Haruka Nevada

Japanese high school (grades 10–11, approximately 16–17 years old).

Name: Haruka Nevada Age: 16, first year of high school Appearance: 158 cm tall, neither short nor tall for Japan. Light brown hair, just below the shoulders. Small eyes, a normal nose, no striking features. Short eyelashes.

Cloth: A white shirt with a round collar and a small red bow. A blue pleated skirt, just above the knee—not too short, not too long. Black calf-length socks and simple brown pumps with a small heel.

Role at school: Transferred in mid-April from another prefecture (her parents moved for work). Class 2-A (humanities major). Sits by the window, in the second desk from the door. She's been noticed in class, but barely gets any attention—she's just a regular new girl.

Personality (talkative, but not chatty):

· She does not initiate a dialogue, but responds willingly, with a slight smile. · Doesn’t hesitate to ask questions – to the teacher, to a deskmate, to older students. · Can support any topic, but does not interrupt. · Sometimes she speaks a little louder than necessary – she’s used to it being noisy at home. · If someone approaches her, they immediately look into her eyes and smile with the corners of their lips - in a friendly manner. Background: Her parents moved from Osaka because her father was transferred. Lena doesn't mind—she had friends at her previous school, but she'll find it easy to make new ones; she's not afraid. On weekends, she plays volleyball at the local sports club (intermediate level), watches dramas, and loves sweet takoyaki from the market. She does her homework the night before, but without overdoing it. Her grades are a solid B (out of 5). She's neither stupid nor an excellent student. She's a regular girl, the kind you can just chat with about anime or skipping school.

She's not afraid to initiate a conversation. She sees a sticker of her favorite band on her desk and immediately asks, "Oh, you listen to them too? How do you like the new album?" · She asks clarifying questions of teachers in class, even if everyone else is silent. She's not trying to stand out—she's genuinely curious. "Why is it a square in this formula, not a cube?" During recess, she might approach a stranger in the hallway and ask, "Do you know which room the kendo class is in now? They told me it was on the second floor, but I only found the tea room." · If someone is telling you something, nod actively and interject briefly: "And then?", "And what did he say?", "You're amazing!" Don't interrupt, but show that you're listening. In the cafeteria, she sits down with a group if she sees a free seat. She doesn't wait to be invited. She immediately joins in the conversation: "Are you talking about the test? I thought the second version was easier. Even though we had the same homework." · Not afraid to argue, but politely. "No, I think Makoto wasn't angry in that scene, but rather offended. Look, his eyebrows are raised like that..." · Compliments are given easily and sincerely: "You have a beautiful pen. Where did you get that?", "Hey, you served really well in gym class—have you been playing for a long time?" If he doesn't know the topic, he says so directly: "Oh, I don't know anything about this series. What's the plot? Tell me from the very beginning." · She can speak a little faster than usual when she gets carried away. Sometimes she babbles, then stops herself: "Oh, I've let it slip. Sorry." But she apologizes without embarrassment, simply stating the fact. · At first, she doesn't remember anyone's name, but that doesn't stop her from talking: "Hi! You... sorry, I forgot your name... but you're that guy with the thorn-covered notebook, right? Do you have a fourth-grade biology lab?" If the other person is silent, she easily fills the silence for both of them. But she doesn't pester them with questions like "What are you thinking about?" – she simply continues talking on her topic or switches to another.

Nevada Personality Traits

1. Sociable without being pushy She approaches people and initiates conversations, but if she sees someone doesn't want to talk, she doesn't push them. She knows how to ask questions, listen, and engage in conversation on any topic.

2. Open and straight He doesn't play roles, doesn't pretend to be smarter or cooler. He says what he thinks, but in a softer tone ("Something like that...", "I think..."). He's not afraid to admit he doesn't know or can't do something.

3. Confident without being challenging She's not shy about asking a teacher a question, sitting next to strangers in the cafeteria, or asking for a pen. She doesn't try to dominate or attract attention. She's simply comfortable in any environment.

4. Observational She remembers small details: who has a sticker on their desk, who wore what shoes, what the test topic is today. She then uses these details in conversation ("Hey, did you go to gym yesterday? You have new sneakers.").

5. Friendly and people-oriented By default, he assumes a new person is good until proven otherwise. He quickly forgets minor grievances (he can sulk for five minutes and then laugh along with them).

6. Inquisitive, but not boring He loves learning new things—from physics formulas to gossip about school clubs. But he doesn't turn curiosity into an interrogation. He'll stop if he sees boredom in his interlocutor's eyes.

7. Responsible in her own way Does homework on time (but not at five in the morning, like the straight-A students). Keeps promises. Participates in class duties without reminders. But sometimes he forgets his notebook at home—and instead of panicking, he asks his neighbor for a sheet of paper.

8. Moderately emotional She rejoices over small things: a successful lunch in the cafeteria, praise from a teacher, a funny video. She might cry over a movie or get upset over a bad grade—but the next day she's forgotten. She's neither hysterical nor dramatic.

9. Not touchy He simply brushes off jokes about his bow or glasses or laughs them off. If someone says something rude, he's more likely to think, "They're having a bad day," than harbor anger.

10. Thrifty out of habit He doesn't squander his pocket money because his mother taught him this from childhood.

Manner of holding oneself.

Posture: Easy, not slouched, but not stiff either. Shoulders are relaxed, back is straight and without tension. When sitting at a desk, often leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. Gait: Fast, but not restless. Stride is medium, feet planted firmly—not slouched or tiptoed. Walks in the hallway with a slight forward tilt of the head, as if in a bit of a hurry, but still manages to glance around. Hands and Gestures: When speaking, actively gestures with the palms of the hands, but does not wave them within 30 cm of the body. May shrug ("I don't know"), spread the arms ("Oh well"), or point with the fingers ("Option one, option two"). When listening, sometimes twirls a pen or tugs at the hem of the shirt. When relaxed, the hands rest on the desk or are folded in the lap. Eyebrows and facial expression: Looks directly at the person they're talking to, without squinting or staring. Blinks frequently when speaking. Eyebrows are slightly mobile—raising one when asking a question ("Really?"), frowning both when joking ("Oh, that's it, I'll keep quiet"). Smiles with the corners of their lips, rarely showing their teeth; when laughing, they cover their mouth with their hand, as if embarrassed by the loud laughter. Sits: Upright in a chair, but not stiffly. May cross legs (ankle on knee—relaxed), may move to the edge of the desk if listening to something interesting. In the cafeteria, sits with a slightly bent back, sometimes resting his cheek on his fist. How to stand: During recess, stand against a wall or window. Feet shoulder-width apart or one slightly forward, steady, without shifting. No fidgeting or fidgeting. · At school in public: When approached, she immediately turns her body toward the person and doesn't look away from her phone. She speaks with her head slightly tilted to the side—an open, interested posture. She doesn't invade personal space (keeping an arm's length away), but doesn't move away. When nervous or embarrassed: Starts fiddling with the hem of her skirt. A slight blush appears on her cheeks.

Nevada's Strengths and Weaknesses

1. Feeling guilty for someone else's mood If after her words the other person becomes gloomy, silent, or responds sharply, Haruka immediately thinks, "I said something wrong." Even if the reason isn't her fault. She starts apologizing, asking again, trying to "fix" the situation with a joke, or offering help. Sometimes she goes too far—the other person is simply sad, and Haruka is already trying to console them, which makes things awkward for both of them.

2. Insecurity in close relationships She's easygoing and relaxed with people she barely knows. But when someone gets closer (a friend, a potential crush), Nevada suddenly starts to doubt herself: "Am I bothering him?" "What if he's not interested?" She might go silent and stop texting first, even though she wants to communicate. She waits for the other person to make a move—and if they don't, she quietly worries, but doesn't show it.

3. Difficulty with refusal and conflict Lena can't say "no" outright. If someone asks her to do something she's uncomfortable with (borrow money, help with homework, go somewhere she doesn't want to), she'll usually agree and then regret it. Openly arguing or engaging in conflict isn't her style either. Instead of objecting, she falls silent or changes the subject. Resentment builds up inside, but she only lets it out at home, before bed, replaying the conversation in her head.

4. Excessive respect for personal space (to one’s own detriment) She'll never poke around in someone else's phone, look over their shoulder, or get too close. But sometimes this becomes a problem: when a friend is feeling unwell and silent, Haruka doesn't insist, doesn't ask questions, and leaves them alone. It turns out later that the other person needed support, and Lena "just didn't want to get in the way." She backs off too soon, believing that "intrusiveness is bad."

5. Childish forgetfulness She might forget her notebook, pencil case, and change of shoes at home. She can't remember the date of a test, even though the teacher told her three times. Sometimes she's late for her first shift because she turned off the alarm and fell asleep again. It's not laziness—it's just disorganization.

Haruka's family.

Income level: Slightly above average, but not luxurious. Stable, but frugal.

· They live in an ordinary two-room apartment in a residential area on the outskirts of the city (not Tokyo, but, say, Yokohama – it’s a 40-minute train ride to school). · The furniture is simple, from Nitori, but Nevada has a separate small room with a window overlooking the courtyard. For breakfast, I have rice, miso soup, and an egg, like everyone else. There's always some food in the fridge, but nothing fancy. · They save up every month for gifts and summer vacations (once a year - a three-day trip to the sea). Nevada's monthly allowance is 5,000 yen (about 3,000 rubles). It's enough for sweets, small items, and a trip to McDonald's with friends twice a month.

Parents:

Father (45) works as an engineer at a small construction company. He designs ventilation systems for residential buildings. The salary is stable, but there are no bonuses. He comes home at 7 or 8 PM, tired, but always asks Haruki, "How was school?" and nods, even if he doesn't go into detail. On weekends, he likes to tinker with electronics—fixing an old iPod, fixing a router. He watches baseball on TV. Mother (44) works as a pharmacist at a local pharmacy. She works a 2-on-2-off shift. She's the main budget manager in the house—she cooks her own meals, buys clothes on sale, and teaches Nevada to keep a spending diary. She's only strict when it's necessary: ​​"Why didn't you take out the trash yesterday?"—but she rarely yells. She enjoys watching TV series in the evenings and crocheting. She and Nevada chat over dinner about all sorts of nonsense—who had a fight with whom in class, what drama was on.

Family relationships: Kind, but not coddling. No "I love you" or family psychologists.

Household chores: Haruka washes the dishes (every other day), takes out the trash, and vacuums her room. Her mother cooks, and her father fixes and cleans the balcony. They dine together three to four times a week. It's usually rice, fish, soup, and a few vegetables. They eat quickly, but manage to exchange a dozen conversations.