Dr. Marina Komori

Dr. Marina Komori (高森 マリナ) is one of the main protagonists of the light novel series Kindred Hearts and the chief researcher of Lazuline, a non-governmental organization dedicated in researching Espers and their origins, as well as protecting them from anti-Esper individuals and groups.
== Appearance ==
Dr. Marina is a bespectacled Esper woman with a short stature and a youthful appearance, almost resembling a 5 or 10-year old girl. Dr. Marina has blood-red eyes and a sky blue hair with a short bob cut and an ahoge. She usually wears a blue vest with a white shirt underneath and a blue pleated skirt, the standard uniform for female researchers in Lazuline.
== Personality ==
Dr. Marina is a kind-hearted and motherly woman. She treats Esper teenagers and children like if they were her sons and daughters, especially orphaned Espers like Rachel. She's also a hard worker and loves to spend her time in front of her computer, mostly inputting datas, chatting on Amiiba or playing games with her friends using the tower's fast internet connection. Despite her childlike appearance, calling Dr. Marina a child or treating her like one, as well as making fun of her short stature or calling her a "loli grandma" or "smol nanny" is a taboo. She won't hesitate to crotch kick anyone who dares to do that to her. Sometimes she even flogs her attacker in the butt with a baton stick.
== Abilities ==
* Heart Tracer: Unknown to most people, Dr. Marina is actually an Esper. She possesses a Sigil called Heart Tracer that enables her to talk telepathically with other Espers and read their minds. This helps her to understand other Espers' problems and personalities, which are vital in her research. Her Sigil does not come with any EX skills.
* High IQ: Dr. Marina has an exceptionally high IQ. She's able to solve complex mathematical problems and memorize anything related to her research and field work. She's also a tech savvy, and she's also able to help her colleagues with computer-related problems.
== Trivia ==
* Dr. Marina's appearance and personality are inspired by Futaba Sakura from Persona 5, Mafuyu Hoshikawa from Blend S, Komoe Tsukuyomi from To aru Majutsu no Index, Sun Shangxiang from Dynasty Warriors, Sento Kiryu from Kamen Rider Build, Kafuru from Senran Kagura, Natsuki Minamiya from Strike the Blood and Tierra-sensei from Schoolgirl Strikers. She might be based of typical "legal lolis" in anime and mangas which are childlike characters who are actually adults or in some fantasy/isekai animes, 100-year old girls.
* Dr. Marina was originally a character intended for Mahou Shoujo Spica, but she was moved to Esper Chronicles due to unknown reasons. She was going to be an ice-elemental magical girl with an appearance resembling a figure skater.
*Dr. Marina's real name is Marika Takahitsuji (高羊 まりか), and she is the elder sister of one of the main protagonists, Alfredo Takahitsuji. She changed her name and appearance somewhere before the events of Esper Chronicles. Izana is her nephew.
*Her Japanese name can be misread as Marina Takamori.
* Dr. Marina is an avid gamer, and she loves to play Safariland, a pet simulator and RPG hybrid similar to games such as Roblox's Adopt Me, Jewelpet and Pokémon where players befriend and train various kinds of cartoonish animals (extant, extinct and mythical) and pit them into battles, apparently popular amongst Esper girls. She also collects plushies of various animals from said game, including the game's mascot, Scotty the Northern Sea Otter. At one time, Dr. Marina regretted trading her albino Pachyrhinosaurus for a normal Aldabra Giant Tortoise. She even joined a raid event with her fellow researchers and won against the event's raid boss, a giant Indonesian Sailfin Dragon. 
*Back in her younger days, Dr. Marina used to be an otaku, and she used to be a doujin writer and cosplayer. She often appeared in Comiket, usually cosplaying her own original character from her novel.
* Dr. Marina is also a heavy snacker. She's rarely seen without a bag of cheese-flavored potato chips and a can of soda. She also loves to eat salmon en croûte, Korean fried chicken and beef croquettes. Despite being an adult, Dr. Marina never smoked since she's very concerned about her health, contrary to her snacking habit.
* Dr. Marina is the shortest female character in Esper Chronicles. She is diagnosed with a rare disease known as Highlander syndrome, which prevents her from aging.
Category:Characters
Category:Espers