open/close all folders
The Seasons / Given
Mafuyu Satō
Voiced by: Soma Saito (drama CD), Shougo Yano (anime, Japanese), Brandon McInnis (English)
"The truth is I've always... Just, wanted someone to completely understand how hard and painful it is... Wanting to scream and cry but not being able to express it."
Mafuyu Sato is the lead vocalist of the band Given which was previously named The Seasons before he became the fourth and newest member of the formerly three-man band. He was ushered into the band by Ritsuka due to their fated encounter at the high school both attend where Uenoyama would teach him how to play the guitar and would discover his heart-wrenching vocal abilities. At first glance, Mafuyu can seem airheaded and oblivious. When he is first introduced he doesn't know how to play the guitar he constantly carries around or even what a band is, but he quickly picks up on playing the guitar and is proves himself to be somewhat of a musical prodigy. Mafuyu's newfound passion for music and dedication to Given allows him to integrate into the band fairly painlessly and naturally.
It is eventually revealed that Mafuyu has a tragic past along with the origins of the guitar he carries around that is shrouded in mystery. Mafuyu's ardor for performing becomes an outlet with which he can express the pain of loss and deal with his checkered past.
- Abusive Parents: Mafuyu's father, who was implied to frequently beat him and his mother. He was removed from their household after Yuuki reported him to the police
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Ritsuka is immediately struck by Mafuyu's singing voice when hearing him sing for the first time, and insists that he be the lead singer for the band.
- Childhood Friend Romance: He had this relationship with Yuuki; they met when they were young children and eventually became boyfriends. It tragically ended when they had a falling out, and Yuuki eventually hanged himself.
- Curtains Match the Window: Mafuyu has orange hair as well as orange eyes.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: He's very good at doing this, and Ritsuka is especially weak to them.
- Relationship Upgrade: Not long after they kissed in Coda 11/Episode 9, Mafuyu confesses to Ritsuka and they begin to date after getting the approval of the other members of the band.
- Tareme Eyes: Mafuyu's eyes have a droopy quality to them which compliments his quiet and occasionally airheaded demeanor.
- Tragic Keepsake: It's revealed that the guitar he carries around is this, since it belonged to Yuuki, his childhood friend and boyfriend who committed suicide.
Ritsuka Uenoyama
Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (drama CD), Yūma Uchida (anime, Japanese), Jessie James Grelle (English)
Uenoyama is the guitarist of the band Given. Originally, he had a great passion for playing, but with several situations like members of his previous bands leaving, had made it so that he was losing his love for music and was only going through the motions while practicing with Haruki and Akihiko. That is, until he stumbles upon Mafuyu who he found occupying his favorite spot in school to sleep.
At the beginning, Uenoyama tries to keep a distance with Mafuyu, but soon enough he agrees to help him learn how to play guitar and even integrates him into his band.
- Brutal Honesty: He's blunt and sometimes he blurts out things without meaning to, often as a result of getting flustered.
- Big Little Brother: He's taller than his older sister, standing at 175 cm (5'7").
- Disguised in Drag: Ritsuka was seen wearing a girl's school uniform
as punishment for skipping on the class meeting for the school festival. - Everybody Hates Math: Averted. Ritsuka prefers math/science-based subjects over linguistics and literature, as shown in this extra.
- Green-Eyed Monster: When he found out about Yuuki, his relationship with Mafuyu and his tragic end, Uenoyama couldn't help but feel some jealousy; luckily, he doesn't let those feelings turn into something toxic.
- Last-Name Basis: He is almost always referred to by his surname (and all its variations), with the exception of his sister, who calls him by his given name, Ritsuka.
- Mirror Character: Ritsuka Uenoyama, Mafuyu's boyfriend, and Yuuki Yoshida, Mafuyu's now-deceased boyfriend, are both brilliant, kind, charismatic guitarists with a natural knack for music that's nearly unmatched. And, of course, both are very in love with Mafuyu. At first, it seems that Uenoyama will avoid the lack of communication which caused a rift in his relationship with Mafuyu, but once Mafuyu's childhood friend brings Uenoyama one of Yuuki's songs to complete, he also starts keeping important secrets from him.
- Oblivious to Love: Uenoyama hasn't noticed that Kasai has a crush on him.
- Pretty Boy: Word of God and a few other characters says that he and his sister have strikingly similar faces and his sister is considered be beautiful In-Universe.
- Relationship Upgrade: Not long after they kissed in Coda 11/Episode 9, Mafuyu confesses to Ritsuka, and they begin to date after getting the approval of the other members of the band.
- Second Love: For Mafuyu, he helps him go through the process of healing and giving love a second chance.
- Single-Target Sexuality: Mafuyu is the first and only person Uenoyama has ever shown any romantic and/or sexual interest in.
- Tsundere: Because of how blunt and abrasive he can get at times it could seem that he is harsh but he's also quite gentle, especially when it comes to Mafuyu, who at times he may try to push away but ends up failing in several occasions.
- Tsurime Eyes: In contrast to Mafuyu's Tareme Eyes, that show how he's blunter and rougher around the edges than the other teen.
Haruki Nakayama
Voiced by: Takumi Yasuaki (drama CD), Masatomo Nakazawa (anime, Japanese), Y. Chang (English)
The bassist of the band Given. A senior to both Mafuyu and Uenoyama, as well as a classmate of Akihiko, he's a gentle and rather clumsy guy who tries his best to improve his playing, which he considers to be lacking at times, in comparison to the rest of the band who he views as prodigies.
- Important Haircut: Midway through the manga. Played with in that it's supposed to be tied to him giving up on his feelings for Akihiko, but he never really manages it, and the story arc ends with the two of them becoming a couple.
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: The only one in the band with long hair and he is rather pretty. Becomes a plot point when it's revealed that he grew his hair out two years after falling for Akihito, while he was still in college.
- Love at First Sight: He fell in love with Akihiko from the moment they first made eye contact.
- Relationship Upgrade: With Akihiko, after Akihiko's very loud, accidental confession in chapter 28.
- Tareme Eyes: Like Mafuyu, to show how open and gentle he is.
Akihiko Kaji
Voiced by: Satoshi Hino (audio drama), Takuya Eguchi (anime, Japanese), Jonah Scott (English)
The drummer of the band Given, but he's a prodigy that knows how to play several instruments with ease. A senior to Mafuyu and Uenoyama, and a classmate to Haruki, Akihiko is the one they tend to turn to for advice or guidance, however, he also has some unresolved issues he hasn't been able to properly acknowledge.
- The Casanova: Has a lot one night stands and temporary relationship with women but it is later revealed that this is a facade he puts on in trying to deal with his issues and attachment to Ugetsu.
- Face of a Thug: He has an intimidating look to him, especially with his many piercings, but he's actually nicer than he looks and the other band members tend to turn to him for advice.
- Love Hurts: Sums up his relationship with Ugetsu rather well. They both love each other, but the relationship isn't good for either of them - Ugetsu feels his music suffers when they're together, and tries to break their relationship off, kicking Akihiko out of his apartment, only for the two of them to miss each other enough to gravitate back to each other and the cycle starts again.
- Relationship Upgrade: With Haruki, in chapter 28.
- Second Love: Haruki is this for him. Once he realises it, he's able to break off his on-and-off relationship with Ugetsu for good.
- Tsurime Eyes: Like Uenoyama, in contrast to Haruki and Mafuyu. In his case, is to show how he's a bit more savvy and shrewd than the rest of the band.
Other characters
Ugetsu Murata
Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru (drama CD), Shintarō Asanuma (Japanese), J. Michael Tatum (English)
Ugetsu is a world-renowned violin prodigy and Akihiko's housemate and on-and-off boyfriend.
- Always Someone Better: To Akihiko, who can never best Ugetsu when it comes to the violin.
- Birds of a Feather: With Mafuyu. This is part of the reason they bonded.
- Destructive Romance: With Akihiko. They’re both in love with each other but it’s painful for them to be together. While Akihiko finds his own means of moving on to a healthier lifestyle and relationship, Mafuyu helps Ugetsu realize that it’s okay to let go of painful things. While the readers don’t get an extensive view of Ugetsu’s life post the break-up, supplemental materials suggest that he’s happier now as well.
- Love Martyr: He’s this for Akihiko as much as Akihiko was this for him. They eventually break things off for good and move on.
- Only the Leads Get a Happy Ending: Downplayed. While the readers don’t get an extensive view of the closure he receives after Akihiko breaks off their relationship for good and moves on, a 4koma released after the movie reveals that he’s at least continuing on in his violin career, still traveling the world while doing so and still keeping in touch with Mafuyu.
- Pet the Dog: Despite his toxic relationship with Akihiko and the light that painted him in, he seems to genuinely like Mafuyu and keeps in touch with him after the events of the manga.
Kouji Yatake
Voiced by: Daiki Hamano (drama CD), Ryota Takeuchi (Japanese), Kellen Goff (English)
Haruki's best friend, a photographer.
- Affectionate Nickname: Haruki calls him "Take".
- The Confidant: To his best friend Haruki.
- Pair the Spares: He (somehow) ends up with Yayoi Uenoyama.
Yayoi Uenoyama
Voiced by: Sayuri Yahagi (drama CD), Yu Shimamura (anime) (Japanese), Hayden Daviau (English)
Yayoi is Ritsuka's older sister and a university student, attending the same university as Akihiko and Haruki. She's an art student.- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Yayoi gives this kind of impression to the other students of her college. She drops the act when she was around Akihiko, during the time that she still had feelings for him.
- Hopeless Suitor: She had unrequited feelings for Akihiko, which she later moves on from.
- Innocently Insensitive: Yayoi reacts rather negatively when she finds out that her little brother is going out with another boy and tells him that he's just setting himself up for heartbreak. That said, she does acknowledge that she clearly didn't say the right thing, and later confides in Haruki that she didn't want to hurt her brother, she just wanted to understand.
- Long Hair Is Feminine: She had long hair that stretched past her shoulders and down her back and is considered to be quite beautiful. After realizing that Akihiko will never return her feelings, she cuts off her hair to a short bob. It eventually grows back by Chapter 28 of the manga.
- Proud Beauty: Mentioned in an extra, she's an amateur model and knows she's beautiful.
Yuuki Yoshida
Voiced by: Yoshiki Nakajima (drama CD), Yūki Shin (anime, Japanese), Brendan Blaber (English)
Yuuki was the childhood friend and boyfriend of Mafuyu up until he committed suicide prior to the start of the story.
- Childhood Friend Romance: He had this relationship with Mafuyu; they met when they were young children and eventually became boyfriends. It tragically ended when they had a falling out, and Yuuki eventually hung himself.
- Driven to Suicide: After his falling out with Mafuyu, he got drunk and hanged himself in his room. Mafuyu found him two days later.
- First Love: For Mafuyu, as they started out as childhood friends and eventually began a relationship. After Mafuyu comes to terms with Yuuki's suicide, Ritsuka becomes his Second Love.
- Mirror Character: Ritsuka Uenoyama, Mafuyu's boyfriend, and Yuki Yoshida, Mafuyu's now-deceased boyfriend, are both brilliant, kind, charismatic guitarists with a natural knack for music that's nearly unmatched. And, of course, both are very in love with Mafuyu. At first, it seems that Uenoyama will avoid the lack of communication which caused a rift in his relationship with Mafuyu, but once Mafuyu's childhood friend brings Uenoyama one of Yuki's songs to complete, he also starts keeping important secrets from him.
- The Lost Lenore: To Mafuyu, who was still grieving over him at the start of the story.
- Posthumous Character: He died before the story begins, having committed suicide.
Hiiragi Kashima
Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda (drama CD), Fumiya Imai (anime, Japanese), Howard Wang (English)
Yuuki and Mafuyu's childhood friend and Yuuki's band member. After Yuuki's death he becomes band's main singer and songwriter.
- The Ace: Turns out Hiiragi is a brilliant musician. Enough to earn praise of Uenoyama of all people. He writes the songs for his band after Yuki's death, plays a bass, sings and is responsible for maintaining group's social network.
- Awesome by Analysis: He is quite insightful and able to read his friends quite easily.
- Childhood Friend Romance: In love with Shizusami.
- It's All My Fault: Blames himself for not saying anything and silently watching Yuuki and Mafuyu's codependent Relationship Upgrade, and later the argument that ended in tragedy. Now, all that he wants is to be forgiven by anyone, and especially Mafuyu.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Uenoyama seriously believes there is no way Yuuki could have been any better than Hiiragi as a singer. Hiiragi says that he's like junk food compared to Yuuki.
- Heroic BSoD: after Shizusumi borderline assaults him out of jealousy.
Shizusumi Yagi
Voiced by: Daiki Hamano (drama CD), Taito Ban (anime) (Japanese), Joshua Waters (English)
Another childhood friend of Yuuki and Mafuyu and the drummer in the band with Yuuki and Hiiragi (later, just Hiiragi). He doesn't talk much and seems to be cold and reserved all the time.- Can't Act Perverted Toward a Love Interest: We haven't seen him pay attention to other people, but this trope gets averted big time when he drags a confession out of Hiiragi in a feat of jealousy. The answer does not satisfy Shizusumi. He lets Hiiragi know in no uncertain terms that "love" means physical love as well, scaring the hell out of him
- Childhood Friend Romance: in love with Hiiragi
- Love Martyr: to Hiiragi who he believes was in love with Yuuki.
- The Stoic: Does not speak much and sports a limited variety of facial expressions.
Ryou Ueki
Uenoyama's friend and classmate.
Shogo Itaya
Uenoyama's other friend, a basketball nut.
Ayano Kasai
A classmate of Uenoyama's.
- Everyone Has Standards: Kasai tries to put some distance between Uenoyama and Mafuyu by outing the latter's relationship with an old classmate of his who later committed suicide. She instantly backtracks, acknowledging that that was a messed-up thing to say.
- Green-Eyed Monster: She isn't at all pleased that Uenoyama spends all of his free time with Mafuyu.
- Hopeless Suitor: To Uenoyama, who is head over heels in love with someone else.
Waka Kurihara
A friend of Kasai's, who attended the same middle school as Mafuyu.
Hanaoka
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki (Japanese), Ian Sinclair (English)
A hairdresser and friend of Haruki, who occasionally works an odd job as a model for his business.
- Camp Straight: He has a stereotypically camp job as a hairdresser, is somewhat flamboyant, and is also good friends with Haruki. He also invokes Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?, without much evidence that he isn't telling the truth.
- Gay Best Friend: He essentially Inverts this dynamic with Haruki. He's a flamboyant confidant for him, with the twist that Haruki is attracted to men, while Hanaoka isn't.
