Mao Isara/Ritsu Sakuma

## Ritsu Sakuma/Mao Isara

It’s okay if you sleep for a little bit longer, Ma~kun. The night is still long, after all. I’ll take you back home by morning. You should sleep peacefully once in awhile.

### Other names

RitsuMao
MaoRitsu
rtmo

### Tag on Pixiv

りつまお (ritsu top)
まおりつ (mao top)

### Link to Archive of Our Own

Here

**Ritsu Sakuma/Mao Isara** is the relationship between Ritsu Sakuma from **Knights** and Mao Isara from **Trickstar.**

They're very close childhood friends, and have stayed that way up until their high school years. They live in the same neighborhood, and Mao always has to bring Ritsu to school each day, often go as far to help him change and get ready, too.

Mao is usually the one to carry Ritsu on his back, but in Episode 23 of the *Ensemble Stars* anime, Ritsu carries Mao on his back, claiming that Mao is "relaxed when he is busy," so he forced him to sleep.

Ritsu often refers to Mao as "my cute, dumb Maa-kun," as Mao has a tendency to be almost comically oblivious to his feelings, leading Ritsu to talk down to him. Mao, on the other hand, accepts this without protest, and his automatic response when Ritsu calls him an idiot is to apologize and offer to kneel to Ritsu if it makes him feel better, even when he doesn't understand why Ritsu is mad in the first place.

In the prologue of the story ***Band Ensemble*,** it says that they both met in Elementary School. Mao was told to pick Ritsu up to go to school because Ritsu didn't attend for a while, and Mao kept doing it even years after.

The two have abbreviated forms of Japanese honorifics for each other (san, kun, chan, etc.). Ritsu calls Mao "Maa-kun," while Mao does the same and calls Ritsu "Ricchan." But unlike Ritsu, Mao stopped calling Ritsu by this nickname as they grew older, and just sticks with "Ritsu" when he talks with or about him.

## Relationship and notable canon moments

At the beginning of their high school years, Ritsu and Mao are shown to have a complicated relationship. Even though one of the reasons Mao applied to Yumenosaki in the first place was to hopefully be able to spend more time with Ritsu, Mao's eager-to-please nature led him to quickly be pulled into helping out with the Student Council, and all the newfound responsibility made dealing with Ritsu's clinginess even more stressful, so Mao told Ritsu to leave him alone, despite Ritsu demanding Mao that they go home together.

During the next year, Ritsu's possessiveness over their friendship leads Ritsu to lash out at Mao during ***Band Ensemble*** when Mao can't remember specific parts of their childhood together. This ends up being their biggest fight, with Ritsu being angry and upset that Mao seems to care more about his other friends in Trickstar than him, and Mao being completely confused by Ritsu's behavior, because from his perspective, Ritsu got angry out of nowhere.

Eventually, they have a heart-to-heart and make up. Ritsu acknowledges that he still loves Mao, even when Mao can be oblivious sometimes, and Mao tells him that he may not always remember every little detail of their shared childhood, but Ritsu would always be important to him.

In Ritsu's monologue in ***Band Ensemble,*** he refers to Mao as the sun who taught him about excitement and brightness, and says, *"Ma~kun is an idiot who bears all of his hardships by himself all the time, and he's a softhearted person. But it's not like that's a sin. He's a good boy who should be loved by everyone. That's why it's no good of me to keep him all to myself."*

In the epilogue of ***Band Ensemble,*** when they're making up, Mao says, *"It's not a joke. I'm serious. This time I was depressed enough [about our fight] to surprise myself, after all. Sakuma-senpai may have called me a 'strong child' or whatever, but... I'm not strong. All I do is act like a good guy and take care of other people... And run around, prostrating myself on the ground while saying, 'Please don't hate me.'"*

Ritsu replies: *"Ah, is that so? But you know, the Ma~kun that's pitiable and unseemly... That's the Ma~kun that I loooove. Knowing you were depressed and feeling down and hurt because of me makes me happy ♪"*

In ***Sunflower Live,*** Mao sells himself to Eichi as collateral for a loan for Trickstar, and Ritsu gets angry with him for it. Ritsu says, *"How many times do I have to tell you? You belong to* me*. At least* try *to remember it."*

Mao has to kneel and beg on his knees for Ritsu to forgive him, and only then does Ritsu relent, laughing, *"Ahaha, what a pathetic-looking face~ Yeah, I'm already feeling better. It's fine. I'll forgive you. But quit offering yourself up so easily."*

In ***Fleur de Lis,*** Anzu uses updates about Mao's condition to convince Ritsu to put in effort during practice, which instantly gives him a burst of energy, and kind of freaks out Izumi, who isn't used to seeing Ritsu try so hard.

Ritsu is very vocal about wanting to marry Mao and have a family with him, much to Mao's flustered embarrassment, as Mao tends to think Ritsu is only joking.

In ***Operetta,*** after Mao helps reconcile Ritsu with his brother and apologizes for meddling, Ritsu says, *"This isn't 'none of your business,' Ma~kun. Thank you, Ma~kun, I'm happy you feel that way. Let's have lots of children and raise a happy family~ ♪"*

Mao replies, *"I have no plans of the sort, though!? What the hell, sometimes I worry that we talk right past each other! I don't get you at all...!"*

Ritsu tends to get aggressively jealous whenever someone even mentions something that relates to his Ma~kun.

In ***Rocket Start,*** when Ritsu officially meets Koga for the first time in the audience of Trickstar's first impromptu performance together during the Venus Cup, Koga mentions only being there to see someone, meaning Subaru, but Ritsu gets defensive, saying, *"Who is it? Does your friend have a performance too? It's not Ma~kun, is it? Ma~kun is mine, you know?"*

Similarly, in ***Grand Slam,*** Arashi makes a small comment about a manga she read, and despite the conversation having nothing to do with Mao, Ritsu's instant response is, *"What's this? You're cheating with my Ma~kun?"* since Mao loves shounen manga and Ritsu's mind associates all mentions of it with Mao. Arashi is appalled that that's the first place Ritsu's mind goes, but despite that, Arashi remains one of the most vocal supporters of Ritsu's love for Mao, often viewing their love story as one she aspires to have.

In ***Seven Bridge*** (main story 1.5), Ritsu says, *"I love you, let's get married~"* to Mao, who teases back that they'll need to wait for Japanese law to change to allow gay marriage first.

In the same event, Hitsugi Kurone and Ritsu refer to Mao as Ritsu's wife, with Hitsugi encouraging Ritsu not to give up on Mao as if Anzu were his love rival for Mao's affections. *"Your wife is cheating with another woman!"* Hitsugi cries to Ritsu when Mao is trying to have a conversation with Anzu. Ritsu jumps in, saying to Mao, *"Excuse me, my wife! Just what do you thinking you're doing?!"* Mao sighs but doesn't seem surprised to be addressed that way, as if used to it.

In one of Mao's idol stories, ***One-on-One-Session*** with Rei, it's revealed that Rei purposefully tried to distance himself from Mao when they were younger as he knew how possessive and jealous Ritsu could be when it came to Mao.

However, Rei starts to let his guard down once he graduates since he and Mao are in the same circle together. One day, Rei and Mao are playing instruments together in the music room when Mao realizes someone has been texting and calling him nonstop. He answers the next call in surprise, realizes it's Ritsu, and unknowingly reveals that Mao and Rei are alone together and Rei is teaching Mao to play the piano (which is considered Ritsu's instrument). Furious, Ritsu abruptly tells Mao not to move, hangs up the phone, and spams Rei's cell with aggressive messages saying, "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU," as he rushes to the music room to interrupt them. Rei is quick to flee the scene for his own safety, and Mao stays behind to placate Ritsu's temper.

In ***Setsubun Festival,*** when Yuuta worries about troubling Ritsu for his help, Ritsu replies, *"It's fine. It was a request from Ma~kun, and it helps kill time. It's been a while since Ma~kun asked me to do anything... He's always doing everything on his own. He complains about it, but he never asks for help. He's younger than me, so he should let me spoil him sometimes too... Anyway, it made me happy, so I'll help out wherever I can."*

During Mao's 8th anniversary livestream with Makoto and Shinobu, Ritsu is watching it and complains, "Maa-kun got so little screen time! Can't you let him talk some more?"

In chapter 7 of ***Band Ensemble,*** Ritsu says this to Mao during their performance together:

*"Fufun. But you knew that already, didn’t you? We’re childhood friends after all.*

*It’s alright, Ma~kun… Relax, there’s no need to be scared. I’m the only person who won’t ever come to hate you.*

*Even if you get exhausted by pushing yourself too hard, and get covered in wounds and start bleeding…*

*Even if you’re used and crushed and thrown away like garbage, I love every bit of blood or tears that Ma~kun sheds without wasting a single drop.*

*No. I’ll be the only one to stay by Ma~kun’s side.*

*That’s why, be thankful… Stay with me until I die. Spoil me and take care of me.*

*It’s a “promise”. Please don’t forget it. Because Ma~kun is the first person I found since I was born to be the only member of my family in my lifetime."*

Ritsu's solo song is heavily implied to be connected to ***Band Ensemble,*** which essentially makes it a love song to Mao. The lyrics are as follows:

*The moonlight shines upon my fingertips, the stave whirling into the night*

*Trapped in the forest of sleep, I think of you whom I can't be with*

*I feel you beside me, in this darkness where there is no one else*

*Your beautiful smile, it's like it could melt into the sun*

*Even in a world where we cannot intermingle*

*I am not alone right now*

*In the dead of night, with my sleeping breath, Song for you*

*Because I'm singing a melody that brings us together*

*Just my piano, the moon and you, in a transparent sky*

*They simply kept existing kindly in the depths of my heart*

*While the tedium persists, by letting my fingers dance*

*I come to know a sadness that resembles feelings of unrequited love, but*

*Even in a world that we cannot share*

*I won't lose sight of you*

*No matter where you are, an unchanging Song for you*

*Because I'm singing an eternal promise*

*Even if you can't hear me, i'm right here*

*Because even if I can't reach you, we're always together*

*The pale blue moon connects us*

*Now, close your eyes and let us sing*

*Even in a world where we cannot intermingle*

*Once again, towards the night you see somewhere*

*In the dead of night, with my sleeping breath, Song for you*

*Because I'm singing a melody that brings us together."*

## Quotes

"Hmph, I don't give a damn about what happens to Trickstar. Think about *me* instead, look only at me, and love only me! Swear your eternal love to me!" - Ritsu

"Ufufu. Ma~kun, you’re ticklish, huh…? Kiss, kiss ♪" - Ritsu

"Even if you get exhausted by pushing yourself too hard, and get covered in wounds and start bleeding… Even if you’re used and crushed and thrown away like garbage, I love every bit of blood or tears that Ma~kun sheds without wasting a single drop." - Ritsu

"Ma~kun waved a hand at me! Cuuute ♪" - Ritsu

"(Well, I don’t really know what’s happening, but do your best… Ritchan ♪)" - Mao

"I should’ve been given something more like a prince or princess role, where I get to live happily ever after with Ma~kun." - Ritsu

## Trivia

* Despite being in the same grade, Ritsu is over a year older, as he got held back in his first year at Yumenosaki for his poor attendance record. This makes Mao the youngest boy in their grade and Ritsu the oldest.
* Mao has a fear of sharp objects because Ritsu bit him when they were younger, which makes Ritsu happy, as he thinks of this as having let his mark on Mao.
* Ritsu was improving his independence since he didn't want to be a burden when Mao was too busy with the student council. However, in *EP Link* Mao says he likes to be burdened.
* Ritsu has said he would kill whoever dare to mess with Mao.
* Ritsu thinks Mao and him are bonded by fate.
* Mao usually doesn't understand Ritsu's displays of affection.
* Ritsu is able to successfully hypnotize Mao and put him to sleep using the sound of his singing voice.
* Ritsu is the only character that Mao refers to with a nickname (Ricchan), despite only using the nickname itself very occasionally.
* Ritsu always calls Mao cute and dumb, which usually makes Mao either flustered or exasperated, depending on the situation.
* Ritsu and Mao's seiyuus, Yamashita Daiki and Kaji Yuki, are very close in real life, as they previously ran a BNHA radio show together since they also voice Izuku Midoriya and Shouto Todoroki respectively. Yamashita Daiki actually started out as a huge fan of Kaji Yuki because he was insecure about his voice and really admired how talented Yuki was, despite having a higher voice like Daiki, and Daiki ended up following Yuki to the same training school and voice acting company. It's a running joke how Daiki knows everything about Yuki to the point of being a little scary, much like the way Ritsu knows everything about Mao.