Kuon Shinzaki

* Manga
* Anime

**Kuon Shinzaki** (新崎 九遠 *Shinzaki Kuon*) was a God Candidate who is sometimes referred the Railgun User.

## Appearance

Kuon has waist-length mint-green hair that is styled in a waterfall braid where there is a tuft of hair resembling a ponytail sticking on the back of her head with the tips of her hair transitioning to a shade of peach while she has two medium-length hair pieces that she leaves over her shoulders along with shorter hair strands hanging on either side of her face and yellow-green eyes.

She carries a 3-way satchel bag which is most likely her school backpack.

## Personality

Kuon is a mysterious, delicate, sweet and innocent in all manner girl who did not have the capability to understand the dangerous world at first sight having adapted to a high social etiquette.

Throughout the travel with her companion the Sniper Mask, she was able show her abilities yet she remained naive and humble nonetheless. At one point, she also seems to have a crush on Sniper Mask, having a whole fantasy inside of her head of her and Sniper Mask getting married despite being seemingly much younger than him.

However, despite being presented as an otherwise pure and timid girl, Kuon exhibits tendencies towards being a pervert as she blushes and reacts excitedly to seeing Mayuko Nise's panties when she jumps over a table, exclaiming "they're striped!" inwardly and she also frequently muses over what Sniper Mask's face looks like and becomes very excited when she regains consciousness while in his lap. This tendency of Kuon's serves as a Running Gag throughout the series.

## Plot

Kuon is introduced when she approaches Sniper Mask on a rooftop when he is contemplating suicide. She mentions that she had arrived to this World that previous afternoon. Despite her lack of knowledge of the world, Kuon acknowledges that Masks cannot speak. She notes that Sniper Mask smokes the same cigars as her father. Kuon asks Sniper Mask to tell her about this world; however, they are interrupted by the appearance of a man whom Kuon mentions that she had been running from for trying to do "unspeakable things" to her. She attempts to flee from the scene, but is stopped by Sniper Mask who reassures her that there's no need for her to run.

After Sniper Mask takes care of the man and interrogates her on what she knows about this World, Kuon asks to accompany him. He refuses and suggests that Kuon find someone else to be her comrade. Kuon then asks him if there are any other generous people in this World. Sniper Mask thinks of Yuri Honjo and allows Kuon to follow him, intent on delivering Kuon to Yuri's care. As they depart to search for Yuri Honjo, Kuon hears Sniper Mask call Kuon his sister under his breath, but assumes she imagined it.

Later, Sniper Mask threatens to leave her behind if she keeps being slow. He insultingly calls her "Girl," citing how Kuon had mentioned that her name embarrassed her. Kuon is ready to argue for him to call her by her last name, saying she was only embarrassed about her given name, when she notices a paper sign taped to a nearby wall. Once they read that it's a notice from The President's Group, who are trying to recruit new members to help create god. Kuon requests to go meet with this group and Sniper Mask agrees, given the likelihood of Yuri joining this group.

On their way, Kuon spots a shower room and decides to shower. She states that it would be rude to meet new people without being clean. Kuon leaves Sniper Mask her phone to look through while she showers, requesting that he only look through her photos and nothing else. Her photos show Kuon has been taking photos of the scenery and one photo of a sign telling people to look for the God's Code‏‎.

They arrive at the Black Building, the HQ of The President's Group, and Kuon hears a man screaming. Sniper Mask suggests leaving, but they forge on at Kuon's insistence. They head up the stairs where Sniper Mask hear another person also walking up the stairs who turns out to be Yukio Tanabe. They secretly listen in to Tanabe tell Yuri and Mayuko Nise about the power of a "**Person Closer to God**." From listening in, they learn that a "**Person Closer to God**" can manipulate Masks.

Kuon tried to manipulate Sniper Mask but it turns out a failure. Sniper Mask then advises she should focus on what she could do, instead of making naive decisions. Because of that, she remembers her ability, which is the accessibility to the Railgun, and fires a warning shot to stop the fight between Kazuma Aohara and Yuri. This makes other God Candidates aware of her existence and thus, they are afraid of her. After the fight, she tried the manipulating power again but it seems she and Sniper Mask doesn't have the same wavelength.

Following Yuri, Sniper Mask hears about Mayuko wearing a defective mask leading to her hibernation and guides Kuon there. When Kuon sees Mayuko's condition, she remembers information about that status and a way to remove it. Kuon then proceeds to remove the hibernation and explains to the now-waking-up Mayuko that Sniper Mask is cooperating with her, and wishes to make themselves Yuri's allies.

After hearing about Yuri's brother has been kidnapped, Kuon agrees to help her but this puts herself being the target of Mamoru Aikawa. It is then revealed that the Railgun User is a condition to become a "**Complete God"** and the ability itself is extremely dangerous. That is proven when Kuon uses the Railgun to nearly takedown Great Angel.

When the fight drags on and Mamoru makes Rika Honjo his Apostle, the Guardian Angel joins in the fight and decides to kill Great Angel, who has been converted to be Yuri's mask. Seeing Yuri's spirit crushed by the Guardian Angel, Kuon remembers that her father used to decide that she must be superior to others, making her taking the lead and undoing the seal of Great Angel to let him fight back. When Kuon acknowledges that Rika has been brainwashed, she tries to become stronger by acquiring one of the God's Code‏‎. However, she is sniped down by White Feather Mask and dies on the rooftop.

Although being dead, Kuon still has enough time to transfer her consciousness and personality to Sniper Mask, which makes her live on. Since Kuon is **"The Person Greatly Close to God"** and bears the title **"Judge"** at that moment, Sniper Mask becomes **"The Person Greatly Close to God"** with that title as well. Together, they stop Sniper Mask's hibernation and acquiring the God's Code‏‎ inside his mask to become stronger alongside with some of Supervisor's memories.

The fight keeps dragging on and now Guardian Angel and the Administrator targets Yuri because she decides to go against the "Mechanism". Kuon now reveals that she can transport herself to other's consciousness and use her power there. Because of that, she moves between Sniper Mask and Yuri's consciousness to help both of them. After the fight, she goes with Yuri to help her stronger. Later, it is revealed that Yuri is too unstable, but Kuon can stabilize that, creating a perfect duo that no Guardian Angel or Administrator can match. The game ends and Yuri is the winner.

After all the fights end, Kuon is in charged of supervising the Masks and the survivors coming to the realm.

## Abilities

* **Faceless Mask**
	+ **The Ability to Avoid Attacks of the Masks**
	+ **Hibernation Suspension Ability**
	+ **Railgun User: Ability To Blow Up Buildings** (ビルをブチ壊せる人): Kuon possesses the controller to move the Railgun system at her will. However, she needs to know the exact coordinates of her target to aim it.
* **Spirit Transfer**
* **God's Code**
	+ **The Ability to Stabilize Dimension:** After talking with the Supervisor, Kuon can stabilize the distorted dimension from Yuri Honjo's power.

## Relationships

### Mayuko Nise

With her willpower to save Mayuko, Kuon has activated the "**Hibernation Suspension Ability**" and was able to nullify Mayuko's hibernation. Mayuko is sometimes aggressive towards her, thus Kuon shows some fears over her.

### Yuri Honjo

The first God Candidate that Kuon has met in the Realm. They created an alliance with each other along with the Sniper Mask to defeat the creators of the World and to end this World peacefully.

### Sniper Mask

The first known person who meets Kuon. At first he treated her condescendingly, only interested in the information and abilities she may have as a "**Person Closer to God**." As they journey together, he begins to show concern for her.

She finds Sniper Mask intriguing and mysterious, which leads her to develop feelings for him due to his care for her.

## Etymology

* The name **Kuon** means "nine" (九) (**ku**) and "far, distant" (遠) (**on**).
* Kuon's surname **Shinzaki** means "fresh, new" (新) (**shin**) and "cape, peninsula" (崎) (**saki**/**zaki**).

## Trivia

* Kuon is embarrassed by her given name.
* While Kuon is shown to be quite attracted to Sniper Mask, she has also shown to become excited over seeing other female characters' underwear.