Tsuyako Shimizu

**Tsuyako Shimizu** (Japanese: **清水 (しみず)  ()** , *Shimizu Tsuyako*) is a 2nd-year student at Inarizaki High. Formerly a setter for their junior high team, they quit before moving to Inarizaki and began management, As of 2018, they seemed to become a dancer, yet still supports their friends.

## Appearance

Tsuyako has slim features, dark hair, and brown eyes. Tsu wears their hair out, with slim bangs in the front and their fluffy hair is tied in two half pig tails on the side with blonde under-dye. Kita describes them as being quite adorable, and everyone in general adores them.

When Tsu goes to school, they dress in the typical Inarizaki uniform, which consists of a white shirt, a maroon bow tie, a light brown checked sweater vest, and the standard brown blazer thrown over one shoulder. They dress in a black skirt, knee-high white socks, and the usual brown school loafers

Post time skip, they wear the same hair-style as they did in junior high, with the exception of blonde under-dye, with their hair cut short, and a small ponytail in a half-up half down style with loose curtain bangs

## Personality

Tsu used to be gloomy and independent when they were little. They had a tendency to become angry and furious when made fun of, and they had a strong urge to speak their minds without restraint or fear of mockery.

For better or worse, they had strict boundaries regarding whether to interfere in other people's issues and when to let others interfere in their own. Before expressing an opinion, they admit that they are prone to having little comprehension of others' issues themselves.

Tsu started to broaden their interests after they entered junior high school, participating in more recent activities that piqued their attention and expanding their social network.

Tsu currently exhibits shy and introverted traits when in public, but shows their more outgoing side when around friends and when meeting new people. Tsu has a more laid-back attitude now, but they still maintain tight boundaries. Tsu appreciates taking some chances and loves to skate despite suffering numerous volleyball injuries.

## Background

Born in the Aichi Prefecture, Tsu grew up close friends with Suna Rintarō and together the two started volleyball, although Tsu was never quite interested, with their skill being quite mediocre at times. Despite their gender being unknown, when younger Tsu had much shorter hair and wore the male uniform for their school, leading Suna and Choko to remembering Tsu as a male, thus the surprise when Tsu showed up at Interhigh wearing a Female uniform with much longer hair.

## Plot

### Tokyo Nationals

During the game against Karasuno, Tsu mostly supports the team from the sidelines. Standing next to Hitoka Yachi the two strike up conversation and become close friends. Once Kita is subbed in and begins receiving Yamaguchi's spikes, Tsu starts thinking about how reliable Kita was, wishing to have been as dependable as the latter. This leads to a flashback of Tsu's childhood.

Tsu explains to Yachi that when they where younger, they where unsociable and had very little friends, one day however, they move schools and there joined the boy's volleyball club, through their friendship with Suna. Tsu reveals that when the two where younger, Suna was the more outgoing and enthusiastic of the two, with Tsu always following Suna around. During one of Tau's first matches as setter however, they move to block the ball but land awkwardly popping their shoulder. Tsu then says that once they recovered however, the more Tsu played, the more injuries they would return home with. In the last year of junior high, Tsu once again pops their shoulder and decides to quit volleyball. Tsu ends with telling Yachi, that the only reason the boys where all here was because of their extreme love for volleyball, something Tsu never had.

At the end of the match when Inarizaki loses, Tsu goes to still congratulate her team and is seen crying over Kita's words.

### Inarizaki High (OVA)

Tsu is first seen taking a late night train with all of their belongings to Hyogo, where they enrolled for Inarizaki. When Tsu departs the train along with their impressive haul of luggage, Tsu stops to take out their phone and rings a phone number, later revealed to have been Suna's mother. When Tsu can't find her, they then proceed to turn around and spot her sitting looking around. Tsu runs up and hugs her, yet is pushed off as Tsu was not recognised. Suna's mother pats Tsu up and down before hugging Tsu and explaining how different yet pretty they are. Tsu then arrives at their house whilst everyone is sleeping much to their concern and they quietly shuffle through the doors.

Next morning Tsu wakes up late for school, much to their panic, yet once they put on their uniform they realise they do not like it. After much deliberating and comparing how to wear it, Tsu adds a cream brown sweater vest with diamond checks under their blazer with they end up carrying in their bag. Checking the time again, Tsu immediately rushes out of the door forgetting lunch and breakfast, and proceeds to race to school. On arrival they find everyone in their classrooms and after much struggle she finds her class.

When Tsu throws open the door, they find everyone introducing themselves, and in the midst of Atsumu speaking. When the class and teacher turn to Tsu, Tsu is embarrassed and covers their face. When it is Tsu's turn to introduce themselves they capture the attention of the class and everyone immediately starts asking random questions leaving Tsu flustered. During break, the class all rush up to Tsu asking about whether 'she' had food, what makeup products they use and if 'she' had a boyfriend, to which Tsu replies none to all. The rapid attention Tsu gains, annoys Atsumu and the latter leaves the room.

When Tsu asks for someone to take them to the cafeteria as they have no food, the class starts to give Tsu their food although they decline, eventually Tsu is carried on the back of someone and is close followed by a dozen of their class mates. When they pass the other class's classrooms, Atsumu points to Suna and Osamu that this 'girl' was the one causing all the fuss, however, Suna and Osamu don't care as much.

Whilst walking past the class, Tsu catches a glimpse of Suna, before prying themselves free and walking back to the door, and racing over to the desk the three where crowded around much to Atsumu's dismay. Tsu slams their hand down in front of Suna announcing that they are back. Outside, people gossip and praise Tau's 'boldness' at talking to a 'random guy she finds attractive'. When Suna shoves them away, Osamu and Atsumu grab Tsu and tell them to stay away much to Tsu's amusement However, the people outside the classroom begin turning on the twins and Suna as they tell Tsu everything would be fine.

Once the day is over, Tsu heads home with their new friend and the two talk over club activities Tsu might be interested in. When Tsu's friend mention the volleyball club Tsu decides to see for themselves why Suna came to Inarizaki. Once at Tsu's house the two bid farewell and Tsu starts their homework. Later that evening, Suna returns home and Tsu comes downstairs. Suna immediately calls Tsu a stalker questioning why they where in his house, with Tsu laughing while he grabs them. Tsu explains and Suna begins to panic at Tsu's new appearance and the two go upstairs.

The next day the two head to school together and Tsu takes their first look at the interior of the gym much to their amazement. Here, Tsu meets Chōko once again and the two happily re-unite and gossip over all they missed.

### Stats

 Stamina
 Game Sense
 Technique
 Speed

## Relationships

### **Inarizaki High**

* **Rintarō Suna**: Childhood friends. Suna and Tsu grew up together, with the two living together in High School. Tsu adores Suna and is extremely happy to have seen him make friends since junior high. The two met through volleyball and because they live together, they frequently study, skate, and go shopping together as the two enjoy dressing nicely. The two love playing jokes on Choko much to the latters dismay.
* **Choko Haino:** Childhood friends with a strong bond of friendship, Tsuyako and Chōko share a special connection with one another. Seeing her not as a fancy heiress with some convulated title of nobility, Tsuyako inspired Chōko to rise above her heiress status and become a kind-hearted person with Tsuyako was the first person to geniunally get to know the true personality of Chōko. Over the years, as their friendship developed, Chōko adopted the title of "anesan" for Tsuyako, considering them to be like a real biological older sister to her, possibly inspiring the sudden change between high school and junior high.
* **Atsumu Miya:** Classmates, Although Atsumu used to dislike Tsu 'popularity' the two become close friends, through the Volleyball Club. Once Atsumu learns that Tsu was a setter, their friendship further deepens. Post time skip, Tsu calls out to Atsumu on the court, to which the latter responds by fake flirting, causing Tsu to call him ugly, evidently proof of their deep friendship
* **Osamu Miya:**
* **Kita Shinsuke:**
* **Miyu Hikasa**: Their class vice-president,

### Family

* Ayumu Shimizu: Tsu has described him as the best brother one could have. Their brother often helps Tsu when they need help and as Tsu says 'is the most supportive of them'. It has been hinted that their brother dyed Tsu's hair. When Tsu was sad about Suna and Chōko moving, their brother looked after them, buying them drinks, watching movies together and cooking their favourite food. Tsu's brother also frequently sends clothes to Tsu from their home in the Aichi Prefecture.

## Quotes

* "*You can be my princess and I can be your prince!! Rin Rin and I will never let any others touch you again.*" (To Chōko, during childhood)
* Alala

## Trivia

* Favorite Food: Bamboo sticks
* Pre-timeskip Concern: They are worried that Suna's parents will soon kick them out of the house due to their antics
* Post-timeskip Concern: They wish that Choko could stop spending so much money on others and help herself
* Star Sign: Aquarius
* Like Suna and Choko, they speaks in the standard or even a dialect closer to the Tokyo dialect, due to not being originally from the Kansai region.
* They are a close friend of Chōko Haino and Suna Rintarō, and loves winding Choko up