Akira Nishio

* Exodus
* Heaven and Earth

**Akira Nishio** (西尾(にしお) 暉(あきら), *Nishio Akira*) is a character who is introduced in *Soukyuu no Fafner*. He is the twin brother of Rina Nishio.

Akira is one of the second generation pilots. He pilots the Fafner, Mark Zehn, and is also one of the pilots of the Zero Fafner.

## Appearance

Akira has short brown hair and brown eyes. His eyes turned red due to the assimilation phenomenon but they returned to their original color before the events of *Soukyuu no Fafner Exodus*.

Usually wearing his Alvis and pilot uniform, he wears his casual clothes when he is off-duty which consist of a short-sleeved shirt with long pants.

## Biography

### *Soukyuu no Fafner*

Akira is seen in the shelter at Alvis with his family when the Human Army occupies the island. Akira is in the classroom when Tsubaki Minashiro joins his class. While his friends are talking with Tsubaki, Akira watches them. Akira is with Hiroto Douma and Seri Tatekami at Alvis when the Festum attacks.

### *Soukyuu no Fafner Exodus*

Akira is helping Kazuki Makabe out in the Rakuen to prepare for lunch. Akira gives Soushi Minashiro some curry, calling it "Akira Curry", and Soushi wonders if it is a new item. Akira responds that the naming the food after the one who made it is the rule but Kazuki comments that Kyousuke Mizoguchi gave the curry the name, "Kazuki Curry". Akira tells Kazuki that he respect him but he won't lose to him and mutters that he thought he would be able to work with Maya Toomi in the Rakuen when Soushi wonders where she is. Akira joins his friends in the linear car to the hangar when a Human Army transport craft nears the island with Festum chasing them. They reach their destination and the second generation pilots run to the hangar to prepare to board their Fafners. On their way, Akira wonders if Hiroto Douma was sure to give Mimika Mikagami the helmet to which Hiroto responds that he should hand down while he still can.

Akira and his friends board their Fafners and launch to fight the Festum that has been chasing the Human Army's transport craft. Akira gets the first attack off by sniping the enemy and gets protected by Hiroto when the enemy charges towards him. The Festum suddenly disappears and while they are looking around, it manages to penetrate Mark Zehn's left arm, causing Akira to scream in pain. He calls out to his twin sister, Rina, who tries to help him out but Soushi decides to forcefully disconnect the left arm due to the pain block not working. While fighting the enemy, who split itself into four, Akira is supported by his friends and he defeats the final one with Hiroto. After the fight, Akira is undergoing a pulse treatment with Sakura Kaname sitting beside him.

Akira goes with Hiroto and Rina to the Rakuen and are surprised to see the three Human Army pilots eating there. They are joined by Billy Morgan and share the same sentiment as Rina about the Human Army having only attacked them. Akira wonders what they mean about power and Jonathan Mitsuhiro Bartland explains that Kazuki has given them the ability to pilot a Fafner. When Billy asks if Maya has a boyfriend, Akira immediately responds that she doesn't.

## Fafners

### Mark Zehn

Akira pilots the tenth Nothung Model Fafner, designed by Alvis to combat the Festum, and it specializes in long-range attacks. When used in battle, it's equipped with a sniper, called the "Dragon Tooth", to take out enemies from afar. Unlike the other island's Fafners, its Nothung Model was never converted to the Einherjar Model as Akira spent most of his time away from the island, being part of the expeditionary force.

### Zero Fafner

Along with Rina, Akira also pilots the Zero Fafner, which was originally meant to be piloted by her parents who lost their lives during its first test. This massive Fafner is equipped with built-in weapons with a energy cannon in each hand and small lasers in its arms. It is also able to destroy barriers by creating resonance waves using the hand cannons. Near the end of *Soukyuu no Fafner Exodus*, it is upgraded with the Canon System which boosts the SDP abilities of the pilots and it is capable to produce any SDP unlike the other Fafners.

## Trivia

* Akira doesn't have any speaking lines in *Soukyuu no Fafner* due to his inability to speak after the death of his parents.

### Etymology

* The name **Akira** means "shine, light" (暉).
* Akira's surname **Nishio** means "west" (西) (**nishi**) and "tail, ridge" (尾) (**o**).

## References

1. ↑ Episode 15: Memory -Scream-
2. ↑ Episode 18: Father -Memory-
3. ↑ Episode 21: Sakura -Future-
4. ↑ Episode 22: Protection -Power-
5. ↑ Exodus Episode 1: Visitor
6. ↑ Exodus Episode 2: The Name of Hope
7. ↑ Exodus Episode 3: The Price of a Conversation