TV-Series
Description
Itaru Chigasaki is a polished professional by day and a fiercely competitive gamer by night. Employed at a prestigious trading firm in his early twenties, his mature demeanor—dark green pants, light blue shirt, white vest, and navy blue jacket—earns him trust and popularity. Privately, he shifts into comfortable gray sweatpants, a plain white T-shirt, and a yellow college jacket, pushing back his dark blonde hair for intense gaming sessions. This duality defines his personality: gentle, charming, yet emotionally reserved at work; competitive, occasionally lazy, and prone to emotional outbursts while gaming.
Childhood isolation due to poor athleticism led to mockery, driving him to seek solace in the *Knights of the Round* series. He deeply identified with Lancelot, even imagining an invisible fairy companion named Gwen. His sister later suggested adopting a socially acceptable facade in high school, gaining popularity but forcing him to hide his gaming passion. He befriended fellow secret fan Tonooka, only for their bond to shatter when Tonooka betrayed his trust by exposing his secrets, reinforcing Itaru's tendency to isolate himself. His professional success primarily funds his gaming hobby, motivating his search for affordable housing. This quest led him to join the Mankai Company after director Izumi Tachibana offered a private room for undisturbed gaming, where he now streams as the popular alias "Taruchi."
During Mankai's staging of *Knights of the Round IV*, Itaru confronts his past when cast as Lancelot and Tonooka, now promoting the game series, reenters his life. Initially cold, Itaru blames himself after the play's creator criticizes their performance. He later accepts Tonooka's plan to leverage his hardcore "Taruchi" streaming identity to promote the play—breaking his strict separation of private and professional life. Supported by his troupe, this signifies his shift toward integrating identities and trusting others with his vulnerabilities.
Relationships at Mankai reflect his complexity: Sakuya Sakuma admires him uncritically, especially his gaming skills, and Itaru relies on him for gacha luck. Masumi Usui sees through his professional facade, criticizing his habits, though Itaru respects his honesty. Tsuzuru Minagi often handles Itaru's neglected responsibilities, leading to exasperation. Citron finds his dual personas fascinating. Chikage Utsuki shares a formal, boundary-conscious dynamic due to their workplace connection, eventually becoming his roommate in Room 103. Online, Itaru maintains a noted gaming rivalry with Banri Settsu, one of the few capable of challenging him competitively.
For acting roles, like a dollmaker, he meticulously researches—attending events, studying magazines, and consulting artisans about their creative process and emotional attachment, bridging gaming interests by examining video game character dolls alongside props. Additional details include his need for glasses (though he wears contacts), his achievement in completing an "impossible" dungeon RPG during student days, and viewing Mankai as a place where he can authentically be himself.
Childhood isolation due to poor athleticism led to mockery, driving him to seek solace in the *Knights of the Round* series. He deeply identified with Lancelot, even imagining an invisible fairy companion named Gwen. His sister later suggested adopting a socially acceptable facade in high school, gaining popularity but forcing him to hide his gaming passion. He befriended fellow secret fan Tonooka, only for their bond to shatter when Tonooka betrayed his trust by exposing his secrets, reinforcing Itaru's tendency to isolate himself. His professional success primarily funds his gaming hobby, motivating his search for affordable housing. This quest led him to join the Mankai Company after director Izumi Tachibana offered a private room for undisturbed gaming, where he now streams as the popular alias "Taruchi."
During Mankai's staging of *Knights of the Round IV*, Itaru confronts his past when cast as Lancelot and Tonooka, now promoting the game series, reenters his life. Initially cold, Itaru blames himself after the play's creator criticizes their performance. He later accepts Tonooka's plan to leverage his hardcore "Taruchi" streaming identity to promote the play—breaking his strict separation of private and professional life. Supported by his troupe, this signifies his shift toward integrating identities and trusting others with his vulnerabilities.
Relationships at Mankai reflect his complexity: Sakuya Sakuma admires him uncritically, especially his gaming skills, and Itaru relies on him for gacha luck. Masumi Usui sees through his professional facade, criticizing his habits, though Itaru respects his honesty. Tsuzuru Minagi often handles Itaru's neglected responsibilities, leading to exasperation. Citron finds his dual personas fascinating. Chikage Utsuki shares a formal, boundary-conscious dynamic due to their workplace connection, eventually becoming his roommate in Room 103. Online, Itaru maintains a noted gaming rivalry with Banri Settsu, one of the few capable of challenging him competitively.
For acting roles, like a dollmaker, he meticulously researches—attending events, studying magazines, and consulting artisans about their creative process and emotional attachment, bridging gaming interests by examining video game character dolls alongside props. Additional details include his need for glasses (though he wears contacts), his achievement in completing an "impossible" dungeon RPG during student days, and viewing Mankai as a place where he can authentically be himself.