Senri Nakao is a male supporting character in Hana-Kimi, a “maiden-type” pretty-boy classmate of Mizuki Ashiya who adores Minami Nanba and initially treats Mizuki as a rival.
Senri is a second-year student in the same class as Mizuki Ashiya.
He is known for his delicate, “otome” aura and for being crowned “Miss Sakurazaki” during his first year.
He is clumsy in how he expresses himself, yet he can be genuinely kind to friends.
On the other hand, he is intensely jealous and may relentlessly attack anyone he labels an enemy.
Senri is fully aware that he is cute, and he uses that charm confidently.
Because Mizuki is also considered a top-tier “cute type,” Senri’s first reaction to her is fierce competitiveness.
Once he realizes that his feelings for Minami Nanba are known, he begins to open up and becomes friends with Mizuki.
People assume he, like Mizuki, has fallen for a man, so he often vents to her and treats her as a trusted adviser.
Despite his romantic fixation on Nanba, Senri previously had a girlfriend in middle school.
That past is mentioned to underline that his current feelings are not simply a pose.
Senri likes Minami Nanba and follows him in a one-sided pursuit.
He aggressively drives away girls who try to get close to Nanba, treating them as rivals.
In their second year, on Valentine’s Day, Senri confesses to Nanba.
Nanba rejects him.
Senri initially sees Mizuki as a direct competitor and acts hostile.
After learning her secret affection and being understood in return, he shifts into a blunt-but-reliable friend.
He complains, seeks advice, and also acts protective when Mizuki is targeted by others.
His loyalty shows most when he defends the idea of “friendship” even while pretending to be tough.
His name is derived from Senri-Chuo Station in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, served by the Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway and the Osaka Monorail.
His image flower is the dahlia.
Voice and Live-Action Casting
Voice actor: Chiharu Tezuka.
Live-action actors: Ryo Kimura (2007 version) and Yukito Nishii (2011 version).
2007 Live-Action Interpretation
In the 2007 drama adaptation, Senri is branded a “pretty-boy type” heartthrob.
Compared with the original, he is brighter and speaks in a slightly more masculine style.
Early on, he is openly jealous of Mizuki’s cuteness and even trips her while sneering that he is “several grades cuter.”
After witnessing Nanba casually putting an arm around Mizuki, his jealousy spikes and he escalates into sabotage.
He orders Mizuki to retrieve a signboard for a beauty contest and coldly adds that she does not have to come back.
He even tries to make Mizuki enter the contest naked to create “impact.”
Their relationship improves after Senri seeks romance advice in episode 5.
From that point, he gradually becomes part of the group rather than an isolated troublemaker.
Senri’s possessiveness toward Nanba is extreme, and in episode 1 he schemes to make Nanba break up with fifteen girlfriends.
Even after that, his over-the-top advances are usually brushed off.
Episode 5 explains that Senri’s feelings grew after Nanba pulled him into the social circle when he was alone.
In the same episode, Senri challenges Nanba’s plan to forcibly reclaim an ex, asking whether Nanba values his own happiness or the other person’s happiness more.
His question successfully changes Nanba’s mindset.
At the dance party, when a student from the rival school falls ill, Senri volunteers to be Nanba’s partner.
During the event, an accidental collision caused by Hokuto Umeda leads to Senri getting a lucky kiss with Nanba.
The moment is treated as comic “victory” for Senri.
In the final episode, Senri accidentally sees inside Mizuki’s underwear and suspects she is female, prompting him to call her out to confirm it.
Later, when classmates badmouth Mizuki, Senri scolds them, demanding they speak to her face and reminding them they have been friends for half a year.
At the school festival, he tries again to pair up with Nanba but is rejected and punched.
When Mizuki leaves, Senri tearfully mutters “You…” while struggling to say goodbye, and Mizuki tells him she knows he is deeply caring toward friends.
In the special episode, Senri becomes jealous when Nanba approaches Julia Maxwell.
In a territory-capture competition, Senri performs the best and earns another kiss with Nanba.
At the graduation ceremony for the dorm leaders, he sobs while thanking Nanba.
Nanba embraces him as Senri cries.
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