Tachibana

**Tachibana** (立 (たち) 花 (ばな) , *Tachibana*) is a Platoon Leader in the First Division of the Defense Force.

## Appearance

Tachibana is a slender lanky man with long black hair and big eyes with no eyebrows. His hair are voluminous and messy, styled into a small ponytail and shaved at the sides, while also sporting a lighter dyed chunk in the middle. Tachibana also has a big horizontal scar on his right forehead. He wears two circular earrings on each ear. When he was an officer, his hair was completely black.

In battle he wears the usual combat suit of the Defense Force.

Tachibana as an officer
## Personality

Tachibana seems to be a quite serious individual, despite being oftenly surprised in the battle field. He also seems to get irritated quite easily. He shares a close relatioship with fellow First Division Platoon Leader Rin Shinonome.

Tachibana seems to have a rivarly with Third Division Platoon Leader Ryo Ikaruga.

## History

Ever since joining the First Division, Tachibana trained with fellow officer Rin Shinonome and witnessed her countless attempts to become stronger and mroe beautiful in order to impress Captain Narumi.

At some point, Tachibana was promoted to Platoon Leader.

## Plot

### Kaiju Weapon Arc

Tachibana took action with the rest of the First Division in Shinagawa when Ant-type kaiju emerged from the ground. After the mission, Tachibana was present at Director General Isao Shinomiya's funeral.

### Cataclysms Arc

During the new No. 9-induced cataclysms, Tachibana and the rest of the First Division took action. Her platoon was dispatched in Oizumi, facing six Supergiant class Kaiju. Then, Tachibana and Rin witnessed as Third Division Captain Mina Ashiro killed two Daikaiju while shooting from Tachikawa with her new Anti-Giant-Class Kaiju Rail Gun.

### The Second Wave Arc

After the appearance of Kaiju No. 13 in Oizumi, Tachibana and Rin targeted it. However, at the end of the fight, Rin stood powerless as No. 13 defeated most of the First Division main force and held the Tachibana by the throat, fracturing his lower mandible and C2 vertebra. Rin then retaliated against the kaiju, shooting at it as Tachibana escaped its grip, although to no avail.

## Power & Abilities

**Overall Abilities**: As a Defense Force First Division Platoon Leader, Tachibana is a powerful and skilled soldier, with authority over lower-ranking officers and enough power to take on strong Kaiju. According to his captain Gen Narumi, Tachibana is powerful enough to be promoted to Captain in the future.

## Equipment

**Combat Suit**: Tachibana wears the usual combat suit on the battlefield.

**Respirator Mask**: Tachibana wears a respirator mask in combat.

**Shotgun**: Tachibana carries a shotgun as his weapon of choice.

Tachibana's respirator maskTachibana's combat suit and shotgun
## Etymology

* The surname **Tachibana** literally means "stading flower".

## Trivia

* As every Platoon Leader in the First Division, Tachibana dyed his hair out of respect for Captain Gen Narumi's strength.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 82
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 41
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Chapter 42
4. ↑ Chapter 70
5. ↑ Chapter 57
6. ↑ Chapter 54
7. ↑ Chapter 75
8. ↑ Chapter 76
9. ↑ Chapter 77
10. ↑ Chapter 81
11. ↑ Chapter 55
12. ↑ Chapter 43
13. ↑ First Division Platoon leaders info.