Mahiru

Sora and Mahiru have built an extremely strong bond over their several years of being together. Family death, long-distance relationship, finding their identities, depression, health issues, abuse, assaualts, miscarriage, you name it, these poor boys have been through it all. Neither of the two ever had someone who understood and cared so much about them, and they truly embody the tattoos on their necks: Sora is his protector, his shelter, his comfort. Through all his pain, Sora is always there at the end of the day. Mahiru never thought of things like marriage or having a family; Growing up in Japan where those were impossible for two men to begin with, he also wasn't even sure if he'd escape his health issues or trauma. Sora eventually presents the ideas to him, and he starts to understand there is so much more to life than he originally thought. Eventually the two get married and move to America to secretly start their journey in starting a family.

Mahiru's parents immediately regretted his birth.Mahiru's house growing up was in every description dysfuntional. Emotional detachment, neglect, abuse, toxic parenting, manipulation, the whole shebang, all of it falling on a lonely, sick boy. Desperate for affection and love, Mahiru worked hard to get his feeble body to get better and try to be "correct". Nothign he did was ever "correct" though, and he quickly learned to hate himself. Mahiru's emotional and mental development was stunted, to say the least. Once Mahiru started to experience more life outside his home, he started to understand how parts of his upbringing were wrong. While part of him wanted to just end it all, this determination to prove them wrong flickered in him and kept him going. Once Mahiru gets close to Sora, he starts to come to understand himself and his worth a bit more. Sora's impulsiveness rubs off on him, and Mahiru finally starts to fight back against his parents. This impulsiveness, however also leads him to violent confrontation, including an attempted suicide and the two being attacked. His mother, starting to process things differently as she sees Mahiru starting to become his own person, decides to publicize some of the horrific and abusive events that happened in their household, playing innocent and aiming to take down her ex-husband and lift herself up in the process. Mahiru's trauma and panic attacks only get worse, and as he goes through therapy, he understands more about how his dysfuntional relationship with his parents hurts him even years after moving on from them being in his life.

Ayame and Mahiru met a bit after his last heart surgery when her mother, a prominent designer in the fashion industry, was invited over for a party his parents were holding to schmooze with big names. An 11 year old at the time, she was quickly disinterested in the adult talk and decided to walk around the house and look at the decor; This is how she found Mahiru sitting on alone on the stairs. When they notice each other, Mahiru gets shy and embarrassed and quickly flees to his room, to which Ayame rushes after him. While scared at first, Mahiru quickly enjoys her company because of her carefree and fun personality, along with figuring out they had similar interests. Despite having many friends, she feels a soft spot for Mahiru and goes out of her way to get closer to him. For a while, Ayame was his closest friend and she was the first person to tell him he wasn't weird because he liked boys. She ends up in the same homeroom as Sora and pushes Mahiru to seek him out, knowing he's his type. The three get pretty close in High school, but afterwards Ayame gets busy in the fashion and sturggle to find time for friends. When Ayame has her daughter, Umeko, it begins the converstaion between Mahiru and Sora about starting a family. As they begin to set into that journey, she's one of the only people who are told and they go to her whenever they need advice or comfort regarding the baby and surrogacy process. When Mahiru later finally feels okay with admitting to his violent suicidal attempt, something only Sora and those involved knew about, she's the first he opens up to.

Nana was one of the friends Ayame introduced to Mahiru when they were kids. Two years older and weary of boys due to the bullying and sexual comments from boys at school, she wasn't super happy Ayame was trying to introduce a boy into their group. When Ayame tells them he's not into girls and he's very sweet, Nana doesn't buy it and thinks it's some trick to sneak into a girls slumber party. After an accidental bathroom incident, she quickly understands that Mahiru is NOT into girls AT ALL and she starts to give him a chance. Slowly, they become a bit closer and Mahiru gets her into music. Despite this, Mahiru is still pretty shy around her and Buki for some time; Secretly, Nana wishes to get closer and know more. She can tell he's going through some things and really wants to be a confidant, someone he can talk to and that can help each other, because in someways she relates to him. A bit immature when they're younger, she struggles to make this connection for some time until Sora had moved back to America and they're focusing on their band, Wolves. During this period, finding evidence of violence agaisnt Mahiru and seeing him become increasingly depressed and panicked overtime, she pushes hard to understand whats happening. Mahiru and her form a connection in the way of talking about personal issues, especiallly those involving sex and how they're viewed or shunned for how they feel. Mahiru doesn't have this sort of freedom to talk about such issues with anyone else, and the two get closer. When they later move into a house together with their friends, Mahiru is quick to protect and console her when her ex-boyfriend admits his disloyalty. Nana begins to find more comfort in talking to Mahiru about things she's too afraid of telling her best friend Buki, who sometimes comes off rude or belittling. The two continue becoming close until they're each others second best friends, right after their s/o's.

When Mahiru is first introduced into their group, Buki finds him pretty lame due to his shy and quiet demeanor at first. As he starts to open up, Buki starts to enjoy picking at him like an older sister because she finds his reactions very innocent and cute. After a while, she genuinely enjoys his company; her and Nana were often bullied growing up due to their appearances and Mahiru's accepting and caring personality was very nice and validating, so much so that she starts to see herself above him. Seeing Mahiru and Nana both learning music inspires her to learn music as well. Eventually, the three are sought out by a talent agency to create the band "Wolves" where they coninue to grow closer. Mahiru enjoys the silliness Buki brings to his life; He never really got to act like a kid growing up, so her influence sometimes allow him to channel his inner child. Despite their close relationship, Buki grows from seeing herself as somewhat better than him to feeling trampled udnerneath his skill and strength. Continuing to watch him "outperform" her on stage, she starts to feel isnecure about herself and her abilities and "Wolves" quickly shifts in her eyes from "their band" to "Mahiru's band". When the time comes, she pushes for her and Nana to split from Wolves and join an all girl group. Her and Mahiru have a bit of a falling out before they eventually talk and hug it out and make up. Since, they've healed and moevd on, though the two don't have the connection and ease of freedom with speech with each other as they do with others. Due to her personlity, they still get into spiffs here and there, but it usually turns out okay.

Eli and Mahiru meet when Sora finally returns to Japan after graduation. As Sora reconnected with a few old friends doing an internship program his father's company hosted, they move to Japan with him because of the oppotunity and unique experience. This group of friends however...didn't get the hint that Sora was dating Mahiru, instead assuming he was dating Nana. When they arrive, Eli has a lot to process, part of that including Mahiru's existence and connection to Sora, who he admired and was confused to see act so different upon reconnecting with him after his "mysterious relationship". Fighting between staying on Sora and Nana's good sides and comprehending the sudden strange world he was living in, Eli has a rough start with Mahiru. Despite everyone moving in together, Eli is mostly snarky and rude and the two are kind of up and down. When Sora goes on a trip for work reasons and Mahiru starts to sneak out to practice choreo, Eli gets suspicious of him and his intent with Sora. After starting an intense argument with Mahiru and using his past abuse against him, Mahiru storms out and Eli is quickly put in his place by Alex, Nana and Sora. Eventually, he apologizes and opens up to Mahiru, who forgives and offers to listen if he ever needs to vent. Eli tells Mahiru he is way too forgiving and nice, knowing anyone else woulld have held a grudge. After this, Eli and Nana talk in private about Mahiru and Eli begins to try to be more mature and considerate. Through watching and understanding Mahiru over the years, he gets pretty close with him, enough to seek out out his advice and confide in him. Eli now often enjoys spending time with him due to his calm demeanor. Mahiru always feels really good whenever Eli goes out of his way to give him compliments and he's happy he's built this small little group of individuals he can trust.

Alex moves to Japan with Eli and Hannah when Sora plans to move back to be with Mahiru; The three, after working themselves to death during their internship, are promised decent paying jobs in a data management section of Sora's fathers new Japansese divisions of his company, along with a full ride to an online college program. While not super interested in the field, the promise of much more than minimum wage, college which he'd never be able to afford on his own, and a chance to get away from his life in America, as well as his best friend Eli going, he accepts the offer. Despite not expecting Sora and Mahiru to be the ones dating, he isn't put off by it and he personally could care less what sexuality anyone is. As he aims to learn more about all the new people Sora is introducing him to, he notices a few subtle hints that a drunken Mahiru drops about his abuse. Alex has a history of abuse as well, one that he aimed to get room from by escaping to Japan. He and Mahiru have a private talk where he confesses he has a similar past to him, and the two easily bond over their trauma and attempts to heal and move forward in their lives. When much of Mahiru's abuse is publicized by his mother and Mahiru goes into a panic, he asks to speak to Alex. As time goes on, Alex begins to admire Mahiru and Sora's unconditional love for each other; Seeing Mahiru happy and loved makes him feel like the same could be possible for him. It's because of their relationship that Alex actually pursues dating and the two often chat about things that others wouldn't understand given their backgrounds. When Mahiru eventually picks up streaming, Alex and him become game buds and often stream together.

Initially, Mahiru and Chey kind of stayed out of each others way. He knew of her during their first year at school when she was attending as a 3rd year, but due to her age and demanor, Mahiru never talked to her. Eventually, Chey's high shcool boyfriend breaks up with her and she explosively blames Sora, getting into an argument that makes Mahiru start to question Sora. It ends up working out fine, and Mahiru sees that Sora and Chey actually are closer than he may have thought. As he starts to visit their house more, she slowly talks to him more, though she always has something sarcastic or rude sounding to say. After the incident with Mahiru's mother publicizing his abuse, she feels for him and realizes hhis life is much deeper and complicated than she thought. Seeing him as a brother, she warms up to him, and each year she gets closer to him, though its clear she holds some sort of underlying animosity. When Mahiru and Sora start to imagine their perfect family together, they conclude they'd like Chey to be their egg donor. A lot happens in which Chey acts out due to her own insecurity and jealousy. It's Mahiru's constant kindness that pushes her to work on herself more. As their only confidant since moving to America, She becomes horrified as she gets a look into Mahiru's PTSD and depression and she slowly becomes very protective and overly worried about him.

These two have a great bond. He's always been supportive and upbeat and loving of Sora and Mahiru as both a couple and individuals, seeing both almost as mentors. When thomas starts to question his sexuality, the two are huge helps, always encouraging him and helping him get a positive light on things. The three have never had a bad experience, just all love and happiness here!

Overall, Mahiru has a great relationship with Sora's parents. Initially, his dad wasn't approving of their relationship, especially from finding out through walkling in on an intense make-out session rather than being introduced formally. He at first things Mahiru is using his "stupid, naive" son or has selfish motives, but after a talk with Sora's mom present, the three make him understand their feelings are real. After the publicization of Mahiru's abuse by his own mother, the two are mortified and start to understand the role they have in his life. They become more caring and loving towards him, and as the years go, they can't imagine their lives without him in it. They love him enough, and feel a lot of resonsibility as essentially his adoptive parents, to help him get the therapy he needs and make sure he's well taken care of. Mom has always had a soft spot for him and often takes him out on one-on-one dates for mother-son bonding and Dad enjoys cooking with him during holidays. Its apparent that they don't quite understand what it's like in his shoes- his trauma-bearing, gay shoes -and it can cause issues time to time, but he loves them and appreciates them more than anything.

Mahiru first met Addy when he went to America for the first time when he was 20. Eli and Alex wanted to hang out with some old friends during their summer trip. Mahiru is extremely nervous, but Addy being unphased by him and Sora being together, he feels a bit of comfort. He feels more comfort once Addy mentions she has a girlfriend and she's bisexual, and he worries less about the group overall due their acceptance of her. Addy is pretty chill at first and they get along well, but over the years, Addy starts becoming more irritable and rude. She starts to pick on him and obviously is upset when the two stay more private once they move to America, wishing theyd hang out and party with her more. She becoems extremely curious what this mystery is thats keeping them from their friends, and after an incident where she tricks Mahiru into becoming drunk, their relationship suffers a huge blow. He starts to feel uncomfortable around her more, and Addy coems to slowly realize the wrong she's done.

Nairobi was weirdly absent from their friend circle despite being Addy's girlfriend for some time. Addy and Milo always explained that Nairobi was very introverted, which internally made Mahiru actually want to meet her more as a introvert himself. Eventually, he met her and...well, she was pretty quiet and they didn't talk much. Due to his instictive self-doubt, he assuemd she didn't like him until Addy happily pointed out that Nairobi actually njoys his company a lot. He gleams formt he news and makes more of a push to get to know her; Nairobi slowly opens up and the two get closer, enjoying talking peacfully amongst the chaos of their other firends. Though she can be sarcastic and sassy, she's a kind soul who enjoys speaking to Mahiru, as well as listening to him sing. They've bonded over their cultural backgrounds that differ from the Americans in their friend group and their love of gardening/crafting.

Milo is...quirky to say the least. Mahiru finds him entertaining to be around due to his hilarious outbursts and randomness. Milo has always been a great ally and even enjoys queer media, which him and the boys sometimes gossip about. Along with that, he's always been understanding that Mahiru's been through a lot, which he can't relate in, and should be considerate. Despite that, Mahiru has trouble keeping up with Milo's energetic, chaotic pace.

Out of all their friends, Mahiru and Camden probably talk to least. During the start of their friendship, it was easy to tell they didn't have much to relate on. After a period where Camden had dropped communication with his friends after an incident involving his family and their beliefs on LGBTQ+ people, Camden reconnects with them rather suddenly. He apologizes for any hurt he caused and promises he's trying to do right, having moved out and started focusing on his own life. Mahiru can't completely understand how he could drop them and then just rejoin the group like nothing happened, but the others seem happy to have him back and his and Milo's bickering can be entertaining sometimes. Mahiru still finds little to relate to him on, but he does his best to be positive and kind to him as always. Camden has a particular...obsession with Mahiru's cooking. Anytime Mahiru has a potential reason to cook, Camden will beg for food.

After moving to America, Alex was quick to ask Sora to join him in a hangout with some of the friends he made on campus. Mahiru was invited as well, but being the nervous introvert he is with little experience hanging in groups of all guys, he declined and stayed home to sleep. He was nervous for Sora's sake, unsure how a group of rowdy college boys would act towards a gay man, though he recognized Sora is a bit of a bro himself. When Sora returns, Mahiru is happy to hear theyre actually pretty chill, albeit dimwitted. Most of the time, Mahiru just hears stories or sees posts on social media. The few times he's gone to parties or trips with them, he barely interacted with them. He doesn't hold any animosity, just can't relate or find a huge motive to get closer, though he's happy Sora has some dudes he can vibe with every once in a while.

Leah, Steph, Dina and Katie. All four are pretty good friends of Chey. For a huge summer vacation, they were invited along with the regular crew. Mahiru was, as always, nervous about spending a week with people he doesn't know well, but all four of the girls were very kind to him and loved learning about him. He thinks they have a pretty good friendship, and he hopes to see them and spend more time with them in the future.

Ethan, Leah's dimwitted fiancee, was invited to the summer vacation....Eric was not. Right away, Chey warns them of Eric's toxic behavior and tells them to let her know if he makes a comment towards them. The two, exhausted and needing the vacay, mostly decide just to stay away from him to avoid conflict. Despite that, Eric finds ways to run his mouth and makes Mahiru uncomfortable. Ethan, seemingly, doesn't care too much and stand sup for his younger brother, finding excuses for his behavior. Eventually though, Eric makes some passing sexual comment and starts asking to see photos of Mahiru as a kid, creeping him out to the max. He brings it up to Ethan and Leah, who deal with the sitauion and later Eric apologizes and confesses how he takes his self-hatred out on others and can't quite understand himself. Mahiru, for the first time, openly tells someone he doesn't forgive them, which actually is a huge revelation for him. He continues to see Ethan, as he's lugged around wherever Leah goes, and he tries to be udnerstanding int he fact that Ethan is...pretty stupid to say the least, but cares about his brother. While he's okay with Ethan joining for parties and group events, he's absolutely not okay with Eric, who seems to still have some weird obsession with him, being invited or even mentioned if it can be helped.