TV-Series
Description
Ryō Atsumi is an eighteen-year-old girl living in poverty with her three younger brothers: Ryotaro, Keita, and Yamato. She serves as the family's primary breadwinner due to their abusive, alcoholic father who neglects his children and spends their money on alcohol. To support her siblings, she resorts to stealing, including pickpocketing and burglary, enduring physical abuse from her father when she refuses to fund his habits. A traumatic incident occurs when her father attempts to prostitute her to a stranger; her brother Ryotaro intervenes, fighting off the man and begging her not to sacrifice herself. This event solidifies her vow to protect Ryotaro and her other brothers.
Initially, Ryō displays a brash, manipulative, and delinquent personality, using teasing and provocation as defenses. She targets Tamahiko Shima, a wealthy exiled heir, stealing his wallet and a book gifted by Yuzuki Tachibana. Confronted, she blackmails Tamahiko into tutoring her brothers in exchange for returning Yuzuki's bookmark. Her resentment toward Yuzuki stems from envy of Yuzuki's apparent happiness despite being sold into servitude, leading Ryō to falsely claim an affair with Tamahiko and destroy the bookmark to create conflict between them.
Her character evolves through interactions with Tamahiko and Yuzuki. After Yuzuki entrusts Tamahiko to Ryō's care during a trip and expresses a desire to view Ryō as an older sister, Ryō is moved to tears and apologizes for her past behavior. She gradually opens up, shedding her delinquent facade to reveal a kind, thoughtful nature. She assists during crises, joining Tamahiko to search for Yuzuki and Ryotaro after the Great Kantō Earthquake, and later helps Yuzuki with household tasks like spring cleaning and cooking. Ryō acknowledges Tamahiko as a true friend, though she develops unrequited feelings for him, which she suppresses out of respect for his relationship with Yuzuki.
Ryō's story concludes with her accepting a marriage proposal from Ryotaro's employer in Tokyo, whom she met during the earthquake aftermath. She notes his similarity to Tamahiko and his good treatment of her. A year later, married and pregnant, she attends Tamahiko and Yuzuki's wedding. In the sequel set years later, she lives in Tokyo with her husband and children, maintaining contact with her brothers and occasionally visiting the main characters.
Initially, Ryō displays a brash, manipulative, and delinquent personality, using teasing and provocation as defenses. She targets Tamahiko Shima, a wealthy exiled heir, stealing his wallet and a book gifted by Yuzuki Tachibana. Confronted, she blackmails Tamahiko into tutoring her brothers in exchange for returning Yuzuki's bookmark. Her resentment toward Yuzuki stems from envy of Yuzuki's apparent happiness despite being sold into servitude, leading Ryō to falsely claim an affair with Tamahiko and destroy the bookmark to create conflict between them.
Her character evolves through interactions with Tamahiko and Yuzuki. After Yuzuki entrusts Tamahiko to Ryō's care during a trip and expresses a desire to view Ryō as an older sister, Ryō is moved to tears and apologizes for her past behavior. She gradually opens up, shedding her delinquent facade to reveal a kind, thoughtful nature. She assists during crises, joining Tamahiko to search for Yuzuki and Ryotaro after the Great Kantō Earthquake, and later helps Yuzuki with household tasks like spring cleaning and cooking. Ryō acknowledges Tamahiko as a true friend, though she develops unrequited feelings for him, which she suppresses out of respect for his relationship with Yuzuki.
Ryō's story concludes with her accepting a marriage proposal from Ryotaro's employer in Tokyo, whom she met during the earthquake aftermath. She notes his similarity to Tamahiko and his good treatment of her. A year later, married and pregnant, she attends Tamahiko and Yuzuki's wedding. In the sequel set years later, she lives in Tokyo with her husband and children, maintaining contact with her brothers and occasionally visiting the main characters.