TV-Series
Description
Keiichi Wakaouji is a character who serves as a bridge between several important spheres of the story, primarily as the attending physician and later producer for the young protagonist. A man in his thirties with warm, golden-brown hair and eyes of a similar shade, he presents a calm and caring demeanor, though he can be easily flustered. This gentle nature forms the core of his personality, manifesting as a deep-seated sense of responsibility and an earnest desire to protect those he cares for.
Wakaouji's path is unique, as it crosses the worlds of medicine and music. Before becoming a doctor, he was the keyboardist for the popular band ROUTE:L, performing alongside Mitsuki's father, Aoi Koga. After the band's disbandment, following the death of Aoi and Hazuki (Mitsuki's mother), he chose to leave music behind entirely and dedicate himself to a new life in the medical field. This decision, however, does not sever his connection to his past. His primary motivation in the present is his devotion to Mitsuki Kouyama. Recognizing her immediately as the daughter of his late friends, he takes on a role far beyond that of a typical doctor, acting as a surrogate father figure and legal guardian, a role he embraces to honor a promise made at her parents' grave. In the anime, this is even more pronounced, as he attends school functions as her parent and comically attempts to understand the interests of a girl her age by reading popular magazines.
His role in the story is therefore twofold. As Mitsuki's doctor, he monitors the throat cancer that threatens her life and her dream of becoming a singer. As her producer, a position he takes on after learning of her ambitions, he re-enters the music world, working part-time at the hospital to balance both responsibilities. This choice often puts him at odds with Mitsuki's strict grandmother, Fuzuki, as he advocates for the girl's freedom and happiness. He serves as a confidant for Mitsuki, offering her a safe space away from her grandmother’s control, and she in turn views him with deep affection, even expressing that she would be happy to have him as a father.
His key relationships are defined by this paternal instinct, but they also include his former bandmates. His history with Mitsuki's parents, Aoi and Hazuki, is the foundation for his current guardianship. He also has a complex connection to Takuto Kira, another former member of ROUTE:L. In the manga, Wakaouji is the surgeon who operates on Takuto and is present at the time of his subsequent suicide, a traumatic event that adds a layer of profound sorrow to his background. His personal life also finds resolution in a romance with Masami Oshige, Mitsuki's talent agency manager, whom he eventually marries. This contrasts with his own unrequited past feelings for Mitsuki's mother, from which he moves on.
Throughout the narrative, Wakaouji demonstrates significant development. He begins as a man who has fully closed the door on his musical past, choosing a stable, secure life as a doctor. His love for Mitsuki, however, compels him to confront his past head-on, reopening old wounds and talents to become her producer. He risks his career and reputation, turning down a promotion to hospital director, to support her dream, ultimately finding a way to reconcile the two halves of his life. His abilities are notable in both of his professions; he is a skilled physician, considered successor to the director of his hospital, and a talented musician and producer, capable of crafting the iconic song Eternal Snow, a legacy from his ROUTE:L days.
Wakaouji's path is unique, as it crosses the worlds of medicine and music. Before becoming a doctor, he was the keyboardist for the popular band ROUTE:L, performing alongside Mitsuki's father, Aoi Koga. After the band's disbandment, following the death of Aoi and Hazuki (Mitsuki's mother), he chose to leave music behind entirely and dedicate himself to a new life in the medical field. This decision, however, does not sever his connection to his past. His primary motivation in the present is his devotion to Mitsuki Kouyama. Recognizing her immediately as the daughter of his late friends, he takes on a role far beyond that of a typical doctor, acting as a surrogate father figure and legal guardian, a role he embraces to honor a promise made at her parents' grave. In the anime, this is even more pronounced, as he attends school functions as her parent and comically attempts to understand the interests of a girl her age by reading popular magazines.
His role in the story is therefore twofold. As Mitsuki's doctor, he monitors the throat cancer that threatens her life and her dream of becoming a singer. As her producer, a position he takes on after learning of her ambitions, he re-enters the music world, working part-time at the hospital to balance both responsibilities. This choice often puts him at odds with Mitsuki's strict grandmother, Fuzuki, as he advocates for the girl's freedom and happiness. He serves as a confidant for Mitsuki, offering her a safe space away from her grandmother’s control, and she in turn views him with deep affection, even expressing that she would be happy to have him as a father.
His key relationships are defined by this paternal instinct, but they also include his former bandmates. His history with Mitsuki's parents, Aoi and Hazuki, is the foundation for his current guardianship. He also has a complex connection to Takuto Kira, another former member of ROUTE:L. In the manga, Wakaouji is the surgeon who operates on Takuto and is present at the time of his subsequent suicide, a traumatic event that adds a layer of profound sorrow to his background. His personal life also finds resolution in a romance with Masami Oshige, Mitsuki's talent agency manager, whom he eventually marries. This contrasts with his own unrequited past feelings for Mitsuki's mother, from which he moves on.
Throughout the narrative, Wakaouji demonstrates significant development. He begins as a man who has fully closed the door on his musical past, choosing a stable, secure life as a doctor. His love for Mitsuki, however, compels him to confront his past head-on, reopening old wounds and talents to become her producer. He risks his career and reputation, turning down a promotion to hospital director, to support her dream, ultimately finding a way to reconcile the two halves of his life. His abilities are notable in both of his professions; he is a skilled physician, considered successor to the director of his hospital, and a talented musician and producer, capable of crafting the iconic song Eternal Snow, a legacy from his ROUTE:L days.