Makio Tanihara shared junior high with Izumi Miyamura and Kouichi Shindou. There, he bullied Miyamura, infamously framing him for the deaths of school rabbits that perished due to Makio's own neglect over summer break. This act worsened Miyamura's isolation. Makio's hostility stemmed partly from a desire for peer acceptance and a misguided effort to shield Shindou from potential stigma by distancing him from Miyamura. Even as Shindou befriended Miyamura, Makio and his group persisted in their antagonism. Physically, Makio stands 168 cm tall with short blue or blue-green hair and blue eyes. His junior high appearance featured slightly longer hair and less sharp eyes than in high school. Personality-wise, he often presents a crude, foul-mouthed exterior but harbors a tendency for negative imagination and anxiety. In uncomfortable situations, he becomes quiet and internalizes his thoughts. He exhibits a notable fear of girls, potentially linked to his older brother Youji Tanihara's frequent girlfriends and encounters with strong personalities like Kyouko Hori. Re-encountering Miyamura in high school, Makio resumed verbal harassment. This provoked Hori to physically intervene, resulting in Makio developing a lasting fear of her. Seen with bruises afterward, Shindou questioned why Makio continued engaging Miyamura despite claiming dislike. A pivotal moment arrived when Makio experienced a dream involving Miyamura that forced him to confront his past bullying and wrongful actions. This prompted him to seek Miyamura's phone number to reconnect and apologize. Unable to reach Miyamura due to a broken phone, Makio visited the bakery where Miyamura worked. Their interaction was strained; Makio ordered cheesecake, received a recommendation for fruit tarts, and left. He felt relief learning the unanswered calls stemmed from technical issues, not rejection. This encounter marked the start of his remorseful reflection, realizing he never held a genuine reason to dislike Miyamura. Subsequently, Makio began spending time with Miyamura and Shindou, gradually forming an uneasy friendship and participating in activities to heal past conflicts. Makio's relationships reflect this development. With Miyamura, he transitioned from bully to tentative friend, initially resistant due to misunderstandings. With Shindou, their junior high friendship endured despite tensions over Shindou's bond with Miyamura; in high school, Makio often acts as the straight-man and receives tutoring from Shindou. He is linked to Yuuna Okuyama, who treats him like an older brother despite his claimed discomfort with children. He displays polite speech when intimidated, particularly around Hori. Regarding his brother Youji, Makio frequently badmouths him as a useless NEET, viewing him as unreliable due to borrowing money and womanizing. Notable quirks include consistent bad luck at fast-food restaurants, like always waiting when holding number 5 at McDonald's, and a fifth-place finish in a popularity contest. His journey traces an arc from insecurity-driven bullying toward seeking redemption and forming genuine connections.