Iori Hashima, older brother to Izumi Hashima, once shared a close middle school friendship with Tomoya Aki built on mutual interests in anime, manga, and games. That bond fractured when Tomoya recognized Iori's tendency to prioritize leveraging connections for personal advancement over genuine relationships. Initially appointed by Akane Kosaka as representative of the doujin circle Rouge en Rouge, Iori showcased strong networking skills by cultivating ties with artists and directors. He pursued talented illustrator Eriri Spencer Sawamura for the circle, though she declined. After leaving Rouge en Rouge—following his fallout with Tomoya but before joining Blessing Software—he became producer and director for Blessing Software and also produced the band Icy Tail. Personality-wise, Iori appears friendly and approachable yet operates pragmatically, strategically evaluating people based on their utility to his objectives. He prioritizes commercial success and influence over personal bonds, disliking the "nice guy" label as an obstacle to his goals. While valuing his sister Izumi as family, he critiques her doujin artistry. His interactions with Megumi Katō remain strained due to her dislike of him, sustaining their incompatibility within Blessing Software. Iori excels at spotting market trends, specializing in identifying commercially viable stories and games. His expertise spans project management, negotiation, and resource coordination. Though acknowledging Tomoya’s superior instinct for hit potential, their conflicting philosophies—Tomoya’s focus on creative integrity versus Iori’s profit-driven approach—fuel clashes, evident in their Comiket release rivalries. Physically, Iori stands 177 cm tall with short reddish-brown hair, purple eyes, and a distinctive beauty mark beneath his left eye. Frequently described as handsome, his hobbies include consuming popular anime, manga, light novels, and games, though he engages with doujin activities primarily when they yield tangible benefits.