TV-Series
Description
Raidō Matsuboshi is a high school student defined by his perpetually stoic expression, which caused social difficulties in junior high and motivated his goal to make 100 friends. He has short black hair, brown eyes, and a tall frame, typically wearing his school uniform: a white shirt, black pants, black belt, and white sneakers. Despite his calm exterior, vivid emotions churn internally alongside a highly imaginative thought process. He frequently constructs elaborate, illogical explanations for everyday situations, especially those involving his classmate Reina Aharen, stemming from a desire to prepare for any outcome—a tendency he recognizes as a flaw.
Their connection began in a sandbox during childhood, where he mistook Reina for a boy named Rei, admired her sand-building, and promised to play again the next day, unaware she was moving away. He later forgot this incident. Reunited as adjacent classmates in high school, his initial attempts to communicate failed due to her extremely soft voice, which he misinterpreted as disinterest. Their dynamic shifted when she approached him to share a textbook, revealing her vocal limitation. After a day marked by her extreme physical closeness followed by sudden distance, he reconnected by moving his desk against hers, addressing her fear of overstepping and marking the start of their friendship.
Raidō consistently supports Reina, participating in diverse activities from studying and board games to unconventional interactions like communicating solely through rap. His willingness to bridge communication gaps and adapt to her behaviors fosters not only their deepening bond but also friendships with others like Mitsuki Ōshiro (Reina's initially suspicious childhood friend), Ishikawa, Hanako Satō, and later Riku Tamanaha. His calm demeanor helps diffuse Mitsuki's initial hostility, rooted in her misconception that he manipulated Reina. Their friendship solidifies after he defeats Mitsuki in a reversi game she initiated to force him away from Reina, during which he boldly declares his feelings for her.
His romantic relationship with Reina develops gradually. On a camping trip, he confesses, prompting her impulsive kiss. Though both act differently afterward, their status remains ambiguous until Mitsuki's challenge. Faced with losing contact with Reina if defeated, Raidō finds renewed determination, wins the reversi match, and openly reaffirms his love; Reina reciprocates. As a couple, their interactions retain eccentricity but become more openly affectionate and supportive, sharing insecurities about future plans and challenges. Raidō remains vocal about his feelings, casually complimenting her or expressing affection, often causing her embarrassment.
Raidō overcomes social anxiety linked to his expressionless face, becoming proactive in building connections beyond Reina and achieving his friendship goal. A key trait is his extensive, often esoteric knowledge across subjects like economics, science, law, history, and sports, frequently fueling his imaginative delusions; this knowledge occasionally proves practical, like identifying edible plants while camping. He also develops an ability to discern dropped coin denominations by sound, honed by attuning to Reina's faint voice.
Notable traits include ending sentences with "じゃね？" (ja ne?, "innit?"), a competitive streak seen in frequent (usually unsuccessful) attempts to surpass Reina in games and sports, and a collection of memorabilia gifted by her, including figurines and a life-size model. He shares a birthday with Reina. His full given name, "Shōta," was revealed later in the manga.
Future depictions show Raidō becoming a successful writer who marries Reina. They have a daughter and eventually a grandchild. In a far-future scenario, he participates in a Mars expedition while writing a book based on their high school experiences. Despite retaining a youthful appearance for many years, he eventually shows signs of aging. The life-size model created by Reina during high school remains his possession. The manga's conclusion reveals the main story is Reina recounting their past from her diary to their granddaughter.
Their connection began in a sandbox during childhood, where he mistook Reina for a boy named Rei, admired her sand-building, and promised to play again the next day, unaware she was moving away. He later forgot this incident. Reunited as adjacent classmates in high school, his initial attempts to communicate failed due to her extremely soft voice, which he misinterpreted as disinterest. Their dynamic shifted when she approached him to share a textbook, revealing her vocal limitation. After a day marked by her extreme physical closeness followed by sudden distance, he reconnected by moving his desk against hers, addressing her fear of overstepping and marking the start of their friendship.
Raidō consistently supports Reina, participating in diverse activities from studying and board games to unconventional interactions like communicating solely through rap. His willingness to bridge communication gaps and adapt to her behaviors fosters not only their deepening bond but also friendships with others like Mitsuki Ōshiro (Reina's initially suspicious childhood friend), Ishikawa, Hanako Satō, and later Riku Tamanaha. His calm demeanor helps diffuse Mitsuki's initial hostility, rooted in her misconception that he manipulated Reina. Their friendship solidifies after he defeats Mitsuki in a reversi game she initiated to force him away from Reina, during which he boldly declares his feelings for her.
His romantic relationship with Reina develops gradually. On a camping trip, he confesses, prompting her impulsive kiss. Though both act differently afterward, their status remains ambiguous until Mitsuki's challenge. Faced with losing contact with Reina if defeated, Raidō finds renewed determination, wins the reversi match, and openly reaffirms his love; Reina reciprocates. As a couple, their interactions retain eccentricity but become more openly affectionate and supportive, sharing insecurities about future plans and challenges. Raidō remains vocal about his feelings, casually complimenting her or expressing affection, often causing her embarrassment.
Raidō overcomes social anxiety linked to his expressionless face, becoming proactive in building connections beyond Reina and achieving his friendship goal. A key trait is his extensive, often esoteric knowledge across subjects like economics, science, law, history, and sports, frequently fueling his imaginative delusions; this knowledge occasionally proves practical, like identifying edible plants while camping. He also develops an ability to discern dropped coin denominations by sound, honed by attuning to Reina's faint voice.
Notable traits include ending sentences with "じゃね？" (ja ne?, "innit?"), a competitive streak seen in frequent (usually unsuccessful) attempts to surpass Reina in games and sports, and a collection of memorabilia gifted by her, including figurines and a life-size model. He shares a birthday with Reina. His full given name, "Shōta," was revealed later in the manga.
Future depictions show Raidō becoming a successful writer who marries Reina. They have a daughter and eventually a grandchild. In a far-future scenario, he participates in a Mars expedition while writing a book based on their high school experiences. Despite retaining a youthful appearance for many years, he eventually shows signs of aging. The life-size model created by Reina during high school remains his possession. The manga's conclusion reveals the main story is Reina recounting their past from her diary to their granddaughter.