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Kounokura Family
Main Family
Miya Nakamura
An illegitimate child who was taken in by the Kounokura main family after the death of her biological mother.
- Apologizes a Lot: A defense mechanism of hers due to being exposed to harsh and uncaring people. She also does this when she lives with the Kounokuras every time she believes she commits a misstep against them. Some of them yes, but her new family is a reasonable bunch and will not maltreat and insult her because of that. All she will get is Familial Chiding instead of "The Reason You Suck" Speech as she expects. She eventually grows out most of it as the Kounokuras help her acclimate.
- Bastard Angst: She suffers from self-esteem issues from time to time and constantly wonders if she can keep up with the expectations of being a highborn lady. Her grandmother warns her that not all people will accept her once they will know her illegitimate status. Fortunately, Teru and her stepsisters reassure her that she is a family to them and will protect her however they can.
- Broken Bird: The story starts with her mother dying and even before that, she already did hard labor instead of enjoying her childhood. The first three volumes are dedicated to finally love herself and find her worth.
- Happily Adopted: Thanks to her stepmother and stepsisters, Miya's life turn for the better, even after she still mourns for her biological mother's passing.
- Heroic Bastard: She is the illegitimate child from a commoner mother and a member of Kounokura family, presumably a member of the branch family since she refers to her older sisters as stepsisters (and not half-sisters)note . While she is painfully shy and still adjusting to her new life as a highborn lady, she works hard to prove her worth as a person and as a member of a Kounokura family. Her good heart and determination definitely win the hearts of her new family.
- Indentured Servitude: While her grandmother has justified reasons of getting Miya out of her current life like ostracization that she will receive due to her bastardry, it is also found out that she also intends her granddaughter to go into this when pressed on by Teru. Fortunately, Miya refuses.
- Meaningful Rename: As of the fourth volume, Miya finally takes up the Kounokura surname. Quite justified too, since she is going to attend school as well.
- Nothing but Skin and Bones: One can see her bones peeking around her body, clearly gaunt with emaciation, showing signs of malnourishment when Teru takes her in. She finally gains weight thanks to the Kounokuras.
- Rags to Riches: Her life vastly improves when she is adopted by the main family and moves in to them.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Looking at her biological mother, it is clear that Miya takes her appearance after her.
- Stronger Than They Look: Despite her petite build, she is physically strong due to being exposed to hard labor to make ends meet.
- Talking to the Dead: She addresses her inner monologues to her biological mother.
- True Blue Femininity: She has blue eyes, prefers blue clothing, and is certainly feminine.
Teru Kounokura
The official wife of the prominent Kounokura family. Teru is Miya's stepmother.
- Almighty Mom: No matter how elegant, charismatic, driven, and intimidating her biological daughters are, Teru is always a full tier above them. She certainly cracks the whip of the entire Kounokuras whenever she appears. Fortunately for them, she is also a loving mother to them.
- Benevolent Boss: She is this to her household staff and fully expects her daughters to treat them the same respect she gives to them. In return, they have Undying Loyalty towards her.
- Etiquette Nazi: Downplayed. She will admonish anybody she thinks lacks decorum or taste, and doesn't think twice about making them fit what she thinks is proper. However, she also believes that there are things that are beyond her control, so she adopts to whatever she has while still maintaining her grace and gravitas.
- Good Parents: She truly doesn't hold back when it comes to her daughters, both biological and adoptive. She constantly pushes them to be the best, but she also knows that each one of them has their own time to grow and ultimately, her only wish is for her girls to be happy.
- Good Stepmother: What she truly is to Miya. She doesn't hesitate to take the poor girl in shortly after the death of her mother and takes it upon herself to give her a stable and fulfilling life.
- Iron Lady: The uncompromising attitude, high standards, fashion: she's this all over. She not only can easily put her biological daughters in their place, also can make everyone break out in a cold sweat with her sheer intimidation factor. Furthermore, she doesn't give a damn about adopting an illegitimate member to the main family even if she gains nothing of value from it,
which would definitely be a serious issue in Japan since they have issues about illegitimate and adoptive children. Part of the reason why Miya believes that Teru will be a Wicked Stepmother is because of her intense aura at the top of societal expectations. - Kimono Is Traditional: She wears kimono, fitting for a lady of a powerful Japanese family.
- Large Ham: This woman has no chill expressing her feelings.
- Purple Is Powerful: She wears purple eyeshadow and kimono, and she is certainly a woman of power.
Marika Kounokura
Teru's eldest daughter and Miya's older stepsister.
- Big Sister Instinct: She takes her tole as Miya's stepsister very seriously.
- Bratty Half-Pint: In the past, after being burnt out from the expectations set by her family, she became a troublemaker. She grows out most of it.
- Boyish Short Hair: Compared to her younger sisters, she sports her hair short.
- Girly Girl with a Tomboy Streak: She wears frilly dresses, but will certainly crack her knuckles to anyone who looks at her and her family dirty.
- The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: She and Arisa have this going on. But underneath the arguing, teasing, and pranking, they really love each other.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Marika never minces her words and will say what it is, but she always believes and adheres to the good values and virtues her mother instills on her. Her interactions with Miya certainly brings out the gold part of her heart.
- Nice to the Waiter: Like her mother, she gives the household staff the respect they deserve.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Forms this with the reserved and levelheaded Arisa.
- Successful Sibling Syndrome: Being the eldest daughter of the main family, Marika is certainly being compared by the children of the branch families. If she falls down from the standard, people will talk behind her back and viciously remarks how she is pathetic, into the point that people were spreading rumors that she isn't really Teru's daughter. Fortunately, Teru reassures her that while expectations are set higher on her compared to Arisa and Miya due to being the eldest, she also believes that there is time for everything and one day Marika will achieve her potential. These experiences lead her to tutoring Miya effectively and helping her build her confidence when her younger stepsister is facing this trope like her.
- Too Much Alike: Part of the reason why she and Yaeko don't get along is due to their similar temperaments. Yaeko treating Miya like dirt also presses Marika's sisterly instinct.
Arisa Kounokura
Teru's younger daughter, Marika's younger sister, and Miya's older stepsister.
- Always Someone Better: While she is certainly competent and formidable in her own right, Arisa believes that she can't hold a candle against Marika.
- Big Sister Instinct: She takes her tole as Miya's stepsister very seriously.
- Caring Gardener: One of Arisa's pastimes involves taking care of the flowerbeds.
- The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: She and Marika have this going on. But underneath the arguing, teasing, and pranking, they really love each other.
- Kimono Is Traditional: Like her mother, she opts wearing them with western flair on the mix.
- Nightmare Fetishist: She prefers reading horror and tragic literary works.
- Not So Stoic: While she maintains her gentle veneer, anything related to Marika will form cracks in that veneer.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Forms this with the extroverted and energetic Marika.
- The Prankster: Her "Pitfall Strategy For Marika-sama", which concocted by Arisa to play practical jokes on her older sister, makes her this.
- Rose-Haired Sweetie: She has salmon-pink hair.
- Silk Hiding Steel: Arisa might be calm and reserved compared to Marika, but she still a force to reckon with. She just happens to bring it indirectly, unlike her older sister's in your face approach.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Ladylike, motherly, a renowned beauty, and enjoyed traditionally feminine activities like gardening and tea ceremony.
Household Staff
Nago
The head maid of the Kounokura household.
- Commonality Connection: While she and Miya have different temperaments (coolheaded vs nervous wreck), she sympathizes with her struggle to fit in to the Kounokuras, with her due to her complex in regard to her appearance and Miya in regard to her illegitimate status.
- Eyes Always Shut: Always appears with her eyes closed.
- Giant Woman: She is quite tall. It doesn't help that she looks intimidating and unapproachable.
- Hero Worship: She certainly admires Teru, who helped her make peace and be proud with her tall height and her thuggish appearance.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: A recipient of one by Teru. While she did make a comment about her slouched appearance and tells her to stand straight and proud, she also praises her strong work ethic and her ability to clean the house spotlessly. If she has issues with her appearance, then she can simply stand close to her (who is a tall woman by herself).
Gungnir
A guard dog at Kounokura household.
- Canine Companion: He may be cute as a button, but like his name, he is the guard dog of the house.
Branch Family
Yaeko Kounokura
Marika and Arisa's cousin, Yaeko is a child from the branch family of the Kounokuras.
- Alpha Bitch: A budding one. The first words she says on her debut is mocking and picking on Miya, an illegitimate child that joins the Kounokuras, loudly telling that she can smell destitution from there. She grows out of it when Arisa lectures her and Miya gains her respect.
- Big Sister Worship: More like cousin, but Yaeko likes to emulate Arisa.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: When she approaches Yaeko and intuits the reason of the latter's harsh treatment towards Miya is beyond of her status as illegitimate child, she clears up the misunderstanding that Miya is not taking her away from her cousin; that like her, Miya is also working hard to prove herself to their family, and tells her that she can't hurt someone just because she is hurt.
- The Rival: An one-sided one against Miya, under the false belief that the latter is taking Arisa away from her.
