Sakura Chiyoda

**Sakura Chiyoda** (千代田 桜 *Chiyoda Sakura*) is the teacher and the older sister of Momo Chiyoda. Ten years ago, she sealed herself inside Yuko Yoshida so that her energy could counteract the Light Clan's curse.

## Story

Little is known about Sakura's life or career prior to the events of the series, only that she is a veteran Magical Girl, and has worked hard to create a safe haven for demons within the town of Sakuragaoka. She raised and mentored her adopted sister Momo Chiyoda for a time, but at some point sent her away to protect her from a coming danger.

### Volume 3

Ten years prior to the events of the story, Sakura and Joshua joined together to fight off something she described as "a disaster." While the nature of this foe is unknown, the battle took place at the abandoned Hinatsuki factory, and by the end of it Sakura had sealed Joshua inside a cardboard box present at the time. Her magic depleted, Sakura soon reverted to her core in a cat-like state, but not before delivering Joshua to the Yoshida's home with a hastily written note explaining what happened, and hiding the wish point cards obtained from his sealing inside the Pot of Manna at the center of Sakuragaoka's barrier. Now a core, Sakura made her way to Yuko Yoshida's hospital, and assuming the town won't be in danger for the time being, sealed herself inside the young girl to support her life.

Yuko first learns of Sakura through Momo Chiyoda, and after hearing of her disappearance, the two decide to work together to track her down. While searching for clues at the abandoned factory, Sakura briefly speaks to Yuko and guides her to the location of the Whatever Staff.

Sakura next contacts Yuko while the latter is diving within her own dreams in order to find the lost memory of speaking with what was presumably Sakura's core as a child. While surrounded by monsters born from her bad memories, Sakura reminds Shamiko of her staff, and instructs her to produce a weapon to deal with the enemies. Sakura asks Yuko to concentrate in order to help her regain her true form, and proceeds to properly introduce herself to a bewildered Yuko. She then leads Yuko to the memory she was searching for, and explains that as she is supporting Yuko's life, she cannot leave until the girl grows strong enough to survive without the core. As her stored mana begins to run out and her form dematerializes, Sakura asks Yuko to protect the town in her stead, as well as to look after Momo.

### Volume 6

While Yuko is speaking with Gusion within the barrier, she feels an aching within her chest as a result of Sakura reacting, which Gusion recognizes. When Yuko asks if they know each other, Gusion refers to Sakura as her lab rat before quickly correcting herself to "good friend." As Gusion begins to fade away, she has one last conversation with Sakura, though Sakura's side of the dialogue is not shown.

The next night, Sakura appears to a barely conscious Yuko in her dream. Though aware that the girl will likely not remember everything she says, she asks Yuko to revive the Bureau of Darkness, and tells her to "overwrite" Shion Ogura with Gusion (who she refers to as "Gussie") for help. Lastly, she ominously warns Yuko that as she and her friends aren't very strong yet, they should "lay low and buy time", and to "keep everyone alive" before Yuko is woken by Metako.

Towards the end of the volume, Metako calls Yuko into his dream to show her two of his memories of the past, both involving Sakura. This first see's Sakura, Metako, and to Yuko's surprise, Suika Nayuta, on a snowy battlefield in an unspecified country (though likely Ukraine). The trio discover a lone child, and bring her with them. Upon learning the girl has no name, Sakura decides to call her "Momo" for her pink hair, and asks Momo to come with her to Japan. Before parting ways, Suika asks for Sakura's contact info, but she refuses, as she thinks Suika is the type to "bombard her with calls". The second memory, much later, sees Sakura inviting Joshua over and asking him to rewrite Momo's memories of her past with those of a normal child, and to erase her excessive attachment to her so that Momo will agree to leave the town before the impending "disaster" arrives.

## Etymology

* The name **Sakura** means "cherry blossom" (桜).
	+ It can also mean "blossom" (咲) (**saku**) and "good, virtuous, respectable" (良) (**ra**).
* Sakura's surname **Chiyoda** means "thousand" (千) (**chi**), "generation" (代) (**yo**) and "field, rice paddy" (田) (**ta**/**da**).

## Trivia

* Tamasakura-chan strongly resembles her Magical Girl costume, in which Momo Chiyoda explains is why she is so interested with the mascot.