TV-Series
Description
Harley Hartwell is the English name used in some adaptations for the character originally known as Heiji Hattori, a high school detective from the Osaka region who serves as a key rival and ally to the series' protagonist. He is approximately seventeen years old and the son of a high-ranking police official, the Hartwell family being deeply rooted in tradition and martial arts. Known widely by the nickname the Great Detective of the West, he is recognized as the counterpart to the Great Detective of the East, with their rivalry beginning before they formally met. His first appearance involved him traveling to Tokyo specifically to challenge his rival to a battle of wits, an encounter that established their initial competitive dynamic.
In terms of personality, Harley is characterized by a blunt, impulsive, and good-humored nature, often approaching even serious investigations with a grin. He is intensely proud of his Osaka heritage, speaking with a distinct regional accent that others sometimes mock, though he remains unapologetic and even boastful about his hometown's superiority. This impulsiveness can occasionally cloud his judgment, as seen when his rush to assist a potential victim disrupts a crime scene, but he justifies this by arguing that a detective's primary duty is to prevent death where possible. Despite his competitive streak, he is extremely protective of his close friends, frequently attempting to keep his childhood companion out of dangerous situations out of fear she will be hurt. One notable trait is his secret belief in good luck charms; while he often mocks his friend for her superstitions, he has been known to place genuine trust in these charms, even insisting that his rival wear his own protective charm on one occasion, an act that ultimately saved the other's life.
The character's role in the story evolves significantly from a rival to a trusted confidant. During their second encounter, while Harley was unconscious, the protagonist used him as a mouthpiece to solve a case. Upon awakening prematurely, Harley witnessed the truth and deduced that his rival had been transformed into a child, making him the first person to uncover this secret. From that point forward, he became a crucial ally, helping to conceal the protagonist's identity and collaborating on numerous cases, though he frequently slips up and calls his friend by his real name in front of others, creating ongoing comedic tension. He also assists with investigating the shadowy organization responsible for the protagonist's transformation and has even disguised himself as his friend on several occasions to maintain the secret, despite being poorly suited for the task due to his distinctive dialect.
The most significant relationship in his life is with his childhood friend, a girl he grew up with in Osaka. Their dynamic strongly parallels that of the main protagonists, characterized by constant bickering, mutual protectiveness, and unspoken romantic feelings. The two share a pair of matching lucky charms made from a chain link of old handcuffs that once trapped them together during a childhood mishap, forcing them to endure intimate situations side-by-side until they could be freed. Although he is often dense about romance and his confessions are perpetually interrupted by crimes or other distractions, it was eventually revealed that a girl he met briefly as a child, whom he considered his first love, was in fact his childhood friend herself. His friendship with the protagonist is another cornerstone of his character; he treats his smaller ally like a younger brother, and the two work together effectively, setting aside their competitiveness in favor of cooperation when a case grows serious.
Harley possesses several notable abilities that make him a formidable detective. He has an incredibly sharp intellect and keen observational skills that allow him to match wits with the protagonist, often thinking on the same level and solving complex codes and puzzles. He is also highly skilled in kendo, serving as the captain of his high school team and frequently using his expertise to disarm criminals or defend himself. For transportation, he rides a motorcycle, which he uses to navigate cases and pursue suspects. Additionally, he has demonstrated proficiency in English, allowing him to handle situations that require the language. These skills, combined with his connections to the Osaka police through his father, make him a powerful and resourceful detective in his own right.
In terms of personality, Harley is characterized by a blunt, impulsive, and good-humored nature, often approaching even serious investigations with a grin. He is intensely proud of his Osaka heritage, speaking with a distinct regional accent that others sometimes mock, though he remains unapologetic and even boastful about his hometown's superiority. This impulsiveness can occasionally cloud his judgment, as seen when his rush to assist a potential victim disrupts a crime scene, but he justifies this by arguing that a detective's primary duty is to prevent death where possible. Despite his competitive streak, he is extremely protective of his close friends, frequently attempting to keep his childhood companion out of dangerous situations out of fear she will be hurt. One notable trait is his secret belief in good luck charms; while he often mocks his friend for her superstitions, he has been known to place genuine trust in these charms, even insisting that his rival wear his own protective charm on one occasion, an act that ultimately saved the other's life.
The character's role in the story evolves significantly from a rival to a trusted confidant. During their second encounter, while Harley was unconscious, the protagonist used him as a mouthpiece to solve a case. Upon awakening prematurely, Harley witnessed the truth and deduced that his rival had been transformed into a child, making him the first person to uncover this secret. From that point forward, he became a crucial ally, helping to conceal the protagonist's identity and collaborating on numerous cases, though he frequently slips up and calls his friend by his real name in front of others, creating ongoing comedic tension. He also assists with investigating the shadowy organization responsible for the protagonist's transformation and has even disguised himself as his friend on several occasions to maintain the secret, despite being poorly suited for the task due to his distinctive dialect.
The most significant relationship in his life is with his childhood friend, a girl he grew up with in Osaka. Their dynamic strongly parallels that of the main protagonists, characterized by constant bickering, mutual protectiveness, and unspoken romantic feelings. The two share a pair of matching lucky charms made from a chain link of old handcuffs that once trapped them together during a childhood mishap, forcing them to endure intimate situations side-by-side until they could be freed. Although he is often dense about romance and his confessions are perpetually interrupted by crimes or other distractions, it was eventually revealed that a girl he met briefly as a child, whom he considered his first love, was in fact his childhood friend herself. His friendship with the protagonist is another cornerstone of his character; he treats his smaller ally like a younger brother, and the two work together effectively, setting aside their competitiveness in favor of cooperation when a case grows serious.
Harley possesses several notable abilities that make him a formidable detective. He has an incredibly sharp intellect and keen observational skills that allow him to match wits with the protagonist, often thinking on the same level and solving complex codes and puzzles. He is also highly skilled in kendo, serving as the captain of his high school team and frequently using his expertise to disarm criminals or defend himself. For transportation, he rides a motorcycle, which he uses to navigate cases and pursue suspects. Additionally, he has demonstrated proficiency in English, allowing him to handle situations that require the language. These skills, combined with his connections to the Osaka police through his father, make him a powerful and resourceful detective in his own right.