Manami Koen

[ Manami Koen ]
P5 P5D PQ2
ALSO KNOWN AS	Brain Coral Leaper The Trainer
JAPANESE NAME	愛海 小苑
ROMAJI	Kōen Manami
FIRST APPEARANCE	Persona 3|5
AFFILIATION	Gekkoukan High School [P3] Tokyo University [P4] Tokyo Aquarium [P5]
AGE	17-18 [P3] 24-25 [P5]
DATE OF BIRTH	December 17th, 1991
ZODIAC	Sagittarius
HEIGHT	171 cm
BLOOD TYPE	B
ARCANA	Charity
THEME	No More What Ifs Joy [Persona Q] Sunset Bridge Remix for AKG K845BT
JAPANESE VA	Kana Ichinose [Tuesday from Carole and Tuesday]
ENGLISH VA	Laura Post [Akari from Sangatsu no Lion]
Gallery

"I just can't keep all of this trivia to myself! I wanna shout it from the rooftops and see the world get as excited about it as I am. Knowledge is meant to be shared, my friend!"
― Manami Koen, Persona 5

Manami Koen is a character primarily featured in Persona 5, but has her origins in Persona 3. She is currently a 24-year-old sea animal trainer at Shinagawa Aquarium.

Profile

Appearance

Manami was a young woman of considerable height with dark purple hair gracing her shoulders, alongside ambient light reflected in her gray eyes. Formerly, her hair had extended down to her lower back until she had settled into her role as an aquatic animal trainer, compelling her to relinquish its length in favor of practicality.

During her time at Gekkoukan High School, Manami wore the customary winter ensemble, complete with black knee-high socks and the signature chestnut loafers during her initial year. However, as she progressed to her second year, she deviated away from the standard uniform through rolling up her sleeves and exchanging the aforementioned socks for scarlet stockings - complementing the hue of the female uniform’s bow. While engaging in physical activities, as a valued member of the school's swim team, Manami transitioned into the conventional gym uniform, which concealed her swimsuit for her aquatic endeavors. Her weekend look consisted of a dark turtleneck blouse paired with a sunflower-yellow ribbed cami dress that descended to her calves, while her feet were adorned in timeless black creepers. Initially, her locks were styled into twin braids, but as time progressed, she embraced the freedom of her hair unbound, wearing a plethora of styles.

At present, Manami’s daily attire predominantly consists of the Shinagawa Aquarium wetsuit uniform, which was meticulously tailored to accentuate the contours of her frame, while paired with waterproof diving shoes. To complete the look, she highlights her visage with waterproof lip gloss and mascara, ensuring that her effeminate features endure the aquatic realm. Beyond the confines of the aquarium, Manami combines a pristine white blouse tucked into a chiffon pleated skirt, reaching down mid-calf length. As a final touch, she wears a tan trench coat paired with pristine white tennis shoes, creating a simple, yet chic look.

Personality

"Every wave that crashes against the shore holds a story, a tale of resilience and constant change. I find relief in knowing that, like the ocean, I too can adapt and grow."
― [ Manami Koen ], Persona 5

At first glance, Manami appears to be a simple, yet bona fide aficionado of the ocean. However, like the ocean, such a superficial assessment failed to capture the vast unexplored depths she has hidden behind her free spirit yearning for adventure - radiating benevolence only a few have seldom encountered. In her formative years, Manami developed what had seemed like an innocent fixation on the ocean, unfurling into obsession that consumed her entirety. Trickling the edges of the shore, what once were trips to the beach as a toddler had gradually pulled Manami into late-night reading marathons dedicated to the never-ending world of marine life. Her ardor for the subject felt so intense that Manami even contemplated graduating from high school early to embark upon a marine biology degree. It was an understatement to say the ocean had consumed Manami’s existence from that point onward. While she dedicated her leisure time to absorbing knowledge, Manami inadvertently neglected her lack of social awareness and empathy during her school years. Unbeknownst to the nature of children being easily impressionable, Manami would subconsciously steer conversations towards her own preoccupations with little to no regard for the interests of her fellow peers. However, it was during her first year of high school that the consequences of Manami’s behavior caught up to her, prompting an overdue reckoning.

Under the weight of strict reprimand, Manami was thrust into the unprecedented realm of social inclusion, bewildered. Known to be a beacon of charisma, forging friendships had been Manami’s forte. Yet the crux of the matter lay not in the initial impression, but the preservation of these bonds in part due to Manami’s overbearing presence. With time, her passions unfurled like the beach at low tide, revealing an array of diverse interests reflected in her outward appearance. From her second year onward, Manami planted a strict beauty regime, an effort she still upheld to this very day, but never had it breached into vanity. Shedding the twin braids that had defined her, Manami embraced an arrangement of styles. Her metamorphosis was subtle, but she had drawn in a myriad of gazes at Gekkoukan High, ranging from expressions of perplexity to mere curiosity. Manami honed her oral skills as she forged connections and expanded her repertoire. Her heart embraced a newfound receptivity that had once been absent, now evoking solace from those who sought counsel. In her pursuit of wisdom, Manami turned her gaze inwards, questioning the essence of altruism in relation to herself. Her gained experiences carved a path towards self-improvement, expanding her once narrow tunnel vision.

Yet, Manami's desire to disseminate the secrets of the ocean remained insatiable, for she could not bear to hoard such knowledge to herself. Thus, she cemented her path as an animal trainer during her time at university, a space where she was able to express her passions unapologetically without infringing upon the sanctity of others’ boundaries.

In the midst of Manami’s personal growth, however, her perpetual imperfections lingered like wayward shadows casted by the grandeur rocks on shore. Even to this very day, Manami struggles with her tendency of hastily leaping to conclusions, constructing opinions upon mere superficial observations, oblivious to the entire picture. Such a habit had been etched to her very being as she had emerged from a background of irrefutable truths found in nonfiction. Paired with her captivating persona, Manami may inadvertently let first impressions slip that were solely intended for the sanctum of her thoughts to the unsuspecting person before her. However, Manami has been putting in a conscious effort to prevent such irreversible encounters.

Story

Early Life

Growing up in Tatsumi Port Island, Manami's childhood unfurled amidst never-ending aqueous wonder. When her gaze first fell upon the ocean, it had seized Manami’s very being. Before her eyes stretched an infinite expanse, akin to tranquil crystalline glass that seemed to transcend past the horizon's edge. Even Manami’s father noted his daughter’s fixed gaze held the ocean’s cerulean depths as the iridescent waters were mirrored onto her wide gray irises. From that moment onward, her eyes never broke off from the captivating sight. Even within the confines of her home, she could not resist stealing glances through the window, at times lingering for hours on end. With crossed arms upon the windowsill, her delicate chin resting atop, and her nose pressed gently against the glass, Manami would linger there, lost in contemplation for what she wished could be eternity. Unbeknownst to her ever so supportive parents, they further nurtured Manami’s passion by handing her books that delved deep in the mysteries of the enigmatic depths, which so fervently fueled her curiosity.

Yet, over time, these innocent fascinations morphed into an unhealthy obsession, an all-consuming fixation that was overlooked by Manami’s unsuspecting parents, ensnaring her into its grip. This had resulted in Manami refusing to leave her home seldom for school, seaside excursions, and visits to the local aquarium. Driven into a corner, Manami’s parents were compelled to cater to her fixation for the thought of their daughter being confined to her room would exact a heavier toll upon her mental well-being. In the end, it was the more favorable compromise. However, this did not prevent their growing concerns, to a point where it overshadowed all their precedent plans, leaving an ineffaceable mark upon their professional and domestic spaces. They had once aspired of conceiving another child, but what was once a palpable dream, dissolved into mere afterthought, settling deep in the recesses of their mind. Overwhelmed by a sense of parental inadequacy, their self-inflicted insufficiency shunned any prospect of bearing any further weight upon their shoulders.

Ridden with guilt, Manami’s parents were firm on believing their lack of meeting their ideals rested within their lack of bearing responsibility. Unbeknownst to Manami, this situation had proven to be favorable for her as she had none but her parents to share her musings on marine life, who in turn lent attentive ears and due reverence, reluctantly.

The ocean, an immeasurable expanse stretching thousands upon thousands of feet, beckoned Manami, enticing her to fall in. Yet, with each layer she traversed, there was no sign of reaching the end. No matter how diligently she pushed forward, her progress was met at null. She resembled a scuba diver equipped with limited gear, however resolute in her pursuit of reaching the end of the fathomless abyss. As Manami swam deeper and deeper, venturing into unknown territory, the challenge of resurfacing grew ever more daunting. Eventually, she arrived at a point of no return, succumbing to suffocation, both physical and mental, the weight of her consuming fixation dragging her down.

With a due lack of interaction with the outside world, Koen’s social skills remained stunted, leaving her with little to no grasp of human empathy. Unaware of the emotional nuances that shape social dynamics, Manami would often cut off her classmates mid-conversation, steering the course toward her own interests by emphasizing her own thoughts and experiences above others. Her disregard for the natural ebb and flow left others feeling unheard, but to Manami’s favor, elementary and middle school kids lacked the mental caliber to grasp her negligence, as the mysteries of the ocean only fueled their thirst for the unknown. Their childlike wonder had shielded them from realizing their own voices were being silenced, leaving Manami’s behavior to go widely unchallenged. It did not help her peers’ genuine intrigue made Manami believe her infatuation with the ocean was universally shared.

However, as Koen embarked upon her first year at Gekkoukan High School, an institution renowned for fostering intellectual growth, she would find herself confronted by a more cognizant audience, specifically, Hidetoshi Odagiri.

Persona 3

"QUOTE HERE"
― [ Manami Koen]

High schoolers were a completely different species than the kids Manami had encountered in elementary and middle school. Not only were they book smart, but they were also street smart, a quality Manami greatly lacked. It was difficult for her to fit in because Manami almost never knew what people were talking about outside of class topics. However, this didn’t stop her from attempting to communicate with her new classmates. As more people were being shut down from Manami’s ongoing ramblings that had nothing to do with them, a majority of the class made it a case to ignore her. She wasn’t aware she was being avoided until one day during lunch, she unawaringly sat down with the people she usually had lunch with, even though they hadn’t engaged in conversation with Manami for days. The girls made a silent agreement to not respond to anything Manami brought up, but the hint didn’t go across to her, and this caused Manami to cause great distress to one of the girls. The classroom’s atmosphere became tense as Manami’s voice, which was growing more and more bold with every second that passed, laid a thick blanket of pressure on everyone. It was not until when Hidetoshi spoke up did that blanket disperse. He was extremely stern and blunt, which was ironic because he was returning the same passive-aggressive behavior that Manami put onto her classmates, but everyone else was too relieved to see Manami brought to her senses to point out Hidetoshi’s hypocrisy. His sharp words made Manami cease back; she realized, she was the one being silenced in this confrontation.

After school that day, she approached Hidetoshi and incessantly apologized to him for disrupting the class during lunchtime. In return, he facepalmed. He couldn’t believe she was apologizing to him out of all people, rather than the people she verbally harassed. It was at that point, Hidetoshi realized this girl needed actual help in order for her to standardly communicate with human society. He immediately came forth with the harsh truth, and shoved it down Manami’s throat.

“You are being a nuisance, no one wants to hear you ramble about the ocean for hours. Rather, they’re getting sick of it.”

While the initial insults didn’t hurt Manami, that particular sentence struck the final blow. She never ever wanted someone to dislike the ocean because of her. The ocean was Manami’s safe space, and never in a million years did she want to hear anyone antagonize it. And so, she seeked advice from Hidetoshi. He was quite reluctant at first, because why would he waste his time disciplining this primitive girl? But it was also that point, that drew him in.

While he was extremely cold at first, it was that harsh conduct that was able to counteract Manami’s verbal manipulation. While not extremely versed on what girls were usually interested in, Hidetoshi put in the effort to research on his own and open Manami to a “new” world that she had been missing for years. With more time they spent together during their first year, the closer they became friends. It was an unlikely friendship, but it was one that both appreciated deeply because they didn’t have any other close friends. Not only was Manami being exposed to new possible hobbies, but Hidetoshi came to have a deep appreciation of how such little things were able to impact this girl’s life. It was as if Hidetoshi was raising a stray kitten, a surprising development to his initial impression of Manami, comparing her to a primitive creature without common sense.

At the end of their first year, Hidetoshi convinced Manami to join the swim team next year as a way to be able to be connected to water while building up team relationships and exercising her body, while he would apply to be the head of the Disciplinary Committee of the student council. By both setting goals at the same time, they felt a little closer to each other. Manami’s parents were shocked at her sudden interest in new things, such as wanting to go shopping to buy more clothes, or visit the boutique to see which makeup suits her best. Manami entered her second year completely transformed. Her hair grew to her mid back and was properly straightened, and she wore a light layer of BB cream to brighten her face. Her classmates were shook, even Hidetoshi himself. Some students even took it upon themselves to approach the girl herself, and ask her what the hell happened. Manami was fond of the new attention, and conversations felt natural for once. She always kept Hidetoshi’s advice in her head in order to avoid losing the trust of her classmates again, only bringing up any external information if she was asked to. In return, her choice to listen to people first expanded her knowledge of other topics that Manami never thought were that deep. It brought her the same joy she received when she first opened a new book about marine life. These new stimuli however, did not detract her interest from her initial dream. She still made it a goal to consistently study marine biology in her spare time alongside her new hobbies. With joining the swim team, plus new friends, Manami found herself having less time to talk with Hidetoshi, and he wasn’t making much of an effort to talk with her as well, since he was busy with his own duties in the disciplinary committee. There had been a new member of the student council, which was also the new transfer student of that year, and Hidetoshi was spending more time teaching them the ropes of their job. Manami didn’t let this affect her, because she knew he was also a diligent student too that wanted to treat everyone else as fairly and just as the way he treated her. And so, she slowly distanced herself away from him, and became focused on her what was present in front of her.

Hidetoshi on the other hand, had similar thoughts. With Manami gaining new friends, friends who were more attractive and lax than him, Hidetoshi felt he was going to be replaced. Therefore, he did the deed himself in order for himself to not get hurt, although he felt hurt either way from the lack of communication with Manami. (In Hidetoshi’s social link with Hamuko, I quote specifically from him, “I’m not isolating myself; I’m just being aloof. Sooner or later, someone always gets hurt in any relationship.” I headcanon he says this based off his experience with Manami.) Misunderstandings on both sides negatively affected the relationship, and it was hard to go back to what they had in their first year.

In little to no time, Manami’s third year dawned upon her, which felt pretty surreal considering everyone managed to move on from the Nyx incident pretty quickly. She was now captain of the swim team, while Hidetoshi was student council president, succeeding Mitsuru Kirijo. (He still maintains his dream of wanting to become a teacher, though) Worst of all, they both weren’t in the same class anymore. The friendship they once had in their first year was now limited to quick glances and small awkward exchanges in the student council room. While it was somewhat painful for Manami, this was also just one of the parts of life that Hidetoshi taught her - things come and go, and the best way to handle it is to move forward with what is already in front of you. Manami focused on her passing her entrance exams with the highest score possible while balancing her swim team captain responsibilities. She was extremely motivated, because this was overcoming one step to being closer to her dream job of being an animal trainer. She was eventually accepted into Tokyo University, one of the most prestigious universities in Japan, and she was beyond ecstatic. Saying farewell to her small port island town, she was now moving into a new world, the bustling city of Tokyo.

Persona 5

"QUOTE HERE"
― [ Manami Koen ]

Moving to Tokyo took quite a toll on Manami. She had never experienced such crowded underground subways before. Everything stank, literally, everything. Even on the surface, everyone was swarming on the streets like colonies of worker ants. Manami wanted to leave immediately, the only thing keeping her there was her future degree at Tokyo University.

She chose to dorm all 4 years at the university because her scholarship allowed her to. College was even more foreign than high school. Most of the “friendships” she’s made have only lasted a few days due to their conflicting schedules. But, Manami was relieved that their drifts in friendship wasn’t her own fault. She was slightly paranoid that she might overtalk again about her own interests, so she remained silent about it until asked. The few close friends she did have were the ones she met through her major. They all shared the same passion for ocean life, and so, Manami felt comfortable talking about what she’s been researching all her life.

Manami graduated from Tokyo University at the age of 21, and she immediately started her hunt for a permanent job. Alongside a job hunt, Manami had to prepare to start living on her own. She had saved up money from doing part time jobs tutoring children in environmental science at a nearby middle school after school and interning at a local science center in Tokyo. While they provided good cash, they were also beneficial resume builders. Manami was lucky enough to find an empty two bedroom apartment in Shibuya that had a monthly rent cost of 14000 yen. It wasn’t a luxurious apartment but it was minimal and comfortable enough for Manami. However, Manami had to adjust to major changes with her new living environment. She was not on campus anymore, therefore there were no more dining halls where she could acquire healthy meals. Food was now 100% dependent on Manami’s skill, and that skill was nonexistent. At first she settled for basic Nissin cup noodles with takeout sushi from the supermarket, however eating this meal set almost everyday caused Manami to begin gaining weight. Maintaining a steady weight had been just as important to her as her strict beauty routine. Manami couldn’t continue to be reliant on empty calories, and so she put out an ad on Suumo (the Japanese equivalent of Craigslist) seeking a roommate, she couldn’t bother with their gender, the only requirements listed were if they could cook and be able to respect her private space.

With rent as cheap as Manami’s two-bedroom apartment, a flood of requests came in. Manami took some time to decide until she settled on Chihaya Mifune, a young girl in her late adolescence. There wasn’t much said on her request form, and Manami preferred that simplicity.

After adjusting to her new roommate, Manami conducted some research and she found a one year course that would be able to grant her a license to become a sea animal trainer at Tokyo University. Upon completion of the course, she was immediately granted her license when she turned 22, and this properly secured her a job at Tokyo Aquarium.

Why this specific aquarium? It was the aquarium Hidetoshi took her over winter break of their first year at Gekkoukan. The arrangement went a bit like this:

Hidetoshi: Where do you like to go outside of school?
Manami: The Aquarium!
Hidetoshi: That’s...I don’t know why I should have been expecting something else. Did you at least go with someone?
Manami: Nope, no one outside of my parents.
Hidetoshi bit his tongue before he could say this girl was hopeless.
Hidetoshi: So, you’ve never brought a friend with you? You told me you spoke to many students in your primary school years.
Manami: ...It just didn’t occur to me at the time, I was too focused on telling people facts about different sea creatures. Hey! Did you know cephalopods ca—
Hidetoshi: Stop, you’re doing it again.
Manami bit her bottom lip and gazed down at the floor to avoid being embarrassed.
Hidetoshi: Why don’t we do this, I’ll take you to an aquarium over this upcoming break, and you’ll see how different it is to have an acquaintance around rather than being alone.

In addition to Manami experiencing her first aquarium with a friend, there was something unique about that aquarium that she hadn’t seen before, as opposed to the ones her parents took her to. The trainers at Shinagawa Aquarium were strictly against using live animals for entertainment purposes, so they didn’t showcase any dolphins, sea lions, nor penguin shows. Instead, what Shinagawa Aquarium showcased were training sessions where they didn’t force the animals to perform tricks for the audience. Instead they used this opportunity to simultaneously rehabilitate the animal while educating local sea enthusiasts. Many of the animals at Shinagawa Aquarium had come from stranded situations, in which many were near death, and it was thanks to the aquarium’s efficient team that they were properly rescued and taken care of in the Marine Animal Care Center. They were greatly against making animals perform for profit against their consent, and respected their personal boundaries. When Manami was younger, she wasn’t able to differentiate between a live entertainment show versus an educational showcase. She had always assumed the animals were always willing to perform for the people, pointing back to her previous habit of drawing conclusions based off what she only saw, but Manami was very wrong and greatly disappointed when she found out the truth. Manami, alongside Hidetoshi, watched a Shinagawa Aquarium trainer explain these differences as a disclaimer before the live training session. The key phrase that was constantly repeated was “enrichment over enjoyment.” While entertainment is important to keep an animal active, enrichment allows to help problem-solving skills and utilize skills that they weren’t aware of before. Manami learned how enrichment allowed for a close link between the caregiver, and ultimately, it was less stressful for the animal. The foundational goal for these enrichment activities was to stimulate the animal’s mentality and encourage natural behaviors, as opposed to foreign, learned behaviors. As the trainer concluded their presentation, it was at that moment when Manami solidified her dream to become an animal trainer at this specific aquarium. If it weren’t for Hidetoshi bringing her here, she may have never gotten this far to acquiring an animal trainer license.

Manami did not quickly acclimate to her new permanent job, but she steadily rose up to become one of the top trainers at the aquarium over the course of two years. Manami was a bit discouraged when some of the aquarium guests randomly left in the middle of her training exercises with the animals. While she knew it wasn’t her own fault and that they most likely were on a schedule, she couldn’t help but feel the same paranoia that haunted her throughout her school years. However, through sheer effort and stepping over those mental blocks, Manami was successful in projecting a professional image while engaging in interactive exercises with the aquarium’s guests. The aquarium was even gaining regulars because their children loved listening to her presentations. One of the reviews on the aquarium’s blog stated, “My children looked forward to hearing Manami-san more rather than the recent ONE OK ROCK concert, I think that’s already saying so much.”

Manami was overwhelmed by the amount of positive reception she had received. In this space, where she was allowed to talk about her passions, without anyone interrupting her, it felt like a dream that was way too impossible to be real. Compared to her primary school days, Manami felt too spoiled. She desperately wished for her life to stay this way and to be able to passionately talk about marine science for the rest of her life, but things were too good to be true as she was nearing her third year of working at the aquarium.

It was a very subtle change that most people wouldn’t notice unless one was part of the administrative board of the aquarium, but the aquarium was losing money at an alarming rate. Yearly attendance had been steadily dropping over the course of the last decade. The amount of people who were genuinely interested in watching the animal rehab sessions were little in comparison to the ones that just wanted to see sea lions doing orchestrated tricks. Sales had steeply plummeted when the nearby Enoshima aquarium had acquired an orca whale from an aquarium in America. Orca whales were extremely rare in Japan, Manami had only seen them in news articles and an American documentary on whales. They are an endangered species, so Manami was a bit skeptical of Enoshima Aquarium’s decision to accept the orca whale.

Taking the matter into her own hands, out of sheer curiosity, Manami and a new acquaintance, Akira Kurusu, a recent regular at Shinagawa Aquarium, paid a visit to Enoshima Aquarium together. After taking two trains on an early Saturday morning, Manami was in utter shock at what she saw upon arrival. A giant billboard with a time table of the events occurring at the Aquarium that day. There were at least 9 events listed that were live animal shows, occurring almost instantaneously after each other. It’s as if these animals were allowed no breathing room in between each event, causing a twisted pain in the depths of Manami’s heart. Her heart ached even more when her and Akira went to see the orca whale show. The tank was only a mere 50 ft wide, and 40 ft deep. Orca whales were typically 20 ft in length, so these dimensions were very shocking to her. Manami estimated the tank only held 400,000 gallons of water, which was way too minuscule for the comfort of an orca whale, compared to their home in the expansive ocean. In such little space, the orca whale, who went by the name of Tobe, was forced to perform leaping tricks, underwater flips, and songs for the audience members. Manami felt sick to her stomach as she saw the rock solid expression of the animal trainer, or she would rather say, entertainer, in charge of that live show. They showed no remorse for the clear discomfort Tobe was displaying and Manami couldn’t bear to stand there any longer. After 15 minutes of forcing herself to watch, she shoved herself through the crowded amphitheater, and rushed out. Akira, out of genuine concern, chased after her.

Manami brushed it off with a lie, and spent the rest of her day off exploring Enoshima Aquarium with Akira. It was somewhat nostalgic for her, bringing her back to her first visit at the aquarium with Hidetoshi. [Of course she had gone with several female acquaintances before in a group, but it felt more genuine with only one person alongside you.] add this in the spot of the confidant.

With Shinagawa Aquarium having a major competitor now, the administration board needed to take desperate measures. The suggestion of one board member had turned the tables of that meeting — “Is it possible to change the rehabilitation shows into live entertainment?” This made everyone start thinking, making them believe the rehabilitation shows were the cause of the loss of profit for the aquarium. However, the head administrator rejected this proposal because he was a firm believer against animal cruelty. The rehabilitation shows is what makes Shinagawa Aquarium unique and he did not want to change that authenticity to be on par with a competitor. With the meeting dismissed with the head administrator’s final call, the board member wasn’t at rest. She had desperately been wanting a promotion for the many years she had worked at the aquarium, yet she couldn’t get anywhere. However, this situation at hand with Enoshima Aquarium was the perfect opportunity for her. Using the little authority she had, she went her way to contact the head administrator’s boss, providing private complaints that the current head administrator is allowing the loss of profit of the aquarium with his selfish decision. The head administrator’s boss was not as much of an animal lover as the head administrator, provided they graduated from university with a masters in business. And so, he took it into his own hands to hire another head administrator to help co-run the aquarium, but to everyone else’s dismay, the new head administrator’s true intent was to replace the current head administrator and get rid of the rehabilitation shows.

Manami was very unaware of the situation, as she was only an animal trainer at the Aquarium. Although, she began having her doubts when she heard the news of a new co-administrator. She couldn’t deduce why Shinagawa Aquarium needed more administration members when the current head administrator was properly doing his job. On the day of the new co-administrator’s induction into Shinagawa Aquarium, the staff was holding a dinner event that same night to welcome the new administrator. The loss of sales had already started impacting the infrastructure of the aquarium, as it turns out, they were understaffed for the event. With everyone else panicking, Manami took it to her responsibility to find a replacement waiter to aid the dinner party. She texted Akira, as he was the first person to pop up in her head that seemed fit for the position, and asked him if he and a few other friends would be able to help as waiters. Manami would compensate them herself out of her own pocket as the HR of Shinagawa Aquarium was unable to.

On the night of the dinner event, the rest of the staff were suspicious as to why Manami had to resort to recruiting high school students to help as waiters, but Akira and his friends — Ryuji, Yusuke, and Mishima proved their worth in doing an excellent job serving everyone without mistake. During the dinner, Manami had caught the eye of the new co-administrator of Shinagawa Aquarium. Her face was stiff. Her thin lips were curled into a frown and her eyes were without any light. She looked nothing like the current administrator, who was beaming with life and color. Manami’s gut intuition was telling her that this new presence was going to be a threat to Shinagawa Aquarium but she brushed off those negative feelings to remain positive.

After the wave of news articles that explored the new administrator of Shinagawa Aquarium died down, she began making her move. For the first few weeks, went formally went along with regular aquarium procedures, complying with the original administrator as much as she could, but Manami knew she was not being genuine. A month later, a formal notice had been put out that they were shifting the rehabilitation shows at Shinagawa Aquarium to live entertainment shows that would occur after consecutive 30 minute intervals. Manami was enraged by the news, she felt a part of her being twisted tightly into a coil, and that energy could burst at any moment now. MORE TBA

Confidant

"INTERROGATION QUOTE"
― Sae Nijima interrogating Akira Kurusu about [Manami Koen], Persona 5

[ Manami Koen ]'s Confidant Details and Obtainable Items can be found here: [ Manami Koen ]/Confidant Details

Trivia

• Koen’s given name can be broken down into two kanji, 愛 (mana) meaning "love, affection" and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful", but mi can also equate to 海 (mi) meaning "sea, ocean,'' giving an edge of duality to Koen’s name. The name was unintentional of her parents, since they only realized it after Koen delved deeper into her obsession. During one of their panic episodes, they almost believed Koen’s obsession with the ocean was a curse from their choice of given name.
• Koen shares the same English VA as Persona 5 Royal’s Kasumi Yoshizawa.
• Alongside Koen’s effeminate features, it was noted by other people that her voice was very soothing to listen to, which was possibly a subconscious factor why people let her rambled, even though they were not interested in the content. Due to this detail, Kana Ichinosewas chosen as Koen’s seiyuu.
• Koen’s favorite film will always be Ponyo, although the upcoming Children of the Sea releasing in 2020 may change her mind.
• When Koen settled into an apartment in Tokyo after graduating university, Koen had gained 12 pounds, because she cannot cook to even save her own self. And so, she constantly ordered take out every night until her roommate moved in.
• While Shinagawa Aquarium exists in real life, I have re-written it to be more based off the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in terms of administration and business for the purpose of Manami’s character development. The sea animal trainer Manami met during her first visit to Shinagawa Aquarium with Hidetoshi is heavily based off an animal caregiver I met at the Virginia Aquarium, who spoke similar words written in that previous section.