Takumi Karume

## History

Takumi Karume was born on February 11, 1999. Takumi would live a normal life until the age of 13 when he began to experience muscle weakness and an inability to control his body at times. Doctors in Japan diagnosed him with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Takumi was given three years to live based on the progression of his disease and the time frame in which it was discovered. Not wanting to give up, Takumi's parents, Haruto and Shiro Karume, looked for an answer and found one across the seas in America.

Takumi and his family moved there in search for a treatment that would prolong his life. While in America, Takumi decided to keep his spirits high by getting involved with video games. Takumi fell in love with one in particular named Blaze Auras. Takumi became so good at the game that he was able to participate in the first-ever Legacy of Champions tournament where he made it to the finals before losing to Amber Ryann's Dragonfly. At the time, Amber had no idea that Takumi was Versaithe.

Prior to the tournament, Takumi visited a gaming convention where he met Kaito Akihiko. Despite Kaito's cold nature towards him, it was the first time Takumi had met someone who had also moved to America from Japan. Takumi continued to pester Kaito until he caved in and agreed to be his friend. Takumi told Kaito about his ALS and was overjoyed that he could have at least one friend while he dealt with his terminal disease. As a way of saying thank you for befriending him, Takumi tells Kaito about Blaze Auras and teaches him how to play.

Eventually, Takumi ends up meeting Amber, Sebastian, and Lynn. Lynn takes a liking to Takumi and falls in love with him. Takumi accepts Lynn's proposal of becoming a couple and the two start dating. This doesn't sit well with Kaito who warns Takumi that he could hurt Lynn's feelings by not telling her about his ALS. Takumi promises that he will tell Lynn about everything when the timing is right. As they continue to date, Takumi keeps his secret from Lynn and opts not to say anything although suspicions begin to arise when Takumi visits Lynn's home in order to listen to a song that she composed just for him. After being moved to tears by the song, Takumi is ready to leave when his leg gives out and he falls, smacking his knee on Lynn's living room floor.

Takumi says he's fine and Lynn let's it go; however, it cannot be ignored when he falls again outside of a wrestling event that he, Lynn. Kaito, and Amber went to on a double date. Despite being en route to a hospital, Takumi convinces Lynn to bring him home instead. The second fall did some damage and Takumi is unable to recover from it. Takumi ends up in the hospital, telling everyone that he is going on a 'business trip' with his parents for an extended period of time. While in the hospital, Takumi undergoes a battery of tests and it is determined that his ALS is progressing to a point of no return.

Takumi becomes weak and is put on a breathing machine to help him live. Realizing his time is near, he reaches out to Kaito and asks him to play one more match with Blaze Auras with him. Kaito obliges and during their 2v2 match, Takumi's movements become more and more erratic until his character, Versaithe, stops moving altogether. Realzing what happened, Kaito forfeits the match and rushes to the hospital where he discovers that Takumi had already passed away.

## Appearance

Takumi wears light blue jeans and a purple t-shirt with light purple stripes that wrap around his left side, stopping in the middle of his shirt. Takumi's has brown eyes and a natural hair color of black; however, he dyed it blonde when moving to America. Takumi wears a white band around his right wrist with a blue ribbon tied around it. The blue ribbon is a constant reminder of his ALS and how it will take his life one day.

## Personality

Takumi is a very warm and gentle personality. He shows nothing but respect for anyone he talks to and is a bit timid when offering advice as he feels it's not truly his place to say something about someone else's situation. That timidness stems from his ALS and how he feels he has no right to tell anyone what to do when he is hiding his biggest secret from everyone. Still, Takumi is often described as the nicest person anyone has ever met. So much so that Kaito refers to Takumi as his sun, and his most precious friend. Takumi's infectious and warm personality have even caused Amber's anxiety to subside whenever he talks to her.