Keiya Uto

**Keiya Uto** (宇藤 啓弥, *Utō Keiya*) is the secondary protagonist of the manga and upcoming anime series: A Girl & Her Guard Dog.

He is the 26-year-old subordinate of the **Senagaki Yakuza Family**, who serves as a guardian for looking after the Boss's granddaughter, Isaku Senagaki. Because of his promise to protect the latter at all costs, he went as far as to lying about his actual age, in order to attend the same school as her.

## Appearance

Keiya is noted to be a very handsome young man, in his mid-20's, who stands tall in terms of height. He has soft black hair with a dark undercut, three piercings (one on his left cartilage, and two on his lobes), a light complexion, pronounced lips and sharp but calm slate blue eyes.

When seen at home, his choice of clothing consists of casual but trendy outfits.

But when casually posing as a "student" in school, he's seen wearing the standard uniform for boys, which consists of a: white button up shirt, a striped tie, a dark brown blazer, and navy-colored slacks. Because of how easy it is for him to blend in, no one would even suspect that he's an actual adult at first glance. (Reason he was able to attend school with Isaku, *aside from having to lie about his actual age*, was that he bribed the school's board)

## Personality

Keiya is generally known for his kind, composed, but well-rounded demeanor.

In addition to his role of protecting Isaku Senagaki, due to being assigned as the latter's guardian, he takes his job very seriously. And because he fulfills his part diligently, he has a tendency to become overprotective and sometimes takes it too far. Something that will usually result Isaku into scolding him whenever he does so. But in spite of how he does his job, Keiya means relatively well and knows his limitations.

On the other hand, when Keiya is seen posing as a "student", Keiya is able to display a much more charming and natural charisma to where he creates a lively atmosphere around him, enough to where he becomes equally popular amongst both boys and girls, something that usually leaves Isaku fairly shocked, seeing how easily he's able to fit right in without blowing his cover, considering he's *much* older than everyone else he interacts with.

A comical gag when it comes to Keiya is when he would verbally threat or shoo away any male who'd get near Isaku within his proximity. Although the latter finds it to be pretty bothersome whenever he has a tendency to act like an overprotective parent / sibling, in reality, Keiya stands very much firm about what he intends to do toward any boy who would dare to make an advance towards the one he looks after.

## History

Before the start of the series, Keiya is seen working in the **Senagaki Yakuza Family** as its subordinate for quite some time.

After a 5-year-old Isaku Senagaki had lost her parents, and that her grandfather took her in, Keiya is officially introduced as the child's caretaker. Initially weary of him at first, considering that Keiya was a stranger to her, the latter was patient and even showed compassion towards the young child when she was missing her parents. It's thanks to his kind words along with the comforting embrace that Isaku was able to find solace in him and build rapport.

## Etymology

* The name **Keiya** means "open, begin" (啓) (**kei**) and "all the more, increasingly" (弥) (**ya**).
* Keiya's surname **Uto** means "eaves, roof, house, heaven" (宇) (**u**) and "wisteria" (藤) (**to**).