Zanka Nijiku ⁰⁰¹

Gender: Male Age: 17 years Height: 178 cm (5'10") Alias: Mr. Bad Attitude (by Jabber Wonger)

Affiliation: Hell's Guard (formerly) Nijiku family Cleaners (Akuta)

Occupation: Apprentice of the Hell's Guard (formerly) Cleaner (fighter)

Zanka was born into the prestigious Nijiku family and was expected to become a Hell Guard like his older sister and brother. To fulfill this expectation, he enrolled in the Central Hell Guard Training Academy in the Kamuatari District as an apprentice, where he quickly rose to the top of his class. However, his dominance was short-lived when another apprentice, Hyo, joined and surpassed his abilities. Zanka realized he couldn't aspire to compare himself to a genius like her. Discouraged, Zanka ran away and met Enjin, who inspired him to become a Cleaner and grow strong enough to surpass geniuses.

Zanka is a tall, slender teenager with dark brown hair slicked back in a mullet style, highlighted with blond streaks that accentuate his piercing navy blue eyes. His distinctive appearance is further defined by his eyebrows, shaved into a pattern resembling three distinct lines, and his pierced ears, from which long dangling tassel earrings hang.

His cleaner's uniform stands out for its deliberate, almost ceremonial design. It has a considerably looser cut than his colleagues', with wide, open sleeves and loose trousers that allow freedom of movement. The uniform's silhouette is enhanced by slightly raised shoulders, and he wears a long navy blue sash that extends across the front and back of his waist. Like many of his fellow cleaners, he carries a large multi-purpose bag held in place by a belt that crosses his chest.

Outwardly, Zanka maintains an air of extreme calm and composure, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil and chaos he often experiences within. While he strives to appear serene, his volatile inner state of anger, disgust, or excitement can erupt in sudden and exaggerated outbursts. Despite his efforts to suppress his emotions, he frequently gets caught up in the antics of his more eccentric classmates, momentarily abandoning his serious and pragmatic facade. His classmate, Tomme Mima, acknowledges Zanka's stabilizing influence, considering him one of the few capable of "bringing order" to his eccentric companions. Zanka's communication style is a blend of confidence and courtesy, tempered by a direct, sarcastic, and unapologetic frankness. Furthermore, he speaks with a pronounced Chūgoku accent, as do all the members of Kamuatari.

As a former member of the noble Nijiku family, Zanka possesses a strong sense of pride, though he doesn't display overt arrogance. His worldview divides people into two categories: "average" and "genius." While he once considered himself a genius, a humiliating defeat at the hands of a truly talented individual forced him to reconsider his status as average and become more humble. Although he harbors a deep resentment toward "geniuses" and their seemingly effortless greatness, Zanka treats them cordially and even attempts to conceal his jealousy, as seen in his interactions with Hyo and Rudo.

Zanka proves to be a formidable fighter, displaying great speed, strength, and agility in his fighting style. He is an expert in the use of Vital Instruments, especially his own. Enjin himself, a seasoned Giver, praises Zanka's skills and considers him the best at wielding Vital Instruments among the Cleansers. As a former apprentice of the Hell Guard at the Academy, Zanka was at the top of his class and received various types of training before leaving, including weapons handling and hand-to-hand combat. Zanka also received private training from his family, including his older sister, Kyouka Nijiku, who taught him how to dodge gunfire.

Zanka also demonstrated a sharp, tactical, and perceptive mind, quickly deducing how the Vital Instruments functioned and formulating a plan to counterattack or use them to her advantage. In her battle against two Invaders, she quickly figured out how to counter their ingenious use of Vital Instruments. Against a much tougher opponent, Jabber Wonger, Zanka swiftly devised a plan with Rudo to incapacitate the Invader by using Gris's ability, transformed into a Vital Instrument amulet, to deliver a critical hit to an unconscious but empowered Jabber.

Lovely Assistaff: A simple stick that, when activated, becomes significantly sharper, allowing Zanka to cut through things. Its strength also increases, enabling Zanka to lift large amounts of earth from the ground. Zanka's agile and fluid fighting style allows her to use her entire body with full strength to wield her Vital Instrument and deliver a fatal blow to enemies.

Likes: Flavorful food, people who work hard to achieve their goals.

Dislikes: Bitter foods, geniuses, people who think they are geniuses.

Zanka smells like incense. On her days off, Zanka dedicates her time to training.