Introduction to the Umimaku High School Orchestra Club 1st Years Hajime Aono Gender: Male Grade: 1st Year Part: Violin A former child prodigy whose father is the world-renowned violinist Ryuji Aono. He once quit the violin but starts playing again after meeting Akine. While shy, he is kind and not at all cold; he cares deeply for his friends and hates losing. He displays overwhelming concentration when performing. Ritsuko Akine Gender: Female Grade: 1st Year Part: Violin A girl who improves her skills through sheer effort starting as a beginner. She has a bright, straightforward personality and speaks her mind clearly. She is the precious person who brought Aono back to the world of music. Nao Saeki Gender: Male Grade: 1st Year Part: Violin A genius comparable to Aono. He is easygoing and a bit airheaded, but his performance skills are top-class nationwide. He becomes both a rival and a close friend to Aono. Haru Kozakura Gender: Female Grade: 1st Year Part: 1st Violin She has a quiet and gentle personality. She has studied violin since childhood and possesses high skill. Past bullying has left scars on her heart, but she grows alongside her friends. Shizuka Tachibana Gender: Female Grade: 1st Year Part: Violin A skilled player who served as the club president of a powerhouse school in junior high. She is serious and hardworking, though she can be strict with beginners. Despite clashing with Akine, they stimulate each other's growth. Ichiro Yamada Gender: Male Grade: 1st Year Part: Cello A bright mood-maker. He's a bit of a jokester who joined the club with high hopes for the many girls there, but his cello skills are the real deal. He has been close friends with Saeki since junior high. 2nd Years (Seniors) Yo Hatori Gender: Male Grade: 2nd Year Part: 1st Violin Highly skilled enough to sit in the concertmaster's seat despite being a second-year. Although he rarely attends practice due to being a member of the dance club as well, his playing is first-rate. He is aloof but a reliable senior who looks after his juniors. Himeko Susono Gender: Female Grade: 2nd Year Part: 1st Violin A candidate for the next part leader. She is serious, has a strong sense of responsibility, and is trusted by her juniors. Kayo Takimoto Gender: Female Grade: 2nd Year A bright and approachable senior. She talks to her juniors casually and softens the atmosphere of the club. Yusuke Sakuma Gender: Male Grade: 2nd Year A core member supporting the orchestra club. He is calm and stable, serving as a good role model for his juniors. 3rd Years (Seniors leading the club) So Harada Gender: Male Grade: 3rd Year Position: Concertmaster Part: 1st Violin The leader of the orchestra club. With a kind and refreshing personality, he commands absolute trust from the members. He is the one who unites the entire club through performance. Mari Tateishi Gender: Female Grade: 3rd Year Position: Club President An excellent president who manages over 100 club members. She is gentle, caring, and beloved by everyone. Chika Yonezawa Gender: Female Grade: 3rd Year 2nd Violin Part Leader She has a bright and energetic personality. She carefully instructs the juniors, many of whom are beginners. Osamu Shibata Gender: Male Grade: 3rd Year Part Leader He can be strict, but he is a senior who truly cares about the club members. Mizuki Machii Gender: Female Grade: 3rd Year The associate concertmaster who plays next to Harada. She supports the orchestra with her stable performance skills. Tsubasa Takahashi Gender: Male Grade: 3rd Year Cello Part Leader He has a personality that speaks opinions clearly. He is also enthusiastic about instructing juniors. Takami Kimura Gender: Female Grade: 3rd Year Viola Part Leader She has a laid-back personality but is a reliable presence. Advisor Name: Hiroaki Ayukawa Role: Umimaku High School Orchestra Club Advisor/Conductor Instrument played in high school: Trumpet Birthday: October 15th Personality: At first glance, he is a strict teacher who allows no compromise in practice, giving detailed instructions to every single member. Because of this, members meeting him for the first time often find him scary. However, his strictness is not meant to corner the students, but to improve everyone's skills and create the best orchestra possible. He is extremely serious about music, identifying the talents and challenges of each student to provide tailored guidance. Skills as a Conductor: Mr. Ayukawa is an excellent conductor who supports the Umimaku High School Orchestra Club as a national-level powerhouse. He believes that in an orchestra, it's not enough for just the talented players to stand out; it's vital for every instrument to understand its role and for everyone to create one piece of music together. He enforces this philosophy thoroughly, providing detailed guidance on the balance and expression of each part. Relationship with Hajime Aono: He has highly evaluated Aono's talent since he first joined the club. Knowing that Aono was a former child prodigy, he does not give him special treatment. He treats him like any other member and sometimes uses harsh words to lead Aono toward personal growth. He values growth not just in talent, but as a person and as a member of the orchestra. Relationship with Mr. Takeda: He and Mr. Takeda are fellow alumni of the Umimaku High School Orchestra Club and were classmates. Since they have known each other since their student days and understand each other well, there are scenes where they consult each other about Aono. Appeal of Mr. Ayukawa: While he tends to be perceived as a "scary advisor," as the story progresses, it becomes clear that he is a passionate educator who wishes for the growth of every member more than anyone else. He has an intense passion for music and provides strict but accurate evaluations, earning deep trust from the club members.