Ichika Arima

## Ichika Arima有馬 一花

* Anime
* Manga

**Ichika Arima** (有馬 一花, *Arima Ichika*) is the main female protagonist of *Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui* series. She is Rio Amakusa's best friend who, after saving Ryō Amakusa from falling down the stairs and giving him her lunch, ends up receiving Ryo's enthusiastic approaches.

## Appearance

Ichika is a 16-year-old high school student and is noted to be a very cute girl who stands at about average height.

She has chin length, dark brown hair and big glossy pink eyes.

Throughout the series, she's usually shown to be wearing her school uniform. However, when outside of school, she's shown to be wearing girly, but casual clothes.

## Personality

Ichika is noted to be a sweet but straightforward girl.

Because of her straightforwardness, that alone, was what made Ryo fall madly in love with her. Especially, at the point when she immediately rejected his advances, even if they were "a way to express his gratitude" for saving his life.

In spite of how Ichika often tends to speak her mind, she's also shown to be a sweet and considerate girl who puts a lot of thought into things, whether it's gifts for Rio, or even for Ryo himself. An example would be as the ideal Christmas present for the latter.

## Plot

Ichika sees a man who is about to fall down the stairs on the train station and pulls him back using her umbrella from his collar, accidentally choking him in the process due to which she panics. He thanks her for saving his life and she hears he haven't eaten breakfast and was weak likely due to anemia, she gives him her lunchbox in her state of panic and leaves in a hurry as she was getting late for school.

Later, she goes to her friends house and when her older brother returns, she is surprised its the man from earlier at the train station. As Rio Amakusa goes to speak on the phone, the man introduces himself as Ryō Amakusa, Rio's older brother. He wants to thank her, but considers buying her clothes or shoes is too cheap and offers her a kiss and his body. Ichika is immediately disgusted and expresses it, however Ryō finds her reaction as wonderful.

A week passes and Ichika gets presents each day. She complains to Rio that she had given him her address and her mom was asking her about the man who send her a rose. Rio explains that she got tired of delivering them herself and suggest that Ichika actually do date her brother. She comments that her brother is beautiful, has money and good job, but silently mentions he is also a scum, which Ichika barely hears, but is unsure if she heard correctly. Rio tells her to complain to him about the chocolate or flowers, otherwise he will keep sending and gives him his number.

That evening, Ichika calls Ryō, who immediately recognizes her voice. She explains that continuing sending things is a bit bothersome, but Ryō states he will continue as he can't stop his feelings and its okay for Ichika to insult him and get angry at him. Ichika realizes he indeed is scum and tells him to not send her anymore flowers and hangs up. The next day, Ichika gets another flower with her mom commenting that Ryō is a poet as Ichika's name is written as "one flower".

## Relationships

* Ryō Amakusa: Ryō instantly takes a liking to Ichika after she promptly rejects him at his home after he offered her his body and calls him ''creepy'', and later he falls in love with her. After he starts regularly calling her and sends her gifts she starts feeling that he is imposing his feelings on her but develops a soft corner for him. Ichika finds him an annoying person, but to Ichika, he isn't a "bad person". After he starts to feel threatened from Tamaru as he feels Ichika might leave him, he starts to show a more genuine side to him instead of his usual playboy and womanizing nature. She eventually falls in love with him but doesn't want to admit it until Rio gives her the necessary push. At flower viewing she almost confesses to him after which Ryō starts avoiding her as he thinks he might not be able to protect her and could hurt her which makes her sad and promises Rio that she will properly face him. She confesses to him at a train station in Episode 12 of the anime and he reciprocates her feelings and they kiss and he also promises her that he will wait for her until she becomes an adult. He then also assures his father that he will properly take responsibility for Ichika as he was against their relationship.
* Rio Amakusa: Ichika's best friend. They started talking in their first year of high school, because their seats were next to each other. At first she thought that if Ryō and Ichika started dating 'it would be fun' but after Ryō's and her relation becomes better after he starts liking Ichika, she genuinely supports their relation as 'it would be the best'. She even goes as far as warning Tamaru in case he liked Ichika stating that her brother was insane in more than one way.
* Kai Tamaru: They were at good terms from early on in the series as they both liked manga and anime and Tamaru would also lend Ichika his mangas. After they spend time together at school and also at the school trip during the last day he starts liking Ichika and confesses on valentine's day but she rejects him. After that they are shown to still be good friends.

## Etymology

* The name **Ichika** means "one" (一) (**ichi**) and "flower, blossom" (花) (**ka**).
	+ Probably because of this, Ryō Amakusa sends her one flower a day to her house as a way to prove his feelings.
* Ichika's surname **Arima** means "exist" (有) (**ari**) and "horse" (馬) (**ma**).

## Trivia

* Mogusu originally posted Ichika's birthday as March 25th on her Twitter, but soon updated it to April 5th.
* Her favorite animal is Cat.