Ichiji Nijika

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ichiji Nijika (伊地知虹夏) 4
Alias(es)	“Archangel of Starlight” 126
Gender	Female 4
Affiliation	Kessoku Band; Starlight Livehouse 133 163
Occupation/Role	Drummer and captain of Kessoku Band; part-time Starlight staff member 5 11 192
Education	Second-year student at Shimokitazawa High School; Yamada Ryo’s classmate 163
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background

Nijika is Ichiji Hoshika’s younger sister. Hoshika manages Starlight, where Nijika and her band regularly rehearse, perform, and work part-time. 133

Before the band was complete, Nijika and Yamada Ryo struggled to find committed members; the available recruits they encountered were generally only interested in playing casually. 10 She met Sakurakoji Talent through Ryo at Starlight and was immediately impressed by both his appearance and broad musical ability. 4 5

Appearance

Nijika has blonde hair, red eyes, and a prominent ahoge. She is commonly seen with her hair in a side ponytail and carries a yellow backpack after school. 10 119 133 236

• Her hairstyle was changed from a side ponytail to a high ponytail during Talent’s styling session. 236
• She sometimes wears a cute beret when going out with the band. 343
• Her hair and ahoge visibly resemble Hoshika’s. 192

Personality

Nijika is warm, cheerful, and openly enthusiastic, especially when discussing her band or meeting new people. She readily welcomes others, introduces herself as Kessoku Band’s captain, and actively raises the group’s spirits during meetings. 163 192

She is also responsible and protective of her friends. When Ryo feared losing her bass as loan collateral, Nijika immediately offered to take responsibility despite misunderstanding what Talent meant. 46 She consistently encourages Gotou Hitori through her social anxiety and defends her potential as a performer. 133 204

Despite her confidence as a captain, Nijika can become flustered around Talent. While training under him, she struggled with unfamiliar cooking work and became increasingly uncertain about her feelings for him. 34 She remains practical about her limits, openly explaining that school, household work, Starlight duties, and looking after Ryo leave her little time for extreme practice schedules. 225

Abilities & Skills

Drumming

Nijika is Kessoku Band’s drummer and works consistently to improve her technique. 5 225

• Performed with Talent and Ryo in an impromptu live performance. 21
• Accepted Talent’s technical coaching and continued practicing despite demanding assignments. 225 351
• Received praise from Talent for her progress after further training. 352
• Owns a drum set, which she considers important enough to offer when trying to protect Ryo. 46

Band Leadership

As Kessoku Band’s captain, Nijika manages recruitment, rehearsals, and the group’s morale. 133 163

• Invited Kanau to join the band during its early recruitment period. 23
• Welcomed Gotou Hitori as the group’s guitarist and organized her first performance with the existing members. 126 127
• Accepted Kita Ikuyo after consulting Ryo and Kanau, then launched the band’s first full member meeting. 163
• Handles practical concerns such as livehouse performance quotas and ticket sales. 133
• Sought outside help to develop Hitori’s ability to perform confidently onstage. 204

Starlight Service Work

Nijika works at Starlight and has experience serving customers in a maid outfit. 11

• Helped Talent clean up after service alongside Ryo. 11
• Was trained as a potential substitute for Talent during his absences. 34
• Can prepare simpler drinks by following instructions. 34
• Initially struggled with cooking and operating some of the establishment’s equipment. 34
• Has difficulty communicating with foreign customers when a language barrier is involved. 16

Equipment / Items

• Drum set — Nijika’s primary instrument. 46
• Yellow backpack — commonly carried after school. 119
• Beret — worn during outings with the band. 343

Relationships

• Ichiji Hoshika — Her older sister and Starlight’s manager. Hoshika is protective of Nijika, particularly regarding Nijika’s growing feelings for Talent. 34 133
• Yamada Ryo — Her classmate, bassist, and closest friend. Nijika regularly supports Ryo, including helping with her financial and daily-life problems. 4 46 225
• Sakurakoji Talent — Friend, Starlight coworker, musical mentor, and later Kessoku Band’s manager. Nijika admires his abilities and develops confused romantic feelings toward him. 5 34 225 353
• Gotou Hitori — Kessoku Band’s guitarist. Nijika recruits, encourages, and defends Hitori while helping her adjust to the band. 126 133 204
• Kita Ikuyo — Kessoku Band’s vocalist. Nijika accepts Kita into the group and appreciates her energy during the band’s first full meeting. 163
• Kanau — A guitarist associated with Kessoku Band. Nijika recruited her early and often tries to draw her into group conversations. 23 163 164
• Rakuna — A free-spirited bandmate whose attendance is unreliable, requiring Nijika and Ryo to accommodate her schedule. 133 163

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Recruitment

Nijika initially forms a two-person band with Ryo, playing drums while Ryo handles bass. She considers recruiting Talent after learning that he can play every type of instrument onstage, but he declines membership. 5

She later joins Talent and Ryo in an impromptu performance, treating the opportunity as a rare chance to play with others. 21 During this period, she also attempts to recruit Kanau, though Kanau is hesitant about joining without Talent. 23

Training at Starlight

When Talent anticipates future absences from Starlight, he chooses Nijika as the most viable substitute to train in café operations. Nijika struggles with cooking, machinery, and the closeness of working beside him. 34

After Talent’s short absence, Nijika helps cover his duties, though Kanau bluntly notes that Nijika’s food does not match Talent’s cooking. 76

Completing Kessoku Band

Nijika introduces Gotou Hitori to the band and gives her an opportunity to demonstrate her guitar ability. 126 127 She later explains the realities of livehouse performances—including ticket quotas and operating costs—and encourages Hitori to work part-time with the group. 133

When Kita asks to join, Nijika cautiously consults the existing members before accepting her. She then formally begins the band’s first full meeting as captain. 163

Musical Improvement and Management

Nijika asks Talent to evaluate Ryo’s original song and later seeks his direct coaching for the band’s technical shortcomings. 60 225 She persists through intensive drum training and takes initiative in developing the band’s visual identity by asking Talent to help create performance outfits. 351 352

Talent ultimately agrees to become Kessoku Band’s manager, formalizing his role in supporting Nijika’s group. 353

Trivia

• Nijika is dissatisfied with the “Kessoku Band” name because of its association with zip ties and wants to change it. 127 163
• Her sister once tied her hair with a ribbon from a gift box; Nijika continues to treasure that ribbon. 235
• Talent privately compares Nijika’s caretaking role for Starlight, Hoshika, Ryo, and several band members to that of a mother figure. 119 326