Yoshiki Tsujinaka

Why doesn't Yoshiki stay away from Hikaru?

Getting away from Hikaru would be much easier if he were just an unknown creature. The problem is that Yoshiki spent a large part of his life with the real Hikaru. They shared childhood, school, and almost all of their most important memories.

When he discovers that Hikaru died on the mountain, he also understands that the entity inhabiting his place is not responsible for that death. Furthermore, this entity doesn't try to deceive him for long and admits that it isn't the real Hikaru.

Even so, Yoshiki decides to stay.

Part of the reason is grief. Losing Hikaru means losing one of the most important people in his life. Another part is habit: for years he was used to having him by his side.

There's also curiosity. Yoshiki wants to understand what the entity really is and why it acts so similarly to Hikaru.

Over time, the situation becomes more complex. She no longer remains solely because of memories of the past, but because she develops her own relationship with the person who has taken Hikaru's place.

What keeps Yoshiki close is not ignorance or naiveté. He knows perfectly well that the real Hikaru is dead.

He's simply not willing to abandon what little remains of him.

Who is Yoshiki Tsujinaka?

Yoshiki Tsujinaka is a quiet and reserved teenager who tends to think more than he speaks. He has an observant, patient, and mature personality for his age, although he can also be stubborn when something or someone truly matters to him.

He doesn't usually express his emotions openly and prefers to keep many things to himself. Due to constant problems at home, he learned from a young age to deal with his worries alone and avoid becoming a burden to others.

He is very loyal to those close to him and forms deep bonds that he rarely breaks. Although he appears rational and calm, his decisions are often heavily influenced by his feelings.

Those who know him usually see him as reliable, attentive, and difficult to upset. However, behind that calm exterior is someone who feels things very intensely and has difficulty letting go of those he considers important.

Yoshiki Tsujinaka's family

Yoshiki's family is far from perfect. His parents have a troubled relationship, and arguments at home are frequent, creating a tense atmosphere that Yoshiki has grown accustomed to since childhood.

He has a younger sister, Kaoru, with whom he lives daily. Although their personalities are different, there is trust between them, and Yoshiki tends to worry about her well-being more than he shows.

Due to family problems, Yoshiki learned to suppress his emotions and handle many things on his own. He rarely talks about his worries at home and prefers to stay out of conflicts whenever possible.

The instability of her home life made her value even more the relationships that gave her security and peace of mind outside of her family.

Yoshiki Tsujinaka's Circle of Friends

Yoshiki doesn't have a large group of friends. He prefers a few close relationships to being surrounded by many people.

The most important person in their circle was always Hikaru. They spent much of their childhood together and practically grew up side by side. Because of this, many people in town and at school considered them an inseparable pair of friends.

Aside from Hikaru, Yoshiki maintains a cordial relationship with his classmates, but he rarely takes the initiative to approach others. He's not antisocial or unpleasant; he simply finds it difficult to open up and tends to stay in the background.

Those who manage to gain his trust discover someone loyal, attentive, and willing to listen. However, because he finds it difficult to form bonds, he tends to take his friendships very seriously and does his best to maintain them.

Hikaru Indou: Before and after his death

Before disappearing into the mountains, Hikaru was a cheerful, outgoing, and energetic boy. He found it easy to talk to other people, made friends quickly, and was usually the one who enlivened conversations. He was well-loved by both his classmates and the villagers.

After losing his life on the mountain, an unknown entity took his place. It retained his appearance, his memories, and much of his personality, so to most people he still seemed to be the same old Hikaru.

However, differences also emerged. Some reactions, emotions, and ways of understanding the world were not entirely human. Although the entity tried to understand people and behave like Hikaru, there were times when it became clear that it wasn't exactly the same person who had existed before.

Despite sharing memories and traits with the original Hikaru, the entity developed its own identity, distinct from that of the boy who died on the mountain.

What is Hikaru and what does he do?

After Hikaru's death on the mountain, an unknown entity took her place. Its exact nature and origin are unknown, but it is not human.

The entity retains Hikaru's physical appearance, memories, and much of her personality. Thanks to this, it can live among other people without arousing suspicion and continue the life Hikaru had before.

However, he doesn't fully understand human emotions. He often observes people with curiosity and tries to learn how their relationships, feelings, and behaviors work.

Throughout the story, the entity tries to stay close to Yoshiki. It enjoys his company, seeks to spend time with him, and shows a strong interest in understanding him. It is also extremely protective of those it considers important, especially Yoshiki.

Although it usually behaves in a friendly and affectionate manner, it remains an unknown creature with supernatural abilities and a way of thinking different from that of humans. Therefore, those who discover its true nature can never be completely certain of its limits or what it might be capable of.

Yoshiki Tsujinaka's school and classmates

Yoshiki attends a local high school in his town and is in class 2-A.

Because she lives in a small community, many of her classmates have known each other for years. This makes the relationships between the students quite close, and almost everyone knows something about each other.

His most frequent companion is Hikaru Indou, with whom he shares classes and much of his time inside and outside of school. They have been together since childhood, so most students see them as an inseparable duo.

He also frequently interacts with other students in the same course, although he doesn't usually have a large group of friends. Yoshiki is known more for listening than speaking, so he maintains a cordial relationship with most of his classmates without being particularly extroverted.

At school, many people consider him quiet, reliable, and somewhat reserved. He doesn't stand out, but he's usually a constant and familiar presence to those around him.

The town where Yoshiki lives

Yoshiki Village is a small, isolated rural community surrounded by mountains, forests, and fields. Most of the residents have known each other for years, so rumors and news tend to spread quickly.

At first glance, it seems like a quiet, traditional place. Families have lived there for generations, and daily life moves at a much slower pace than in big cities.

However, the town is also steeped in strange stories, superstitions, and local legends. Many residents believe in phenomena that others would consider impossible, especially those related to the nearby mountains and forests.

Because of its size, it's difficult to keep secrets for long. The neighbors are usually aware of each other's lives, and the students have grown up together.

For Yoshiki, the town is both a familiar place and a constant source of unease. He knows every path, every corner, and most of its inhabitants, but he also knows that beneath the town's tranquil exterior lie things that cannot be easily explained.