OVA
Description
Kazuma Mikura, often called Kazu by his friends, is a central character in the Air Gear franchise, including the OVA Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori -Break on the Sky-. He serves as the second-in-command of the storm rider team Kogarasumaru and is the best friend of the protagonist, Itsuki "Ikki" Minami. At fifteen years old, Kazu is of Eurasian descent, with natural blond hair and blue eyes, a combination that hints at his mixed Japanese and European ancestry. He stands 165 centimeters tall and weighs 49 kilograms. His typical attire consists of a white or off-white beanie, a tan or pale blue hoodie, black pants, and fingerless gloves, and he is rarely seen without his beanie on. He lives with his older sister, as his parents are often overseas.
Personality-wise, Kazu is characterized by his introverted nature and a significant lack of self-confidence. He consistently feels overshadowed by the natural talent of his more assertive and outgoing friend, Ikki, and often worries that his own perceived inadequacies will hold his team back. This insecurity can lead him to underperform and, in extreme cases, become temporarily paralyzed by doubt when facing a powerful opponent. He has a habit of tugging his beanie down over his eyes when he is nervous or embarrassed. Despite this outward timidity, Kazu is incredibly hardworking and dedicated. Of all the members of Kogarasumaru, he trains the most and the hardest, pushing himself constantly to improve and not be a burden on his friends. He is also intelligent and analytical, often thinking situations through logically before acting, which is a trait not always found in speed-type riders. While he is generally mellow and goes with the flow, he can act rashly and push himself too far when in a tight spot during a battle. Unlike his more lecherous friends Ikki and Onigiri, Kazu tends to represent a sense of morality regarding women, often getting embarrassed by their antics and being mostly oblivious to the affections of his teammate Emily Adachi.
Kazu's primary motivation stems from his fierce loyalty to his friends, especially Ikki. He wishes to stand on his own and overcome his feelings of inferiority, striving to prove that his hard work can match the natural brilliance of those around him. His role in the story is as the steady, reliable anchor of Kogarasumaru. He is a founding member of the team and often acts as the interim leader when Ikki is unable to perform his duties, a position that forces him to confront his insecurities head-on. His most significant relationship is with Ikki, a complex bond that began with Ikki bullying him in childhood but evolved into an unshakable friendship. He is also fiercely protective of his teammate Onigiri. Later in the narrative, Kazu becomes the protégé and successor to Spitfire, the original Flame King, who entrusts him with the powerful Flame Regalia.
Throughout the series, Kazu undergoes considerable development. He begins as a rider who lacks confidence and even tries to avoid competing in his team's first Parts War, but he grows into a king-class rider capable of facing some of the series' most powerful antagonists. His journey is marked by overcoming deep bouts of depression, particularly after a disastrous performance as interim leader and the death of his mentor Spitfire. These trials ultimately force him to confront his self-doubt and embrace his own strength, allowing him to step out of Ikki's shadow and fight as an equal.
As a storm rider, Kazu is classified as a speed-type. His primary ability is the Flame Road, which he awakens to during a crucial battle. His signature technique is called Time, where he uses his immense speed to strike specific points on an opponent's body, effectively paralyzing them and creating the illusion that time has stopped. He also develops techniques such as creating flaming afterimage clones and using Flame Drafts to create currents of hot air for propulsion. His run is so fast that he can appear invisible to the naked eye. After inheriting the Flame Regalia from Spitfire, his power increases dramatically, allowing him to perform the ultimate technique, Hole Nine Heaven's Door, which lets him temporarily copy the moves of other riders, though at great personal risk. His combat level, initially measured at 18, skyrockets to an estimated 200 to 250 during his final battles. Despite his power, he remains known by the rider alias Stealth, and his shadow or "technique image" is often depicted as a fighter jet, a pegasus, or a flaming unicorn.
Personality-wise, Kazu is characterized by his introverted nature and a significant lack of self-confidence. He consistently feels overshadowed by the natural talent of his more assertive and outgoing friend, Ikki, and often worries that his own perceived inadequacies will hold his team back. This insecurity can lead him to underperform and, in extreme cases, become temporarily paralyzed by doubt when facing a powerful opponent. He has a habit of tugging his beanie down over his eyes when he is nervous or embarrassed. Despite this outward timidity, Kazu is incredibly hardworking and dedicated. Of all the members of Kogarasumaru, he trains the most and the hardest, pushing himself constantly to improve and not be a burden on his friends. He is also intelligent and analytical, often thinking situations through logically before acting, which is a trait not always found in speed-type riders. While he is generally mellow and goes with the flow, he can act rashly and push himself too far when in a tight spot during a battle. Unlike his more lecherous friends Ikki and Onigiri, Kazu tends to represent a sense of morality regarding women, often getting embarrassed by their antics and being mostly oblivious to the affections of his teammate Emily Adachi.
Kazu's primary motivation stems from his fierce loyalty to his friends, especially Ikki. He wishes to stand on his own and overcome his feelings of inferiority, striving to prove that his hard work can match the natural brilliance of those around him. His role in the story is as the steady, reliable anchor of Kogarasumaru. He is a founding member of the team and often acts as the interim leader when Ikki is unable to perform his duties, a position that forces him to confront his insecurities head-on. His most significant relationship is with Ikki, a complex bond that began with Ikki bullying him in childhood but evolved into an unshakable friendship. He is also fiercely protective of his teammate Onigiri. Later in the narrative, Kazu becomes the protégé and successor to Spitfire, the original Flame King, who entrusts him with the powerful Flame Regalia.
Throughout the series, Kazu undergoes considerable development. He begins as a rider who lacks confidence and even tries to avoid competing in his team's first Parts War, but he grows into a king-class rider capable of facing some of the series' most powerful antagonists. His journey is marked by overcoming deep bouts of depression, particularly after a disastrous performance as interim leader and the death of his mentor Spitfire. These trials ultimately force him to confront his self-doubt and embrace his own strength, allowing him to step out of Ikki's shadow and fight as an equal.
As a storm rider, Kazu is classified as a speed-type. His primary ability is the Flame Road, which he awakens to during a crucial battle. His signature technique is called Time, where he uses his immense speed to strike specific points on an opponent's body, effectively paralyzing them and creating the illusion that time has stopped. He also develops techniques such as creating flaming afterimage clones and using Flame Drafts to create currents of hot air for propulsion. His run is so fast that he can appear invisible to the naked eye. After inheriting the Flame Regalia from Spitfire, his power increases dramatically, allowing him to perform the ultimate technique, Hole Nine Heaven's Door, which lets him temporarily copy the moves of other riders, though at great personal risk. His combat level, initially measured at 18, skyrockets to an estimated 200 to 250 during his final battles. Despite his power, he remains known by the rider alias Stealth, and his shadow or "technique image" is often depicted as a fighter jet, a pegasus, or a flaming unicorn.