Takuma Akutsu

**Takuma Akutsu** (亜久津 拓真, *Akutsu Takuma*) is the protagonist of Val x Love. He lives under the same roof as the Saotome sisters and serves as an Einherjar, a lover who will increase the strength of a Valkyrie for every Val Love activity performed with them.

## Appearance

Ever since he was a child, Takuma has had a frightening face that has lead to those around him referring to him as a "demon." He has average-length black hair, narrow piercing eyes, sharp pointed teeth, and a scar on his right cheek he is highly above average in height being seven feet tall.

## Personality

Growing up being feared by others due to his frightening face, Takuma has become an outcast who regularly shuts himself out from other people. Due to his inability to interact with or approach others, he eventually developed a fear of social interaction. However, upon meeting the Saotome Sisters, and being made to perform Val Love's while getting to know them, he starts opening up bit-by-bit. In his childhood he wanted to be praised by his mother, so throughout his life he's always done his best to study hard. Today, he still has an near-obsessive habit of wanting to study and perform well in school.

## Plot

TBA Anime (First Kiss Natsuki ch 5 /Second Kiss Yakumo ch 8 /Third Ichika ch 9 / Forth Futaba Ch 11 / Fiveth / Sixth / Seventh / Eightth / Nineth

## Relationships

### **Natsuki Saotome**

**Natsuki Saotome** (早乙女 七樹) is the 7th of the Saotome Sisters, is a strong-willed girl who, despite being very popular among her classmates, doesn't let that effect her. Initially she fails to find much appeal in Takuma, but over the time the two of them bond and she respects the fact that he is always trying his best, which motivates her to do her best as well. She loves him and tries her best to gain his attention. She wants him to choose her as his final lover just like Mutsumi and Itsuyo.

### **Mutsumi Saotome**

**Mutsumi Saotome** (早乙女 六海) is the 6th of the Saotome Sisters, is a gentle girl who also works as an idol, despite Takuma's scary appearance, she finds herself quite attracted to him, and wishes she could spend more time with him despite her busy schedule. She likes him and usually has perverted imaginations with him. She wants him to choose her as his final lover just like Natsuki and Itsuyo.

### **Itsuyo Saotome**

**Itsuyo Saotome** (早乙女 五夜) is the 5th of the Saotome Sisters, She has a fondness for being pat on the head, since her father did so often when she was a child. Initially, she doesn't care for Takuma but still pursues him aggressively in order to become stronger, however she soon develops feelings for him when she recognizes traits in him that remind her of her father. She is the Student Council President at Hokuou Academy. She's confident and thinks highly of herself and her skills. She wants him to choose her as his final lover like Mutsumi and Natsuki.

### **Shino Saotome**

**Shino Saotome** (早乙女 四乃) is the 4th of the Saotome Sisters, is the most isolated of the Saotome sisters. Due to her **Seidr** ability giving her a weak body, she is usually hiding away in the storehouse in the backyard, often reading books. She is the most powerful Valkyrie out of all the Sisters according to Gullinkambi. She likes Takuma immediately.

Chapter 1

### **Yakumo Saotome**

**Yakumo Saotome** (早乙女 八雲) is the 8th of the Saotome Sisters, has a cold, sharp personality and she has lazy tendencies. Her hearing is sensitive due to her **Seidr** ability, so she wears headphones to protect her ears, despite her cold nature, she has a playful side as well, and tends to take the lead in perverse situations. She likes him after getting saved and attempts to show that she cares about him but was interrupted by Natsuki while giving him tea.

### **Kururi Saotome**

**Kururi Saotome** (早乙女 九瑠璃) is the 9th of the Saotome Sisters, has a cheerful, childish personality, and as the youngest of the Saotome sisters, is often smiling and lightening the mood. Despite being the youngest sister, she's also quite intelligent, and is skilled at creating various gadgets for Takuma and her sisters to use.

### **Misa Saotome**

**Misa Saotome** (早乙女 三沙) is the 3rd of the Saotome Sisters, has a sociable, easy-going personality. As one of the older sisters, she often looks out for her younger siblings and they have a tendency to depend on her. She often shows a caring side towards Takuma and eventually comes to love him after he brings back her soul.

### **Futaba Saotome**

**Futaba Saotome** (早乙女 二葉) is the 2nd of the Saotome Sisters, has a kind, motherly personality, and is often responsible for taking care of the rest of the Saotome sisters around the household, as the second-oldest among them. She makes plans to increase the levels with Takuma and supports him.

### **Ichika Saotome**

**Ichika Saotome** (早乙女 一千花) is the 1st of the Saotome Sisters, the oldest of the Saotome Sisters, Ichika moved independently from the rest of her siblings at first, being the sister most opposed to using Takuma to increase their strength. She's got a strong-willed and brutally honest personality, and looks down on Takuma for his weakness. On the other hand, she's extremely fond of her sisters and loves them all. She later comes to like him as he shows a desperate attempt to save her sisters out of love (he also matches her type as described when questioned by her father Odin) .

## Etymology

* The name **Takuma** means "expand, open, support" (拓) (**taku**) and "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**).
* Takuma's surname **Akutsu** means "second, Asia" (亜) (**a**), "long time" (久) (**ku**) and "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (**tsu**).