VOICES OF THE PRESENT
Dramatis Personae / Cast of Characters
Last updated 12/16/2012
(Work in Progress! Miator complete- for now. On to Spica!)
Miator
Suzumi Tamao: Student:
Tamao is the eldest daughter of an exceedingly rich and powerful family, the Mizuchi Clan. Her family name is actually that of her mother who insisted that her daughters have the opportunity when they grew to choose whether to take on the legacy of their father or select to live a much simpler life as a Suzumi. Tamao's brother, Yutaka, is betrothed to be married to Miyuki when the girl graduates at the end of this year.
Tamao is known to be an accomplished poet and writer. She is a star student, considered the best student in her year at her school. Despite her accomplishments, she has confidence issues. She lived alone in the Strawberry Dorms until early this school year when Nagisa transferred to Miator and became her roommate. They quickly became fast friends and nigh inseparable. The two roommates quickly became known for their concern for each other as well as their fellow students, leading to their selection to run as the Miator candidates for Etoile. They actually win the election but concede to Hikari and Amane when Nagisa is spirited away by Shizuma just as the results of the election are to be announced.
Tamao has a long and complicated history with Shizuma. The two historically were highly skilled tennis players and were paired together during Tamao's first year. The dynamics between the two rapidly became intense, then passionate, and the two became lovers for a short period before Shizuma's attention redirected to Kaori. Tamao was left damaged by the experience and spent time working through her issues with Chikaru.
Since the recent Etoile election, Tamao has been gaining perspective as she's become close to a trio of Miator alumnas- Oosaki Keiko, Aoi Hiromi, and Uchida Hisoka. Although Oosaki-sensei is her homeroom teacher and writing coach, the two are also becoming good friends with Tamao planning to spend the Christmas holiday together with her in Tokyo. Tamao also has developed feelings for Aoi Hiromi, feelings she's still not sure of but which were very intense on their first meeting.
Tamao loves Nagisa, but over time she has accepted Nagisa has eyes ultimately only for Shizuma. During an intense tennis match, Shizuma and Tamao were able to reconcile their rivalry and Tamao now accepts Nagisa will be no more than her best friend. She's made it clear she'll still protect Nagisa, even if the person threatening her happiness is Shizuma.
Currently Tamao is coming to terms with being tapped to be the next Miator president by Miyuki. She hasn't accepted the offer yet given the outstanding issue of the betrothal. Tamao is also becoming close to Momomi of Spica, the girl tapped to succeed Shion as Spica president. Also with Yaya and Tsuboumi, the four have formed a group called the "Also Rans Club", which centers around enjoying fine tea and chocolates created by Momomi's chocolatier sister.
Aoi Nagisa: Student:
The daughter of a pediatrician father and a veterinarian mother, both of whom are serving to support nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. With her parents out of the country, she is left under the guardianship of her father's sister, Aoi Hiromi. Hiromi, a Miator alumna, arranges for Nagisa to attend her old school...something exceedingly unusual for a 4th year.
The first student Nagisa becomes familiar with on campus is Shizuma. Nagisa finds Shizuma pondering under a tree and Shizuma draws the redheaded girl in with her eyes, leaving Nagisa first limp and then unconscious. Nagisa loses her heart to Shizuma despite the difficulties of loving the silver-haired girl. Over time, Nagisa learns of Shizuma's demons...but sticks loyally by her beloved's side.
Hanazono Shizuma: Student: Former Etoile:
Until very recently when she has been succeeded, Shizuma has been the single Etoile on campus since her beloved partner and lover Kaori passed away a year before. Shizuma comes from an exceeding rich and powerfully well-connected family and she is seen by many to be a viable candidate to someday become the first female Prime Minister of Japan.
Shizuma has an intense personal gravity, an ability to compel those around her that has been described by many close to her as 'freaky'. Shizuma is also a passionate creature, apt to find comfort and happiness more from the act of touch than from emotional connections.
Shizuma intensely loves Nagisa, to the point of the silver haired girl having spirited away the young redhead from the Etoile stage rather than see her become Tamao's cadette. The two ran to Shiuzma's coastal house where they spoke of many things. Since that time, the two girls have continued to become much closer, although to date Nagisa has avoided giving herself completely to her beloved senpai.
Shizuma's passions have gotten her in trouble as she spent an intimate evening with Chikaru of Le Rim. Something happened that night, and Nagisa, Miyuki, and Remon are still mystified regarding the new dynamics between the two dear girls.
Rokujo Miyuki: Student: Student Council President:
Cousin to Chikaru, Miyuki as a child was headstrong, bold, athletic, and smart. She had the primary school where she and Chikaru attended in the palm of her hand. Things got tense briefly when Shion joined them in the third year, but the three almost immediately became inseparable. As the years went by, Shion and Miyuki became increasingly affectionate with Chikaru, Shion, and Miyuki forming a mostly friendly and definitely respectful love triangle. Unfortunately, Miyuki discovered she was betrothed to be married the week before she came to Miator, and days after Chikaru went away for a year to America. The impact was devastating, and her personality became much more reserved and calculated after that. Miyuki drove Shion away in her pain, never telling her friend the reason why. A nearly six year rivalry between the formerly dear and fast friends developed, a rivalry that only now is thawing.
Miyuki and Shizuma became roommates when they came to Miator. They quickly came to respect each other, even love each other. Still, despite their affection and even intimacy, there is a line they both acknowledge. Miyuki ultimately cannot be what Shizuma needs, and Shizuma repects (even if she doesn't like) the betrothal.
Since the Etoile election, Miyuki has taken Tamao on as a protege. In the process, she had butted heads with Momomi of Spica as they both have eyed the same valuable prize. In Painful Admissions she learns that her intended is, in fact, Tamao's brother. The two girls have decided to try and find a way together to find happiness, recognizing that no matter what happens they will be very close the rest of their lives.
Tsukidate Chiyo: Student:
Roomkeeper to Tamao and Nagisa. A timid first year, she worships Nagisa, and respects Tamao. She is very passionate about people getting along, wanting to believe everyone can be happy. She can be very sensitive. During the food poisoning incident in Strawberry Hall she became extremely sick, one of only three students actually admitted to the hospital. She and Kagome stayed in the same room and Kagome actually opened up a bit when 'Nurse Kizuna' was snoozing, something yet to be discussed with anyone else.
Togi Hitomi: Student: Student Council Vice President:
Childhood friend of Shizuma since nearly birth. Her and Shiuzma's mothers are friends from Miator. She could be considered Shizuma's biggest fan, having been around the charismatic girl her whole life. She passionately wants Shizuma to 'achieve greatness', and fears the distraction Kaori and now Nagisa have presented. She has expressed the hope that Tamao might somehow manage to push Shizuma again to excel.
Kano Mizuho: Student: Student Council Secretary:
A childhood friend of Shizuma's since kindergarten. She is also the roommate of VP Hitomi, who she has also known since kindergarten. She is much calmer and more gentle than her best friend and roommate, often de-escalating the excitable Hitomi.
Sakuragi Kaori: Student: Deceased:
Kaori came to Miator as a first year when Miyuki and Shizuma were starting their fourth year. Although technically their roomkeeper, she was too ill to perform the usual duties of the role. When Kaori arrived, Miyuki was already an up-and-coming in the Miator Student Council and was asked to take Kaori under her and Shizuma's wing. Miyuki was happy to oblige both to be helpful but also because she had a hunch Kaori was what Shizuma needed after the breakup between her friend and young Tamao. Shizuma was initially reluctant, but upon seeing the girl it was love at first sight between them. They quickly were inseparable, becoming lovers. When Kaori discovered her life was coming to an end, she and Shizuma decided to run together for Etoile. Kaori passed away very shortly after the election.
Shortly after the most recent Etoile election Nagisa had a very profound dream of meeting Kaori. The two talked of many things, and the dream ended with the two embracing and acknowledging each other as 'sisters in love', a reference to their shared love for and dedication to Shizuma.
Oosaki Keiko: Alumna: Teacher and former Etoile:
Currently, Keiko is an instructor at Miator, specifically of the homeroom class attended by Nagisa and Tamao. She is also the Miator Literary Club faculty sponsor.
Keiko is a Miator alum and her tenure is nothing short of legendary. For reasons still unclear, she began attending classes at Miator and living in Strawberry Hall three years before her formal enrollment, which itself was a year earlier than most of her peers. She is an unprecedented three-time Etoile. The first was during her first year when she began as Serviteur d'Etoile for Ainee Uchida Hisoka and Cadette Aoi Hiromi, roommates for whom Keiko was roomkeeper. When Hisoka was required by circumstances to step down almost immediately after the election, Keiko was appointed to the spot whereupon Keiko became Cadette and Hiromi her Ainee. Keiko in her third year again became Etoile Cadette, that time to Le Rim student Nakahara Subaru. She again served as Etoile, that time as Ainee, during her fifth year with a foreign student from Spica, Birgit Carina who is now assigned sister for the Spica wing of Strawberry Hall. In addition to Etoile, Keiko also once served as Miator President.
Keiko is currently in a long-term romantic relationship with Uchida Hiromi, with whom she resides in the Groundskeeper's Cottage on the edge of the Astraea campus. Keiko, Hisoka, and Aoi Hiromi remain very close friends and can be found together whenever Hiromi can break away from her training.
Few know Keiko has strong ties to the organization that operates the Astraea facility. She is the most trusted mentor and advisor of the young Director-elect covering the East Asia region of this organization. One of the skills she brings to bear is her powerful true empathy, a skill she uses along with that of her friend and director-elect Minamoto Chikaru to assist students in distress.
Aoi Hiromi: Alumna: Former Etoile:
Nagisa's Aunt, roommate during school with Uchida Hisoka, and Etoile Ainee to Keiko, Hiromi has pursued medical training since graduation from Miator. Aoi's have been physicians going back many generations. She is becoming a skilled psychiatrist. She's currently in the first year of a prestigious residency in Tokyo. When she can, though, she visits her dearest friends, Keiko and Hisoka, at Astraea and is a regular guest in their house.
During a recent visit, she met Tamao and the two had some intense moments leaving Tamao wondering about her feelings. Part of Tamao's confusion stemmed from Hiromi being a near twin with her younger niece.
Uchida Hisoka: Alumna: Groundskeeper and former Etoile:
Keiko's lover and Hiromi's best friend. Since the events of her becoming Etoile, Hisoka has led a very quiet life. Although she is married and is the daughter of the chairman and president of a major family-owned conglomerate, she still resides at Astraea Hill living very simply. Her husband, who is now an adopted son of the Uchida family, is the man tapped to succeed as Chairman/President of the conglomerate. She avoids ever leaving campus, although she has recently needed to in order to give birth to her child, Chie.
Sister Hamasaka: Alumna: Astraea Hill Head Sister and House Sister for Miator:
Keiko's Aunt and head disciplinarian on campus. She was the first Etoile at the time Spica was founded. She is known for her strictness, but it is becoming clearer to Nagisa and others that it is due to her intense love and caring for the young girls under her care. She can be remarkably kind when the circumstances warrant, as Nagisa learned when Hamasaka provided her a key to the Strawberry Hall gate and encouraged her to deal with certain issues away from the dorms even after curfew had long passed.
Spica
Nanto Yaya: Student:
Okuwaka Tsuboumi: Student: Current Serviteur e'Etoile:
Kokohana Hikari: Student: Current Etoile Cadette:
Ootori Amane: Student: Current Etoile Ainee:
Tomori Shion: Student: Student Council President:
Kenjo Kaname: Student: Student Council Vice President: One of the Five Stars of Spica, Kaname is known for both her athletic and academic prowess. Success has always come easily for her, although athletically she has been bested by Amane since the two came to Spica. Resentment over time led to admiration and then affection as Kaname became a closet fan of Spica's Prince. Her feelings came to a head during a tennis match between the two girls whereupon Amane decided to run for Etoile, and Kaname let go of her secret flame for her fellow bishonen...as well as her Etoile ambitions. Since then, Kaname has been working to repair the damage left behind with her lover, Momomi. Even as Kaname has grown softer since her time sitting out all night with Shion and Yaya waiting for Amane and Hikari to return from their one-night disappearance, Momomi has grown harder. The tension between the, rather than diffusing, seems now to be coming to a head and Kaname is mystified as to why.
Kiyashiki Momomi: Student: Student Council Secretary:
Sister Carina: Alumna: House Sister for Spica: Close friend and Cadette of Keiko Oosaki, Swiss-born Sister Carina graduated from Spica three years ago and immediately took vows. She is the youngest Sister on campus and has been assigned primary responsibility for those students of her alma mater living in Strawberry Hall. Her role in Spica school affairs will grow over time as she builds experience and confidence. As fellow northern Europeans by blood, and fluent English speakers, Shion and Carina have developed a close mentor-student friendship. She has been encouraged by her superior, Sister Hamasaka, to attempt to take Kiyashiki Momomi under her wing, but she has yet to reach out successfully to the heir apparent for Spica's Presidency.
Le Rim
Natsume Remon: Student: Roomate to Kizuna, close friend to Kizuna, and protege to Chikaru,
Hyuga Kizuna: Student:
Byakudan Kagome: Student:
Minamoto Chikaru: Student: Student Council President:
Takahashi Satsumi: Student: Student Council Vice President:
Suzuki Miho: Student: Student Council Secretary:
Nakahara Subaru: Alumna: Former Student Council President and Former Etoile:
Nobutame Miyumi: Alumna: Former Student Council President and Former Etoile:
Sister Beatrice: Alumna: House Sister for Le Rim: