TV-Series
Description
Hiromi Sugita is a classmate of Satoru Fujinuma in their elementary school days and is one of the original three victims of the serial kidnapping and murder case that took place in 1988. He is a close friend of Satoru and part of the group that spends time together at their secret hideout. Hiromi has an androgynous appearance, with a feminine look and a unisex name, which leads to him often being mistaken for a girl by others, including by fellow classmate Aya Nakanishi. This physical trait becomes a significant detail in the original timeline, as the police initially assume the killer targeted Hiromi because he was mistaken for a female.
In terms of personality, Hiromi is cheerful, bright, and optimistic. He is an intelligent student who enjoys reading. He also has a shy side and is known to be skilled at board games such as Othello and chess. Because his parents are often busy with work, Hiromi spends a significant amount of time alone and understands the feeling of loneliness deeply. This background of isolation is what originally makes him vulnerable to becoming a target of the kidnapper.
Within the story, Hiromi plays the role of one of the children Satoru is determined to save. In the original, unaltered history, Hiromi is killed. The circumstances of his death are used by the true culprit to mislead the police investigation, manipulating them into believing the killer did not know Hiromi was a boy and therefore must not have been closely acquainted with him. When Satoru travels back in time to his eleven-year-old self to prevent the tragedies, he actively works to keep Hiromi safe. Hiromi becomes a willing and active participant in Satoru’s plans, cooperating with him and Kenya Kobayashi to protect the other potential victims and to investigate the threat of the child kidnapper. His fate is directly tied to Satoru's success; by preventing the disappearances of Kayo Hinazuki and Aya Nakanishi, Satoru inadvertently ensures Hiromi is never isolated from the group and thus is not killed.
Hiromi’s development is most visible in the changed future that results from Satoru’s actions. Having been saved from an early death, he grows up to become a doctor, a path he chooses because of Satoru, who fell into a coma after preventing the final tragedy. He remains a loyal friend, visiting the comatose Satoru throughout the fifteen years he is unconscious. In a significant turn of events, the adult Hiromi marries Kayo Hinazuki, another of Satoru’s classmates and the primary target of the killer whom Satoru worked hardest to protect. Together, they have a son named Mirai. Hiromi’s primary ability lies not in any supernatural power, but in his reliability, his intelligence, and his loyalty as a friend, all of which make him a valuable ally to Satoru in his mission to change the past.
In terms of personality, Hiromi is cheerful, bright, and optimistic. He is an intelligent student who enjoys reading. He also has a shy side and is known to be skilled at board games such as Othello and chess. Because his parents are often busy with work, Hiromi spends a significant amount of time alone and understands the feeling of loneliness deeply. This background of isolation is what originally makes him vulnerable to becoming a target of the kidnapper.
Within the story, Hiromi plays the role of one of the children Satoru is determined to save. In the original, unaltered history, Hiromi is killed. The circumstances of his death are used by the true culprit to mislead the police investigation, manipulating them into believing the killer did not know Hiromi was a boy and therefore must not have been closely acquainted with him. When Satoru travels back in time to his eleven-year-old self to prevent the tragedies, he actively works to keep Hiromi safe. Hiromi becomes a willing and active participant in Satoru’s plans, cooperating with him and Kenya Kobayashi to protect the other potential victims and to investigate the threat of the child kidnapper. His fate is directly tied to Satoru's success; by preventing the disappearances of Kayo Hinazuki and Aya Nakanishi, Satoru inadvertently ensures Hiromi is never isolated from the group and thus is not killed.
Hiromi’s development is most visible in the changed future that results from Satoru’s actions. Having been saved from an early death, he grows up to become a doctor, a path he chooses because of Satoru, who fell into a coma after preventing the final tragedy. He remains a loyal friend, visiting the comatose Satoru throughout the fifteen years he is unconscious. In a significant turn of events, the adult Hiromi marries Kayo Hinazuki, another of Satoru’s classmates and the primary target of the killer whom Satoru worked hardest to protect. Together, they have a son named Mirai. Hiromi’s primary ability lies not in any supernatural power, but in his reliability, his intelligence, and his loyalty as a friend, all of which make him a valuable ally to Satoru in his mission to change the past.