Riku Nanase

Symbolized by the double sharp sign and represented by a vivid shade of red, Nanase Riku spent much of his childhood confined to hospitals due to chronic asthma, which left him sheltered from the everyday world and instilled in him a lasting aversion to the sterile smell of medical facilities. Isolated from peers his own age, his greatest joy came from the private performances his older brother Kujo Tenn would put on just for him—a memory that ignited his passion for the stage, even as Tenn's departure to pursue an idol career once left Riku struggling to come to terms with the loss. Since his debut, Riku's raw, penetrating emotional appeal has drawn the attention of Kujo Takamasa, who famously described him as a "monster that devours the human heart"—a testament to the instinctive power behind his voice. Forthright and relentlessly hardworking, Riku speaks from the heart without filter, sometimes saying things that cut deeper than he intends, though never out of malice. His clashes with Izumi Iori are a regular occurrence, yet he finds an unexpected joy in having someone to butt heads with. Off-stage, he is at his most natural when laughing and roughhousing with his teammates—especially Yamato—and unwinds with favorites like omurice and warm honey milk.