OVA
Description
Joe is one of the five first-year boys at Hachimitsu Academy, having enrolled alongside his middle school friend Gakuto. He is known among the group by his nickname, Joe.
Joe has a weak and gaunt physique, being the shortest of the five boys. His most distinctive feature is the hood he perpetually wears, which casts his eyes and most of his facial features in deep shadow. This hood is separate from any of his other clothing, allowing him to wear it in any situation, even while swimming.
His personality is that of a sullen oddball who struggles to fit in, even within his own group of friends. He speaks in a crass manner and makes lewd jokes, reflecting that he is one of the more lecherous members of the group despite being the quietest. He is also noted for being a strong pessimist. His speech is often interrupted by a bloody cough caused by severe stomatitis, a condition that, while not debilitating, is a constant part of his daily life.
Joe has a unique and deep appreciation for ants. He keeps them in a farm, names each individual ant, and claims to be able to tell them apart from one another. His connection to them is so strong that he is easily provoked when he believes they are in danger, such as when Mari Kurihara uses a crow to attack his ant colony as part of a larger scheme.
Throughout the story, Joe's role shifts from a supporting member of the main five to a less prominent figure as the series progresses. During the initial imprisonment, he is largely an observer to events until a plan by the Underground Student Council tricks him into breaking the rules, a situation from which Kiyoshi saves him. This act of sacrifice causes Joe to become forgiving and friendly toward Kiyoshi, defending him against other boys who ostracize him.
Following the boys' release from the prison, Joe enters a depressive phase. Feeling isolated and envious of his friends who have found romantic interests, he contemplates committing a crime to be sent back to the prison block. He is snapped out of this self-destructive spiral when a girl named Satou from the school's cooking club offers him a cupcake, and she becomes his primary love interest.
Later in the story, Joe becomes involved in Gakuto's attempts to understand Mitsuko's fascination with yaoi manga. While initially believing he has no such interests, Joe agrees to act out scenes from Three Kingdoms-themed doujinshi with Gakuto. This experience leads him to question his own feelings, and he eventually becomes an enthusiastic collaborator on Mitsuko's manga projects, referring to her as his inner sensei for such works.
During the All-Student-Council Cavalry Battle at the school's sports festival, Joe participates on the side of the official student council. His primary contribution is using his knowledge to launch psychological attacks, such as undermining Risa's control over Andre and later reversing a similar attack to restore his team's morale. After the festival concludes, he is branded a pervert by the female student body alongside Kiyoshi and Shingo, while Gakuto is hailed as a hero for his role in averting a disaster.
Joe has a weak and gaunt physique, being the shortest of the five boys. His most distinctive feature is the hood he perpetually wears, which casts his eyes and most of his facial features in deep shadow. This hood is separate from any of his other clothing, allowing him to wear it in any situation, even while swimming.
His personality is that of a sullen oddball who struggles to fit in, even within his own group of friends. He speaks in a crass manner and makes lewd jokes, reflecting that he is one of the more lecherous members of the group despite being the quietest. He is also noted for being a strong pessimist. His speech is often interrupted by a bloody cough caused by severe stomatitis, a condition that, while not debilitating, is a constant part of his daily life.
Joe has a unique and deep appreciation for ants. He keeps them in a farm, names each individual ant, and claims to be able to tell them apart from one another. His connection to them is so strong that he is easily provoked when he believes they are in danger, such as when Mari Kurihara uses a crow to attack his ant colony as part of a larger scheme.
Throughout the story, Joe's role shifts from a supporting member of the main five to a less prominent figure as the series progresses. During the initial imprisonment, he is largely an observer to events until a plan by the Underground Student Council tricks him into breaking the rules, a situation from which Kiyoshi saves him. This act of sacrifice causes Joe to become forgiving and friendly toward Kiyoshi, defending him against other boys who ostracize him.
Following the boys' release from the prison, Joe enters a depressive phase. Feeling isolated and envious of his friends who have found romantic interests, he contemplates committing a crime to be sent back to the prison block. He is snapped out of this self-destructive spiral when a girl named Satou from the school's cooking club offers him a cupcake, and she becomes his primary love interest.
Later in the story, Joe becomes involved in Gakuto's attempts to understand Mitsuko's fascination with yaoi manga. While initially believing he has no such interests, Joe agrees to act out scenes from Three Kingdoms-themed doujinshi with Gakuto. This experience leads him to question his own feelings, and he eventually becomes an enthusiastic collaborator on Mitsuko's manga projects, referring to her as his inner sensei for such works.
During the All-Student-Council Cavalry Battle at the school's sports festival, Joe participates on the side of the official student council. His primary contribution is using his knowledge to launch psychological attacks, such as undermining Risa's control over Andre and later reversing a similar attack to restore his team's morale. After the festival concludes, he is branded a pervert by the female student body alongside Kiyoshi and Shingo, while Gakuto is hailed as a hero for his role in averting a disaster.