Erika Shibasaki

**Erika Shibasaki** (柴崎 絵里香, *Shibasaki Erika*), also known as **Miss Wabisabi**, is a character in *Tsurezure Children.* She is in class 3-8 and is the Tea Ceremony President and a member in the Light Music Club.

## Appearance

Erika is slightly shorter than average, but not by much. She has an average build. Her hair is short and green. It is very straight and she has bangs hanging over her eyebrows. She sports a red headband. Her eyes are blue.

## Personality

Erika comes off as a righteous and dignified individual. She seems to take pride in her tea ceremony duties and takes no shame in telling Shinji to lower his music. While this may make her seem stuck up, she isn't normally bossy. Ryouko notes that she seems like an honor student, which is very likely due to Erika's upbringing and general demeanor. Shinji recalls her nagging him to study and fulfill his duties as a student. Erika speaks in a rather refined and mature manner, probably because of her mom. Shinji also describes her as being stubborn.

Erika has a sharp tongue and isn't afraid to use it, especially on Shinji. While she tends to try to keep a calm and composed manner, she will not hesitate to jump on him. She also tends to conceal her true feelings, which is hinted to how she wears a mask. She doesn't wanna admit her feelings for him and comes off stern instead. At times, she masks those feelings under fake hatred which usually leads to playful banter. Yet, when she was holding his hand in chapter 121, a big smile is worn proudly on her face. Then again, she can also be emotional, since she is seen crying more than once. She can cry due to either happiness or grief.

When she wears her mask, Erika tends to be more playful and more cheerful than usual.

Erika can also seen to be rather smart and having good wits in general. She can be calculating and careful, especially when it comes to making moves on Shinji. For instance, she shoots her shot while playing it safe and playing music he will enjoy to strike a conversation.

Another notable trait of Erika's is her loyalty. Erika is most likely an introvert, since she is often seen with the same two friends. She can be friendly, like when she approaches Ryouko. She also holds values, like family. She doesn't wanna go against her mom even if she disagrees with what she says.

## History

Erika only joined the Tea Ceremony Club due to Kyouko Sano being in the club.

## Relationships

### **Shinji Ubukata**

Erika often fights with Shinji about her mask and she also has a crush on him, although she doesn't want to admit it. Erika eventually confessed her feelings to Shinji in **Chapter 208**.

### **Kyouko Sano**

Erika and Kyouko are friends whom Kyouko always tells Erika that she should confess to Shinji Ubukata, although Erika denies that she likes him. Kyouko is the reason that Erika joined the Tea Ceremony Club.

### **Unnamed Mother**

Erika and her mother do not always get along, and her mother always expects Erika to exceed her expectations with studying.

Erika's mother initially believed that Erika and Ryōko Kaji were in a relationship, due to stumbling in on them while Erika and Ryoko were talking about her mask during the school festival. However, after witnessing Erika's impressive guitar performance at the school festival, her mother not only approved of her musical hobby but also accepted Erika's hypothetical relationship with Ryoko. This misunderstanding is later cleared up once she is introduced to Ubukata towards the end of the series.

## Etymology

* The name **Erika** means "picture, painting" (絵) (**e**), "village" (里) (**ri**) and "fragrance, fragrant" (香) (**ka**).
* Erika's surname **Shibasaki** means "brush, firewood" (柴) (**shiba**) and "cape, peninsula" (崎) (**saki**).

## Trivia

* Erika really loves rock music and she has a talent for playing guitar, but she is on her last year in high school that she wants to join the light music club, so she wears a mask and calls herself **Miss Wabisabi** (although all the members know her true identity).
	+ She often fights with Shinji Ubukata about her mask.

## Gallery

Erika donning the mask of Miss WabisabiErika studyingThat's what the point of the mask is...Erika and Shinji's first kissErika's appearance in the animeErika and Shinji on the cover of volume 10
## Appearances

* Chapter 17
* Chapter 17.5
* Chapter 31
* Chapter 39.5
* Chapter 55.5
* Chapter 62.5
* Chapter 65
* Chapter 85
* Chapter 105
* Chapter 121
* Chapter 142
* Chapter 159
* Chapter 165
* Chapter 173
* Chapter 192
* Chapter 208
* Chapter 212.1
* Chapter 212.2

* Episode 11

References