Eli Ayase

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Eli Ayase (绚濑绘里)
Alias(es)	Eli-chi
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Otonokizaka Academy; Student Council; μ's 85 92
Occupation/Role	Student council president; school idol; μ's dance instructor 88 92
First Appearance	Chapter 3 3

Appearance

Eli is a tall girl with mixed-descent features, a high golden ponytail, and bright blue eyes. 173

• Her grandmother is Russian; Arisa initially has difficulty readjusting to life in Japan after living abroad. 79
• She is known for a steady gait and strong sense of balance, which Senba Gari associates with her dance training. 91
• She has reportedly ranked highly in ballet competitions in Russia. 191

Personality

Eli initially presents herself as strict, composed, and intensely duty-driven. As student council president, she treats Otonokizaka's survival as her responsibility and initially rejects school idols as amateurs whose performances are not worthy of the school's name. 79 85

Her demanding standards extend to her coaching. She pushes μ's through flexibility, balance, stamina, and foundational dance drills, refusing to let them rely on luck for a performance. 88 89 Despite this severity, she is fair-minded: once she recognizes the group's popularity and determination, she agrees to train them properly. 88

Eli tends to suppress her own wishes behind a reliable exterior. Nozomi helps her confront the fact that she has been living for others rather than herself, leading Eli to acknowledge her desire to dance and join μ's. 92 93 She later admits to Honoka that she is often hesitant, troubled, and afraid to show weakness. 137

She is fiercely protective of Arisa and deeply concerned for Nozomi. That protectiveness can make her impulsive, particularly when she believes either of them is in danger. 23 39 110

Abilities & Skills

Dance and Instruction

Eli is an experienced dancer with a background in ballet and serves as μ's principal dance coach. 88 91 191

• Establishes flexibility as the foundation of performance training. 89
• Drills μ's in balance, stamina, and repeated basic exercises. 89
• Holds the group to a professional standard rather than merely approving their enthusiasm. 88

Student Leadership and Planning

As student council president, Eli takes initiative when Otonokizaka faces closure. 85 86

• Requests that the Student Council organize the campus open-day activities. 85
• Promotes Otonokizaka to prospective students and gathers enrollment-support forms. 86
• Suggests a training camp when μ's must create a new preliminary-round song within one month. 178
• Proposes that μ's stop using senior-junior forms of address during performances to create a more equal atmosphere. 103

Relationships

• Arisa Ayase — Her younger sister. Eli is openly protective of Arisa, searches for Senba Gari after Arisa says he remains in danger, and is devastated when she believes Arisa has been killed. 23 25 110
• Nozomi Tojo — Close friend and fellow Student Council member. Nozomi recognizes Eli's suppressed desires, pushes her to confront them, and supports her through crisis. 92 108
• Honoka Kosaka — Initially opposed to Honoka's school-idol activities, but comes to respect her determination. Eli later tells Honoka that her example taught her to move forward without fearing change. 79 137
• μ's — Eli begins as their critic, becomes their demanding dance instructor, and ultimately joins as a member. Her addition brings greater maturity to the group. 88 92 93
• Senba Gari — Her teacher and a frequent target of her temper, particularly where Arisa is concerned. Their hostile first encounters gradually give way to mutual respect after he repeatedly protects Arisa and Nozomi. 39 45 78
• Umi Sonoda — Eli's disapproval of school idols initially clashes with Umi's commitment to μ's. After joining the group, Eli and Umi develop mutual respect through training and shared effort. 79 95

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arisa's Rescue and the Mlortha Incidents

When Arisa escapes a Lion Mlortha attack, Eli finds her exhausted and learns that Senba Gari stayed behind to protect her. 23 After reviewing footage of his actions, Eli is moved by his willingness to risk his life for a stranger and becomes determined to find him. 28

Later, Eli, Arisa, and Nozomi are trapped in a collapsed department store. Eli initially confronts Senba Gari aggressively, but he prevents her from rushing into danger and promises to save Arisa and Nozomi from Mole Mlortha. 38 39

Opposition to School Idols

As student council president, Eli uploads μ's first live footage intending to demonstrate how dull their performance is and to discourage their activities. Even after the video attracts attention, she maintains that she does not approve of school idols or their activities under Otonokizaka's name. 79

At the same time, Eli works relentlessly to prevent Otonokizaka from closing. She takes responsibility for planning the campus open day and promotes the academy to prospective students. 85 86

Joining μ's

Honoka, Umi, and Kotori ask Eli to teach them dance. Eli accepts while making clear that they must meet her standards. 88 Her harsh training exposes the group's physical shortcomings, but Honoka's refusal to give up and Nozomi's challenge force Eli to confront what she truly wants. 89 92

Eli ultimately joins μ's and performs with the group at the campus open day. Their performance helps delay Otonokizaka's closure, while Eli realizes that performing alongside the others is what she wanted to do. 92 93

Haunted House Nightmare

During the haunted-house incident, Eli is separated from the other μ's members and wakes in her room with missing memories. Mentioning μ's causes severe headaches, leading Nozomi to conclude that Eli's amnesia is not ordinary. 108

In the ensuing department-store nightmare, Eli is separated from Nozomi during a collapse and is driven by grief and manipulation to try to avenge the apparent death of Arisa. 109 110

μ's Suspension

After μ's activities are suspended, Eli visits Honoka to apologize for making the decision without the group's consent. She admits that her outward reliability conceals insecurity and envy of Honoka's ability to turn honest feelings into action. 137

Notable Quotes

“You taught me the most important thing: ‘to gather the courage to move forward, and not be afraid of change.’”
—Eli Ayase to Honoka Kosaka 137

“What is it that you really want to do?” 92

Trivia

• Eli receives her first photo sticker during an outing with μ's; Honoka edits it so heavily that Eli's eyes become “bigger than apples.” 176
• Before joining μ's, Eli had once accepted a flyer for the Idol Research Club's first concert from first-year Nico Yazawa, but only glanced at it and folded it away. 197