Ren Adashino

Ren Adashino looks like a young man about 18 years old, though his real age is unknown.

He has short, messy black hair and a babyish face.

He usually keeps his eyes closed and acts calm and quiet around others, but when things get serious or shocking, he opens his eyes wide to reveal strange, swirling, fish-like pupils.

He's thin and doesn’t look very strong.

When he gets involved in dangerous supernatural events, he often looks tired and weak.

Ren is very good at talking and likes to joke, tease, and use a bit of sarcasm, but he still makes friends easily.

He's clever and knows the right words to say in a tough situation.

Ren is close to Sumireko Ogawa, and they have a lighthearted, friendly relationship, often exchanging witty comments.

He's also a big fan of Sumireko as a writer and says she's helped him more than anyone else.

Ren deeply cares about Oto Adashino, treating her like a sister and protecting her no matter what.

Sometimes he gets jealous if she’s around other guys or treasures things like her homework as keepsakes.

He seems to prefer older women, and he sometimes tries to sneak glances at Sumireko in a playful way.

Ren is open-minded, knows a lot about supernatural topics, and sometimes hides important things even from close friends.

He keeps many secrets and has a mysterious side.

Ren can see special "warning marks" left by supernatural events, just like Oto Adashino.

He can also smell objects that have a supernatural aura, but only if they're very close by.

Ren sometimes appears suddenly from hiding places, almost as if he can teleport.

His most special power is his "eye," which lets him see and expel ghosts or monsters by looking at someone.

But if he uses this power, he suffers huge pain and cries blood, getting so weak he can barely stand.

He tries not to use this ability unless he must because of the risks, and he looks for safer ways to handle supernatural problems.

Ren isn't really Oto Adashino's brother, but he protects her and cares for her more than anything.

Oto looks up to him and depends on his support, since they have no other family.

His bond with Sumireko Ogawa is special—he’s her bookstore coworker, loyal friend, and her fan as a writer.

He’s grateful for her help in his life and is always watching out for her.

Ren is friendly but keeps many things about his true self hidden from everyone.

Ren is named after the novelist Rin Adashino.

According to the creator Nujima, Ren’s favorite writer is Shuntaro Tanikawa, and he first became friends with Sumireko by talking about Tanikawa’s picture book "Ngumama."

He sometimes reads Sumireko’s old work alone at night because he can’t sleep after using his "eye" power.

Ren is known for making clever comments, holding many secrets, and being very knowledgeable about everything supernatural.

Drifters from Another World

Ren Adashino and Oto Adashino are not from the world where Sumireko Ogawa lives.

They are "drifters" who got lost from their own world.

Hunt for Supernatural Artifacts

Ren’s main mission is to collect special haunted items to pay for a ticket back to his original world.

This return path is through the mysterious "Endless Train Station," which connects to other worlds.

But gathering these items almost always puts him in danger and harms his health.

Facing Dangers and Secret Pain

To protect Oto and help her get home, Ren uses his powers a lot, even though it hurts him.

Whenever he uses his "eye," he gets very sick, bleeds from his eyes, and can’t function for a while.

He hides all this pain and fear from his friends, acting cheerful and strong in front of others.

At night, he often can’t sleep from the pain and reads his favorite book to feel better.

Bonds with Sumireko and Oto

Ren is closer to Sumireko Ogawa than anyone else, and she has helped him through tough times.

He treasures their time together and truly wants to protect both her and Oto.

A Dangerous Goal

Though he wants to bring himself and Oto home, Ren knows that using his abilities might destroy him.

Even while the end creeps closer, he keeps fighting for Oto, determined to complete their journey no matter what.

He never shows his heartbreak to his friends, but alone, he faces the fear of his own end.

The story "Mysterious Disappearances" is told as a record of the friendships and farewells that happen between Sumireko and the Adashino siblings.

Ren’s fate is uncertain, and we hope he finds happiness in the end.