Akane Kanda, son of celebrated novelist Kousui Kanda, accompanies his father on a trip to ease his depression after his mother’s death. With short light-brown hair, blue eyes, a November 23 birthday, and blood type AB, Akane initially presents as sullen and guarded, rejecting condolences, avoiding school, and bristling at social interactions. A fever during the journey forces him and his father to stay at an inn, where he meets a child who also lost a parent. This encounter sparks a tentative shift in Akane’s demeanor. He tentatively opens up, requesting a cake tied to memories of his mother. When none is available, the inn crafts a substitute dessert resembling hot spring water, which he accepts with quiet gratitude. Observing others’ resilience and confronting his grief, he sheds his hostility, embracing gradual emotional healing.

Akane has two younger brothers, absent from official portrayals. His name carries symbolic weight: “Akane” may evoke deep red dye in kanji, while his surname, Kanda, blends “deity” and “field.” His journey highlights grief’s transformation through shared vulnerability and community, culminating in his father’s glowing review of the inn—a gesture that elevates the establishment’s status and mirrors Akane’s own path toward renewal.