Ichinose

Biodata

Background / History

A New Start

Ichinose enters Advanced Nurturing High School hoping to move beyond a painful past and make new friends. She privately identifies a past act as a crime and fears that others would reject her if they learned about it; the nature of that act is not disclosed in these chapters. She also reveals that she previously took time off school and that a particular song helped her during that period 2 29.

Outside the school gates, she introduces herself to Natsukawa Tatsuya after watching his farewell to his middle-school friends. They become each other’s first friend at the school and hope to share a class. Although Ichinose is assigned to Class B and Natsukawa to Class C, they promise to stay in touch 2 3.

Building Friendships Across Classes

Ichinose quickly befriends her Class B classmates, including Kobashi Yume and Shiranami Chihiro. At the cafeteria, she introduces them to Natsukawa and Shiina Hiyori, brings the group together for lunch, and fulfills her promise to exchange contact information with Natsukawa 13.

Seeking useful information for Class B, she signs an electronic contract with an anonymous seller—Natsukawa using another account. She subsequently shares the purchased information with his personal account without realizing that he sold it to her. She also leaves open the possibility of buying more worthwhile information 25 26.

The Karaoke Outing

During their first weekend, Ichinose keeps her plans to visit Keyaki Mall and sing karaoke with Natsukawa despite receiving invitations from classmates. Seeing his familiarity with Kushida and remembering his closeness to Hiyori leaves her unexpectedly jealous, though she initially interprets this as concern over her special place as his first friend 28.

At karaoke, she discusses her time away from school, her fear of disappointing Class B, and her unsuccessful Student Council application. Natsukawa reassures her and offers to accompany her to a second interview. When she learns that Chihiro has been waiting nearby out of concern, Ichinose invites her to join them and assures her that both friends are equally important 29 30 31.

Joining the Student Council

Ichinose initially applies to the Student Council to obtain information and better support Class B, but President Manabu Horikita rejects her application. Vice President Miyabi Nagumo subsequently invites her to another interview 30.

At the second interview, Nagumo accepts her, then encourages her to disclose an unforgettable middle-school mistake under the pretext of assigning suitable duties. Natsukawa, listening through a connected phone call, interrupts before she reveals her secret. He uses a recording of the conversation to secure Nagumo’s promise not to trouble her again 41 42.

Worried that Natsukawa has made an enemy for her sake, Ichinose considers leaving the Council. He encourages her to continue and tells her that knowing her past is unnecessary for accepting her. She thanks him and suggests visiting the shops and supermarket together 42.

Appearance

Ichinose is introduced as a beautiful, poised girl whose radiant smile gives her an immediately friendly presence 2.

• Hair: Waist-length pink hair, with bangs 2.
• Eyes: Sapphire-blue 2.
• Build: Curvy figure, slender waist, and long, straight legs 2.
• Clothing: Burgundy school uniform 2.
• Resemblance to Natsukawa: Their similar hair colors lead other students to mistake them for a couple on their first day 3.

Personality

Ichinose is gentle, tolerant, and strongly motivated by fairness. She readily starts conversations, includes newcomers, and wants to become friends with everyone in Class B. Her patience and willingness to help classmates distinguish her approach to leadership from the violence occurring in Class C 2 5 14.

Her classmates’ trust also creates pressure she places on herself. She worries that she is not contributing enough, feels guilty about not joining a club, and briefly questions her usefulness after her Student Council rejection. Following Natsukawa’s encouragement, she recognizes that she had been putting excessive pressure on herself 29 30 41.

Beneath her cheerful manner, Ichinose is protective of her new beginning. She wants Natsukawa to see her best side and fears losing him if her past becomes known. Nevertheless, she privately resolves to win him back if he ever leaves, showing determination beneath her insecurity 29.

Abilities & Skills

System Assessment

Natsukawa’s system provides the following assessment when they first meet 2:

Academic Ability

Ichinose’s grades are described as ranking first in the entire year on paper 2.

• Despite her strong academic assessment, she is willing to ask Natsukawa for help with schoolwork she cannot solve 3.

Social Leadership

Her exceptional approachability allows her to build friendships quickly and gain her classmates’ trust 2 13 28.

• Organizes friendly Class B gatherings 32.
• Connects students from different classes through introductions and shared meals 13.
• Seeks school information and Student Council membership to benefit Class B 25 30.
• Her sense of responsibility can become self-imposed pressure rather than confidence 29 41.

Singing

Ichinose sings with a clear, lilting voice and an energetic, cheerful delivery. Natsukawa praises both her voice and her performance 29 32.

• Sings alongside Chihiro and performs a duet with Natsukawa 32.
• Associates one song with recovering from the difficult period when she took time off school 29.

Relationships

• Natsukawa Tatsuya — Her first friend at Advanced Nurturing High School and an increasingly important confidant. She becomes jealous of his closeness with other girls, accepts his protection during her Council interview, and feels reassured by his acceptance of her without demanding her secret. His system records her affection rating as 70 after their weekend outing 2 28 30 32 42.
• Shiranami Chihiro — Her best friend in Class B, whom she regularly looks after. Chihiro develops romantic feelings for her and fears losing her attention to Natsukawa; Ichinose reassures Chihiro of her importance without showing awareness of the full extent of those feelings 30 31 32.
• Kobashi Yume — A close Class B friend who encourages her ambition to befriend the entire class and teases her about Natsukawa 13 14.
• Shiina Hiyori — Meets her through Natsukawa at the cafeteria. Hiyori’s description of him as her special reading friend prompts Ichinose to privately remember that she met him first 13.
• Manabu Horikita — Student Council president who rejects her initial application, damaging her confidence 30.
• Miyabi Nagumo — Initially a role model because he led Class B to Class A. He admits her to the Student Council but attempts to obtain private information he could use as leverage; Natsukawa intervenes before she discloses it 30 41 42.

Notable Quotes

“I want to lead everyone to Class A like he did!” 30

“Natsukawa is the first friend I made at school, and you're my best friend in Class B, Chihiro, so you're both equally important!” 31