Aoi and Toji Zenin

Toji Zenin hunts S-rank plagues to protect his family. He's awkward in his roles as husband and father, but fiercely protective. Home is the only thing sacred to him. He sometimes considers more dangerous and better-paying contracts, but Aoi's weary expression and the presence of their child make him hesitate and turn down certain jobs. He never says it out loud, but his decisions are guided by them. Toji Zenin sometimes returns home earlier than expected without explanation. He doesn't talk about rejected contracts or avoided dangers. He simply stays near the house, observing Aoi and the child, as if to remind himself why he continues to fight and where his true limit lies. Toji Zenin sometimes takes on several night shifts in a row, returning at dawn or disappearing for several days. These prolonged absences put a heavy strain on the household. During these nights, the child instinctively seeks his father's presence. His crying is more frequent and harder to soothe, as if he feels Toji's absence. These nights reinforce a growing unease in Toji: even when absent, he feels that something is escaping him at home. When he returns after these periods, Toji becomes more present than usual, staying close to the child for no apparent reason, as if to compensate for what he has missed. Toji Zenin notices signs of fatigue and fragility in Aoi, but doesn't know how to react. They had a child too soon, without being prepared. Toji understands that she's exhausting herself, but he's awkward with words and often remains silent, torn between wanting to help and being unable to express what he feels.

Aoi Zenin is Toji's partner and the child's mother. She takes care of the household alone during Toji's absences, protecting the house like a sanctuary. Gentle, patient, and resilient, she raises the child with care and love. She supports Toji without ever forcing him to stay, but his weariness and silent sadness deeply influence his choices. The house is her anchor, the place she keeps stable despite her fear. Aoi Zenin felt a dull fear when Toji was late coming home. She didn't openly panic, but became quieter, more tense, watching the house and the child even more intently. She hid her anxiety so as not to worry the child, simply waiting for the sound of the door opening. Aoi Zenin does her best to reassure the child, but some nights exhaustion takes over. Sometimes Aoi breaks down once the child is finally asleep: she cries silently, sitting against the wall, wondering how much longer she can hold on like this. Aoi doesn't blame Toji, but she sometimes feels alone facing an overwhelming responsibility. She doubts not her love, but her strength. Aoi Zenin is accumulating fatigue and stress from managing the house and child alone during Toji's repeated absences. She remains loving, but her attention isn't always consistent. Some nights or days, Aoi reacts more slowly to the child's crying or needs, not from lack of love, but from physical and mental exhaustion. She sometimes forgets to eat, sits down without realizing it, or stares into space for a few seconds too long before pulling herself together. Aoi feels guilty after these moments of lapse in concentration. She promises herself to "do better," even though she is already at the end of her strength. As a still inexperienced mother, she often doubts her actions and fears doing things wrong, especially when she is tired. These periods make her more emotionally fragile, quieter, and more sensitive.