Koji Kitajima

**Koji Kitajima** (北島 浩二, *Kitajima Kōji*) is a character in Battle in 5 Seconds After Meeting series.

## Appearance

Koji is a middle-aged man with short black hair, he has curly sideburns and a curly front bang. When outside he was wearing a business suit, but when he was admitted to the programs, he took off his business jacket and later when the programs started, he also takes off his tie. Like everyone else forced to play the program, she too is forced to wear special handcuffs.

## Personality

At first he was a pushover with no self-confidence, always seeing himself as the unfortunate "supporting character" and never the "hero". However, after meeting his master in the Third Program, Koji understood that even someone like him can be important, gained more confidence and courage.

## Plot

During the Second Program, Koji is teamed with four others. Analyzing their abilities, Ringo Tatara helps him develop strategies against different type of opponents and when to use his ability. Melee users will attack him right away and he needs to counter them when he sees a chance. Range would be harder, but he needs to get closer. If the opponent doesn't move, it likely means he has special ability benefiting from waiting.

During the team battle one on one's, he faces Akira Shiroyanagi. Initially both doesn't move which causes Koji to recall Ringo's words. However, Akira then moves towards his teammates and activates his cannon while aiming at Madoka Kirisaki and explaining he can't leave him alive after he saw his ability. He shoots, but misses on purpose revealing he was just joking. Koji starts to worry, knowing that he must dodge the cannon and gets closer to Akira. Koji recalls how pathetic he is and his life until the moment he died in a incident while wishing to be someone else. As he was brought here and given ability, he felt like "protagonist" but he was disappointed in his ability. Akira then shoots his cannon and Koji touches the ground and nullifies it. Akira shoots a couple of more times and realizes Koji's ability nullifies abilities. While trembling in fear on his knees, he hears Ringo and Saeko Zokumyoin cheering him. Rin Kashii comments that isn't a proper way to motivate a man and states they will give him a kiss if he wins and she may even do it with Koji. Koji gets super motivated, but as he looks up, shoes hit him in the face and Akira had closed the distance and points his cannon at his face, telling him that if he moves he will shoot. Akira then explains Koji needs to touch the ground and the ability to nullify it and he confirms it. Having no choice, Koji admits defeat.

After entering the Third Program, Koji learned kapoeira from another examinee, achieving a fighting style that suited his ability.

Koji then advances to the Fourth Program, surprising the rest of Mion's team with his new look and confidence. He appears to help Ringo in his battle against Boy X. At first his new fighting style combined with his ability give him an advantage, but Boy X manages to overcome him by throwing debris caused by his explosions. Still, Ringo helps him by exploding the debris allowing Koji to hit Boy X squarely. However, Boy X catches Ringo in an explosion, apparently killing her and giving him time to get out of the place.

## Abilities

* **Handcuffs:** These handcuffs serves to seal Madoka's ability. When the red light turning in green signals, it means that the lock has been released. Five seconds after it turns green, you will regain the use of your hands as well as your abilities.

### Hanged Man

* **Description:** The ability to nullify any ability while his hand is on the ground.
	+ This ability can cancel any ability whose effect is aimed at the user as long as the user keeps one hand touching the ground. The nullified ability becomes unusable and its effects are undone, although not any secondary effect that is not directly linked to that ability.

## Etymology

* The name **Koji** means "prosperous" (浩) (**ko**) and "two" (二) (**ji**).
* Koji's surname **Kitajima** means "north" (北) (**kita**) and "island" (島) (**shima**/**jima**).