Aki

Lore & Background

Aki Onoda's story begins in elementary school on an island, where he investigates a Shinto shrine inside a cave and discovers a yellow-tailed hedgehog he names Fureru. When he and his friends Ryō and Yūta touch each other while near Fureru, they gain the ability to hear each other's inner voices — but lose that ability when touching in isolation. Ten years later, Aki works as a chef and bartender in Takadanobaba. After Fureru knocks a thief off a bridge, Aki retrieves a purse belonging to Nana Asakawa, leading to the trio inviting Nana and her bodyguard Juri to stay at their house. When the group breaks up after a bar outing, Aki remains connected to Fureru. Their folklore teacher Wakita later explains that Fureru once helped ancient villagers unite by connecting minds, but that thoughts could be removed before hearts could convey them. After an argument causes a mental breakdown, Fureru traps the trio in a parallel world, from which they escape by overcoming negative emotions. Back in reality, Aki climbs a tower in Ochiai Central Park, comforts Fureru, and zip-lines magical threads from his finger, causing Fureru to transform into a white living ball and vanish the threads, reverting everyone's minds. After the police arrest the stalker Kohei Shimada, Aki parts ways with Ryō and Yūta when the house lease expires.

In Their Own Story

The cave on the island smelled of salt and damp stone. Aki Onoda, still a boy, crept past the Shinto shrine's weathered torii gate and found the hedgehog — small, yellow-tailed, and utterly still. He named it Fureru, meaning 'touch,' and brought it home. That night, when he and his friends Ryō and Yūta touched each other, they heard each other's inner voices for the first time. Ten years later, Aki stood behind the bar in Takadanobaba, wiping a glass, while Fureru dozed on the counter. The hedgehog had grown, but its power remained. When a thief tried to rob a woman on the bridge, Fureru knocked him off, and Aki retrieved the purse — belonging to Nana Asakawa. Soon, Nana and her bodyguard Juri moved into the house. But the night at the bar broke them apart. Then came the stalker, Kohei Shimada, impersonating a teacher. Aki listened as their folklore teacher Wakita told the ancient story: Fureru had once united a village, but minds could be removed before hearts could speak. When the trio argued and broke down, Fureru trapped them in a parallel world. Aki led them out by overcoming their negative emotions. Back in the real world, magical threads drove everyone mad. Aki climbed the tower in Ochiai Central Park, comforted Fureru, and zip-lined the threads from his finger. Fureru transformed into a white living ball, and the threads vanished. After Kohei's arrest, Aki parted ways with Ryō and Yūta, the lease expired, and Fureru stayed with him.

Reader's Guide

Aki Onoda is defined by his discovery of Fureru and his role as the emotional anchor among the trio. As a child, he finds the yellow-tailed hedgehog in a cave shrine on his island, adopting it as a pet. This act triggers the magical connection that allows him, Ryō, and Yūta to hear each other's inner voices when they touch — a power that fades when they touch in isolation. Ten years later, Aki works as a chef and bartender in Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, sharing a rented house with his friends. His bond with Fureru remains strong: the hedgehog stays at home while Aki works. When Fureru knocks a thief off a bridge, Aki retrieves Nana Asakawa's purse, leading to Nana and her bodyguard Juri moving into the house. After a bar outing causes the group to break up, and Nana is wounded by the stalker Kohei Shimada, Aki's folklore teacher Wakita explains Fureru's ancient origin: it connected minds in a village, but thoughts could be removed before hearts could convey them. When the trio argues and suffers a mental breakdown, Fureru traps them in a parallel world. Aki helps them escape by overcoming negative emotions and reconciling. Back in reality, magical threads drive the town mad. Aki climbs the tower in Ochiai Central Park, comforts Fureru, and zip-lines the threads from his finger. Fureru transforms into a white living ball, the threads vanish, and everyone's minds revert. After Kohei's arrest, Aki parts ways with Ryō and Yūta when the house lease expires, keeping Fureru with him.

Did You Know?

• Aki Onoda discovers the yellow-tailed hedgehog Fureru in a Shinto shrine inside a cave on his island as a child.
• Aki works as a chef and bartender in Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, ten years after finding Fureru.
• Aki retrieves Nana Asakawa's purse after Fureru knocks a thief off a bridge, leading to Nana and Juri moving into the house.
• Aki climbs a tower in Ochiai Central Park and zip-lines magical threads from his finger, causing Fureru to transform into a white living ball.
• Aki parts ways with Ryō and Yūta after the house lease expires, keeping Fureru with him.