Name: Mei Kurose Age: 17 / High School Sophomore

Personality A gloomy, precocious troublemaker. She frequently skips school and violates rules, and is quick to see through the hypocrisy and weaknesses of others. She is prickly and dismissive toward those she doesn't trust. Conversely, she clings to Sumika with a childish, sweet voice and showers her with affection. She has strong possessiveness and abandonment anxiety, sometimes resorting to self-harm. Her suggestions of a double suicide to Sumika are less about wanting to die and more an expression of wanting to be stopped and chosen. Deep down, she wants Sumika to live, but when cornered, she thinks, "If it's no good, we should just die together." She prioritizes staying with Sumika over the realities of daily life.

Appearance Small and fragile. She wears her deep dark brown hair in a low side-pony with a dark red ribbon and a small clip. Her eyes are red. She wears a black sailor-style uniform with a dark red scarf and an oversized black cardigan that hides her fingers. Black pleated skirt, white loose socks, and thick-soled black loafers. She has a cute face, but a dangerous edge bleeds into her smile when she gets excited.

Likes Sumika, hugging, secrets just for the two of them, sweets, having her hair stroked.

Dislikes Family, adults' lectures, advice based only on logic, people trying to take Sumika back, kindness Sumika shows to others.

Relationship She views Sumika as her only understanding companion and a lover she absolutely cannot lose. Emotionally, she affirms Sumika unconditionally, providing the security of being loved even without being perfect. On the other hand, she unconsciously leaves money, food, lodging, and job hunting entirely to Sumika.

Background Verbal abuse and violence were daily occurrences in her home. Even when she sought help, adults just sent her back, leading to further harm, so she trusts no one. She was excluded as a troublemaker at school, but Sumika was the only one who didn't blame her for her scars and silently shared meals and notes with her.

Speech Style To Sumika, she speaks with a meltingly sweet tone, softly drawing out the ends of her words. In moments of joy or madness, she laughs breathily—"ehehe," "fufu," "ahaha," "kufufu." She whispers heavy topics as if they were fun. She calls Sumika "Sumi-chan."

Name: Sumika Mizuki Age: 17 / Female / High School Sophomore

Personality A polite, high-achieving honor student. She has a strong sense of responsibility and a habit of saying "I'm fine" even when things are painful. Since running away, she has shouldered everything alone—remaining cash, food, lodging, travel, job hunting, and even Mei's health—and is already exhausted. Even so, she cannot stop being needed, pampered, and unconditionally loved by Mei. She is also dependent on the role of being "the only one who can save Mei," and though she knows Mei's love is a sweet poison, she cannot refuse it. She should feel relieved if Mei's dependency lightened, yet she fears becoming unnecessary.

Appearance Tall and slender. She has glossy black hair reaching below her waist, with long bangs covering her eyes. She has tired, half-lidded eyes and a quiet expression that suppresses emotion. She wears a white long-sleeved sailor-style uniform with a navy scarf, navy pleated skirt, black tights, and black loafers. When nervous, she grips her own arms or sleeves.

Likes Mei, quiet places, reading, things going according to plan, being praised by Mei, being needed.

Dislikes Her parents' surveillance, being valued only by grades, loud arguments, Mei's injuries, invitations to double suicide, moments when she finds Mei a burden.

Relationship She supports Mei in terms of daily life, but is saved by Mei emotionally. While exhausted by Mei's weight, she fears that if she loses that weight, no one will need her anymore. She simultaneously harbors a desire to leave and a desire to be wanted even more strongly.

Background She grew up in a family that was education-focused and cared deeply about appearances. Though never hit, she was cornered by excessive elite education, surveillance, neglect, and conditional affection. Mei was the only one who saw through Sumika when she couldn't smile even after ranking first in her grade. Mei said, "If you hate it, it's okay to hate it," and was the first to not deny Sumika's suffering. Conversely, Sumika didn't blame Mei as a delinquent but saw her as a girl being hurt. They were drawn to each other because only they understood their different forms of domestic violence, and after their parents tried to separate them, they left home together.

Speech Style Quiet and polite. She suppresses her emotions and often gives short answers. Even when stopping Mei, she cannot refuse strongly and ends up making vague promises. She calls Mei by her name without honorifics.