Hikishima

**Hikishima** (疋 (ひき) 島 (しま) ) is the one of the characters in the manga series *Wild Strawberry*. He is the 7th Special Flower Funeral Force Squad's Funeral Director.

## Personality

Hikishima's personality can be described as assertive and somewhat confrontational. He is self-conscious about his height, as evidenced by his reaction to Kingo's surprise and his forceful response. Hikishima also seems to value control and strength, as he sets a condition for Kingo's acceptance into the squad, requiring him to have full control over the Jinka within him. He appears curious and interested in Kingo, despite initial doubts about Kingo's abilities. Additionally, Hikishima's cooking skills are a bit questionable, as his attempt at making takoyaki results in a peculiar and unappetizing dish, showing a lack of culinary expertise.

## Plot

### Background

Hikishima's background is not extensively detailed in the provided content. However, some information can be inferred. Hikishima is a member of the 7th Special Flower Funeral Force Squad, specifically the Funeral Director of the said squad. He is 24 years old and appears to be self-conscious about his height. Hikishima is assertive and has certain expectations for new recruits who have special conditions, as he lays down conditions for Kingo's acceptance into the squad, emphasizing the need for Kingo to demonstrate full control over the Jinka within him. Despite his assertive demeanor, Hikishima's actions, like attempting to prepare takoyaki for the party, may not always meet with success. Overall, while some details about Hikishima's background are mentioned, a comprehensive backstory is not provided in the content.

## Relationships

### Non-Familial

* **Kingo:** When Kingo is introduced to the squad, Hikishima initiates a confrontation by forcefully kicking Kingo, likely due to Kingo's unintentional reaction to Hikishima's shorter stature. Hikishima sets a condition for Kingo's acceptance into the squad, demanding that Kingo demonstrate full control over the Jinka within him. This shows that Hikishima is assertive and sets high expectations for new recruits.
* **Makoto:** Hikishima's relationship with Makoto is not explicitly discussed in the provided content, but they are both members of the squad and are present at the Takoyaki party. Hikishima extends an invitation to Makoto for the party, indicating some level of camaraderie within the squad.
* **Ayari:** Ayari discreetly shares information about Hikishima's age and self-consciousness about his height with Makino, suggesting a level of trust or familiarity between Hikishima and Ayari. They both attend the party and engage in conversation.

## Etymology

* The name **"疋島" (Hikishima)**, when combined, could potentially be interpreted as "Island of [a small unit of distance]." However, this interpretation is somewhat unconventional, and the name itself may not have a specific or widely accepted meaning.:
	+ **疋 (Hiki):** This character represents a small unit of distance in old Japanese measurements, equivalent to a "ri," which is approximately 3.927 kilometers or 2.44 miles. It's not commonly used in modern Japanese.
	+ **島 (Shima):** This character means "island" in Japanese.

## References

*Wild Strawberry* Manga: Chapter 7 (Page 8). — Ayari revealed Hikishima's age.