Mano

* Middle schooler
* Adult

**Mano** (真野, *Mano*) is one of the supporting characters in the series. She is a classmate of Nishikata and Takagi.

## Appearance

Mano is a girl of average build and appearance, though she is noticeably shorter than the majority of her classmates. She has short black hair, which she often keeps tied back into small pigtails, and bangs that rest neatly above her eyes. She also has a light complexion and greyish eyes. For the majority of her appearances, she is seen wearing her school uniform.

As an adult, the only change in her appearance seems to be that her hair is slightly longer and is kept in front of her.

## Personality

Mano is generally shy, anxious, and sheepish towards other people, especially when she is trying to talk to Nakai. She also has noticeable anger issues, as she quickly becomes impatient when bothered or pestered by others. She is also very thoughtful and kind as she always supports Takagi and her relationship with Nishikata. Mano tries her best to give Takagi and Nishikata their 'alone time' and hence often steers Nakai away from them.

Regarding her relationship with Nakai, she often second-guesses herself while trying to interact with him. She wishes that Nakai would show more interest in the relationship, but loves him regardless. They are seen happily watching the fireworks together at the summer festival, showing that the two are able to enjoy each other's presence despite their issues with each other.

## Relationships

### Nakai

~ *Main article: Nakai* ~

Nakai is Mano's boyfriend, and she loves him dearly. Even though she loves him, Mano believes that Nakai doesn't show enough interest in the relationship, preferring to hang out with his guy friends instead of Mano. Despite Mano's anger issues and Nakai's more lax attitude, the two are shown to genuinely get along with each other. They often walk home from school together and even go tandem riding. In the OVA, the two ride down a waterslide rumored to make those who ride together on it fall in love. At the end of the second season of the anime, they are seen happily watching the fireworks together at the summer festival. Despite Mano's frustration towards Nakai, all her actions show that she really loves him and just wants to spend more time with him. In Chapter 124, there is a romantic legend about the 415 steps and Mano wanted to go up the stairs and have this whole romantic experience with him but his dense nature made her upset. Later on Mano wanted to write each other's names in a book at the top of the stairs because according to legend, doing that would mean that the couple would be together forever. Nakai refused to do so which made Mano sad but when Nakai told her that the reason for his refusal was because he had already written her name in it made her very happy. It showed that despite Nakai always displaying a laidback and dense attitude, he also thinks about romantic things and truly loves her. In Chapter 163, it is hinted that they kissed. It is revealed in Chapter 129 of the spin-off manga (over 10 year time skip) that Mano and Nakai are living together and in Chapter 265 it is confirmed that they are married.

### Takagi

~ *Main article: Takagi* ~

Takagi and Mano are good friends and classmates. Takagi often helps out Mano with her relationship with Nakai. In the OVA, Mano asks Takagi for relationship advice to help her get Nakai's attention. At the waterpark, Takagi helps Mano in getting alone with Nakai by luring Nishikata away from him, as the two boys were hanging out with each other. By the end of the day, Mano is grateful for Takagi's help. Mano also always tries her best to help out Takagi with Nishikata like when she steers Nakai away from them in order to give them alone time. Mano always supports Takagi with her relationship with Nishikata. Mano and Takagi also do a few 'couple' activities together along Nakai and Nishikata like having an exchange diary and going to the water park together. In Chapter 163, Mano asks Takagi about her experience.

## Etymology

* The surname **Mano** means "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**) and "field, wilderness" (野) (**no**).

## Trivia

* Mano's age in the spin-off is never revealed, but estimated to be around 26 - 27 year old.
	+ Her age being around 26 - 27 year old is due to the fact that she went to the same school and class as Takagi/Nishikata. In Chapter 31, Takagi mentioned *"it has been over 10 years since those days in middle school"* while reading through her middle school graduation album. Since the age students graduate from middle school in Japan is 14 - 15 year old, then add **over** 10 years to it. 14 to 15 plus more than 10 is around 26, at the least.
* In the spin-off Chapter 129, it was revealed that she lives with Nakai.