Nodoka Arai

## Debut

Part Two, Chapter Four

**Nodoka Arai (長 (のど) 閑 (か)  新 (あ) 井 (らい) , *Arai Nodoka*?)** is a major supporting antagonist of the Eyes Like Rubies series. She is Mujōna Kibutsuji's second conversion and personal attendant. She is also the mate of Upper Moon One, Kokushibou.

## Appearance

#### Human

As a human, Nodoka had a light, fair complexion and upturned, dark brown eyes with thick, dark eyelashes that flared out at ends. She had black, medium-length hair with wispy bangs.

She wore her Bounce District uniform, which is an outfit that looks similar to a karategi, but close-fitting and accompanied with boots.

#### Demon

After her conversion, Nodoka became unnaturally pale and her hair turned completely white. Her eyes turned an intense shade of blue that lightens and darkens depending on her emotions, accompanied by elliptical pupils. She gained two dashed cyan stripe-like markings on her cheeks and two sharp, curved horns, but usually suppresses those features.

Her usual attire are uniforms that consist of pleated skirts in a tartan pattern, blazers, boots or buckled shoes, and knee-high socks. Near the end of the 'A Return' arc, she wears a ribbon bowtie knot adorned with a jeweled bee brooch Kamabisushii gave her.

## Personality

Nodoka is a taciturn, reticent woman who's only objective is to serve and fulfill all of Mujōna’s requests. When she was first introduced, she said very little and would only telepathically communicate but over time, she became assertive and speaks aloud more often. She is a firm and resolute individual, and adamantly believes in all things related to order on the basis of the Demon Hierarchy. Her main objectives are to strive to exceed all expectations, and obey and please her superiors.

Nodoka is portrayed to be serious and resolute, stoically holding a blank expression and a neutral composure nearly at all times, but there are times when she is more animated, such as whenever she’s around Kamabisushii or Sunō. There are times when she’ll become overwhelmed with emotion, sensitive, and even cry in public, like when she reunited with Mugoi and Mujihi after having not seen them for over two years.

## History

Nodoka was born in a broken home in a small, impoverished village in the East Territory. After an untold traumatic experience, she became mute. Eventually, she ran away and found herself at the entry gates of the Bounce District. The years of prolonged abuse taught her how to defend herself to some degree, so she was taken in to become a skilled fighter.

During her time at the Bounce District, Nodoka wasn’t as skilled as her peers and was deemed the weakest out of all of them. This classification added yet another obstacle for her, the most prominent one being that she was mute. Nodoka was persecuted and ostracized by her peers, and endured physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. This and her abusive childhood damaged her even further, so as a result, she became an empty shell of herself.

#### Meeting Mujōna

Nodoka met Mujōna, who was currently disguised as a wealthy noblewoman from a faraway land by the name of ‘Lady Tama,’ when the Bounce District opened their doors and allowed her to choose one of the pupils in the junior class to be her attendant.

### Physical Abilities

* **Immense Speed:**
* **Enhanced Strength:**

### Mental Abilities

* **Accurate Precision:** Nodoka's keen intellect allows her to accurately target her opponent and block their attacks.
* **Enhanced Mental Prowess:** Nodoka can process information and think clearly at supernatural speeds, even in battle. She can estimate when her opponent will attack and how powerful the attack will be, and what she can do to counter it.

### Supernatural Abilities

* **Earth Tuning:** A technique taught to her by Kokushibou. This technique allows her to tune into her surroundings and feel, hear, and sense vibrations, which are called ‘melodies.’ It allows the user to always be ahead of their opponent and move at supernatural speeds.

#### Blood Demon Art (血 (けっ) 鬼 (き) 術 (じゅつ) , *Kekkijutsu*?):

**Thorny Iron Spikes (茨 (いばら) 鉄 (てつ) 釘 (くぎ) , *Ibara no Tetsu no Supaiku*?)**: Nodoka can generate profusions of iron thorn-like spikes from her weapon, the meteor hammer. Because the meteor hammer is an Innate Object that only materalizes when Nodoka summons it, these spikes are suggested to be made from her own flesh and blood.

### Gekigan-jutsu Techniques

1. **Sorrow of a Thousand Needles (哀 (あわ) れ () の千 (せん) 針 (はり) , *Senbon no Hari no Kanashimi*?)** - Nodoka spins whilst swinging her meteor hammer around as it shoots out a barrage of a thousand spikes in all directions.
2. **Windmill (風 (ふう) 車 (しゃ) , *Kazaguruma*?)** - Nodoka rapidly twirls the chain of her meteor hammer in a circular motion.
	* **Shield (盾 (たて) , *Tate*?)** - Nodoka twirls the chain of her meteor hammer in front of her and makes a shield that deflects her opponent’s attacks.
	* **Propeller (推 (すい) 進 (しん) 機 (き) , *Suishin-ki*?)** - Nodoka twirls the chain of her meteor hammer above her head and leaps into the air, temporarily gaining the ability to fly.
3. **Ensnare (罠 (わな) , *Hokaku*?)** - Nodoka uses her meteor hammer to immobilize and trap her opponent.
	* **Grapple (組 (く) み付 ( つ) く, *Gurappuru*?)**- Nodoka makes the chain of her meteor hammer coil and wrap around her opponent, disarming them.
	* **Strangle (首 (くび) を絞 (し) める, *Kubiwoshimeru*?)** - Nodoka wraps her meteor hammer’s chain around her opponent's neck and strangles them from a distance.

## Equipment

**Meteor Hammer:** Nodoka's weapon of choice is her Innate Object, a meteor hammer that she summons whenever she's engaged in combat. The meteor hammer is silver, double-headed, and has spikes that she can retract and protract at will. Nodoka uses one head offensively and the other to parry and defend against attacks. She swings and wraps it around her body to build up a considerable amount of speed, then jerks her body to deliver devastating and swift blows.

## Trivia

* Nodoka outright refuses to play baduk against Kokushibou after losing miserably to him once.
* The name of Nodoka’s meteor hammer is ‘Hallowed Cry of the Tormented,’ complementing the name of Kokushibou’s katana.
* Nodoka is inspired by Gogo Yubari!

## Quotes

* (To Kamabisushii) “Kama, if I see you flirting with anyone else in this fortress, I’ll send you to Hell myself.”