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Yotsuba Clan
In General
In General
- Aesop Amnesia: They were horrified by infant Tatsuya's destructive potential...and then they thought 'why don't we try to use it against our enemies?'. So they enslaved him, made him into a ruthless killing machine, etc, and then several years later someone else frees Tatsuya and he is not pleased with the family who made his life a living hell.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: The Yotsuba are always competing, all the time. Just showing up at one of their coronation ceremonies is an accomplishment, because it means you managed to dodge or fight off all the rivals trying to stop you from getting there.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Like all magician groups, the Yotsuba use eugenic techniques and genetic engineering to ensure their offspring have increasingly strong magic. Unfortunately, they were the first group to experience the logical consequence of such techniques.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: The current head of the clan wants to destroy the world through engagement between her nephews, for which she manipulates incestuous feelings her younger niece to her own brother. In addition, the last head has arranged a bloody vendetta against a secret organization that kidnapped his daughter, and as a result of this, the clan killed 4,000 people while losing only 18 of its own.
- Black-and-Grey Morality: The morally worst threat is Maya, who wants to destroy everything. A little up from her are the majority of the clan, who enable slavery and child abuse because it's convenient. And up from them are the protagonists, who are vaguely interested in preventing the above atrocities. But all of these characters are terrible in their own ways.
- Black Site: The 4th institute and any Yotsuba residencies. Also, given they're specialized in black ops, government agencies gives them access to their own black sites.
- Brainwashing for the Greater Good: They say this, but they jumped on the chance to use Tatsuya after his Mind Rape, so...
- Cultural Rebel: Unusually for the patriarchal Clans, the Yotsuba have had three consecutive female leaders (counting Miyuki) and been strongly shaped by a desire to protect women specifically. It is tacitly understood that, should Masaki marry Miyuki, he would join her family rather than the other way around. (Similarly, Miyuki's eventual husband is treated as her consort at best.)
- Dark Secret:
- Almost nobody outside the Yotsuba know that they have a strategic-class magician, which by law they are supposed to publicly declare.
- Except for Miyuki, no Yotsuba member under the age of 20 knows why their elders hate Tatsuya so much, or why he accepts their abusive treatment.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: It took a few years of preparation, but the Yotsuba managed to mutilate a Physical God. Mutilated it so hard that even a decade later he is still essentially their attack dog.
- The Dreaded: Even USNA, the strongest country in the world, fears them.
- In volume 31, every government and military In-Universe agrees that Tatsuya and, by extension, the Yotsuba, has powers equal or greater than the 4 World Superpowers.
- Epic Fail: Every attempt the Yotsuba make to fix their mistakes only makes things worse, because a) they refuse to acknowledge that they were in the wrong in any way, and b) those attempts always involve 'fucking with the natural order again, in the hope that this time that will work'. Special mention goes to the Face–Heel Turn of Miyuki, who was literally created for the sole purpose of supporting the family's interests.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Miya readily tells a thirteen-year-old child that the Yotsuba Mind Raped Tatsuya, because she genuinely doesn't see (or doesn't care about) the inhumanity of such an act.
- She is quite literally incapable of this, due to her limited emotions, after suffering backlash from her Mental Design Interference on Tatsuya's emotions, making her lose a portion of the potency. Also, she has a unique view on the mental structure of the brain, as a required secondary power to her Mental Design Interference, so she might not see anything wrong with this either way.
- Evil Counterpart: To the Yoshida family, who work alongside eldritch spirits beyond human comprehension instead of enslaving them.
- Family Honor: The Yotsuba really don't like showing weakness to outsiders. Hence the global death crusade against Maya's kidnappers. (And- knowing the Yotsuba- probably a lot of innocent employees too.)
- Four Is Death: Yotsuba Family are descendants of the infamous 4th laboratory.
- Freudian Excuse: Several decades before the start of the series, the Yotsuba's then-heiress and figurehead was kidnapped and tortured. Their fear and shame twisted them into becoming even more paranoid then they had been before.
- Gone Horribly Right: Tatsuya's power stems from the Yotsuba's wishes for a savior, and Maya's wishes for a destroyer after the incident at Dahan.
- In the Blood: Ruthlessness. Not all Yotsuba are evil, but they only care for their allies and subjects. Anyone else is expendable.
- A Lesson Learned Too Well: They made it so Tatsuya would (probably) not destroy the world because of emotional extremes. However, he may now destroy the world because he is sociopathic.
- Meal Ticket: In the sequel, most people see the Yotsuba Family as this due to Tatsuya's Magian Company attracting various investors.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Lampshaded by Miyuki when she planned to use her identity as a Yotsuba when a politician was bothering her. Also by Volume 17, only Erika and Leo amongst his closest friends never feared Tatsuya when his identity as Yotsuba was revealed.
- Personality Powers: All their magics reflect some part of entropy: ice, darkness, amputation of memories or emotions, Anti-Magic...
- Power Equals Rarity: Its resources are channelled into strange, unprecedented biological projects instead of expanding the clan through more typical ways.
- Red Baron: The Untouchables.
- The Dragon: In volume 32, Yotsuba are under the command of The Senate, in which High Level Government officials take part. In return, they provide the Yotsuba whatever they need.
- The Spartan Way: Yotsuba magicians and their guardians are trained this way, making their combat prowess levels above any other clans.
- Token Evil Teammate: They are the Clan that specializes in black ops and information control note ; not coincidentally, their bloodline grants the ability to Mind Rape. Although given their increased attempts to dominate Japan's magicians, they may not be a 'teammate' anymore...
- A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: They panicked when they realized what was gestating in Miya's womb, so they created a second, slightly less apocalyptically-powerful child to follow the first one around and control it. Unfortunately, no one is around to control that one.
- Vetinari Job Security: The Yotsuba can singlehandedly turn the tide of whatever conflict they join, and they are not shy about milking this fact for all it's worth.
- Quality over Quantity: They lacked numbers compared to the other clans yet their combat prowess makes it up for it. Taken up to eleven when they even have the God of Destruction.
- Wardens Are Evil: A side story reveals that one of the trainings for Yotsuba magicians was to guard a volcanic island prison where very dangerous individuals are held.
Maya Yotsuba
Maya Yotsuba
- Voiced by: Chiwa Saitō (Japanese), Lauren Landa (English)
- Always Identical Twins: She and her oldest twin-sister Miya
- Anti-Villain: Although she is able to manipulate the feelings and life of their relatives for the sake of realization of their cruel and insidious plans, she does so not because of the natural malice, but because of the heavy and tragic past, completely broke her life and deprived of her future. Moreover, it seems to be sympathetic to the situation of Tatsuya and promises to put up with her defeat, if she loses.
- Born Winner: Is from the second lineage of the Yotsuba
- The Chessmaster: Maya is famous for her cunning and complex plans, in particular her most famous plan was developed more than 15 years. For example, her is quite easy managed use Miyuki's love for his brother and Tatsuya affection for her, to put him in an impossible position and announce engagement between Tatsuya and his sister.
- Death of Personality: Wht she claims happened to her when Miya attempted to use her Mind Manipulation magic to heal her psyche.
- Driven to Madness: Her abduction and inflicted harm caused her desire to destroy the world with Tatsuya power.
- Evil Counterpart: Many of her traits are Tatsuya's taken to truly villainous extremes- playful teasing becomes sadistic manipulation of people's lives, bitterness towards abusers becomes bitterness towards everyone, withholding information out of distrust instead of misguided independence, etc.
- Evil Matriarch: Subverted. She is not the real mother of Tatsuya and Miyuki, but being their aunt and Tatsuya's foster mother, she plays this role increasingly with every new arc. In particular, she deliberately organizes his engagement with his own sister to make Tatsuya a prisoner of the clan and turn them both into a target for other clans and foreign powers. She even hopes that they do not fall in love with each other, just because otherwise there will be no conflict in their Arranged Marriage.
- Family Relationship Switcheroo: In the 16th volume, she falsely announces that Tatsuya is her son.
- For the Evulz: It seems that she enjoys provoking people. In particular, she specifically tells Miyuki that the Saegusa clan is trying to pair Tatsuya with Mayumi so Miyuki will become jealous.
- Freudian Excuse: Main reason she became messed up as she is was because of her being abducted and experimented on by Dahan at the age of 12. Her sister Miya's botched attempt to use her Mind Manipulation magic to help her wounded psyche didn't help which led from their once close relationship to a strained one.
- Older Than They Look: You wouldn't be faulted if you thought Maya was a young and beautiful adult, but she's in fact around her late 40's (Now 50 in the sequel).
- Orcus on His Throne: And using Skype. Maya is the main antagonist of the series, but she doesn't especially care what the protagonists do as long as they're still under her thumb.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: With Koichi, before her abduction.
- Pet the Dog: Despite the strained tensions with her older sister, she probably still cared for her and her family enough to call for the military to safeguard them.
- Rape as Drama: She lost the ability to give birth after experiments during her abduction at the age of 12. This also caused the Saegusa family to abandon the marriage of their heir with her.
- Red Baron: The Devil of the Far East, Queen of Night.
- Sibling Rivalry: In her own words, since she actually "stole" her sister's son and had sinister plans for his future, Miya was in a state of cold war with her.
- Superpower Lottery: Meteor Stream is one of the strongest magics.
- Wicked Stepmother: She states that Tatsuya is her son and adopts him, but in fact it is made to Miyuki was able to marry him as his "cousin". Moreover, thanks to this she deliberately puts them both in a very risky situation in order to provoke the end of the world.
- Unblockable Attack: Meteor Stream is unblockable due to how it works. Doesn't mean it can't be broken.
Miya Shiba
Miya Shiba
- Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese), Laura Post (English)
- Always Identical Twins: She and her younger twin-sister Maya
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: Was this to Miyuki and Averted for Tatsuya.
- Older Than They Look: She was about 30 years old when she gave birth to Tatsuya and Miyuki, and despite the fact that at the time the story takes place she is already in the middle of her 40ies, she still looks only 25-30. If she was alive, she likely would have still looked young and beautiful as Maya proves in her 50's.
- Parental Neglect: Doesn't treat Tatsuya like a son at all because she doesn't love him and the fact he's not even a genuine mage, to the point she calls him a "a good-for-nothing" to Miyuki. However, according to Miyuki, she sensed her mother was suffering from being unable to love her son and she tried her best to love him according to her sister. Looking at the flashbacks with her pregnant with Tatsuya and after giving birth, she did show love to her infant son. Plus, it's implied one of the reasons she couldn't love him was because she overrused her magic on him that led to strain on her emotions, leading her to not love Tatsuya anymore.
- Mama Bear: She sincerely loves and cares about her daughter, Miyuki, despite the fact that she was born artificially from her egg cell and subsequently heavily modified. It is assumed that she gave Miyuki all that parental love that she could not give to Tatsuya. At the same time, Maya mentions that Miya was sincerely proud of her son. Honami was able to see this as she was capable of complimenting her son's intelligence.
- Red Baron: Mistress of Lethe
- Sibling Rivalry: For the rest of her life she was in a state of "cold war" with her younger sister, which was caused both by severe changes in the personality of the latter, and by suspicions that Maya has some hidden plans about her son.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Miyuki very much reminds her of her youth, especially her hair and face profile.
Mitsugu Kuroba
Mitsugu Kuroba
- Voiced by: Atsushi Ono (Japanese), Joe J. Thomas (English)
- Action Dad
- Depending on the Artist: He either look like a good-looking young man or an old man.
- Doting Parent: Towards Fumiya and Ayako
- Jerkass: Towards Tatsuya. It was later revealed that Yotsuba members of his generation wanted to kill Tatsuya when he was born, but they were stopped by the head family at that time. The main reason why he didn't do anything hostile towards him is because his children admire Tatsuya.
- Undying Loyalty: Towards Maya
Ayako Kuroba
Ayako Kuroba
- Voiced by: Maaya Uchida (Japanese), Deneen Melody (English)
- Blow You Away/Weaponized Teleportation: Mock Teleportation is a mix of both.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: She triumphed in Mirage Bat competition with a huge score gap without even using flying magic. Tatsuya even narrates that even the famed Saegusa Twins couldn't beat Ayako and why he doesn't even bother to let them face off each other during the event.
- In the sequel, Izumi mentions how Ayako easily beats them in the above mentioned event.
- Dude Magnet: In Magian Company, after her reveal as part of the Yotsuba Family, she's flocked by various suitors in the Magic University, whom of which are after Tatsuya's and Yotsuba family's influence of the titular company.
- Kissing Cousins: She is unrequited in love with Tatsuya, who is her second cousin.
- Half Identical Twin: With her oldest brother Fumiya and with him she plays twin's tropes like a Twin Banter or Fearful Symmetry
- Brother–Sister Team \ Tag Team Twins: With Fumiya.
- Formal Characters Use Keigo: More so than Fumiya. Combined with her ojou-like mannerisms, it gets to the point where it sounds weird and out of place during Nine Schools Competition (which makes people to really believe the rumour that she is part of Yotsuba clan).
- Ojou : She is a fairly typical example of this trope, in particular, Ayako always looks elegant and have western-style hairstyle.
- Ojou Ringlets
- Unknown Rival: To Miyuki.
- Strong Family Resemblance: She looks like a younger version of Maya.
- Tender Tears: Has this when Miyuki was engaged to Tatsuya.
- Tsundere: Has shades of this in Volume 8. She does have feelings for Tatsuya and cried when she heard that Tatsuya and Miyuki is betrothed to each other.
Fumiya Kuroba
Fumiya Kuroba
Click here to see him as Yami
- Voiced by: Emiri Katou (Japanese), Laura Stahl (English)
- The Ace: An all-rounded magician and a competent fighter. He is also one of the best MI note magic user in his generation of the Yotsuba family (the other being Tsukuba Yuuka).
- Ambiguously Gay/Mistaken for Gay: Played for Laughs but the narration made it clear that he is not gay.
- Ascended Extra: He gets a more prominent role in the spin-off series, Plan to Assassinate Tatsuya Shiba.
- Berserk Button: Calling his disguise as cross-dressing.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: He leads the fourth high to victory in Monolith Code, especially in the match against first high, where he defeated all of them by himself.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: He still looks very young and feminine because of his twin sister, with the result that adults loved to dress him as a girl when he was a child. In the 18th volume Tatsuya even notes that, together with Ayako, they are like two cute younger sisters. The illusion is broken when he speaks, because he doesn't sound like a girl. Ayako has to remind him the proper way to speak when he is "Yami".
- Formal Characters Use Keigo: He is really polite when speaking, and combined with his mannerism, it gets to the point where it sounds weird and out of place during Nine Schools Competition (which makes people to really believe the rumour that he is part of Yotsuba clan).
- Half Identical Twin: With his youngest sister Ayako and with her he plays twin's tropes like a Twin Banter or Fearful Symmetry
- A Child Shall Lead Them: Leads the Kuroba despite his young age.
- Hero-Worshipper: Is a fanboy for Tatsuya.
- Luminescent Blush: After being complimented by Tatsuya.
- Miko: Was forced to dress as one in order to seal the parasite, as they believe that dressing as opposite sex will increase the effect since they don't have enough people to perform the spells. He was not amused.
- Nice Guy: One of the nicest Yotsuba out there (his father said that he is too kind to lead the Yotsuba clan). Though he wouldn't mind attacking and blackmailing anyone who opposes them.
- One-Man Army: A few examples:
- Defeated a group of armies/humanists in his introduction without even touching them.
- Annihilated the security forces who were trying to arrest Minami in less than 5 minutes during the Steeplechase arc.
- Has to fight parasite dolls all by himself after confronting Minoru, since Ayako's magic isn't suited to combat. But he was forced to retreat when he realizes Direct Pain doesn't have any effects on parasite dolls .
- Sadist: Hashibami Yuki called him this, due to the nature of his innate magic, Direct Pain.
- Took a Level in Badass: Was presented as a Cheerful Child in the Reminiscence arc. Now he is a competent fighter and a great leader. He is also able to corner Parasite!Minoru (which the 3 Saegusa members have trouble dealing with) all alone and would have win if not for Minoru launching a suicide attack against him
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: He talks about assassination like it was a normal topic for a high school student to talk about. Justified as he's part of a clan specializing in doing wetwork for various clients.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Much to his displeasure.
Tatsurou Shiba
Tatsurou Shiba
- Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
- Happily Married: Definitely not with his first wife, Miya, as it was an arranged marriage. He finally married Sayuri after Miya's death who was his lover before his marriage to the Shiba sibling's mother.
- Remarried to the Mistress: Married his mistress Sayuri half a year after his wife died. Miyuki doesn't take this well and hates her father for doing this to her mother.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Tatsuya resembles him.
Sayuri Shiba
Sayuri Shiba
- Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese), Marissa Lenti (English)
- The Mistress: To Tatsurou when he was with Miya.
- Plagiarism in Fiction: She demands that Tatsuya hand over everything he creates to her.
Honami Sakurai
Honami Sakurai
- Voiced by: Aya Endo (Japanese), Amanda Lee (English)
- A Good Way to Die: Was satisfied by her death because it was the result of actions conducted by her own will.
- Barrier Warrior: The specialty of the Sakura series.
- Cool Big Sis: She was more of a parent to Tatsuya than his biological ones. Her death was one of the moments Tatsuya showed some emotions, as he showed visible sadness at her death.
- Tyke-Bomb: Lampshaded when she died.
Genzou Yotsuba
Genzou Yotsuba
Miya and Maya's father and the previous head of the Yotsuba family.- Action Dad: He leads the task force in destroying Dahan as Revenge for what the latter did to his daughter.
- Cruel to Be Kind: He orders Miya to perform Mental Interference Magic on her sister Maya after what happened to the latter in Dahan.
- Papa Wolf: He ,alongside other Yotsuba members who volunteered, slaughtered Dahan as a country as Revenge towards one of his daughters.
