Kotarō Azumi is the main character from Tsukigakirei. He is a third-year student at Kawagoe Municipal Third Middle School, serving as the president of the literature club. Kotarō dreams of becoming a novelist and spends many late nights working on his stories, though he has never shown his work to anyone. With a gentle and reserved personality, Kotarō finds academics and sports a bit challenging, except for his love of Japanese literature. Kotarō’s life changes after meeting Akane Mizuno, and the two slowly grow close, eventually starting a romantic relationship. Even when Akane moves away and they attend different high schools, Kotarō remains devoted, sharing their story through a novel online using his pen name.
Kotarō has a simple look, and he is often seen with his hair sticking up in a funny way, earning him the nickname "Hanetoru-kun" (which means "the boy with bedhead"). He usually wears his school uniform and doesn't stand out much in a crowd.
Kotarō is gentle, quiet, and caring. He enjoys spending time alone writing stories or reading books. Even though he can be shy and awkward, especially around girls, he is honest about his feelings. Sometimes, he acts his age, like pretending to box with a light pull cord when he gets excited after chatting with a girl online.
Kotarō lives in Kawagoe with his father and mother, making it a family of three. His mother sometimes worries about his future because he spends more time writing stories or practicing for local festivals than studying. His father is very supportive and understood Kotarō’s wish to become a writer because he also wrote stories in the past. The family’s bond is warm and gentle.
Kotarō is not great at most subjects in school, except for Japanese language and literature, which he loves. He is not a strong athlete, but he puts in effort when working at school events. His true strength comes from his dedication to writing stories, and he carefully crafts his own novels, often entering them in contests even though he has not yet won any awards.
Kotarō’s most important relationship is with Akane Mizuno. They first meet by chance at a family restaurant and grow closer while working together as equipment managers during the school sports day. Their fondness develops naturally, leading to Kotarō’s heartfelt confession and the beginning of their romance. Despite challenges, like Akane moving to another city, Kotarō’s feelings remain strong. He even tries to join her at the same high school but does not pass the entrance exam. Still, they keep in touch and maintain a long-distance relationship.
Kotarō’s mother supports him as best as she can, sometimes worrying about how much time he spends on hobbies instead of studying. On the day of his high school entrance exam, she makes him a special homemade bento to encourage him. His father encourages Kotarō’s dream of writing and lets him choose his own path.
- Kotarō is responsible for playing festival music during the Kawagoe Festival, so he practices with local people at the shrine.
- He often struggles in subjects other than Japanese.
- Despite his quiet presence, his unique bedhead makes him easy to spot among classmates.
Dreams and Writing
Kotarō is dedicated to his dream of becoming a novelist. He writes late into the night, creating stories with deep emotions, but he is shy and keeps his work to himself. He regularly enters writing contests as an aspiring author, though he has not been successful yet and was even told by an editor that he might not have talent.
First Encounters with Akane
Kotarō and Akane first notice each other during a meal at a family restaurant. Later, they work together as equipment managers for the school sports day, bringing them closer. This shared responsibility allows them to interact more, building a quiet bond.
Growing and Confession
With the help of exchanging contact information for class duties, Kotarō starts talking more with Akane online. He cherishes these conversations and becomes braver about showing his feelings. In the third episode of their story, he gathers his courage and confesses his feelings to Akane.
New Love and Challenges
At first, both Kotarō and Akane are nervous and sometimes misunderstand each other because it is their first serious relationship. Slowly, they become more comfortable, taking small steps to get closer. Their pure romance is sweet and awkward but heartwarming.
Akane’s Move and Long-Distance Love
Akane suddenly has to move to Chiba. Wanting to stay close, Kotarō decides to take the entrance exam for her new high school, but he does not pass. He must attend a local public school instead, but he doesn't give up. Even with the distance, Kotarō continues to care for Akane and keeps their love alive. He pours his thoughts and memories of their time together into a novel called “13.70,” using the pen name Kotarō Azumi on a website for writers. His story reflects his true feelings and the realities of growing up.
Lasting Love and Future
Even after being apart, Kotarō stays true to his heart. There is a moment when he gets impatient and tries to push ahead too quickly, forgetting Akane’s feelings. As their story comes to a close, Kotarō makes a dramatic effort to show Akane that his love has never changed, shouting his feelings and running desperately to see her again. In the final scene, Kotarō and Akane are shown as adults, married and with a child, showing that their young love truly lasted.
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