Ilya Tchaiko

**Tchaiko** (チャイコ, *Chaiko*) is a regular visitor of the Drop-in center.

## Appearance

Tchaiko is presumably the oldest visitor of the lounge. His hair is combed back and he keeps a well-kept beard. In terms of clothing, he usually wears more formal clothes, like a vest and shirt.

## Personality

Tchaiko is a talkative man who will happily ramble about anything he is asked about. He and his partner Seichirou Agawa were the ones who gave Anonymous the name *Anonymous*.

Like his nickname suggests, he is a passionate fan of the Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and frequently plays his music in the Lounge.

## Plot

### *Volume 1*

**Chapter 2**

Tchaiko plays Tchaikovsky's First Symphony- Winter Daydreams, which influences Tasuku's dreams.

**Chapter 5**

Tchaiko is helping Haruko and Utsumi in the house they are remodeling as a part of their Cat Clowder project, when Tasuku comes in. Tchaiko approaches him, congratulating him about Haruko entrusting the place to him, and offers to play Tchaikovsky's *Piano Concerto No. 1* to him, to celebrate. Tasuku shivers as soon as Tchaiko plays the song. And as it is playing, overwhelmed by many emotions, Tasuku comes out to Haruko, Utsumi, and Tchaiko, confessing his feelings for his classmate to them, as Tchaiko smiles at him in the background.

### *Volume 2*

**Chapter 10**

After what happens with Misora, that leads him to not come by the lounge anymore, Tchaiko takes over the duty to take care of the guppies, which was usually something Misora took care of.

### *Volume 3*

**Chapter 12**

When Oyama Shoko, Utsumi's former school classmate, unexpectedly goes to the Drop-in center, Tchaiko is as stunned as everyone else to see her there. And when she makes Anonymous uncomfortable by prying about what Oyama thought was their "real name", Tchaiko thinks to himself that this person must be dangerous.

**Chapter 13**

Tchaiko is seen helping around Triangle Manor, plastering the walls, when the tense atmosphere caused by Oyama being there too, makes the mood in the room heavy. So Tasuku asks him to play something on his phone, like he did the other day. Tchaiko, however, refuses, because he tells Tasuku that his record player was not making any sound, so he sent it to get repaired. And since he inherited it from a childhood friend of his, it is very precious for him. So he made a promise to himself to not listen to any music from any device that is not his record player, until he gets it back.

**Chapter 15**

Since Tchaiko's record player has been fixed, he plays a commemorative piece, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". He gives some facts about the song as it starts playing, and Tasuku compliments it by expressing how vigorous and interesting it sounds.

### *Volume 4*

**Chapter 16**

Tasuku finds Tchaiko going out of the hospital, so he quickly gets worried about him, thinking he is sick. Tchaiko reassures him that he is totally fine, and just visiting someone. When Tasuku inquires about this, Tchaiko says his partner is the one he was visiting. Suddenly, they run across Touma. As they talk about helping around Triangle Manor, it seems like Touma already knew about Tchaiko's partner, so Touma tells Tasuku that he ran into Tchaiko there before. Then, Tchaiko blurts out that his partner has terminal cancer and that he is going to pass away soon.

❝
His name is Seichirou Agawa-san. He and I have been together for 30 (thirty) years, and he means the world to me.

Later that day, Tchaiko is seen helping around Triangle Manor. As he proposes a coffee break everyone is excited about, Touma asks him about how he met his partner. He tells them that they met in college, almost 40 years ago, when Seichirou was studying abroad. They started dating, and at some point they had to break up, and Seichirou had to get married, and even had a son. Then, Tchaiko says it became "obvious" to Seichirou that he was gay, so the day he came out to his wife, they got divorced that very same day. His wife got his son's custody and it was such a difficult time to exist as a gay person, that he was not allowed to have both a child and live as who he was, and was forced to make a decision between the two. Tchaiko reminisces on the times they had together and how happy they were, yet how much they had to go through, especially Seichirou. However, Tchaiko tells them that Seichirou's estranged son came to reconcile with him after he was hospitalized, and after 30 years not seeing each other, which made Tchaiko really happy for his beloved Seichirou. He says Seichirou's son has begun to visit him in the hospital, but while he is there, Tchaiko stays away, as the son is not aware of their relationship.

When Haruko asks him if it is ok with that, Tchaiko says he does not mind, which is made worse by the fact that he is not legally a member of his family, so he cannot be there by Seichirou's side while he dies, or the time he does. However, Tchaiko puts on a cheerful smile and changes the mood of Triangle Manor by mentioning how much he loves texting with Seichirou, as he sends him cute things and through that they talk about anything and everything. Then, Tchaiko says that one of their dreams was to open a cafe bar at their old age, so they traveled around the world collecting cups and furniture for it. Sadly, they had to sell it all to afford Seichiru's hospital bills. After Tchaiko shocks everyone by revealing that he met Anonymous at a class on how to roast coffee beans he was in with Seichirou, and that they have known each other since before the drop-in center was opened, he receives a good night text message from Seichirou, and suddenly, memories of the happy moments they shared together come flooding in Tchaiko's mind, which prompts him to say:

❝
Even if I can't be there for him, that doesn't matter. That won't negate the thirty years we spent together.

Before the night ends and they leave Triangle Manor, Tchaiko gleefully turns on the light fixture that they recently arranged, and everyone marvels at it.

**Chapter 17**

Tchaiko goes to visit Seichirou at the hospital and brings him a little Christmas tree as a gift since the holidays are approaching. They talk for a bit about Anonymous and how they are doing, and time comes for Tchaiko to leave. Seichirou calls out his name, wanting him to stay, but unable to ask him that out loud. So instead, he asks him about what he will listen to that night while going to sleep. They discuss this for a bit, Tchaiko telling him that he will listen to whatever Seichirou decides to listen to, and then Tchaiko says goodbye. Immediately after, his son enters the room, and gets curious about the gift Tchaiko left there. So Seichirou says it is from an old friend who wants to remain "anonymous".

Back at the drop-in center, as Tchaiko is preparing a wreath to give as a gift to Seichirou, Saki asks him if it is for his partner. Tchaiko tells her "yes" and says that although this is a fun season, the cold is harmful to Seichirou's health. This prompts Anonymous, who just came out of their room, to ask him about Seichirou's health, to which Tchaiko just replies with a smile that it is certainly not good. This seems to stun and upset Anonymous, which shocks everyone at the lounge since they are usually hard to read.

**Chapter 18**

After Tasuku asks him about how he met Anonymous, and after he confessed that it was he and his partner who gave Anonymous that name, Tchaiko shares his story with the rest of the lounge (who are all eager to know) of how he and his partner, Seichirou, got to meet Anonymous. They met each other at a coffee class some time ago. They found Anonymous jumping off of a balcony, and since they thought Anonymous was going to kill themself, Tchaiko quickly ran to grab them. Suddenly, Anonymous appeared next to him, which shocked the both of them. Later, they shared a meal with Anonymous, and then Anonymous asked Tchaiko and Seichirou if they were a couple, which stunned them. When they asked Anonymous if they looked like one, they just replied that they are used to seeing two people together and thinking about a romantic couple, immediately coming out as asexual to them. Anonymous opened up to them and trusted them enough to be that transparent. The two men then commented how strange it is that nobody is allowed to just live their lives in solitude, to live without having to explain, educate, and identify oneself, to just be “anonymous.” It was at this moment that Anonymous realized that this is exactly what they wanted for themself. They took that name and chose to let go of labels and to live an isolated life, the way that they wanted to. However, Tchaiko still wonders if giving her that label was for the best or not, since he seems to really care for them.

**Chapter 20**

Tchaiko is seen spending Christmas with Seichirou at the hospital, giving him a gift.

**Chapter 21**

On New Year's Day, Tchaiko is visiting Seichirou at the hospital as he always does, and they talk about which Tchaikovsky's song would suit Haruko and Saki's wedding ceremony. Suddenly, the idea of a wedding ceremony makes Seichirou smile as he thinks of what he and Tchaiko could have had, knowing that they can not entrust the two women with their dream. Tchaiko mentions that their situation was different from theirs, after all. And as snow falls outside, Tchaiko hurries to leave, since he seemingly lost track of time. As Tchaiko puts his coat on to leave, Seichirou stops him, softly asking him to bear with him again this new year. Tchaiko lovingly goes to hold his hand, and finally leaves. On his way out of Seichirou's room, he stumbles upon his son, and the two of them just part ways, apparently not recognizing one another. Still, Tchaiko smiles to himself.

**Chapter 22**

As the day of Saki and Haruko's wedding approaches, Tchaiko goes to visit Seichirou as he always does. However, he is surprised to see Seichirou's son entering the hospital as he is never that at that time of day. That unsettles Tchaiko and gives a terrible feeling. He quickly checks his phone, and is relieved to see Seichirou's good morning message. So he decides to focus on the preparations for Haruko and Saki's wedding. However, on the day of the wedding, as Tchaiko proudly watches Saki and Haruko get married, he suddenly receives a message in the middle of the ceremony that leaves him petrified.

**Chapter 23**

The message Tchaiko received was from Seichirou's son, Akira, from Seichirou's phone, letting him know that he is in critical condition, and asking him to come as soon as possible. As everyone is enjoying some of the wedding cake, Tasuku approaches Tchaiko and asks him if he is alright, because he has noticed that he does not really seem to be eating much. Tchaiko tries to put on a smile so as to not worry Tasuku or anyone. But he decides to go outside, to exhale and calm down. However, he can not seem to as he starts pacing around. Anonymous, who was outside, notices this and, a bit hesitant, Tchaiko asks them if they can listen to him. After Anonymous reassures him that they are not going to ask, Tchaiko clenches his fists and closes his eyes before telling Anonymous about Seichirou's condition, which totally shocks Anonymous. Tchaiko shares his troubling thoughts on whether to go see Seichirou or not, since he does not want to bother Seichirou and his son. He worries about how to face Seichirou's son, about if it would be rude to leave Saki and Haruko's ceremony, and about facing Seichirou himself. But when Tchaiko confesses that he might just be afraid to see him go, Anonymous places their hand gently on Tchaiko's back and gives him a soft nudge forward, asking him to please go to Seichirou. This motivates Tchaiko enough to go running to the hospital.

Once Tchaiko arrives, Akira is waiting for him with a smile. He lets Seichirou know that "someone very special" came to see him. Tchaiko quickly approaches Seichirou, who is lying in the hospital bed, with a breathing mask on, and holds his hand. Seichirou instantly cheers up as soon as he sees Tchaiko. As the two of them hold hands and smile at each other for the very last time, Seichirou's last words to Tchaiko are about just how fun it was for him to spend his life with Tchaiko. Tchaiko tells him he enjoyed it to the fullest too. And then, Seichirou peacefully dies.

❝
Tchaiko-san later told us that he was able to see off Seichirou-san because Anonymous gave him the push he needed.

After some time, Tchaiko goes to visit Seichirou's grave and takes the record that they first picked out together back in college and that was one of Seichirou's favorites. Tchaiko mentions that Akira gave it to him, as Seichirou himself asked him to give it to Tchaiko when the time came. As he does not have his record player out there, he plays Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 on his cellphone.

## Trivia

* Songs Listed played in the manga:
	+ Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.1 in G minor, "Winter Daydreams"
	+ Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor
	+ Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 in B minor, First Movement
* Tchaiko prefers a gramophone to play his music.
* Tchaiko is often seen handing some cold drinks to some of the members of the Drop-in center.
* He was the one who told Misora that Tasuku was gay.