Catherine L. Futaba

Cathy Futaba (双葉 キャシー) is one of the main heroines and protagonists of the light novel series Kindred Hearts. She's also known by her full name, Catherine Linne Futaba (双葉・L・キャサリン). She is a member of the Azure Shields, a group of female students dedicated in protecting Sunshine City from danger, under the guise of Rurigaoka High School's student council and disciplinary committee.

## Appearance

Cathy is a teenage Esper with a pair of vermilion eyes similar to Alfredo and a long hime-cut black hair with a purplish sheen. Her casual outfit consists of a dark turquoise long-sleeve shirt paired with a dark gray pleated miniskirt, a pair of white socks and brown loafers. Her pupils turns from red to light violet when she uses her Sigil. On her hair is a hairpin decorated with a primrose jasmine. Thanks to her Sigil, the flower stayed alive, even during hot days. Like all Futaba clanswomen, Cathy is well-endowed and pretty busty, and her legs are pretty flexible and slightly muscular. Alfredo likened her appearance to the younger self of his late mother, Mizuki.

## Personality

Cathy is a taciturn and calm girl. She rarely expresses herself, and she mostly spends her time alone, even with her friends. She is very loyal to those whom she could trust with, and she can get very clingy to her beloved one. As a result, Cathy can go into Yandere mode and won't hesitate to kill out of her obssessive nature. Being a Futaba, she's well-versed in killing and sometimes she can be a bit sadistic. She can get a bit lewd sometimes, thanks to her Futaba genes and also her yandere tendencies.

## Family and relatives

* Evelyn Futaba (mother, assassinated by Iwakura clan assassins)
* Unnamed father (died in a car crash)
* Emi Futaba (distant relative, poisoned by Shinzo and Christie)
* Mizuki Takahitsuji, née Futaba (distant relative, assassinated by Christie)
* Yuzuki Futaba (distant relative)
* Machiko Futaba (older sister)
* Penelope Futaba (aunt, a US congresswoman)
* Alfredo Takahitsuji (distant relative)
* Marika Takahitsuji (distant relative)
* Kuroi Yakumo (fiancé)
* Kyoko and Erika Futaba (twin daughters)
* Yuuto Yakumo (son)

## Abilities

* Liquid Touch: A hydrokinetic Sigil which enables Cathy to generate and control water. She can also turn herself into liquid and permeate through porous surfaces. She can use her Sigil to perform sneak attacks and silent kills. Unlike Rachel and Nicole, Cathy's Sigil doesn't come with EX Skills, but she can amplify her Sigil using her mental strength.
* Ninja reflexes: Cathy is pretty quick and nimble when it comes to movement, since her mother taught her ninjutsu skills when she was still 10 years old. She's able to sneak through guards and take out multiple enemies silently with throwing knives, as well as engaging enemies with hand-to-hand combat.
* Martial arts: Cathy is an adept martial artist. She is skilled in using Shorinji Kempo and able to knock out her enemies with ease, even unarmed. Coupled with her Sigil and her ninjutsu, it's sure to be a deadly combo.
* Equipment: Coupled with her ninjutsu skills, Cathy is armed with a pack of throwing knives. When used in conjunction with her Sigil, Cathy is able to kill multiple enemies without being spotted. Aside from that, Cathy is also armed with a pair of daggers, which she could use to cut down her enemies quickly.

## Etymology

Catherine is a girl's name of Greek origin, which means "pure". While her last name means sprout/bud. Her middle name is derived from the kanji for "woods, forest" and "sound, noise", alternatively spelled as "Rinne".

## Trivia

* Cathy was inspired by Minami Azuma from Tokyo ESP, Marie from Persona 4, Ruiko Saten from To aru Kagaku no Railgun, Yozakura from Senran Kagura series, Yor Forger from Spy x Family, Raiden Shogun from Genshin Impact, Takao from Kantai Collection, Xingcai from Dynasty Warriors series, Ranko Mannen from Akiba Maid War, Hana Natsuki from Kamen Rider Revice, Nanami Nono from Ninpu Sentai Hurricaneger, Musubi from Sekirei, Sakura Matou from Fate/Stay Night and Yomi Takanashi from Black Rock Shooter. She was designed to be the cool and emotionless type with a rather dark background, as well as a water-based Esper to balance with Rachel's electric Sigil. She also resembles Heather Sunderland from the AFW/LAW-verse.
* Cathy's family had a shrine, where Cathy used to work as a shrine maiden.
* Cathy has the second largest breasts amongst all heroines in Kindred Hearts, second to Yurika.
* Her favorite activities includes swimming, attending tea ceremonies, making Japanese sweets/wagashi and gardening. Cathy is a good singer too, since both of her voice actresses (Saori Hayami and Cristina Vee) are singers.
* Cathy has the potential of becoming Mizuki's successor as a Shiranui, a title used for the best kunoichi among Futaba clanswomen. Previously, it was held by Mizuki prior to her death in the hands of Christie. Currently, the title is vacant, since Mizuki's twin sister, Yuzuki (who also happened to be Alfredo's maternal aunt) wasn't eligible for it due to her klutz personality and focused more on medical studies, while Mizuki's only daughter, Marika couldn't fight well as a kunoichi and focused more on academic stuff and Esper biology.