TV-Series
Description
Kakeru Daichi is a sixteen-year-old high school student attending Kyuugetsu Academy who finds himself at the center of an unusual series of events involving anthropomorphic soda cans known as Akikan. As a self-described soda enthusiast, he has developed a hobby of collecting rare juice cans, though this interest has done little to improve his social standing or romantic prospects. His life takes a dramatic turn when a can of melon soda he purchases from a vending machine transforms into a girl, whom he names Melon, setting the stage for his involvement in a secret project called the Akikan Elect.
In terms of personality, Kakeru stands apart from typical protagonists in similar romantic comedy and harem genres. Rather than being a passive or accidentally perverted character, he is openly and unashamedly lecherous, frequently cracking bawdy jokes and making inappropriate comments that often earn him physical reprisals from the female characters around him. He is described as a narcissistic virgin who genuinely believes himself to be a ladies' man, and he tends to ham up his behavior when thinking about perverted things. This boldness extends to coming onto older women, including his teacher Airin Kizaki. Despite these surface-level flaws, Kakeru possesses a core of decency and moral strength, demonstrated when he refuses to take advantage of his childhood friend Najimi when she becomes intoxicated from carbonated drinks. He is also shown to be proactive in driving the story forward, such as when he insists that Melon attend school with him rather than staying home idle, and even arranges the necessary bribes to make it happen.
Kakeru's motivations are shaped significantly by a traumatic incident from his past. Two years before the story begins, he saved his childhood friend Najimi Tenkuji from kidnappers by wrestling a gun away from them and wounding them in the process. This act of heroism caused considerable controversy in his hometown, forcing him to move away, and it left him with a deep-seated fear of hurting others. This fear directly influences his stance on the Akikan Elect, a competition where Akikan girls battle each other to determine whether steel or aluminum cans are superior. When first invited by the government official Hidehiko Otoya to join this project, Kakeru refuses outright because he hates fighting and does not wish to see anyone get hurt. However, circumstances eventually force his participation, and he resolves to work with his comrades to dismantle both the Akikan Elect and the related Intelligence Port Project entirely rather than simply competing in them.
Within the story, Kakeru serves as the primary protagonist and owner of Melon, a steel Akikan, and later also becomes the owner of another steel Akikan named Shiruko. His role is defined by his relationships with these supernatural beings and the humans around him. The dynamic between Kakeru and Melon is characterized by belligerent sexual tension and frequent arguments, as she is strong-willed and tsundere toward him, often expressing the opposite of what she actually feels. Despite their constant quarrels, she genuinely likes him, and he considers her an important friend. His relationship with Najimi is that of a childhood friend who clearly holds romantic feelings for him, though Kakeru seems largely oblivious to her affections or chooses not to act on them. Najimi's feelings occasionally manifest in concerning ways, such as when she orders her own Akikan, Yell, to punish Kakeru, resulting in him receiving a serious injury to his torso. Kakeru also has a friend named Goro Amaji, who is frequently overlooked or forgotten by others, and a classmate named Yurika Kochikaze who is equally perverted and has an obsessive crush on Najimi.
Kakeru demonstrates notable development throughout the series. Initially rejecting any involvement in the Akikan battles, he is gradually compelled to confront the situation as it becomes unavoidable. His past trauma regarding hurting others continues to influence his decisions, but he ultimately finds a middle path, choosing to fight when necessary while striving to end the conflict altogether rather than simply participating in it for the sake of victory. His ability to take action and drive the plot forward sets him apart from more reactive protagonists, as he actively seeks solutions and takes responsibility for the Akikan under his care.
Regarding notable abilities, Kakeru does not possess any supernatural powers or combat skills. Instead, his capabilities lie in his personality traits and decision-making. His willingness to act, his perverse self-confidence, and his moral compass, however flawed it may sometimes appear, allow him to influence events and protect those he considers important. His intelligence is also noted, though he is described as an underachiever who does not fit in well with his peers, suggesting untapped potential that he rarely applies to academic matters. His most significant moments in the story come from emotional appeals and taking physical risks, such as when he becomes devastated after Melon is absorbed by the strongest Akikan and manages to restore her through sheer force of will and emotional connection.
In terms of personality, Kakeru stands apart from typical protagonists in similar romantic comedy and harem genres. Rather than being a passive or accidentally perverted character, he is openly and unashamedly lecherous, frequently cracking bawdy jokes and making inappropriate comments that often earn him physical reprisals from the female characters around him. He is described as a narcissistic virgin who genuinely believes himself to be a ladies' man, and he tends to ham up his behavior when thinking about perverted things. This boldness extends to coming onto older women, including his teacher Airin Kizaki. Despite these surface-level flaws, Kakeru possesses a core of decency and moral strength, demonstrated when he refuses to take advantage of his childhood friend Najimi when she becomes intoxicated from carbonated drinks. He is also shown to be proactive in driving the story forward, such as when he insists that Melon attend school with him rather than staying home idle, and even arranges the necessary bribes to make it happen.
Kakeru's motivations are shaped significantly by a traumatic incident from his past. Two years before the story begins, he saved his childhood friend Najimi Tenkuji from kidnappers by wrestling a gun away from them and wounding them in the process. This act of heroism caused considerable controversy in his hometown, forcing him to move away, and it left him with a deep-seated fear of hurting others. This fear directly influences his stance on the Akikan Elect, a competition where Akikan girls battle each other to determine whether steel or aluminum cans are superior. When first invited by the government official Hidehiko Otoya to join this project, Kakeru refuses outright because he hates fighting and does not wish to see anyone get hurt. However, circumstances eventually force his participation, and he resolves to work with his comrades to dismantle both the Akikan Elect and the related Intelligence Port Project entirely rather than simply competing in them.
Within the story, Kakeru serves as the primary protagonist and owner of Melon, a steel Akikan, and later also becomes the owner of another steel Akikan named Shiruko. His role is defined by his relationships with these supernatural beings and the humans around him. The dynamic between Kakeru and Melon is characterized by belligerent sexual tension and frequent arguments, as she is strong-willed and tsundere toward him, often expressing the opposite of what she actually feels. Despite their constant quarrels, she genuinely likes him, and he considers her an important friend. His relationship with Najimi is that of a childhood friend who clearly holds romantic feelings for him, though Kakeru seems largely oblivious to her affections or chooses not to act on them. Najimi's feelings occasionally manifest in concerning ways, such as when she orders her own Akikan, Yell, to punish Kakeru, resulting in him receiving a serious injury to his torso. Kakeru also has a friend named Goro Amaji, who is frequently overlooked or forgotten by others, and a classmate named Yurika Kochikaze who is equally perverted and has an obsessive crush on Najimi.
Kakeru demonstrates notable development throughout the series. Initially rejecting any involvement in the Akikan battles, he is gradually compelled to confront the situation as it becomes unavoidable. His past trauma regarding hurting others continues to influence his decisions, but he ultimately finds a middle path, choosing to fight when necessary while striving to end the conflict altogether rather than simply participating in it for the sake of victory. His ability to take action and drive the plot forward sets him apart from more reactive protagonists, as he actively seeks solutions and takes responsibility for the Akikan under his care.
Regarding notable abilities, Kakeru does not possess any supernatural powers or combat skills. Instead, his capabilities lie in his personality traits and decision-making. His willingness to act, his perverse self-confidence, and his moral compass, however flawed it may sometimes appear, allow him to influence events and protect those he considers important. His intelligence is also noted, though he is described as an underachiever who does not fit in well with his peers, suggesting untapped potential that he rarely applies to academic matters. His most significant moments in the story come from emotional appeals and taking physical risks, such as when he becomes devastated after Melon is absorbed by the strongest Akikan and manages to restore her through sheer force of will and emotional connection.