Shoko Manabe

Shoko Manabe is Riho's manager in the game *Root Film*.

## Biography

Shoko was an actress playing the role of Riho's manager in the mystery drama project.

## Appearance

### As Shoko

As Shoko, she was fair skinned and had medium length brown hair that was tied to the side using a pink ribbon. Her bangs were cut in the hime style with her framing pieces reaching her clavicle. She wore a pair of red frame glasses. Her clothing consisted of a plain white shirt, a pair of white and grey pinstripe pants that were cuffed, a brown belt, an open blue blazer, and wedged brown loafers. The only jewelry she wore was a silver magatama necklace. Later, she suffered a burn wound to the left side of her neck and shoulder.

### As Akari

As Akari, she was fair skinned and had medium length brown hair that was pulled back in two braids along the back of her head. Her bangs were cut in the hime style with her framing pieces reaching just below her chin. She wore a purple kimono with a small flower pattern on the front of the left shoulder. The only jewelry she wore was a silver magatama necklace and a simple wedding band on her left ring finger. A burn scar was prominent on the left side of her neck and shoulder. Her nails were painted light pink.

## Personality

### As Shoko

As Shoko, she was capable, but Riho was still able to throw her for a loop every so often. She acted less like Riho's manager and more of a meddlesome older sister. She could be strict, but she still valued Riho's talent immensely. During work she was level-headed, but outside of it, she was clumsy and airheaded. She greatly enjoyed a series of light novels published by Kana Hatsuse.

### As Akari

As Akari, she was much more melancholic, perhaps due in part both to her marriage to Kenzaburo and the mystery drama being canned. She very rarely left the Kuramochi mansion because Kenzaburo forbid it.

## History

When Akari graduated high school, she moved out to Tokyo to pursue an acting career. Eventually, she was cast as Shoko Manabe, Riho's manager, in an upcoming mystery drama. Akari acted in the first two films directed by Director Akasawa, then in the third film directed by Director Ibuse after Director Akasawa passed. During the filming for the third film, a lighting stand fell on top of Akari, trapping her beneath it. The light itself made contact with her skin and left a burn scar. It is later learned that the light falling on Akari was caused by Yugensai Kumashiro getting "revenge" for Riho refusing to fulfill one of their demands. After Riho committed suicide, the project was officially canned, and Akari returned home to Shimane Prefecture.

After returning to Shimane Prefecture, Akari married Kenzaburo Kuramochi, who was more than two dozen years older than her. Kenzaburo slowly became more and more domestically abusive to Akari, forbidding her from having a phone or leaving the mansion at all, not even to buy groceries. This gave the appearance to the public of Akari being a shut-in when that was not the case at all. At some point during her marriage, Akari began having an extramarital affair with Seiya Ito, one of her classmates from high school. To communicate, they sent capsule toys containing messages to one another using nearby waterways. Kenzaburo eventually caught onto the affair and began tampering with their messages. Together with Seiya's brother, Sakio Ito, Kenzaburo drove Seiya to commit suicide and murdered Akari via forcing her to inhale chlorine gas.

## Relationships

### Riho

Akari seemed to get along well with Riho while they were acting in the mystery drama together. It is unknown how Riho's suicide affected her.

### Shiichiro Funakoshi

Also known as "Toshiro Manba," he and Akari acted in the mystery drama together.

### Kana Hatsuse

Real name unknown, Kana was Shoko's favorite author. Shoko expresses how much of a fan she is multiple times in the mystery drama. When Kana was murdered, Shoko was greatly affected and swore to find her killer so that she would have justice.

### Kenzaburo Kuramochi

Kenzaburo was Akari's husband prior to her death, but she didn't love him, as was evidenced by her extramarital affair.

### Wakako Shiba

Shiba is a student who worked at the Kuramochi mansion prior to Akari's death.

### Seiya Ito

Seiya was the man Akari was having an affair with prior to her death. They were classmates in high school.

## Gallery

Shoko's description from the Character Data menu.Fullbody art of Shoko.Standing in the background of Riho's photoshoot.Having dinner with Riho and Mie while Ayane sits in the background.Watching as Riho comforts Mie.Finding Seiji Kotoshiro's body with Inspector Manba and Riho.Searching for Kana Hatsuse with Ezono and Riho.Searching for Kana Hatsuse with Riho.Akari's description from the Character Data menu.Akari's body as found by Studio Yagumo.