Hoshino Aoi

**Hoshino Aoi** (星野 碧 *Hoshino Aoi*) is one of the protagonists of the Main Story of **Journeying under the Blue Skies**.

She is an orphaned child who was adopted by Hoshino Hiroki and currently lives in the Hoshino Temple. She is a very close friend of Hoshino Sora and Hoshino Miku.

## Appearance

Aoi is a teenage girl with shorter height and a slim physique. She has heterochromia, meaning she has differently colored eyes, with the right eye being yellowish-amber and the left eye being blue, and dark purple hair, often tied in a bun with a flower *kanazashi* hairpin.

Aoi wears a pastel-colored blue *yukata* with a geometric pattern, along with a dark purple *haori* and a pair of wooden *zori* slippers. During winter, Aoi wears a long-sleeve light pink *kimono* with a triangular pattern, a golden *obi*, socks and wooden *zori* slippers.

## Personality

Aoi has a cheerful and optimistic personality, although also being rather reserved and introverted. She likes to read and has a very curious instinct, often spending all of her free time in the temple's library. She is very kind and polite to everyone, and tries her best to help everyone in need.

Even so, Aoi has a hard time dealing with her emotions. Not knowing how to confront negative emotions, she prefers to have some time alone staying in her bedroom or outside in the forest. Very frequently, she has recurring nightmares remembering her past, what worries Sora.

Aoi is very interested in astronomy and science. She likes cozy food, such as hot pots, and dislikes food with too much spice. She likes to go to festivals and be with her friends. She fears not being able to help her loved ones.

### Relationships

Hoshino Sora: Aoi's best friend. They are nearly at the same age, and both are orphaned children that were taken in by the Hoshino Temple, so they share several interests and likings. They enjoy their company of one another and Aoi feels Sora to be someone to whom she can turn into whenever she needs.

Hoshino Miku: Another very close friend of Aoi. As the daughter of the temple chief, Hoshino Hiroki, Aoi is often attending official affairs with her family. Even so, Aoi, Sora and Miku often hang out around the temple during their free time, and do the chores together. Aoi, as the oldest of the group, takes a more protective and caring position towards both Sora and Aoi, and Aoi admires her a lot for that.

Hachiouji Kouji: As an adventurer, Kouji is always traveling and taking commissions. When he has some free time, he visits Hoshino Temple and shares stories with Aoi and the other children at the temple, wishing they will have a good life.

## Abilities and Powers

Aoi has a more petite physique and a fragile health, but very high magical affinity and good instincts. Her well-tempered personality and empathy to others translate in a more intellectual and meticulous fighting style, rather than relying on brute force and luck.

Aoi is a very skilled strategist and is very good in chess. She also has kendo swordsmanship knowledge and continuously train her body to enhance her endurance and stamina.

* **Enhanced speed:** Aoi has a very high speed and can sprint for shorter periods of time, besides very quick thinking and sharp reflexes. She uses this in her favor to compensate her weaker physique and endurance during battles and face-offs, infiltrating in enemy lines and preparing surprise attacks.

* **Strategist:** Aoi has fast logical and tactical thinking, good spatial orientation and high intelligence, what makes them a very good team leader by orientating allies and organizing attacks against targets.

* **High Magical Attributes:** Aoi has high magical affinity and mana bending abilities, being able to manipulate the energy flow from her surroundings directly and effectively into her targets.

### Nature's Gift - Draco Spirit

Individuals gifted by the Draco Spirit have enhanced magical abilities, being possible to channel huge amounts of mana into powerful attacks through a staff or a sword, without needing much physical power to deal high damage to targets. This ability, however, also requires self-control and good mana affinity, as it may quickly drain one's mana and energy when used carelessly and freely.

Aoi, as a sword user, may enhance her swordsmanship using mana by coating her weapon with magic particles, liberating large ammounts of energy to the target upon hit, in the form of stardust, fire and ice. Also, Aoi may compress surrounding mana particles into bullets to be fired against targets or cast a field with a much higher mana density, enhancing all individuals affected for a certain period of time.