Hotarubi is a brown-haired male and the youngest member of the Saika Ikki mercenary group. Born the emperor's illegitimate child, he faced cold treatment and confinement away from public sight. His childhood involved rigorous assassin training alongside other children for the imperial family. During this training, he met Tsurukubi, forging a pivotal relationship. Hotarubi and Tsurukubi lived constantly on the move, evading threats and developing a close bond. This connection helped Hotarubi gradually reclaim shards of his humanity lost to dehumanizing training. They later defended Saika village from invaders, with Tsurukubi fiercely prioritizing Hotarubi's survival and well-being amidst the battle's dangers. Hotarubi serves as a gunslinger for the Saika Ikki. His background as a marginalized imperial offspring and trained assassin, intertwined with his reliance on Tsurukubi, defines his narrative role. Tsurukubi remains the anchor for his development, facilitating his transition from isolation into a semblance of familial connection within their partnership.