Airi Takanashi/Synopsis

## History

Karina was born as the daughter of a prostitute and an unknown man. She never knew her father and her mother worked multiple jobs to get by, leaving Karina at home with her older sister, Himari most days. Karina's mother died giving birth to her younger sister who wouldn't survive much longer after birth. Following her mother and sisters death, her younger brother, Fuyu was taken in by their aunt, who she refused to live with. She began living at her mother's old work place in the Shibuya Red Light District, where she met Ken Ryuguji. Later on, she would spend her time between Shibuya and the dojo her mother also worked at in Shinjuku.

In elementary school, Karina became very close friends with Manjiro Sano and Keisuke Baji, who she would play with on the jungle gym. They also made foreign names for each other so Mikey's younger sister, Emma, wouldn't feel alone. Karina was indecisive so Mikey picked the name Karina, while Mikey named himself and Baji came up with the name Edward.

As she entered middle school, Karina became one of the founding members of the Tokyo Manji Gang. She stood beside Mikey, Draken, Kazutora, Pah-Chin, Baji, and Mitsuya. To motivate herself in the gang, Karina got the phrase, "Never surrender without a fight" tattooed on her collar bone.

## Plot

### Toman Arc

Karina studies in the park while she notices a large group of men forming around the amphitheater. She doesn't think much of it and continues studying until various organized fights begin to take place; realizing it's Kiyomasa and his lackeys. Karina knows it's her place as a leader to check it out but is annoyed that she has to leave her studying to do so. Upon arriving, Karina isn't given a warm welcome from the crowd, leading her to knocking out three of the men in one shot. Karina asks Kiyomasa who made him king and reminds him that infighting isn't permitted in Toman; under her division, she could sentence him punishment if she wanted.

Mikey and Draken arrive to finally break up the situation as the two top leaders of the Tokyo Manji Gang. Although Mikey takes care of Kiyomasa, Karina blissfully takes the final strike on him before departure. Mikey comments how frightened Kiyomasa appeared with Karina in front of them, which she hadn't even noticed. Karina says barely anyone out of Toman takes her seriously and face palms herself, but Draken comments on just how many biker gangs would hate to run into her on the street.

The following day, Karina, Mikey, and Draken go to Takemichi's classroom. Hearing that Takemichi was being kidnapped, Hinata Tachibana runs after them. Karina introduces herself nicely but upon meeting Mikey, Hinata slaps him in the face and tries to leave with Takemichi, but Draken stops them. Mikey threatens to kill them, but Takemichi protests, and asks Mikey to forgive Hina. The latter asks why Karina would hang out with people like them and Karina explains they are family to her. Mikey prepares to punch Takemichi, but stops himself, saying that he was merely joking and that he would never hurt a girl.

Karina, Mikey, Draken, and Takemichi then leave peacefully, and Hinata apologizes, saying she misunderstood the situation. Mikey accepts, but reprimands her, saying that her actions could've been bad if he was a dangerous person, and calls her a nice girl, telling Takemichi to take care of her. Karina asks Mikey why he said he would never hurt a girl when they have fought several times in the past. Mikey says she isn't just a girl to him, Karina is his best friend and partner. The group then bikes to a river and Mikey mentions that he likes Takemichi because he reminds him of his older brother, of which Karina feels the same way. He says that he dreams of creating a new age of delinquents like the one his brother was a part of and asks Takemichi to assist him.