Makomo

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Training under Urokodaki

Makomo is introduced as Urokodaki’s disciple, living and training at his cabin. She welcomes Ye Chen while her master is away and identifies Giyu Tomioka as her senior fellow disciple, recently promoted to Hashira. Ye Chen recognizes her as someone who died during Final Selection and appeared as a spirit in the original story 12.

With her own Final Selection approaching, Makomo trains to improve her swordsmanship. Urokodaki considers her the fastest student he has ever taught, but fears for her safety after twelve of his thirteen previous candidates died in the trial. He privately asks Ye Chen to intervene if she is endangered 15 16.

Final Selection and the Hand Demon

Makomo arrives at Final Selection alongside Ye Chen. Once inside, he gives her a Flash Bomb to use as both an emergency defense and a signal for help, then leaves to pursue his own plans 29 30.

The Hand Demon recognizes her as Urokodaki’s student by the mask she carries. Although she repeatedly evades his arms, her sword cannot sever his neck. She initially intends to retreat, but his boasting about murdering her fellow disciples provokes her into charging him 32.

Makomo blinds the demon with the Flash Bomb but is struck and knocked away. Rather than escape, she attempts Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash; her Nichirin Blade breaks against his neck. Ye Chen arrives before the demon can seize her, cuts off its attacking arms, and incapacitates it with wisteria-poisoned ammunition. He leaves the finishing blow to Makomo, who decapitates it 33.

Afterward, she silently mourns her fellow disciples before thanking Ye Chen. She learns that Urokodaki asked him to protect her and invites him to travel with her. They spend two days together before Ye Chen leaves again to hunt the remaining demons 34 35.

Joining the Corps

Makomo passes Final Selection and chooses her blade’s tamahagane on Ye Chen’s recommendation. She receives a sparrow messenger and returns to Urokodaki, sharing a tearful reunion with her master. While awaiting her sword, she accepts Ye Chen’s Mystic Water necklace with Urokodaki’s encouragement 36 37.

Fifteen days later, her new Nichirin Blade arrives and turns blue. She receives her own Corps assignment, separate from Ye Chen’s. Before he departs, she gives him a good-luck sachet from her hometown; he supplies her with bombs and sends Xiao Hua to accompany her 38 39.

Appearance

• Described as a little girl with a pretty face and bright eyes 12 29.
• Has delicate brows and large, expressive eyes 33.
• Carries an Urokodaki student mask during Final Selection; its design is not specified in the supplied passages 32.

Personality

Makomo is calm, soft-spoken, and courteous. Though initially reluctant to talk at length with strangers, she welcomes Ye Chen into the cabin and becomes more conversational while petting Xiao Hua. She apologizes when her questions bring up his family’s deaths and later tries to reconcile him with the argumentative swordsmith 12 15 38.

Her loyalty to her fellow disciples can override her judgment: the Hand Demon’s taunts draw her back into a fight she knows she cannot win. Even after defeating him, she acknowledges his suffering without excusing his murders. She is also observant and discreet, recognizing clues to Ye Chen’s role in rescuing Selection candidates but declining to press him when he refuses to explain 32 33 37.

Abilities & Skills

Speed and Agility

Urokodaki calls Makomo the fastest of all his students 16.

• Evades simultaneous attacks from several of the Hand Demon’s arms 32.
• Uses an outstretched enemy hand as a foothold to reach the demon’s neck 32.
• Is fast enough to escape the Hand Demon, but loses that advantage when anger and panic disrupt her composure 32 33.

Water Breathing and Swordsmanship

Makomo uses Water Breathing with a Nichirin Blade 33 38.

• First Form: Water Surface Slash — Her strongest demonstrated strike; waves of water appear along the blade as she attacks 33.
• Cutting-power limit — Neither her initial neck strike nor Water Surface Slash can decapitate the Hand Demon at full strength; the latter breaks her sword 32 33.
• Assisted finishing blow — Successfully severs his neck after Ye Chen’s wisteria poison weakens his body 33.
• Mystic Water enhancement — Carrying the necklace increases the power of water-type moves by 20% 37.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wooden training sword — Used while preparing for Final Selection 15.
• Urokodaki student mask — Allows the Hand Demon to identify her as one of his captor’s disciples 32.
• Nichirin Blades — Her Selection blade breaks against the Hand Demon. Her newly forged blade turns blue and uses top-quality tamahagane selected with Ye Chen’s help 33 36 38.
• Mystic Water necklace — A pale-blue, teardrop-shaped crystal on a simple cord, gifted by Ye Chen to strengthen her Water Breathing 37.
• Flash Bombs — Ye Chen first gives her one for emergencies during Selection, then supplies more before they depart on assignments. She is instructed to close her eyes after throwing one 30 33 39.
• Sonic Bombs — Gifted for use at close range against demons with sharp hearing or underground movement 39.
• Messenger sparrow — A specially trained Corps bird that delivers assignments and other messages 37.

Relationships

• Sakonji Urokodaki — Her master and protective guardian. He arranges for Ye Chen to safeguard her and tearfully welcomes her home after Selection 16 37.
• Ye Chen / Yatsuka Nightstar — Friend, rescuer, and temporary traveling companion. He helps avenge her fellow disciples and supplies equipment; she thanks him with a hometown good-luck sachet, which he still carries during his fight with Gyutaro 33 34 37 39 43.
• Giyu Tomioka — Her senior fellow disciple and a newly appointed Hashira when she meets Ye Chen. She knows him as the sole survivor among Urokodaki’s earlier Selection candidates 12 32.
• Xiao Hua — Ye Chen’s cat assistant, whose fur she enjoys petting. Xiao Hua later accompanies her, and she resolves to win its affection after receiving Ye Chen’s advice on cat care 12 39.
• Hand Demon — The murderer of her fellow disciples. He targets her because of his grudge against Urokodaki; she delivers his final decapitation after Ye Chen’s intervention 32 33.

Notable Quotes

“I can understand how you felt after being captured and forced to suffer here. But I'll never forgive you for killing so many people.” 33

“Hmm... It's fine if you won't admit it. I just think you have quite a few secrets.” 37