Riko, a traveling zoologist, journeys to Numazu to study disruptions in local wildlife, transitioning from her manga role as an animal caretaker to an anime researcher. Her composed, introverted nature masks an intense fixation on unfamiliar species, ignited by encounters with entities like the talking wolf Lailaps or the fairy Ruby. This fervor traces back to a childhood marked by constant relocation, where forming human connections proved fleeting. A pivotal bond with a stray dog during her youth cemented her preference for animal companionship, shaping her adult dedication to zoological inquiry.

Rooted in a nomadic upbringing, she initially resists forging lasting relationships, rebuffing social overtures even as camaraderie with Yohane and others grows. Yet collaborative efforts to neutralize supernatural threats—such as miasma-corrupted creatures—force her to rely on communal ties, eroding her self-imposed isolation. These crises position her expertise as vital, intertwining her fate with Numazu’s mystical ecology.

Her arc pivots on a subtle transition from detachment to tentative community engagement, though zoology remains her anchor. Unlike her original counterpart, who conquered cynophobia to champion animal welfare, this iteration lacks such fear, instead embodying a socially wary scholar navigating the tension between solitary pursuit and collective responsibility within a world where magic and nature collide.