Saeki Nao

This article is about the character. For manga chapter, see Piece No. 7: Saeki Nao. For anime episode, see Episode 4: Saeki Nao.

## Nao Saeki

* Anime
* Manga

## Relationships

### Relatives

* Nao's Mother
* Nao's Grandmother
* Nao's Grandfather
* Aono Ryuuji (father)
* Aono Hajime (Half-Brother)

## Portrayal

### Japanese

Shimba Tsuchiya

**Saeki Nao** (佐(さ)伯(えき) 直(なお)?) is a high schooler attending the same high school as Aono Hajime who lived upon moving back to Germany due to personal reasons. He has a friendly rivalry with Hajime over violin playing, with the two having striking skills and talent. He currently attends Umimaku High School as one of the only first-year male violinist veterans.

## Appearance

Saeki is a light-skinned young man who stands out from his fellow Japanese peers. He has rather dull-looking, forest green eyes and curly light blonde hair. He wears round-framed eyeglasses, which indicates that he has bad eyesight.

He mostly wears the school uniform with either a long sleeve cardigan sweater or just the regular shirt, tie, and blazer.

## Personality

At first, Saeki appeared to be a stoic, emotionless character who used little words. However, he is actually an observant, smart, yet rather awkward kind of guy whom Aono Hajime notes to be bad at "reading the mood". Saeki is a talented violinist who can manipulate his playing style and music, and he has shown himself to be a very hard-working, determined musician who takes great care of his beloved instrument. He can be a rather regretful, clumsy, airhead at times-often getting sucked up into his playing and not being aware of his surroundings. He is a very loyal person and earnestly wishes to get along with Aono and be his close friend, even though he is aware of the rivalry between them.

## History

Saeki went to the same middle school as Yamada Ichiro (Aono Hajime's old childhood friend) and was remarkable enough to get into Umimaku High School through music recommendations. He is noted to be a very incredible violinist to many students and even teachers. It is shown that the real reason Saeki left his school in Germany and came to Japan was actually to meet Hajime. It is revealed (rather hesitantly by Saeki himself) that his mother was the one with whom Aono's father had an affair, therefore making Saeki Aono's half-brother. Because of this, Saeki constantly has regrets and wishes he had never existed-knowing all the pain Aono had experienced because of the affair, and has guilty feelings inside his heart. Saeki is currently the first violinist in the Orchestra Club at Umimaku High School, and he competes with his partner Aono for the top chair.

## Relationships

### Aono Hajime

Saeki purposely tried to throw Aono off when they first played the duet together during opening club day; however, Aono shocked him unexpectedly by breaking through and turning the tables on Saeki instead. Saeki noted how fun it was to play alongside Aono and tells him to join the club (which he eventually does). Saeki gradually tries to befriend Aono even though the two boys are competing for the number one spot. He admires Aono very much and even more so when the two realize they are half-brothers). The two often unintentionally motivate each other through their playing, and Saeki often gets scolded by Aono during practice when he zones out. Saeki doesn't want to lose to Aono on the violin but still wants to become Aono's best friend. He adores Aono like a big brother and wants to get to know him more.

### Akine Ritsuko

Akine knows about Saeki and Aono being music rivals and often teases the two of them about it. Saeki will often be scolded by Akine for being a clumsy airhead, and she thinks he is a little bit weird. She was worried for him when Aono told her that he was going to fight him but was happy to see them practicing together like usual the next day. She, like the others, is amazed by Saeki's violin skills and has commented that listening to him play kind of makes others want to throw in the towel and give up.

### Kozakura Haru

Saeki sits in front of Haru during performances and will sometimes be swapped out so Haru becomes Aono's partner instead. He notices her playing and tells her that her sound is beautiful, but she seems to be holding back for some reason. She and Saeki are both veterans, but Haru feels inferior to Saeki and vows to beat him one day. Saeki and Haru practiced together as a duet during individual practice.

### Yamada Ichiro

Saeki and Yamada have been friends since middle school.

## Etymology

* The name **Nao** means "straight, direct" (直).
* Nao's surname **Saeki** means "help, aid" (佐) (**sa**) and "chief, count, earl, uncle, Brazil" (伯) (**eki**).

## Trivia

* Saeki is good at goldfish catching.
* Aono Hajime says that Saeki resembles a "sloth".
* Saeki will play the violin whether he's sick, ill or bedridden.
* Whenever Grandmother isn't home to listen to him practice, Saeki's dog is always glad to lend an ear.