Kou Tachibana

## Quotes

*"Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.*" To [Tatsuya]

"Yes, experiences aren't always universal, but it's a good thing to reflect on onesself, which I fear I haven't until this conversation." To [Heloise]

"*The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep." To [Heloise]*

"*Some paths can't be discovered without getting lost first.*" To [Heloise]

"We'll keep her with us, all of us will. Maeron's relationship with me lives in my heart, her relationship with you lives in your heart, her relationship with everyone else in the chateau lives on, Ana, even if she does not....Noone is dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away- until the clock they wound up winds down, until the wine they made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someones life, they say, is only the core of their actual existence." to [Ana] about [Maeron]

"Sadness to me is... it's empty. It's an emotion that fills my lungs with cold air and does nothing. It's nothing but a whisper in the wind. It likes to crawl into the empty spaces in my heart and make a nest, and I don't have the energy to move it out anymore." To [Ose-Ose]

"You can only fill that hole with more love, or you can learn how to build the emptiness a home, learn how to become its friend and wield it to your advantage. Or you can let it consume you." To [Ose-Ose]

"Kento, if you ever even think about doing the shit you just pulled again, I will fucking kill you myself." To [Kento]

"Haruko, if you saw someone struggling in a bad situation, you wouldn't be hard on them. I know you'd help them out and be kind. I know you'd put your hand out and inspire them to start again, because there's no crime in struggling... You wouldn't be hard on them, so don't be hard on yourself." To [Haruko]

## Profile

Kou Tachibana is the Ultimate Clockkeeper, and she rose to her fame rather quickly, considering it's a niche talent. She's only been an ultimate for the last year or two, and only had the resources to do so after her split with her ex-partner, Fusaaki Kurosawa (Ultimate Gambler). She's rather prevelant in Japan's high society, dining with the richest as one of the youngest millionaires in Japan.

## Personality

Kou is incredibly friendly and kind to almost all that she meets, and isn't one to turn anyone away if they need a helping hand at all. She's very obsessed with poetics, and loves spouting her favourite poems and quotes. She's been shown to hae the capability for silliness and works hard to uplift the moods of her friends.

## Relationships

### Tatsuya Kisaragi

Tatsuya and Kou met very early on into the killing game and bonded over their mutual richness, and business strategies. They've remained close to this day, but tend to have a rather closed off relationship.

### Beetle

While initially hating each other, Beetle and Kou ended up striking up an unlikely friendship after Kou confided in Beetle while making the girl food. While Beetle insists her and Kou aren't best friends, they do care about each other- they just show it in weird ways.

### Heloise Fontaine

Kou and Heloise also met early into the killing game, striking up an emotional conversation about what it means to have a purpose. They often bonded over these types of conversations and deep discussions about their feelings. They tend to have a back and forth of being kind and doing things for the other, which started shortly after Rin and Maeron's death, when Kou made Heloise cinammon rolls and delivered them to her. Kou has mixed feelings about Heloise, which she believes are romantic ones, but she doesn't wish to pursue it under the belief she could not make Heloise happy.

### Koji Nakamura

Koji was the target of Beetle's hatred for a good while in the first two chapters of the killing game, and when Kou stumbled upon this injustice she stepped in, starting a physical altercation with Beetle. Afterwards she tended to Koji's wounds, and helped the boy out consistenly for a good while after that. It's unclear if they could be considered friends but they are obviously very comfortable with each other at this point.

### Kiko Nakamura

Kiko, while doing her interning for her position as autopsy specialist, met a younger Kou, who was very different to the person she is today. Kou was desperately trying to plead her case in court at the time- due to her being the main suspect for a murder. The autopsy was the only evidence she had going for her. Kiko tried her best to connect with and comfort Kou, but Kou blamed her for a long while after for not being better, or helping out, even though Kiko was just a kid. They've discussed this topic now that they've met again and come to a shaky sort of friendship.