Aoi Akane serves as the student council vice president in his first year at Kamome Academy. He shares a deep history with childhood friend Akane Aoi, having grown up in adjacent apartments where they studied and played together. Akane consistently protected Aoi from bullies during grade school, forging a lifelong devotion. His romantic feelings for her remain unreciprocated. Akane maintains a human identity while secretly acting as the Guardian of the Present, one of the Three Clock Keepers governing time at the academy. Tricked into this role on his first day of high school, he made a contract to save Aoi from a near-fatal accident involving a collapsing truck window. This pact granted him a golden pocket watch and supernatural abilities, binding him until graduation. As a Clock Keeper, he can stop time up to three times daily for five minutes each instance, exclusively within school grounds. A clock face manifests over affected targets, and he can freeze multiple entities simultaneously. Using his powers triggers a transformation: his attire shifts to a black shirt, white vest, dark blue cloak, and an owl-like mask, while his hair grows a long ponytail secured by a golden ornament. This form enhances his strength, particularly during emotional distress. Despite his supernatural role, Akane harbors intense hatred toward supernaturals, believing they devalue human life. To preserve a normal existence, he wears enchanted glasses provided by student council president Teru Minamoto. These suppress his spiritual energy, making him appear fully human and enabling academic and athletic excellence. However, they also impair his ability to perceive supernaturals, leaving him vulnerable to supernatural threats. The enchantment is imperfect, as residual spiritual power remains detectable by entities like Hanako. Akane's personality centers obsessively on Aoi. He displays cynicism and sarcasm toward others but exhibits unwavering protectiveness toward her, often secretly observing her using his time-stopping ability. His rationality frequently succumbs to emotions concerning her safety, leading to impulsive actions. This dynamic intensifies when Aoi collaborates with No.6 (Shinigami-sama), resulting in Akane sustaining a severe abdominal injury from a giant centipede under her control during a confrontation. Despite this, he prioritizes her well-being, lying about hating her to shield her from guilt while privately affirming his love. A pivotal moment occurs when Akane confronts Aoi about her "true self"—a cynical, isolated persona concealed behind a cheerful facade. He reveals recognizing this aspect since childhood and loving her unconditionally. This admission follows a physical altercation where he briefly chokes her out of frustration over her self-deception, highlighting his internal conflict between devotion and disdain for her emotional barriers. His abilities include wielding a nail-studded bat for physical defense and leveraging his Clock Keeper strength to damage objects like walls or teacups when agitated. After his Chapter 64 injury, Aoi bandages him using fabric from her kannagi attire, leaving a visible wound in his supernatural form. His pocket watch remains his primary tool, though its power is nullified against Mirai, the Keeper of the Future. Trivia notes include his academic excellence (ranking first or second in exams), preference for raspberry pie, and habit of collecting books featuring characters named "Aoi." He avoids snowy weather due to discomfort with wet shoes and exhibits anxiety during thunderstorms, reflecting deeper apprehensions linked to Aoi's safety.