning, he immediately moved to challenge "Fake" Lancer and Archer. When the others discussed killing her, he acted without hesitation. Even when Tsubaki declared her "grand dream" of becoming a magician, he immediately revealed his true form. At the very least, we know that "Mr. Black" cares for Tsubaki and prioritizes her dreams above all else.

As I mentioned earlier, the relationship between a Master and Servant is often a business partnership—nothing more, nothing less. While using little Tsubaki might make "Mr. Black" seem like a "bad" character, we must remember that this is the Holy Grail War. Within the Fate universe, there are far worse teams in other works. The best example for understanding the "dirtiness" of this universe is always Fate/Zero.

Throughout that series, although Tokiomi Tohsaka always seems to be listening to and obeying Archer, he is secretly planning to use a Command Spell to force Archer to commit suicide so he can claim the Holy Grail. Another great example is the teacher of Waver Velvet, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. While we can understand his desperation after being threatened, he still forced his Lancer to kill himself just so Kiritsugu Emiya would spare his wife's life. The final example is, of course, Kiritsugu Emiya and his Saber. They have zero cooperation throughout the anime; the most ironic part is that Saber always wants to fight other Servants fairly, while Kiritsugu thinks that is foolish. He constantly assassinates Masters without even informing Saber. In the Fate universe, every character has their own goals. No one is purely "justice" and no one is "right"—in the end, everyone plays dirty for the sake of the Holy Grail.

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The Only Master with Two Servants?:

In episode 12 of the Fate/strange Fake anime, we saw our little Tsubaki make contact with another Servant—one who seems to be related to a god. This is highly unusual; in a standard Holy Grail War, one Master can only contract with one Servant. While mature adults like Kirei Kotomine are known for "playing with the rules" to manage multiple Servants, Tsubaki is completely different from someone like Kirei. She isn't a schemer, so she isn't intentionally breaking the rules like he does.

While the rule remains "one Master, one Servant," the fact that Tsubaki has contacted another Servant is undeniable—as is the fact that this Servant seems to want to help her. Right now, it truly feels as though our little Tsubaki has two Servants on her side. Logically, we know this shouldn't be possible, so the question remains: how can Tsubaki be in contact with two Servants, and why do they both seem to be her allies?

Within the entire Fate universe, Tsubaki's case is quite special and unique, as her participation could almost be counted as two separate teams with two Servants. In Episode 11, we saw that Tsubaki formed a unique partnership with "Mr. Black," and they have become a powerful team since then—but that was largely a coincidence. In fact, two coincidences happened simultaneously: first, Tsubaki's magical potential grew enough for her to become a Master even while unconscious; second, "Mr. Black" happened to answer her wishes.

Because Tsubaki is unconscious, there was no way for her to prepare a catalyst or perform the formal summoning ritual for "Mr. Black." Their "partnership" was purely accidental. While the anime focuses mainly on Tsubaki's perspective, a lot was happening behind the scenes. Originally, the intended participants for the Snowfield Holy Grail War were not Tsubaki, but her terrible parents. They were the ones meant to compete; in fact, at the beginning, Faldeus Dioland had marked the Kuruoka couple as potential enemies, not a young girl in a coma.

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As many may have forgotten, the intended participants in this Snowfield Holy Grail War were the Kuruoka couple, not Tsubaki. Since the Kuruokas are functioning mages, they were capable of performing the formal summoning ritual, which required them to prepare a catalyst. Therefore, there was supposed to be a team consisting of the Kuruoka couple and the Heroic Spirit that answered their call. Although the anime didn't explicitly show what they prepared, hints from Episode 12 suggest that the orange bow was the intended catalyst.

Why can the orange bow be considered their catalyst? In Episode 12, we see the bow stored in an experiment room—a place Tsubaki would not visit often. In that same episode, when Tsubaki looks at the laboratory equipment, she is visibly terrified and begins to cry. Given that she loses her composure despite being in her own home, we can assume this laboratory is where the Kuruoka couple hid their secrets, and it is likely a place of trauma that Tsubaki had tried to erase from her memory.

The mysterious Servant is called Jiao (鮫, pronounced Koi in Japanese). While her identity remains unknown, the fact that she only appears in that specific room, and that the only object she tries to pass on is the orange bow, suggests the bow is indeed her catalyst. Although the anime hasn't explained it yet, I believe the reason Jiao only recently contacted Tsubaki, and why she disappears so suddenly, is due to the influence of "Mr. Black."

It is possible that "Mr. Black" is constantly trying to learn from Tsubaki, or perhaps he truly cares for her and refuses to leave her side. Regardless, his presence is always surrounding Tsubaki, making it difficult for Jiao to make contact. However, after the events of Episode 11, numerous people entered the Dream World to kill Tsubaki. Since "Mr. Black" had to leave her side to deal with them, it finally gave Jiao the space she needed to reach out. Many things about Jiao remain a mystery, but as figures like Waver Velvet step in to help, we can only hope that Jiao truly intends to protect Tsubaki, rather than betraying her like her terrible parents did.

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Conclusion:

Thanks to "Mr. Black," our little Tsubaki has finally been freed from her worst nightmares and is able to have sweet dreams. As characters like Sigma and "Fake" Assassin enter the Dream World, the realization that Tsubaki is simply trying to dream, and has no interest in the Holy Grail War forces them to hesitate. They must decide whether to take the "easy" way by killing her, or to find a more difficult path to save her.

Since the final part of Fate/strange Fake focuses so heavily on Tsubaki, we as viewers are naturally anxious to see what kind of ending she will have. While logic suggests it will be difficult for her to find a truly "happy" ending, the fact that Waver and Flat Escardos are standing by her side gives us hope. No matter what happens in the next episode, I believe they will do everything in their power to help her.

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Thanks for reading this post! I will be publishing more content soon, including plot explanations, character deep-dives, and much more, so please stay tuned. While you wait for my next post, feel free to leave as many episodic reviews as possible, as there are plenty