Noren Mitsuoka

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**Noren Mitsuoka** (蜜 (みっ) 岡 (おか) ノレン, *Mitsuoka Noren*) is one of the characters in Kill Blue manga series. She is the daughter of the one who established Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, a significant corporation responsible for the creation of artificial wasps that triggered Juzo's transformation into his younger self. Currently, she is a student at Juzo's school and is in the same class as him.

## Appearance

Noren, a member of an affluent family with Canadian heritage, possesses striking beauty that has been evident since her youth. She boasts a fair complexion that complements her long, blonde hair, which she gracefully parts on the left side. Adorning her ears are long fringes that gently cascade over her eyes. Notably, her eyes exhibit a captivating shade of pink. While attending school, Noren adheres to the academy's dress code, wearing the designated uniform.

During her time working at her uncle's ramen shop, Noren adorns her casual attire with an apron, securing a bandana on her head. Her long blonde hair is often tied into a ponytail, a style she specifically dons during her initial encounter with Juzo at the shop.

## Personality

Noren excels in various domains, be it physical activities or academic pursuits within her school, which distinguishes her in the eyes of both men and women. Her exceptional beauty, particularly her tall stature and model-like appearance, creates a barrier between her and female peers of the same age. As a result of her striking looks, older kids at their school would often express romantic interest in her, only to be consistently rejected by her.

Her aversion towards men has developed due to her family's social connections, wherein her parents would introduce her to men they deemed suitable for marriage, even during her early elementary school years. Witnessing the behavior of these adult men, Noren found them repulsive and unsettling. Despite her young age at the time, she would often be perceived by them as if she were already an adult woman, intensifying her aversion towards individuals her age, as she perceived the boys her age to exhibit the same qualities.

## Plot

### Background

Noren Mitsuoka is the daughter of the founder of Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, a significant corporation responsible for the creation of artificial wasps that triggered Juzo's transformation into his younger self. Currently, she attends the same school as Juzo and shares his class.

Juzo initially dedicated time to observing Noren, hoping to establish a connection. However, his attempts to approach her were met with consistent rejection. Noren labeled Juzo as "creepy" and insisted that their interactions should strictly revolve around school matters. This rejection deeply affected Juzo, particularly as a middle-aged man.

From Juzo's observations, it became evident that Noren maintained a distant attitude toward her peers and struggled to fit in with her female classmates. She turned down advances from numerous suitors, despite possessing qualities such as academic excellence and a poised appearance. This led Juzo to shift his focus from trying to connect with Noren to gathering information about her family's pharmaceutical company.

One day, Juzo encountered Noren working as a waitress at a ramen shop. This surprised him, considering her prestigious background as the daughter of a corporate president. Despite his curiosity, Juzo chose to enjoy his meal without letting his thoughts overshadow the experience. During this time, he ordered and savored ramen with a seasoned egg.

After completing his meal, Noren interrupted Juzo and requested a conversation in the back area of the restaurant. Their conversation revealed that Noren's family was affluent, with her mother hailing from Canada. Despite her privileged lifestyle and appearance, Noren expressed her aversion to suitors introduced by her parents, especially during her elementary school years when they treated her as an adult. This aversion persisted into middle school when her peers of the same age displayed similar interest in her.

Noren shared her aspiration to eventually take over her uncle's ramen shop, which had been established as a reaction to her family's high-society living. Her uncle always provided her comfort with a bowl of ramen on tough days, making her feel understood. Juzo, with his similar demeanor to her uncle, encouraged Noren to pursue her dreams and not conform to her parents' expectations. Their conversation ended on a positive note, with Juzo expressing his appreciation for the delicious ramen Noren had helped prepare, emphasizing its quality.

## Relationships

### Familial

* **Unnamed Uncle:** Noren's uncle owns a ramen shop where she works. This restaurant serves as a place of significance in her life, and her uncle is portrayed as a supportive figure. He plays a significant role in her life, providing emotional support and comfort during tough times. Noren's aspiration to take over the ramen shop and her admiration for her uncle's values and perspective highlight their strong bond.

### Non-Familal

* **Juzo Ogami:** Juzo develops a complex relationship with Noren Mitsuoka. He initially observes her due to her connection to the pharmaceutical company responsible for his transformation into a child. Juzo attempts to approach Noren but faces consistent rejection and labeling as "creepy." Despite the strained beginnings, they share a significant conversation during a chance encounter at a ramen shop. Juzo encourages Noren to pursue her dreams and provides a comforting presence reminiscent of her uncle.

## Etymology

* The name "蜜岡ノレン" (Mitsuoka Noren) consists of three characters in Japanese: 蜜 (Mitsu), 岡 (Oka), and ノレン (Noren).
* **蜜 (Mitsu):**
	+ The character 蜜 means "honey" or "nectar." It can also represent something sweet or valuable. The character 蜜 is derived from the ancient Chinese character for "honey" or "sweetness." It consists of two components: 虫 (mushi), which means "insect," and 宀 (kanmuri), which represents a building or shelter. In this context, it suggests the gathering of sweet nectar by insects, particularly bees.
* **岡 (Oka):**
	+ The character 岡 means "hill" or "ridge." It often refers to an elevated piece of land. The character 岡 represents a hill or elevated terrain. It is a pictographic character that visually resembles hills or ridges.
* **ノレン (Noren):**
	+ "Noren" is typically a given name and does not have a direct meaning in Japanese. Given names in Japanese often do not have specific meanings, and they are chosen for their phonetic or aesthetic qualities. This part of the name, "Noren," is written in katakana (ノレン), one of the Japanese syllabaries used for foreign or non-standard words. It doesn't have an etymological origin like kanji characters but is chosen for its sound and aesthetic value.
* In summary, the name "蜜岡ノレン" (Mitsuoka Noren) combines the characters for "honey" or "nectar" (蜜) and "hill" or "ridge" (岡), followed by the given name "Noren" (ノレン), which is written in katakana. The combination of these elements creates a name that may be chosen for its pleasant sound and personal significance without direct semantic meaning.

## Trivia

* Noren's inner passion is rooted in her aspiration to become a ramen chef.
* She possesses impressive natural abilities and has received advanced education, enabling her to excel in various tasks. Nevertheless, she tends to struggle with intricate, detailed work.
* Although Noren has a general fondness for ramen, she approaches tsukemen with some skepticism.
* When she writes her name by hand, it often resembles "Run," which can be a bit troublesome.

## References

 Volume 1 Character Illustration of Noren Mitsuoka
 From Chapter 1 Cover
*Kill Blue* Manga: Chapter 5 (p. 17). — Noren joins the club.
*Kill Blue* Manga: Chapter 6 (pp. 19-20).
*Kill Blue* Manga: Chapter 3 (pp. 13-17).
 In Japanese, "tsukemen" is written as "つけ麺." It is a type of ramen dish where the noodles are served separately from the soup or broth.