Mao Isara/Makoto Yuuki

**Makoto Yuuki/Mao Isara** is a relationship between two members of Trickstar, Makoto Yuuki and Mao Isara.

## Relationship and notable canon moments

Makoto and Mao are best friends who care about each other so much they can become incredibly protective on the other person's behalf.

Before they ended up in Trickstar together, Makoto's first impression of Mao was from a distance, observing how Mao seemed so nice, friendly, and well-liked by all their classmates, always willing to help whenever they needed it. Unfortunately, their first personal interaction in *Rocket Start* was far from ideal, and it caused great tension between them as Mao had been prompted by the student council to inform Makoto that the Game Research Club was being abolished and couldn't elaborate when asked why, saying he was only a messenger. This led Makoto to tell Mao, "It can't be... You're awful, Isara-kun. And here I thought you were a kind and bright person who was always in the center of everyone in class." Mao's response, as always, was to accept the blame and agree that he wasn't a nice person at all.

Later, Makoto apologized for laying the blame on Mao as he realized Mao had been put in a really difficult position too and ended up going overboard to help Makoto out. To return the favor, Makoto ended up being a substitute performer for the Venus Cup when Mao couldn't get Natsume to agree to it and Ritsu was already involved in another unit. Performing together in the Venus Cup as a ragtag foursome of virtual nobodies is widely seen as the Trickstar origin story, and it was only the start of what would later become an amazing friendship, not just between the two of them, but all of Trickstar.

In their second year, they grow even closer, with Makoto being one of the few people that Mao is the one to initiate physical contact with, as Mao is usually the one being bombarded by Ritsu and Subaru's aggressive hugs. Their relationship is playful and warm, full of deep respect and care, but they can also be very protective of each other, as seen in the way Mao confesses to Anzu how much he wishes Makoto would see himself the way the rest of Trickstar sees him, and Makoto constantly worries over Mao's overworking nature.

In *Sunflower Live*, Makoto gets really upset when he finds out that Mao offered himself as collateral for a loan from Eichi and kept it from the rest of Trickstar, not wanting them to worry about him. Makoto even lashes out a little at Mao because of it, insisting that Mao should've trusted them and told them, and it makes Mao so depressed he can't sleep that night.

In *Youth RADIO*, Makoto laughs fondly at how much Shinobu practically worships the ground Mao walks on, saying that Mao is so good at taking care of others it's no wonder he's well-loved by his underclassmen.

## Trivia

* Makoto is the oldest and tallest member in Trickstar while Mao is the youngest and shortest.
* In one of Makoto's home screen lines, he worries about Mao being so busy and taking on too much work with the student council.
* In one of Mao's home screen lines, he talks about a ramen restaurant Makoto told him about that was really good.
* In the Ensemble Stars Trickstar livestream course, Mao and Makoto are described as best friends who trust each other deeply.