TV-Series
Description
Atsushi Sendo, often called by his nickname Akkun, is a childhood friend of Takemichi Hanagaki and the recognized leader of their small group of friends from Mizo Middle School, who collectively refer to themselves as the "Mizo Middle Five". He is a student of average height with a distinctive appearance, most notably his mid-dark pompadour hairstyle which he decorates with several hair clips.
As a leader, Atsushi projects strong confidence and demonstrates a deep sense of responsibility and care for his friends, showing particular protectiveness toward Takuya Yamamoto, whom he knows is not skilled at fighting. His loyalty and willingness to protect those close to him can escalate to extreme measures; when he and his friends are forced into a brutal cycle of underground fights and slavery by upperclassmen from the Tokyo Manji Gang, he becomes prepared to use lethal violence, including killing his oppressor Masataka Kiyomasa, as he sees no other way to free his group. Despite his courage and determination, his resolve can be fragile. He is subjected to severe manipulation by the antagonist Tetta Kisaki across multiple timelines, and he admits to fearing Kisaki and feeling unable to do anything but follow his orders. This internal conflict leads him to a state of deep despair in some futures where he can no longer bear taking orders, driving him to attempt or commit suicide.
In the context of the Tenjiku Arc, Atsushi's role becomes more prominent as a committed member of the Tokyo Manji Gang's First Division under the leadership of Takashi Mitsuya. Before the decisive conflict against the Tenjiku gang, he provides crucial moral support by stating that Takemichi is the only one who never runs away, a sentiment that becomes a source of inspiration for the other gang members as they prepare for battle. During the large-scale brawl against the Tenjiku gang, which consists of over four hundred members, Atsushi participates directly in the fighting. His notable combat achievement in this arc is winning a one-on-one fight against Shion Madarame, a member of the Tenjiku-affiliated S62 Generation, although he is later overwhelmed by the more formidable fighter, Shuji Hanma.
Beyond his immediate friend group, Atsushi's most significant relationship is with Takemichi. They share a deep bond as friends who dream of becoming top delinquents, and Atsushi often confides in Takemichi about his worries regarding their other friends. He becomes a steadfast supporter of Takemichi's efforts and respects him as both a friend and a captain. His other key relationships include his original friend group members: Makoto Suzuki, Takuya Yamamoto, and Kazushi Yamagishi, with whom he maintains a close bond, and in the final timeline, he and all his friends serve in the same Fourth Division of the new Tokyo Manji Gang under the captaincy of Kazutora Hanemiya.
Atsushi's character develops significantly across different timelines, largely influenced by Takemichi's time-leaping actions. In a future altered by Takemichi, he is able to escape a life of crime and pursue his long-held dream of becoming a hairstylist, even promising to make Takemichi his first customer. However, this dream is tragically exploited by Kisaki, who takes Atsushi's family hostage to force him into becoming the direct killer of Hinata Tachibana by driving a truck into her car. In his best timeline, he escapes the cycle of violence entirely, becomes a professional hairstylist, and starts a family. By the final timeline, he has matured into the reliable vice-captain of the Fourth Division, a position that reflects his growth from a frightened teenager into a more confident and stable individual.
In terms of abilities, Atsushi is a competent street-level fighter, though his skills are inconsistent and he can sometimes be overwhelmed by stronger opponents. His confidence in a fight grows over time; he initially resorts to using a knife when feeling insecure, but he eventually declares that he will no longer rely on such cowardly methods, as demonstrated in his fight against Shion Madarame. His greatest assets are his leadership authority over his own group, his high level of durability and endurance to take significant amounts of punishment and keep fighting, and his unwavering determination to protect his friends.
As a leader, Atsushi projects strong confidence and demonstrates a deep sense of responsibility and care for his friends, showing particular protectiveness toward Takuya Yamamoto, whom he knows is not skilled at fighting. His loyalty and willingness to protect those close to him can escalate to extreme measures; when he and his friends are forced into a brutal cycle of underground fights and slavery by upperclassmen from the Tokyo Manji Gang, he becomes prepared to use lethal violence, including killing his oppressor Masataka Kiyomasa, as he sees no other way to free his group. Despite his courage and determination, his resolve can be fragile. He is subjected to severe manipulation by the antagonist Tetta Kisaki across multiple timelines, and he admits to fearing Kisaki and feeling unable to do anything but follow his orders. This internal conflict leads him to a state of deep despair in some futures where he can no longer bear taking orders, driving him to attempt or commit suicide.
In the context of the Tenjiku Arc, Atsushi's role becomes more prominent as a committed member of the Tokyo Manji Gang's First Division under the leadership of Takashi Mitsuya. Before the decisive conflict against the Tenjiku gang, he provides crucial moral support by stating that Takemichi is the only one who never runs away, a sentiment that becomes a source of inspiration for the other gang members as they prepare for battle. During the large-scale brawl against the Tenjiku gang, which consists of over four hundred members, Atsushi participates directly in the fighting. His notable combat achievement in this arc is winning a one-on-one fight against Shion Madarame, a member of the Tenjiku-affiliated S62 Generation, although he is later overwhelmed by the more formidable fighter, Shuji Hanma.
Beyond his immediate friend group, Atsushi's most significant relationship is with Takemichi. They share a deep bond as friends who dream of becoming top delinquents, and Atsushi often confides in Takemichi about his worries regarding their other friends. He becomes a steadfast supporter of Takemichi's efforts and respects him as both a friend and a captain. His other key relationships include his original friend group members: Makoto Suzuki, Takuya Yamamoto, and Kazushi Yamagishi, with whom he maintains a close bond, and in the final timeline, he and all his friends serve in the same Fourth Division of the new Tokyo Manji Gang under the captaincy of Kazutora Hanemiya.
Atsushi's character develops significantly across different timelines, largely influenced by Takemichi's time-leaping actions. In a future altered by Takemichi, he is able to escape a life of crime and pursue his long-held dream of becoming a hairstylist, even promising to make Takemichi his first customer. However, this dream is tragically exploited by Kisaki, who takes Atsushi's family hostage to force him into becoming the direct killer of Hinata Tachibana by driving a truck into her car. In his best timeline, he escapes the cycle of violence entirely, becomes a professional hairstylist, and starts a family. By the final timeline, he has matured into the reliable vice-captain of the Fourth Division, a position that reflects his growth from a frightened teenager into a more confident and stable individual.
In terms of abilities, Atsushi is a competent street-level fighter, though his skills are inconsistent and he can sometimes be overwhelmed by stronger opponents. His confidence in a fight grows over time; he initially resorts to using a knife when feeling insecure, but he eventually declares that he will no longer rely on such cowardly methods, as demonstrated in his fight against Shion Madarame. His greatest assets are his leadership authority over his own group, his high level of durability and endurance to take significant amounts of punishment and keep fighting, and his unwavering determination to protect his friends.