Ryo Kusunoki

is one of the main characters from Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy. She is a freelance photographer who works for MIND Magazine. 
==History==
===Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy===
Ryo is a freelance photographer known for her lively, optimistic personality. During her university years, she was a student of Kakunoshin Watarai. In this series, she frequently teams up with Goichi Sakamoto and travels across Japan under the guise of "Watarai's assistant" to investigate mysterious supernatural or anomalous events. Despite often describing Goichi as a gruff uncle, she still acknowledges his capabilities and confidence as a journalist.
While working, she often uses digital cameras to capture photos, but her favorite is still the silver plate film camera, to which she holds a special affection and preference. However, in separate investigative cases, she frequently finds herself entangled in major crises related to the survival of the Earth. Nevertheless, her innate agility of mind, coupled with her accumulated experience, enables her to instinctively avert disasters.
Recently, Japan has been swept up in the trend of the immensely popular pet robot "Gara Q". Influenced by this craze, Ryo also purchased a Gara Q as a companion. However, one day, Tokyo was startled by the appearance of a gigantic monster that looked exactly like a Gara Q. Ryo was surprised by the monster's presence, but because of its resemblance to Gara Q, she turned to her Gara Q for answers. However, all she heard was Gala Q repeatedly uttering the word "Garagon".
The defense force deployed a unit called the "Gara Q Busters" to either retrieve the Gara Q or provide electromagnetic wave-blocking curtains for families unwilling to part with their Gara Qs. When Ryo's Gara Q vanished after leaving a farewell message, she spent a day cycling around the city searching for it until late into the night.
That evening, Garagon took control of the Gara Q group. They left their storage hangars and began causing severe destruction using thermal vision. However, Ryo's Gara Q was the only one capable of understanding the emotion of "love" and continued to resist Garagon's control. Eventually, when Garagon was destroyed by a special electromagnetic wave-blocking powder invented by Watarai, Gara Q lost its electronic brain. Upon returning to Ryo's home, it died in her arms.
In recent days, there have been reports of sudden deaths among elderly patients in hospitals across Tokyo during the late hours, often accompanied by rumors of a mysterious man wearing a black hood. During one evening commute, Ryo unexpectedly met a young boy named Hitaki. However, Hitaki's true identity was that of the "Ceremonial Bonfire", referring to his sanctuary as the "Motherland." He would bring terminally ill individuals to the Motherland to alleviate their fear of death and employ methods akin to euthanasia to sustain their livelihoods.
Facing suspicion of murder, Hitaki had to flee from the pursuit of the authorities, with Ryo by his side. Upon learning Hitaki's identity as the "Ceremonial Bonfire," Ryo exclaimed, "Hitaki doesn't understand what he's doing." Despite their brief time together trying to evade capture, they couldn't bridge this decisive gap.
Eventually, Hitaki promised Ryo, "If you die, I will take you to my Motherland." With Ryo's assistance, they managed to escape the police pursuit with the help of their companion named Akame. Goichi and Ryo witnessed their departure.
Before long, Ryo's Gara Q was revived by Watarai's repair work. However, Cicada Woman, seeking revenge against Ryo and her team, disguised herself as a neighbor and falsely accused Gara Q of stealing jewelry and money from her apartment.
When Watarai was kidnapped, Ryo and Gara Q were also attacked by Cicada Woman. Gara Q, determined to protect Ryo and her companions, faced Cicada Woman's onslaught. As the trio left the building, Cicada Woman summoned a Garagon II and commanded it to destroy them. Resolute in saving them, Gara Q began playing its song, extending a satellite antenna from its head, reflecting a beam of light from Garagon II onto both the monster and its master, ultimately destroying them both.
Upon returning to the office, Professor repaired Gara Q once again. Gara Q then approached Ryo, expressing her love for her. Finally, Ryo and her companions joyfully danced with Gara Q.
When six researchers disappeared without a trace from the Human Chromosome Experiment Research Institute, leaving only their clothes behind, Ryo and her friend from her student days, Atsuko Shimizu, launched an investigation into the incident.
With explanations from Hirotoshi Okubo, Ryo learned about the existence of "Advance Human Genome" and uncovered the truth behind the mastermind, Yumiko Yamase, discovering that the missing six researchers had assimilated with Yamase. When they attempted to rescue another researcher, Kawano, he too fell victim to Yamase's assimilation. However, due to Kawano's resistance, Yamase's body eventually disappeared due to cellular division.
After the case was solved, Ryo and Atsuko celebrated their victory overlooking the city from a park. However, they noticed several blue lights similar to Yamase's beginning to flicker throughout the entire city.
During an investigation in the countryside with Goichi, Ryo got lost in a thick fog and accidentally stumbled upon the secluded mountain mansion of the Hecate and her followers. There, she witnessed their plot to trigger simultaneous volcanic eruptions on Earth in a meeting aimed at exterminating humanity.
When Ryo was discovered and attempted to escape the mansion, the group tried to eliminate her. As Hecate launched an attack on Ryo, with the assistance of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue, Hecate was vanquished by the power of Ksitigarbha, and Ryo was subsequently discovered and rescued by Goichi.
==Gallery==
===Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy===
Ryo Kusunoki 001.png|Ryo's first appearance
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==Trivia==
*Kumiko Endo, the actress who played Ryo, made a guest appearance as Kaori Aizawa in episode 17 of Ultraman X. She portrayed the mother of a girl who befriended Pigmon.
Category:Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
Category:Allies
Category:Human Characters
Category:Female Characters
Category:Heroines
Category:Civilians
Category:Reporters