Kouyou Kasugai

* The Beyond
* Exodus
* Original

**Kouyou Kasugai** (春日井(かすがい) 甲洋(こうよう), *Kasugai Kōyō*) is a character who is introduced in *Soukyuu no Fafner*.

## Biography

### *Soukyuu no Fafner*

Kouyou is walking together Maya Toomi to school and he wonders how Shouko Hazama is doing. Maya responds that she can't go to school yet but comforts him by saying that she will be back soon. Kouyou is in class when an alarm goes off and he and his friends go to a shelter inside Alvis. After the battle is over, Kouyou and Kenji are in disbelief to see their island damaged. Kouyou then goes home but instead of entering upon the sight of his parents happily drinking and laughing, he opens a box next to his house with a dog inside which he addresses with the name, Chocolat. The next day, he gathers with his friends for a memorial for the fallen and wonders if Karin Kuramae being a pilot for the Fafner was the reason she didn't evacuate with them.

Kouyou leaves the school to go fishing, accompanied by Chocolat. Kouyou is chosen to become a Fafner pilot along with his friends and are brought to Alvis the next day where they are shown the facilities. They arrive in the underwater observation room and Maya Toomi takes a photo from the group. Kouyou is one of the four people chosen to undergo the Fafner training. Kouyou is hiding in the bathroom while the battle goes on and wonders where everyone is, muttering that they are at war. As the battle is over, Kouyou runs to Kazuki Makabe and Soushi Minashiro and tells them that they were great. He says that he is happy that they came back alive and runs off, claiming to have training. Mamoru sees him and wonders where he was earlier, saying that the battle was awesome. Kouyou responds that he will lose confidence if he sees the footage.

### *Soukyuu no Fafner Exodus*

Kouyou appears inside Mark Vier and saves Sui Kaburagi, piloting Amaterasu, who was almost assimilated by the Festum. Kouyou attacks the Azazel-type Festum that is underwater and brings Amaterasu to land. Receiving the island's power, he proceeds to defeat the Festum that are chasing Mitsugu Jinnai's jet. Kouyou then takes on the task to defeat the Azazel-type Festum and delivers the final blow after Rina Nishio decapitates it. He docks his Fafner at the hangar where he is greeted by Chocolat and tells Mimika Mikagami's soul is inside the worm sphere that is left in Tsukuyomi's cockpit. He then goes to Rakuen, after visiting the Hazama family grave, where he picks up Canon Hazama's hat, only to see images of Canon and Shouko for a second and promises to protect their home. He leaves Rakuen and gives Orihime Minashiro the coordinates Canon left behind, stating that everyone is waiting.

### *Soukyuu no Fafner The Beyond*

Kouyou is part of the first team during the Fifth Operation Azure, piloting Mark Vier Kai, Abaddon. They break through the barrier surrounding the place and Kouyou proceeds to defeat several enemies by using his SDP, muttering that the Festum should come to him if they want to learn about death. They manage to proceeds thanks to Miwa Hino and Kouyou mentions that he can feel the presence of the abducted children. Upon reaching a crystallized forest, they get attacked by Specter and Kouyou wonders if the one piloting is Maris Excelsior. He then fights against Specter, who copies both the appearance and power of Abaddon, and realizes that the pilot is only trying to buy time. He sees Specter disappearing since the rocket succeeded in taking off and responds to Misao Kurusu's comment about Kazuki Makabe's heart disappearing that it might be for better for the future ahead of them.

Kouyou stops Legato from following Kazuki, who has taken Soushi Minashiro, and battles him with Specter copying both the appearance and power of Abaddon.

## Trivia

### Etymology

* The name **Kouyou** means "instep, shell, grade A, first in rank" (甲) (**kou**) and "ocean" (洋) (**you**).
* Kouyou's surname **Kasugai** means "spring" (春) (**ka**), "sun, day" (日) (**suka**/**suga**) and "well, mine shaft, pit" (井) (**i**).

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1: Paradise -The Beginning-
2. ↑ Episode 2: Confession -Life-
3. ↑ Episode 3: Labyrinth -Truth-
4. ↑ Episode 4: Escape -Departure-
5. ↑ Exodus Episode 19: The Oath of the Living
6. ↑ Exodus Episode 20: The Soldiers Return Home
7. ↑ The Beyond Episode 1: Operation Azure
8. ↑ The Beyond Episode 2: Child of Paradise