Description
Akiyuki Takehara, a high school student on Sentan Island, lives an ordinary life defined by routine and close bonds with childhood friends Haru Nishimura and Furuichi Teraoka. He resides with his mother, Fusa Takehara, and delivers lunches daily to his father, the local doctor Ryuzo Takehara.
This normalcy shatters during a terrorist attack on his school bus. While helping a pale-haired girl named Nazuna board without an armband, he distracts authorities. Upon reaching school, Nazuna triggers an explosion releasing streams of light. One pierces Akiyuki’s right arm, embedding a blue gem. After he checks on her, Nazuna touches his forehead, forming a red gem that materializes an organic mask. This instantly transforms him into a white, humanoid Xam'd creature marked by orange stripes, red eyes, and a distinctive goldfish-like head.
As the Xam'd, he instinctively protects Haru from attacking Northern Government Humanform Weapons before Nakiami, a member of the Zanbani postal airship crew, subdues him. She stabilizes his condition and takes him aboard the Zanbani, warning that without her intervention, he would petrify. Desperate to return home initially, Akiyuki resists but gradually accepts her guidance after nearly causing disaster by carelessly activating his Hiruko—the parasitic entity enabling his transformation—which attracts hostile Humanforms.
Under Nakiami’s mentorship and Madam Tenshin’s spiritual counsel, Akiyuki trains to control his Hiruko. He learns that suppressing transformation demands constant mental focus and emotional stability; stagnation or intense negative emotions accelerate petrification. His training centers on answering "What does Xam'd seek?" leading him to theorize it seeks coexistence. This period fosters humility, prompting him to apologize to Nakiami for earlier ingratitude and commit to understanding his power.
Key off-ship experiences shape his development. Learning Haru and Furuichi joined the military, he parachutes to Tsumebara Pass to find them. He encounters other Xam'd like Raigyo Tsunomata and confronts Furuichi, now hostile due to military indoctrination branding Xam'd as monsters. Later, on a mission with Nakiami, he implants Ututu Seeds into Humanforms to pacify them, though the Zanbani sustains damage and crashes temporarily.
A critical regression occurs when Akiyuki’s heart petrifies, erasing his memories and identity. Enslaved and nameless, he contemplates suicide until Haru’s intervention restores his sense of self. This ordeal deepens his comprehension of individuality and purpose, achieving full synchronization with his Hiruko. He recognizes that authentic living means embracing connections to others, fortifying his control over transformations.
After six months away, Akiyuki returns to Sentan Island with Nakiami. Reuniting with his father reveals Nazuna survived under Ryuzo’s care. Visiting his mother and Haru at a cemetery, he finds Furuichi—now transformed into a Xam'd by jealousy—holding Haru hostage. Akiyuki subdues him, and Nakiami reverts Furuichi to human form before military forces intervene.
Akiyuki’s arc culminates in accepting his dual existence. He integrates his human identity with the Xam'd nature, recognizing the Hiruko seeks life and connection, not destruction. This reconciliation allows him to protect loved ones and attain stable existence without succumbing to petrification.
This normalcy shatters during a terrorist attack on his school bus. While helping a pale-haired girl named Nazuna board without an armband, he distracts authorities. Upon reaching school, Nazuna triggers an explosion releasing streams of light. One pierces Akiyuki’s right arm, embedding a blue gem. After he checks on her, Nazuna touches his forehead, forming a red gem that materializes an organic mask. This instantly transforms him into a white, humanoid Xam'd creature marked by orange stripes, red eyes, and a distinctive goldfish-like head.
As the Xam'd, he instinctively protects Haru from attacking Northern Government Humanform Weapons before Nakiami, a member of the Zanbani postal airship crew, subdues him. She stabilizes his condition and takes him aboard the Zanbani, warning that without her intervention, he would petrify. Desperate to return home initially, Akiyuki resists but gradually accepts her guidance after nearly causing disaster by carelessly activating his Hiruko—the parasitic entity enabling his transformation—which attracts hostile Humanforms.
Under Nakiami’s mentorship and Madam Tenshin’s spiritual counsel, Akiyuki trains to control his Hiruko. He learns that suppressing transformation demands constant mental focus and emotional stability; stagnation or intense negative emotions accelerate petrification. His training centers on answering "What does Xam'd seek?" leading him to theorize it seeks coexistence. This period fosters humility, prompting him to apologize to Nakiami for earlier ingratitude and commit to understanding his power.
Key off-ship experiences shape his development. Learning Haru and Furuichi joined the military, he parachutes to Tsumebara Pass to find them. He encounters other Xam'd like Raigyo Tsunomata and confronts Furuichi, now hostile due to military indoctrination branding Xam'd as monsters. Later, on a mission with Nakiami, he implants Ututu Seeds into Humanforms to pacify them, though the Zanbani sustains damage and crashes temporarily.
A critical regression occurs when Akiyuki’s heart petrifies, erasing his memories and identity. Enslaved and nameless, he contemplates suicide until Haru’s intervention restores his sense of self. This ordeal deepens his comprehension of individuality and purpose, achieving full synchronization with his Hiruko. He recognizes that authentic living means embracing connections to others, fortifying his control over transformations.
After six months away, Akiyuki returns to Sentan Island with Nakiami. Reuniting with his father reveals Nazuna survived under Ryuzo’s care. Visiting his mother and Haru at a cemetery, he finds Furuichi—now transformed into a Xam'd by jealousy—holding Haru hostage. Akiyuki subdues him, and Nakiami reverts Furuichi to human form before military forces intervene.
Akiyuki’s arc culminates in accepting his dual existence. He integrates his human identity with the Xam'd nature, recognizing the Hiruko seeks life and connection, not destruction. This reconciliation allows him to protect loved ones and attain stable existence without succumbing to petrification.