Protagonist (Sun)

> *"A broken world is counting down the days until the end. **Please...** I need your help. If it's you... I know you can. This is the story of that day when you and I..."* **-Hinako Shirai,** in regards to the Protagonist
>
>

**Protagonist** is the main protagonist in Blue Reflection Sun, and the non-magical Leader of the Eroded. He is the first male main character to exist in the Blue Reflection franchise.

## Profile

### Appearance

The Protagonist looks much like your typical new-age high school student. He wears a navy blue blazer with matching slacks, a navy blue pinstriped tie with light blue patterns throughout it, and a pair of multi-colored high-top sneakers. His brown hair is styled flat, but is a little scruffy, and he has light brown eyes.

### Personality

Stoic and calculating, but also understanding of his team members, the Protagonist ensures that SOLiD is operating at peak efficiency.

## Story

#### Case 00

The Protagonist encounters a vision of Shirai Hinako, who states that the world is marching towards destruction. She desires to lend him her strength.

The story flashes forward, and he is next seen speaking with the Weaver of the Destruction Hour, whose purpose is to end the world. The Weaver wishes to use the Protagonist and the seven team members of SOLiD (the Eroded special forces team) as a stepping stone to reach the Common. It is implied that the Weaver is the eighth team member of SOLiD. The Protagonist vows to save every member of his team.

Back in the present day, the Protagonist arrives at The Land where God Lives. There he finds a deserted town, and a massive pillar reaching into the sky. He encounters Shijō Raimu (Lime), who explains that the tower is known as the Cosmic Fang, or the heart of this world. Despite being a stranger, Lime is already familiar with the Protagonist, an Eroded boy from a faraway school, who has the potential to purify this land. She tells him that he will need to rely on the Eroded girls and develop their potential in order to defeat the Testa, strange monsters that invaded the world around the time the Ash Phenomena began.

The Protagonist has a chance encounter outside Hinomori Academy with Kasuga Shiho. She feels anxious about her first day there, and the Protagonist cheers her up before heading into the Academy alone.

The Protagonist laments the difficulty of his assignment, due to the presence of the Testa in the region. He meets with Shijou Ayaka, a teacher and leader at the Academy. She is grateful he has made the journey to train the Eroded girls and defeat the Testa. Ayaka admits the girls that will be assigned to his team do not have the best battle record, and that there are many dangerous zones surrounding the town. Rather than protecting the town, however, she emphasizes that the main objective will be to take the Cosmic Fang from the Testa.

The Protagonist is introduced to Xiao Meiqi, Takaoka Yukiko, Ikoma Ayami and Hoshiya Kanna and re-encounters Shiho, the newest member of the team. Ayaka explains that leadership of the team will be temporarily transferred from Meiqi to the Protagonist, which does not sit well with Meiqi.

#### Case 01

The Protagonist is instructed to dispatch Shiho, Ayami and Kanna to Area 105 after the Testa are sighted. Ayami and Kanna attempt to make excuses not to go, but the Protagonist is able to persuade them otherwise.

Meiqi and Yukiko join the group on the field. They learn that Shiho has no experience transforming into an Eroded, or even know what one is. When she finds out that transforming carries the risk of her becoming testified (turning into an Ash Monster), she begins to worry. The Protagonist reassures her.

During the conversation, Kanna goes missing, and the remaining team members are attacked by Testa. The group is unable to signal Kanna, and the Protagonist learns that the team has not brought along their emergency transceiver. Ignoring orders, Ayami runs off to look for Kanna, while Meiqi and Yukiko charge headlong into battle, leaving the Protagonist to defend the inexperienced Shiho.

Meiqi and Yukiko emerge victorious, and Meiqi argues with the Protagonist over the correct course of action. Shiho finally breaks down and the group tries to calm her. Shiho runs off, but Meiqi insists that she and Yukiko continue with the Testa elimination, leaving the Protagonist to track down Shiho. The group is once again attacked, and as a last resort, the Protagonist unleashes his hidden power, Ether Pherogram, which amplifies the powers of the Eroded girls. With the Testa vanquished, the three begin their search for Shiho.

Instead of finding Shiho, the group runs into Kanna. She explains that she found a lost puppy and left the group to deliver it back home. Meiqi insists that she and Yukiko split off and search for Shiho on their own, against the wishes of the Protagonist.

Eventually, the whole group reunites. They are again assaulted, and Yukiko is knocked out while saving Shiho from a Testa attack. The Protagonist tells Shiho that she can save Yukiko with her ability, Cell Reconstructor (Power of Healing). The Protagonist enters Shiho's heart and activates her power. Shiho successfully heals her comrade.

Meiqi and the Protagonist turn their attention to the matter of the Testa Queen, whose presence can be felt. Meiqi wishes to order a retreat, as the team has never defeated a Queen before, but the Protagonist insists on successfully completing their first elimination mission.

The Protagonist gives his orders and Meiqi is able to defeat the Queen. The two reconcile and the team returns to the Academy to debrief with Ayaka. She issues strapples (ether lollipops) to replenish the team's ether supply.

#### Case 02

A few days after recapturing Area 105, the Protagonist speaks with Yukiko and Kanna about the School Literature Club, and they agree to use the club room for team meetings.

The Protagonist meets Azumi Nanaka, Morisaki Alesia Yu, and Kuno Kirara, who have all returned from different missions. Nanaka is not receptive to the idea of a man joining their secret club, and leaves the room.

The Protagonist wishes to discuss the team's approach to combat, but before he can do so, they are summoned to the Guidance Room by Ayaka.

Ayaka informs the rest of the team that Kuramochi Ami, Yu's buddy (combat partner), and the final member of the team, has transferred to the Ise School. This is a euphemism to mean that she is now deceased. Ayaka dismisses Yu and the others, and tells the Protagonist that Yu has confessed to killing her.

Ayaka explains that the regulations stipulate that death is to be treated as martyrdom, no matter the cause, and also that Yu's testimony may be unreliable. She appreciates Yu's skill and loyalty and wants her to return to active duty as soon as possible, which requires finding her a new buddy.

Over the Protagonist's objections, she tasks him with assigning Yu a new buddy, and suggests Shiho. The Protagonist delays the decision, wishing to get to the bottom of Ami's death before assigning Yu a new partner.

The Protagonist returns to the meeting room to find that all the girls have left except Kirara. She tells him that he needs to make her buddy, Nanaka, feel better. Nanaka has been refusing to go on missions, and since Kirara is obligated to have a buddy on missions, she has not been able to properly deploy on missions either. Nanaka will not open up to Kirara about her troubles.

When the Protagonist asks Nanaka what is bothering her, she dismisses him and walks away. Yu tells the Protagonist that she has a twisted perspective of the world, and that it is best to leave her alone. The Protagonist confronts Yu about Ami's death, but Yu can only respond with cryptic answers.

Later, the Protagonist speaks to Kanna and Ayami about holding an encouragement party for Yu. They tell the Protagonist that Nanaka's behaviour is due to her going through an issue similar to Yu's issue, when Ami died. Kirara joined the organization at around this time, which is why she became Nanaka's buddy right away.

Ami had been the only person that Yu talked to. Not even Ayami has been able to get Yu to open up. However, she feels that Shiho might indeed make a good partner for Yu. As Shiho has healing abilities, she may well be able to open Yu's heart.

During the encouragement party, Nanaka asks to speak to the Protagonist in private. She does not trust him and feels that he has disrupted their daily routine. At that moment, the Protagonist receives a dispatch notice stating that the team is to be sent to Area 48. The Protagonist grabs Nanaka when she tries to run off to avoid being sent on the mission. Yukiko asks what is going on, and Nanaka accuses the Protagonist of assailing her.

As it turns out, Yu was listening to the whole conversation, and she clears the Protagonist's name. Nanaka runs off, but the rest of the team agrees to participate in the next mission. Yu wishes to travel to the Ash region, and asks the Protagonist to assign her a new buddy as soon as possible to facilitate this.

Feeling dejected about his failure to address the team's internal struggles, the Protagonist privately contemplates his purpose. Yukiko finds him and offers some encouragement and insight into his team members, including Ami. She tells the Protagonist she is shouldering a heavy burden herself, and almost had her soul reaped by Komagawa Uta.

Shiho is ultimately assigned to become Yu's buddy. Yu asks Shiho to fight separately from Shiho and not get wrapped up in what Yu is doing.

Shiho and the Protagonist take a trip to the mall to pick out a gift for Yu. Shiho picks out a bottle of Star Sand. Shortly after, Testa appear in Yu and Shiho's designated area, and they are dispatched. While fending off the Testa, Yu demonstrates her ability, Ether Swap, to exchange her own ether damage with the Testa.

Yu makes an excursion to collect some Ash in a bottle, telling Shiho that she likes many types of beautiful Ash. Shiho tells her the Ash is dangerous, to no avail. Shiho presents Yu with her gift of Star Sand, and tells her it is identical to a bottle of Star Sand she already owns. To her shock, Yu cavalierly empties the bottle so she can fill it with more Ash.

The Protagonist reports that he has detected Testa nearby, and felt as if they were going through his body. Yu tells the Protagonist that she heard the exact same thing from Ami, right before she killed her. When pressed for details, Yu states that Ami was testifying at the time, but that that was not the whole reason. Before she can finish explaining, Shiho kneels over in agony, and says that she is being attacked from within.

Shiho begins testifying, just as Ami had done. Something is detected inside of Shiho, and the Protagonist uses Ether Pherogram to send his consciousness into her heart.

There, he encounters Uta. She explains that a Testa Queen has invaded her heart. It is not clear if Uta is friend or foe, but the Protagonist drives the trespasser out, along with the Testa Queen.

The Protagonist leaves Shiho's heart, as does the Testa Queen. The Protagonist formulates a plan with Yu and the newly arrived backup to defeat the Queen, using the information that Uta provided.

Yu uses Ether Swap to save Shiho's life and falls unconscious. She does not wake up until the team has returned to the Academy.

## Trivia

* In Blue Reflection Tie, Kasuga Shiho refers to a "male leader" whom she views with affection. The male leader she refers to is *Protagonist*.