TV-Series
Description
Himeno Awayuki is a sixteen-year-old girl who serves as the central protagonist of her story. Her background is marked by significant loss and upheaval. Raised primarily by her father, a novelist, she learned to care for plants from her mother, who was sickly and passed away during Himeno's childhood. Following this death, her father fell into a deep depression and stopped writing, forcing Himeno to take on jobs to help make ends meet. Eventually, her father remarried Natsue Awayuki, the wealthiest woman in Japan, and Himeno moved into her new stepmother's large mansion, gaining two stepsisters, Mawata and Mayune.
Himeno's personality is defined by her struggle to find her place in this new, opulent environment. She initially feels like she does not fit in or belong with her new family, leading to a sense of alienation that is further compounded by her peers at school. Despite these insecurities, she possesses a strong will and a reservoir of inner determination that becomes more apparent as she faces greater challenges. Her core motivation is a desire to protect life, a value instilled in her by her mother. This protective instinct drives her to accept a dangerous destiny and fight for the safety of both the Earth and the realm of Leafenia.
Himeno's role in the story is precipitated by her accidental meeting with Hayate, the Knight of Wind. She is soon introduced to the seven Leafe Knights, who reveal that the red snow falling on the town is caused by the awakening Princess of Disaster, an entity using creatures called Demon Larvae to absorb Leafe, the essence of all life. The knights reveal that Himeno is the legendary Prétear, the only one who can merge with them to wield their elemental powers and defeat the larvae. Although initially reluctant, believing the knights are trying to trick her, she agrees to help when a larva attacks, merging with Hayate to become the Wind Prétear.
Her key relationships are central to the narrative. Her dynamic with Hayate evolves from mutual antagonism, where he insults her and refuses to acknowledge her as the Prétear due to a painful past, to a deep romantic connection. She also forms friendships with each of the other Leafe Knights: the flirtatious yet good-listening Sasame, the practical Kei, the fiery Go, the reborn child Mannen, the young Hajime, and the smallest knight, Shin, who calls her sister. Within her blended family, she initially feels a disconnect, particularly from her stepsister Mawata, who is grieving her own father's death. However, her bond with her family is tested and ultimately strengthened when she reveals her powers to save them, and they in turn refuse to abandon her or Mawata.
Throughout the series, Himeno undergoes significant development. She learns that the Princess of Disaster was once the previous Prétear, a girl named Takako who also fell in love with Hayate; when her love was unreturned, her anguish and negative emotions corrupted her powers. This revelation creates a new fear for Himeno, who worries that she might suffer the same fate. Despite this, she grows from an insecure girl into a resolute heroine, ultimately achieving the form of the Legendary White Prétear. In the final confrontation, she sacrifices her own life to pour out a massive amount of Leafe, resurrecting her fallen friends and saving the world, before being revived by Hayate's kiss.
As the Prétear, Himeno has the notable ability to create and manipulate Leafe energy spontaneously. Her primary combat ability is to "pret," or merge, with one of the seven Leafe Knights. By taking a knight's hand, she temporarily absorbs them into her consciousness and gains access to their elemental powers, transforming into a different form for each knight. Each transformation comes with a unique magical weapon: with Hayate she wields the Wind Sword; with Kei, the Chakram of Light; with Sasame, the Sonic Arrow; with Go, the Fire Ax; with Mannen, the Arquebus of Ice; with Hajime, the Water Flail; and with Shin, the power over plants. The Ultimate form is the Legendary White Prétear, which she achieves independently without merging with any knight, granting her the power to defeat the Great Tree of Fenrir and restore life.
Himeno's personality is defined by her struggle to find her place in this new, opulent environment. She initially feels like she does not fit in or belong with her new family, leading to a sense of alienation that is further compounded by her peers at school. Despite these insecurities, she possesses a strong will and a reservoir of inner determination that becomes more apparent as she faces greater challenges. Her core motivation is a desire to protect life, a value instilled in her by her mother. This protective instinct drives her to accept a dangerous destiny and fight for the safety of both the Earth and the realm of Leafenia.
Himeno's role in the story is precipitated by her accidental meeting with Hayate, the Knight of Wind. She is soon introduced to the seven Leafe Knights, who reveal that the red snow falling on the town is caused by the awakening Princess of Disaster, an entity using creatures called Demon Larvae to absorb Leafe, the essence of all life. The knights reveal that Himeno is the legendary Prétear, the only one who can merge with them to wield their elemental powers and defeat the larvae. Although initially reluctant, believing the knights are trying to trick her, she agrees to help when a larva attacks, merging with Hayate to become the Wind Prétear.
Her key relationships are central to the narrative. Her dynamic with Hayate evolves from mutual antagonism, where he insults her and refuses to acknowledge her as the Prétear due to a painful past, to a deep romantic connection. She also forms friendships with each of the other Leafe Knights: the flirtatious yet good-listening Sasame, the practical Kei, the fiery Go, the reborn child Mannen, the young Hajime, and the smallest knight, Shin, who calls her sister. Within her blended family, she initially feels a disconnect, particularly from her stepsister Mawata, who is grieving her own father's death. However, her bond with her family is tested and ultimately strengthened when she reveals her powers to save them, and they in turn refuse to abandon her or Mawata.
Throughout the series, Himeno undergoes significant development. She learns that the Princess of Disaster was once the previous Prétear, a girl named Takako who also fell in love with Hayate; when her love was unreturned, her anguish and negative emotions corrupted her powers. This revelation creates a new fear for Himeno, who worries that she might suffer the same fate. Despite this, she grows from an insecure girl into a resolute heroine, ultimately achieving the form of the Legendary White Prétear. In the final confrontation, she sacrifices her own life to pour out a massive amount of Leafe, resurrecting her fallen friends and saving the world, before being revived by Hayate's kiss.
As the Prétear, Himeno has the notable ability to create and manipulate Leafe energy spontaneously. Her primary combat ability is to "pret," or merge, with one of the seven Leafe Knights. By taking a knight's hand, she temporarily absorbs them into her consciousness and gains access to their elemental powers, transforming into a different form for each knight. Each transformation comes with a unique magical weapon: with Hayate she wields the Wind Sword; with Kei, the Chakram of Light; with Sasame, the Sonic Arrow; with Go, the Fire Ax; with Mannen, the Arquebus of Ice; with Hajime, the Water Flail; and with Shin, the power over plants. The Ultimate form is the Legendary White Prétear, which she achieves independently without merging with any knight, granting her the power to defeat the Great Tree of Fenrir and restore life.