Masaki

Biodata

Background / History

During the previous year’s Yokohama Disturbance, Masaki demanded that Chinatown’s residents surrender invading soldiers who had taken refuge there. Zhou Gongjin opened the gates and handed over the restrained soldiers while presenting himself as a cooperative resident. Masaki only later learned that Zhou had guided the invasion, leaving him furious at having been deceived 4.

Masaki had also faced Yoshida Mikihiko and Saijou Leonhart in Monolith Code the previous year. When they met again in Kyoto, he recognized their faces but needed Mikihiko to introduce himself before recalling how to address him 4.

Appearance

• Clothing in Kyoto: A dark red jacket reminiscent of Third High’s uniform, slim black trousers, and long black boots 4.
• Signature equipment: A red, handgun-shaped specialized CAD carried in his right hand 4.
• Bearing: Described as having a dashing presence; during his confrontation with Zhou, his features appear stern 4 6.

Personality

Masaki takes his responsibilities as a member of the Ten Master Clans seriously. He intervenes against malicious magic in Kyoto without expecting thanks and remains with the students he rescues rather than leaving them to handle the aftermath alone. His respect for the law makes him hesitate before infiltrating a military base, especially because an arrest could harm Third High’s participation in the Thesis Competition. He nevertheless joins the operation, feeling personally responsible for allowing Zhou to deceive him the previous year 4 6.

Although he has killed before when necessary, Masaki is not indifferent to death. The grotesque backlash suffered by the fangshi whose golem he destroys disturbs him even though he considers his intervention justified. He also sympathizes with Mayumi’s determination to investigate her bodyguard’s murder and shows genuine concern for Minoru despite having only recently met him 4 5.

Masaki is easily embarrassed by praise and becomes particularly flustered around Miyuki. Unexpected situations can also unsettle him: he reacts defensively when Nagura’s wounds are compared to Rupture and briefly freezes when enemy magicians burn their own arms to create weapons. Once he understands a threat, however, he can respond decisively 4 5 6.

Abilities & Skills

Rupture

Rupture is the Ichijou Family’s signature magic. Masaki uses it to destroy a giant water golem and can localize its effects to incapacitate human opponents rather than kill them 4 5.

• Golem destruction: Blows apart Xiangliu, a nine-headed water puppet attacking Mikihiko, Erika, and Leo. Breaking its spell causes a fatal backlash in its caster 4.
• Localized attacks: Vaporizes blood within a selected area, rupturing blood vessels and surrounding tissue. Against six controlled ancient magicians, he destroys one leg of each in rapid succession 5.
• Against magical defenses: Defeats the Kurikara Sword wielders despite their attempt to shield themselves with weapons capable of cutting through magic 5.
• Escape prevention: Explodes the Uji River’s surface to deter Zhou from entering the water, then ruptures both of Zhou’s calves when he attempts to escape using Divine Movement 6.
• Limit of restraint: His localized version is intended to avoid killing, but still causes severe, visibly destructive injuries 5.

Fuel Vaporization and Convergence Magic

During the Uji base operation, Masaki follows Tatsuya’s instructions to handle leaking fuel without triggering explosions 6.

• Vaporizes hydrogen storage fluid, separates the hydrogen through convergence magic, and sends it upward away from ignition sources 6.
• Adapts the process to vaporize and isolate fuel while Tatsuya dismantles military equipment 6.
• Disperses the fuel from four disabled tanks before it can ignite, allowing the pair to neutralize them without an explosion 6.

Wind Magic

Masaki generates a gale to drive back the five-colored silk cords aimed at himself and Mayumi during the Arashiyama ambush 5.

• The cords interfere with magic activation through direct contact, but do not neutralize wind that has already been produced 5.

Defensive Barriers

Masaki uses both a movement-vector reversal barrier and a physical barrier in combat 5 6.

• Movement-vector reversal: Attempts to stop two charging Kurikara Sword wielders; their swords cut through the barrier 5.
• Physical protection: Deploys a barrier when soldiers at Uji switch from rubber bullets to live ammunition. Tatsuya secretly handles anything it cannot stop with Decomposition 6.

Combat Analysis

Masaki can draw useful conclusions from unfamiliar magic, though surprise sometimes delays his response 4 5.

• Deduces that Demon Gate Dunjia manipulates awareness through a combination of timing and direction. Minoru praises his reasoning, and Tatsuya agrees with it 4.
• Recognizes that the suffering Kurikara Sword wielders are being controlled rather than willingly sacrificing their arms 5.
• Understands Mayumi’s warning that the swords cut magic, allowing him to change his response after his barrier fails 5.
• Initially assumes ancient magic cannot surpass modern magic’s activation speed; the enemy’s Single Character Spell catches him off guard 5.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Red handgun-shaped specialized CAD — His favored combat device, used to activate Rupture and select activation sequences 4 5 6.
• Left-wrist general-purpose CAD — Used to construct a movement-vector reversal barrier while he briefly tosses his handgun-shaped CAD into the air 5.
• Motorcycle and helmet — His transportation in Kyoto and during the Uji operation. An information terminal is mounted on the handlebars 4 6.

Relationships

• Shiba Tatsuya — Investigation partner and combat ally. Tatsuya reveals his military position to Masaki and later recruits him for the Uji infiltration. Their cooperation includes pointed exchanges over tactics and Masaki’s feelings for Miyuki 4 5 6.
• Shiba Miyuki — Romantic interest. Masaki imagines her riding behind him on his motorcycle, wants to sit beside her, and becomes flustered when Tatsuya offers to have her praise him 4 5 6.
• Yoshida Mikihiko — Former Monolith Code opponent and later ally. Mikihiko thanks him for the rescue and reassures him that the fangshi’s death was not his fault 4.
• Chiba Erika — A student he rescues in Kyoto. Her bluntness and lack of deference leave him unsure how to deal with her 4.
• Saijou Leonhart — Former Monolith Code opponent whom he rescues alongside Mikihiko and Erika 4.
• Saegusa Mayumi — Fellow Ten Master Clans descendant and investigation partner. He supports her search for Nagura’s killer and fights beside her in Arashiyama 5.
• Kudou Minoru — Newly acquainted ally. Masaki accepts his invitation to use his given name and later expresses concern about his sudden illness 4 5.
• Zhou Gongjin — Enemy who deceived him during the Yokohama Disturbance. Masaki helps corner him and disables his legs during the final confrontation 4 6.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Kyoto Security Investigation

Masaki travels alone to Kyoto ahead of the Thesis Competition to inspect the area for a possible repeat of the previous year’s disturbance. Near the venue, he destroys Xiangliu with Rupture, saving Mikihiko, Erika, and Leo. He accompanies them to the dead caster and remains for the police response 4.

Afterward, Masaki joins their discussion at the hotel. Tatsuya discloses his military assignment and identifies Zhou as the operative they are pursuing. Recognizing the man who deceived him in Yokohama, Masaki becomes personally invested in the search 4.

Nagura Murder Investigation and Arashiyama Ambush

On October 21, Masaki accompanies Tatsuya and Miyuki to meet Mayumi and examine evidence from Nagura’s murder. The victim’s internally ruptured chest initially alarms him because of its resemblance to Rupture, but Tatsuya clarifies that he does not suspect the Ichijou Family 5.

The investigation leads to Arashiyama, where ancient magicians ambush the group. Masaki guards the rear, repels restraining cords, and defeats six controlled Kurikara Sword wielders with localized Rupture. Afterward, he argues against questioning the remaining conscious sorcerer themselves because doing so could exceed the bounds of self-defense. The attackers are handed over to the police 5.

Uji Second Supply Base Operation

Tatsuya later contacts Masaki after locating Zhou at the National Defense Army Uji Second Supply Base. Despite concerns about the operation’s illegality and the consequences for Third High, Masaki agrees to participate. Inside the base, he manages leaking fuel while Tatsuya dismantles weapons and vehicles, including four tanks 6.

During the pursuit, Masaki blocks Zhou’s route into the Uji River. When Zhou lunges toward him using Divine Movement, Masaki ruptures both calves and calls for his surrender. He retreats at Tatsuya’s warning before Zhou bursts into flames and vanishes 6.

Notable Quotes

“As a member of the Ten Master Clans, I couldn't ignore someone using malicious magic in the city.” 4

“I'm going too. If I hadn't been deceived last year, it would have ended perfectly in the first place. I can't pretend it has nothing to do with me.” 6

“Jumping into water in front of the Ichijou Family's Rupture is like jumping into a volcano.” 6