OVA
Description
Ryunosuke Natsume is the only child of inventor Kyusaku Natsume and Akiko Natsume, CEO of Mishima Heavy Industries. Caught in the middle of his parents' separation and their bitter conflict, he frequently becomes the target of Akiko's attempts to reclaim him from Kyusaku's custody. During one escape from Mishima agents, Ryunosuke finds a critically injured cat in an alley. After the cat dies following another attack, Kyusaku implants its brain into an advanced military android body, creating Nuku Nuku to serve as Ryunosuke's protector and surrogate sister.
Despite his family's chaotic dynamics, Ryunosuke maintains an ordinary life as an elementary student alongside his close friend Yoshimi Hagiwara. He acts as a grounding presence, often mediating between his combative parents. While he perceives their confrontations as routine, he consistently expresses a desire for family reconciliation. His relationship with Nuku Nuku is central to his existence; he trusts her implicitly as his guardian and views her as integral to their family. Though occasionally frustrated by her feline-influenced behavior, he values their bond unconditionally.
In the *DASH!* continuity, Ryunosuke is fourteen. He discovers an amnesiac young woman, Atsuko Higuchi (later revealed as Nuku Nuku), rescuing a kitten and brings her home. Unaware she is a fugitive android prototype created by Professor Higuchi, he develops romantic feelings for her, contrasting with earlier sibling-like relationships. Throughout this series, he remains oblivious to her dual identity as "Super Dynamite Girl," her tactical combat mode activated to protect life. His emotional attachment deepens as he supports her through memory fragments and identity crises, leading to the revelation of her true nature near the end.
Ryunosuke's protective instincts extend beyond family. In *DASH!*, he intervenes to help Yuko, an escapee from Mishima's esper experiments with a terminal prognosis, demonstrating his compassionate stubbornness in refusing to accept her fate, though his memories of her are later erased. He similarly assists Nuku Nuku in caring for orphaned kittens, reflecting his enduring kindness toward animals, consistent with his original rescue of the cat that became Nuku Nuku.
Across all adaptations, Ryunosuke adapts to extraordinary circumstances with emotional resilience. Upon learning the truth of Nuku Nuku's android nature, he accepts it without hesitation, prioritizing their familial connection over biological or technological distinctions. His character arc emphasizes loyalty and an unwavering commitment to family cohesion amidst persistent external threats from Mishima Industries.
Despite his family's chaotic dynamics, Ryunosuke maintains an ordinary life as an elementary student alongside his close friend Yoshimi Hagiwara. He acts as a grounding presence, often mediating between his combative parents. While he perceives their confrontations as routine, he consistently expresses a desire for family reconciliation. His relationship with Nuku Nuku is central to his existence; he trusts her implicitly as his guardian and views her as integral to their family. Though occasionally frustrated by her feline-influenced behavior, he values their bond unconditionally.
In the *DASH!* continuity, Ryunosuke is fourteen. He discovers an amnesiac young woman, Atsuko Higuchi (later revealed as Nuku Nuku), rescuing a kitten and brings her home. Unaware she is a fugitive android prototype created by Professor Higuchi, he develops romantic feelings for her, contrasting with earlier sibling-like relationships. Throughout this series, he remains oblivious to her dual identity as "Super Dynamite Girl," her tactical combat mode activated to protect life. His emotional attachment deepens as he supports her through memory fragments and identity crises, leading to the revelation of her true nature near the end.
Ryunosuke's protective instincts extend beyond family. In *DASH!*, he intervenes to help Yuko, an escapee from Mishima's esper experiments with a terminal prognosis, demonstrating his compassionate stubbornness in refusing to accept her fate, though his memories of her are later erased. He similarly assists Nuku Nuku in caring for orphaned kittens, reflecting his enduring kindness toward animals, consistent with his original rescue of the cat that became Nuku Nuku.
Across all adaptations, Ryunosuke adapts to extraordinary circumstances with emotional resilience. Upon learning the truth of Nuku Nuku's android nature, he accepts it without hesitation, prioritizing their familial connection over biological or technological distinctions. His character arc emphasizes loyalty and an unwavering commitment to family cohesion amidst persistent external threats from Mishima Industries.