Yuu Katsuragi is the childhood friend of Kei and acts as the second heroine in Touhai: Ura Rate Mahjong Touhai Roku. She learned mahjong thanks to her father, who also taught Kei. Since she was a child, Yuu has quietly had feelings for Kei and always worries about his safety, hoping the careful Kei from before will come back. Through many dangerous moments, she changes from someone who only tries to protect Kei into someone who bravely fights alongside and even against him. Over time, Kei realizes how important Yuu is to him. Her journey includes betrayal, hardship, violence, and ultimately love, ending with her marrying Kei.
Yuu wears a yellow hairband, which is her charm point and a treasured gift from Kei. She often touches it when she is looking for a solution or deep in thought.
Yuu was once boyish and used rough language, except when using the word "I" for herself. Over time, she becomes much softer, more caring, and more openly emotional. She is brave, sometimes reckless, and always thinks of Kei first—even risking her life for him multiple times.
Yuu is not an expert at mahjong, but she is willing to gamble with her life to protect Kei. Despite her lack of skill, she repeatedly joins dangerous games and does her best to fight for those she loves.
- Kei: Childhood friends and later lover. She has deep feelings for Kei, even risking everything for his safety.
- Noriyuki Takatsu: Kei's employer, who saves Yuu at a crucial moment and buys her freedom.
- Amina: Becomes her friend, and in later stories, they are shown spending time together.
Early Story and Kei’s Worries
Yuu often visits Kei’s home, bringing food or checking on him. Even when she senses someone else (Amina) hiding, she wants to look out for Kei. She gets involved with their classmate Ueno Shinichi, trying to help Kei return to a normal life. However, she secretly teams up with Ueno to defeat Kei in a gamble, hoping to scare him away from the dangerous world.
Betrayal and Separation
When Kei learns of Yuu’s betrayal, he quickly ends their friendship. Yuu tries to explain she was scared for Kei’s safety, but he only cares about protecting Amina. This leads to a painful goodbye.
Forced to Fight Against Kei
Later, Yuu is tricked by Ueno and forced to sit as Kei’s opponent in an underground mahjong game. Even after suffering injuries and pain (her left hand stabbed with icepicks), she keeps quiet and continues playing rather than beg for help. Kei defeats Ueno and Yuu, but he leaves Yuu's fate in Noriyuki Takatsu’s hands. Takatsu decides to buy her freedom with 50 million yen, letting Yuu return to a normal life.
Facing Danger in the Rising Spirit Group
Yuu is used as a pawn to psychologically hurt Kei during a group fight against the yakuza. Though she suffers, she refuses to call out to Kei, showing her strength.
Struggles in the Human Pillar Arc
Yuu is kidnapped, and her life is threatened in a deadly mahjong match involving Kei. In the most dangerous round, Kei sacrifices himself to save her. When her anger explodes, Yuu stabs and kills Hatori, the enemy boss who taunted them. Scarred by the violence, Yuu becomes anxious and emotionally unstable. She decides to join a survival mahjong match, hoping to win Kei’s freedom.
Taking Part in Russian Roulette Mahjong
Yuu, following advice from Hideharu Seki, risks her life in Russian Roulette Mahjong to try to end Noriyuki Takatsu's hold over Kei. She loses and, in a final push, tries to shoot Takatsu but fails. She is shot by Motohara and left in critical condition.
Recovery and New Life
In the Massacre Arc, Yuu survives but loses her memories of “Human Pillar Arc.” She returns to her old self and enjoys a peaceful life again, now spending time with Amina and caring for Kei.
Marriage with Kei
In the last chapter, it is revealed by her ring that Yuu has married Kei, ending the story with her as his family. She becomes part of Kei and Amina’s lives in a calmer and happier way.
- Yuu is sometimes said by fans to look like Kei. This was because the author originally planned for Yuu to substitute in mahjong for Kei during emergencies.
- The very first page of the manga is Yuu calling out Kei's name with a serious face.
- She is the rare "civilian" heroine in a gambling manga who fights and risks everything on the front lines multiple times.
Yuu has not appeared yet in "Cold Girl," the spin-off work starring Amina.
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