OVA
Description
Arata Tsuruki is a pivotal supporting character who initially presents himself as a successful and amiable negotiator for the Tsuruki Trading Company. His true identity, however, is Arata Usuba, the only son and heir of the prestigious Usuba family. He is the maternal cousin of the protagonist, Miyo Saimori, being the child of the sister of Miyo's mother, Sumi. At twenty-four years old, Arata is a tall, slender young man with a neat and sophisticated appearance, characterized by his mildly wavy chestnut-colored hair and dark green eyes. In the anime adaptation, he is distinguished by the brown-rimmed glasses he wears, which complement his polished, businesslike attire.
Behind his impeccably crafted exterior lies a deeply complex and hollow interior. Arata is acutely aware that his public persona—the kind, handsome, and effortlessly competent businessman—is merely an illusion, a façade he maintains to hide an inner emptiness. He views the Usuba estate as a reflection of himself: a beautifully maintained exterior with nothing of value inside. This feeling of apathy and being an "empty vessel" stems from his upbringing and the decline of the Usuba family, which left him without a personal raison d'être. He fulfills his duties as a negotiator with skill and a disarming, guileless smile that makes it impossible for others to discern his true thoughts, but this only deepens the chasm between his external success and internal desolation.
Arata's primary motivation becomes clear when the hidden abilities within Miyo begin to manifest. The Usuba family possesses powerful Gifts that specialize in affecting the minds of other Gift-users, and their ancient code dictates that if a user of the rare Dream-Sight ability should appear, the entire family must protect and support her. Miyo inherits this potent and dangerous Dream-Sight from her mother, a Gift that allows her to manipulate dreams and perceive the minds of others. For Arata, who has spent his life longing for a mission of his own, the duty to protect Miyo provides him with a purpose he has always craved. Acting on orders from the Emperor, who fears the power imbalance Miyo's marriage to the powerful Kiyoka Kudou would create, Arata steps in to separate the couple and bring Miyo under the Usuba family's control.
In his role within the story, Arata first appears as a negotiator for the Ministry of the Imperial Household, but his true purpose is to claim Miyo for his family. He takes her to the Usuba residence, revealing her true lineage and the nature of her sealed powers. When Kiyoka refuses to abandon her, Arata challenges him to a duel, showcasing the true might of the Usuba bloodline. His power over illusions, or Hallucikinesis, is so profound that he can create dozens of independently moving phantoms of himself, overwhelming Kiyoka, who is hailed as one of the strongest Gift-users of his generation. This victory solidifies his initial role as a formidable antagonist who stands between Miyo and her happiness.
His key relationships are primarily defined by duty and blood. As Miyo's cousin, he is bound to her by family obligation, but his initial feelings toward her are impersonal, valuing her primarily for the powerful Gift she possesses. His relationship with Kiyoka is adversarial, born from conflicting goals, though it is rooted in a mutual desire to protect Miyo. His most significant relationship is with his grandfather, Yoshirou Usuba, who raised and trained him in the family's strict traditions, shaping the dutiful but emotionally hollow man he becomes.
Arata undergoes significant development as he respects Miyo's agency. Despite his mission to bring her back to the Usuba family and the implication that she might be required to continue the bloodline, he ultimately defers to her wishes when he sees her genuine desire to remain with Kiyoka. He steps back from his original objective and transforms into a crucial ally, becoming Miyo's protector and mentor. In this new capacity, he helps her learn to understand and control her formidable Dream-Sight, supporting her pursuit of happiness on her own terms rather than the one dictated by his family.
Arata's notable abilities stem from his Usuba lineage, specializing in mental and spiritual phenomena rather than combatting physical monsters. His primary Gift is Hallucikinesis, the power to create and manipulate hyper-realistic illusions. This ability is potent enough to deceive all senses, making opponents distrust their own perception. He can create dozens of independent clones of himself or replicate others, a skill that proved decisive in his duel against Kiyoka. Beyond illusions, he demonstrates proficiency in other techniques, including the ability to generate powerful repulsive barriers and create shikigami-like familiars for surveillance and communication. These powers, combined with his sharp intellect and skills as a negotiator, make him one of the most capable and enigmatic figures in the series.
Behind his impeccably crafted exterior lies a deeply complex and hollow interior. Arata is acutely aware that his public persona—the kind, handsome, and effortlessly competent businessman—is merely an illusion, a façade he maintains to hide an inner emptiness. He views the Usuba estate as a reflection of himself: a beautifully maintained exterior with nothing of value inside. This feeling of apathy and being an "empty vessel" stems from his upbringing and the decline of the Usuba family, which left him without a personal raison d'être. He fulfills his duties as a negotiator with skill and a disarming, guileless smile that makes it impossible for others to discern his true thoughts, but this only deepens the chasm between his external success and internal desolation.
Arata's primary motivation becomes clear when the hidden abilities within Miyo begin to manifest. The Usuba family possesses powerful Gifts that specialize in affecting the minds of other Gift-users, and their ancient code dictates that if a user of the rare Dream-Sight ability should appear, the entire family must protect and support her. Miyo inherits this potent and dangerous Dream-Sight from her mother, a Gift that allows her to manipulate dreams and perceive the minds of others. For Arata, who has spent his life longing for a mission of his own, the duty to protect Miyo provides him with a purpose he has always craved. Acting on orders from the Emperor, who fears the power imbalance Miyo's marriage to the powerful Kiyoka Kudou would create, Arata steps in to separate the couple and bring Miyo under the Usuba family's control.
In his role within the story, Arata first appears as a negotiator for the Ministry of the Imperial Household, but his true purpose is to claim Miyo for his family. He takes her to the Usuba residence, revealing her true lineage and the nature of her sealed powers. When Kiyoka refuses to abandon her, Arata challenges him to a duel, showcasing the true might of the Usuba bloodline. His power over illusions, or Hallucikinesis, is so profound that he can create dozens of independently moving phantoms of himself, overwhelming Kiyoka, who is hailed as one of the strongest Gift-users of his generation. This victory solidifies his initial role as a formidable antagonist who stands between Miyo and her happiness.
His key relationships are primarily defined by duty and blood. As Miyo's cousin, he is bound to her by family obligation, but his initial feelings toward her are impersonal, valuing her primarily for the powerful Gift she possesses. His relationship with Kiyoka is adversarial, born from conflicting goals, though it is rooted in a mutual desire to protect Miyo. His most significant relationship is with his grandfather, Yoshirou Usuba, who raised and trained him in the family's strict traditions, shaping the dutiful but emotionally hollow man he becomes.
Arata undergoes significant development as he respects Miyo's agency. Despite his mission to bring her back to the Usuba family and the implication that she might be required to continue the bloodline, he ultimately defers to her wishes when he sees her genuine desire to remain with Kiyoka. He steps back from his original objective and transforms into a crucial ally, becoming Miyo's protector and mentor. In this new capacity, he helps her learn to understand and control her formidable Dream-Sight, supporting her pursuit of happiness on her own terms rather than the one dictated by his family.
Arata's notable abilities stem from his Usuba lineage, specializing in mental and spiritual phenomena rather than combatting physical monsters. His primary Gift is Hallucikinesis, the power to create and manipulate hyper-realistic illusions. This ability is potent enough to deceive all senses, making opponents distrust their own perception. He can create dozens of independent clones of himself or replicate others, a skill that proved decisive in his duel against Kiyoka. Beyond illusions, he demonstrates proficiency in other techniques, including the ability to generate powerful repulsive barriers and create shikigami-like familiars for surveillance and communication. These powers, combined with his sharp intellect and skills as a negotiator, make him one of the most capable and enigmatic figures in the series.