Ritsuko Akine

= “Like, no matter when, someone’s playing would naturally blend together with their feelings and their surroundings...” = ~Ritsuko to Hajime in Chater 4 Ritsuko Akine (秋根律子, Akine Ritsuko) is a middle schooler (in the beginning of the series) who is a novice at violin playing. Upon meeting prodigy violinist Hajime, she drags him back into the world of music with her. She currently attends Umimaku High School as a second violinist. She is a newbie violinist and is not yet qualified enough to be on the veteran level. However, she is a passionate, perseverant, and quick learner and strives to do her best in the orchestra.

Appearance
Akine is a young teenager of average height with long, wispy auburn hair that is usually let down with two mini ponytails pulled back halfway. When she gets serious about practise, she tends to loop her hair into a high ponytail. Her sharp, bright eyes are a sparkling royal blue.

Personality
Ritsuko appears to be a bold, honest, and energetic character whose spontaneous energy adds to her natural charisma. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, and can be persuasive and outgoing if she wants to be. She is generally an easy-going, cheery character but is also real passionate about her hobbies, morals, and friends and will stand up for them if they are being attacked in any way. Her personality is described by Aono to be "that of a tigress". However she can get impatient and melodramatic, as well as impulsive, which can get her in trouble or misunderstood. Overall, she keeps an optimistic outlook on life and strives to become stronger and improve.

History
In early middle school, Akine had a close friend, Haru, who was a victim of bullying by some other girls in the classroom. Akine took it upon herself to defend Haru but eventually, Haru had to transfer to different school for "alleged bullying". A few days after Haru left, Akine got into a fight, resulting in her getting into trouble with the teachers by slapping one of the girls during class. After the incident, however, the other classmates began avoiding Akine, and the girls began messing around with her things, such as her gym uniform and hiding her shoes. She began studying by herself in the library and skipped out on classes and P.E., her only real friend being one of the teachers there, Takeda Sensei. While she was there, however, she began developing an interest in the violin and began getting tips by Sensei while she messed around with the instrument. It was because of her "bad" violin playing on day in the infirmary that Aono met Akine and the two became friends (Aono began teaching her how to really play the violin) during their last few months of middle school. Both of them make it into Umimaku High School and are currently members of the Umimaku Orchestra Club (violinist section).

Relationships
Hajime Aono -                    Akine and Hajime first met in their middle school infirmary where she was practising her violin, unaware that Aono was taking a rest in one of the infirmary beds. After accidentally waking him up (because of her "bad" playing) she accused him of being a pervert because his nose was bleeding. After Takeda Sensei introduced the two to each other, Akine was surprised to find find out that Aono was a violinist himself (although at first she didn't believe it). She begins to push for him to tutor her and eventually she helps him come out of his shell and it is because of her that he is able to pick up the violin and play once more. She is amazed by Aono's skill but will often reprimand him or hit him whenever he begins to get all "depressed" and lose confidence. She is one of his few closest female friends and the two will often get into small quarrels or cat fights with each other. But Akine and Aono really do treasure each other and it is shown that they both may have developing crushes on each other.

Haru Kozakura  -               Akine and Haru have been best friends going back to middle school, however, Haru had to transfer because of some bullying issues she faced with some other girls in the classroom. Amine and Haru continued to stay in touch, though, and the two girls both made it into Umimaku High School and joined the Orchestra Club together in the same section. Haru is Akine's dear friend whom she will protect and care for 24/7. Akine can tell if Haru isn't feeling well or is down-hearted. She acknowledges the great difference in Haru's skills and hers but vows to improve so she can one day play at her friend's level. Also, Akine doesn't yet seem to realise Haru's romantic feelings for Aono.

Trivia

 * Akine has a big appetite and loves to eat any kind of food.
 * She owns a cat
 * She is a fast runner and does well in P.E.

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