Aoi Hamasaki

> Better watch your back or else somebody might get you!
>
> Aoi Hamasaki to Ophelia Demoiselle

Aoi Hamasaki is a side character in Team OPRA's story. He is a student at Shade Academy and the leader of Team ALMD. His weapon of choice is a blue and black bo staff that sections off into two tonfa batons that are also pump-action shotguns.

He first appears in "Backstage Romance" fighting against Team OPRA in the Team round of the 40th Biannual Vytal Festival. After Goldie Melville is knocked out, he, Lucian Bellarose and Darko Budny are forced to collide with one another before Albert tosses one of Darko's grenade rounds back at them, allowing Rhea to shoot it and detonate it which then shatters their auras.

When grimm begin to attack Beacon Academy, he helps evacuate students from the show grounds alongside Team OPRA as well as Rocky and Olive of Team ROCK. He is later evacuated out of Beacon Academy.

After the Fall of Beacon, Aoi returns to Shade Academy.

## Appearance

### Physical

Aoi stands at 5'8 and has a thin frame with fair skin, a round head shape with a pointed chin, light teal eyes and black hair that is shaggy with most of it tied into a high man bun with a messy fringe. Around his forehead, Aoi wears a blue bandana.

### Attire

Aoi's original attire consists of a dark grey muscle tank top and a pair of grey and blue baggy shorts with clinched leg holes at the end. Over his tank top Aoi wears a hooded blue, dark grey and white vest. Aoi wears a pair of blue sneakers on his feet.

## Personality

Aoi is an upbeat, energetic and rather reckless man. He is shown to be cocky and arrogant in battle which often leads to him becoming distracted. Despite that he is shown to be passionate about fighting and respects his enemies as evident in complimenting Albert for his punch.

## Background

Aoi was born in Mistral to the son of two huntsmen graduates of Haven Academy. At some point during Aoi's childhood, his parents were caught having relations with The Wave Crime Syndicate, and as a result, were forced to flea to Vacuo.

At some point as a young teenager, Aoi enrolled at Obscuros for combat education and then was accepted into Shade Academy following his graduation. During the initiation, he is partnered up with Lucien Bellarose and becomes the leader of Team ALMD.

## Abilities and Powers

Aoi is an agile and rounded mid-to-close range fighter. With his weapon he is able to attack in close quarters or in mid ranged combat. He is shown to be incredibly fast which is further enhanced by his semblance.

### Weakness

In the heat of battle, Aoi will often become distracted and open to attacks as shown when Albert is able to get the drop on him while he is focused on teasing Ophelia.

### Weapon

Aoi's weapon is called *Totsuka.* It is the *Collapsable Staff Tonfa Shotguns (CSTS).* In its base form, Totsuka is a blue and dark grey bo staff that Aoi uses for melee combat. Totsuka can then split down the middle to form two tonfa batons that are also pump action shotguns with the side handles of the tonfas functioning as grips for said pumps. Through this form, Aoi can add more attacking power to his already swift attacks.

### Semblance

Aoi's semblance is called *Thunderclap and Flash.* Through his semblance, Aoi is able to increase his speed up to almost superhuman. This allows for Aoi to cross long distances up to 100m in almost no time at all. When in use Aoi will begin to spark with electricity and leave a trail of it behind him when he dashes.

## Relationships

### Lucien Bellarose

Aoi and Lucien are shown to simultaneously balance one another out. While Aoi is energetic and reckless, Lucien is shown to be relaxed and meticulous in thought. While it may seem like their total opposite personality might cause them to clash, it is shown that the two are on incredibly friendly terms, indicating that they may have sorted past this already.

### Goldie Melville

Aoi and Goldie are shown to be close friends who match each other's energy well.

### Darko Budny

Aoi acts as a sort of 'hype man' to Darko to help him grow out of his shy personality. He's shown to be incredibly encouraging towards him and values him deeply as a team member.

## Trivia

### Allusion

* Aoi alludes to the figure Susanoo from Japanese Mythology
	+ His weapon, Totsuka, is named after Susanoo's sword, Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.
	+ Aoi's lightning motifs from his semblance and emblem further allude to Susanoo, who is a deity of seas and storms.

### Colour Naming Rule

* Aoi is a japanese boys name that means "Blue-Green colours".
* Hamasaki is a japanese surname that means "Seashore cape".