Mao Tsuchiya

**Mao Tsuchiya (土屋 真央)** is one of the main characters of the *Tasogare Outfocus* manga series. He's a second year and a crew member in the film club.

## Appearance

Mao's of average height and built, and can most often be seen wearing his school uniform. He has short brown hair and large round eyes.

## Personality

Mao is extremely empathetic and caring, and cannot idly watch his loved ones suffer without helping.

Mao can't lie in front of a camera.

## History

### high school year 1

One night, while Mao was first year living together with Hisashi, Hisashi was in his bed, sick. Mao came to him to offer him some meds, and Hisashi pulled him in his bed, got on top of him and started licking his face and neck. He yelled at him to stop and get off of him, but Hisashi started sobbing, begging him not to leave him and referred to him as "professor". After Hisashi came clear about being gay and mentioned that he has a boyfriend, he offered to move out, but Mao said that won't be necessary and that he's not freaked out. This is also when they made their promises: that Mao will never tell anyone that Hisashi is gay and has a boyfriend, that Hisashi will never approach Mao “in that way,” and that they’ll respect each other’s “private time.”

### high school year 2

At the beginning of their next year, he agrees to stay roommates with Hisashi to help him keep his secret. They repeat their promises in front of a camera, since Mao can’t lie in front of a camera. Later, during a meeting in the film club, Giichi announces that the theme for their short film they'll make for a competition coming up will be BL. Giichi begs Mao to ask Hisashi if he'd be up for joining them as a cast member, however Mao’s hesitant, considering it may hurt his feelings.

Later, however, he starts drawing parallels between Hisashi and the main character and imagining Hisashi in his place in one of the scenes. In the next moment, half-asleep, he imagines himself as the love interest, almost kissing Hisashi in the scene. Hisashi wakes him up, and Mao leaves the room reflecting on the fact that he wanted Hisashi to kiss him. The next day, Mao tell Runa and Teru that he couldn't ask him because it would be too weird and that he'd rather work with someone else. When they walk in the room to let Giichi know, they see Hisashi standing next to him and are let known that he already accepted. Later that day, Hisashi and Mao try rehearsing a scene, but he gets so taken by Hisashi that he confesses to himself that he's in love.

The next day in film club, he’s is with the crew team location scouting. Hisashi decided to pay him a visit, saying he's socially maxed out and that he "just didn't get enough Mao". They rest on each other's shoulders, as he's dwelling on the fact that his love is probably unrequited. Mao gives him a piggy-back ride to the dorms.

Days later, they're preparing for the filming. Mao and Giichi were on a video-call on their laptops and reflecting on their progress. When he hangs up to answer the door, he sees Hisashi with a bruise on his face, informing him he got dumped. As he’s treating his wound, Hisashi talked about his relationship, the mistreatment and how the break-up was inevitable. Mao got caught up in his empathy and emotions, not wanting Hisashi to be mistreated anymore, and blurted out to be with him instead and promised that he would treat him right. At first, Hisashi felt taken back, but gave in and kissed him eventually. After they stopped kissing, Mao left the room saying he needs to cool off his head, and he never came back that night.

The next day, they're filming a scene, and it's not going well because Hisashi's mentally absent. Mao asks for a break and pulls Hisashi aside with comfort food and general comfort. Hisashi tries to bring up last night, but he tells him that he wants to talk to him about it after they wrap the filming. After the break, filming goes smoothly, however Mao's the one that's now unfocused.

The next day, they're filming a kissing scene. During a take, Mao was having jealous thought about not wanting to share Hisashi and how he dreads filming this scene. Lost in thought, he tripped over a wire and fell on the floor. Hisashi gave him a piggy-back ride to the nurse's office, where Mao's panicking on the inside about the camera. Hisashi then tells him to turn around and asked him how he really feels while pointing a camera at him. He admits that he's in love with him, and that he's jealous of his ex. They share a kiss. That night, they sleep together.

During next day's filming, Mao apologises, but he's reassured that no one blames him. As Hisashi's saying his lines, he says "I love you" while looking at him. He starts tearing up, making his vision out of focus.

The film club wrapped production in rain. The club had a heart warming parting with their cast members. Mao walks Hisashi back to their dorms, where Hisashi confronts him about looking down and demanding they start talking things through. He confesses that he'll miss seeing Hisashi being a part of the film club, but he doesn't want to hold him back from doing whatever he wants to.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jyanome (2023a) ‘take2’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 37-70.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jyanome (2023a) ‘take1’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 3–36.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jyanome (2023a) ‘take3’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 71-104
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jyanome (2023a) ‘take4’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 105-138
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jyanome (2023a) ‘take5’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 139-170
6. ↑ Jyanome (2023a) ‘take6’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 171-204
7. ↑ Jyanome (2023a) ‘extra’, in M.-G.R. Alexandra (tran.) *Twilight Out of Focus 1*. New York, NY: Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, pp. 205-222