Nanase Shimizu

ABOUT

Born and raised in Domino City, Nanase works at Kaiba Manor as a personal maid. She becomes especially close to the Kaiba brothers after caring for Seto during his coma. Although Nanase stays in Domino during the main cast's adventures, she listens to stories from the Kaibas over the course of the series and watches televised Duel Monsters events to support her friends. After the main events of Duel Monsters, Nanase finishes her studies and moves to Paris, France, where she meets Raphael.

Role: During the Duel Monsters storyline, Nanase works as a part-time maid at Kaiba Manor. Duties include cleaning, light cooking, receiving guests, and waiting on the Kaiba family, primarily Mokuba.
Work & Education: Part- to full-time maid. Informal apprenticeship under the Kaiba Manor personal chef. Eventually works as a pastry chef at Kaiba Land designing recipes and menus for the theme park before opening her own patisserie.
Goals: Meeting her knight in shining armor and having a bunch of kids; traveling abroad
Duelist Rank: Below average. Prefers collecting cards to competitive gameplay. (She's better at Capsule Monster Chess, no doubt due to playing the game so often with Mokuba-sama.) Mermaids are a running theme in her deck and character design.
Deck Type: Water
Signature Card: Cure Mermaid

• Voiced by Kikuko Inoue (Mizuho Kazami in Please Teacher!)
• Usually works at Kaiba Manor but also has a keycard to Kaiba Corporation and occasionally serves there
• Is trained in self-defense following Mokuba's abduction during Duelist Kingdom
• OC stand-in for the maid from the Duel Monsters manga

Personality

Relationships

Namiko Shimizu (mother): Single mom. Dies early in Nanase's life.
??? (father): Unknown French businessman. Met Namiko while she worked at a hostess club.
Ayako Shimizu (grandmother): Nanase's grandmother and closest family member, having taken care of her in the stead of her parents since she was a child. A strict but caring matriarch.

Kaiba Manor staff: Nanase is the only female staff member at the Manor for a while, but she bonds with the other workers easily. Will go along with Mokuba in playing tricks on Daimon.
Mokuba Kaiba: Of the two Kaiba brothers, Nanase is closer to Mokuba and mothers him a lot. Enjoys cooking for him and playing Capsule Monster Chess with him. Often worries about him when he goes off on adventures. He likes to think of himself as her protector.
Seto Kaiba: Intimidated by Seto at first but eventually realizes he's just a big kid. Takes his rough attitude with a grain of salt. Secretly amused by his grandiosity and obsession with besting Yugi. He respects her sincere care for Mokuba.
Isono & Fuguta: On friendly terms with both men and admires their loyalty to Kaiba. Enjoys surprising them with tea and sweets when they need to unwind.

Yugi Mutou: Initially thinks he is some sort of villain for defeating Seto. Learns Seto was in the wrong all along and sympathizes with Yugi. Thinks he's precious and an impressive duelist.

Valon: Meets Valon through Raphael when she is invited to attend one of his races. Valon, excited that Raphael seems to have met someone, warms up to Nanase quickly and barrages her with questions. Nanase thinks he's funny and a sweetheart but worries about his lifestyle and hopes that he will settle down one day. Becomes almost as bashful as Raphael when Valon teases them about being a couple. Helps babysit Valon when he gets drunk off his ass.
Amelda: Nanase meets Amelda through Raphael when he visits Paris to attend one of Valon's races. The two enjoy having tea together while Valon plays with the kids and Raphael attempts to prevent complete mayhem.
Eiou Mutou (heathergreyfeather): When Mokuba finally brings home a female friend, Nanase initially thinks Eiou is a secret girlfriend and is tickled pink when Eiou msitakes her for a young high school student. She loves Eiou's large appetite, which she uses as an opportunity to try out new recipes. Often sends along little treats in Mokuba's lunch box for Eiou. Accidentally introduces Eiou to adult manga when she is discovered in the 18+ section of the bookstore.

Kaiba Manor chef: Nanase develops a crush on the Kaiba Manor personal chef when she begins working there. He thinks she's just very interested in the culinary arts, which is partially true, and she spends a lot of time studying from him. Heartbroken when she discovers he has a fiancée.
Raphael Delaroche: See Harborshipping

AUs

The Duelists of the Roses: Based on the Playstation game of the same name. Raphael, Varon, and Amelda are loyal to the House of Lancaster. Nanase is allied with the House of York.

Once Upon a Duel: The YGO girls are high school students with magical girl identities based on fairy tales. Nanase is Snow White. Raphael is a fellow student.