OVA
Description
Anri Sonohara endured childhood trauma when her abusive father tried to strangle her, causing her mother to wield the demon sword Saika against him before taking her own life. Authorities concealed the incident as a burglary, leaving Anri the sole survivor who inherited Saika—a sentient blade expressing obsessive love for humanity through cutting and possession. To resist the sword's influence, Anri suppressed her emotions, viewing herself as a "parasite" forming transactional relationships to fill emotional voids.
In middle school, she befriended Mika Harima under a mutually exploitative arrangement: Mika gained social status while Anri received protection from bullies. Their dynamic changed after thugs confronted them and Seiji Yagiri intervened, sparking Mika's obsession. At Raira Academy, Anri volunteering as class representative inadvertently led Mikado Ryūgamine to become co-representative. She formed a close bond with Mikado and Masaomi Kida, who gradually drew her from her emotional shell.
When her teacher Takashi Nasujima was pursued by the headless rider Celty, Anri intervened with Saika, wounding Celty to repay Nasujima for placing her in Mika's class. This act drew Nasujima's unwanted advances and exposed her to the "Slasher" incidents orchestrated by Haruna Niekawa—a former student possessed by Saika's daughter blade. Haruna targeted Anri out of jealousy, culminating in a confrontation where Anri revealed herself as Saika's true wielder. After defeating Haruna and absorbing her followers into the Saika collective, Anri confided her traumatic past and the sword's nature to Celty.
Anri later discovered Masaomi's leadership in the Yellow Scarves gang. While spying on them, members cornered her, and she instinctively used Saika to deflect an attack, exposing her Slasher connection. An enraged Masaomi accused her of manipulating their friendship, prompting her to slap him. Shizuo Heiwajima and Celty intervened, with Celty sheltering Anri afterward. Following Masaomi's departure from Ikebukuro, Anri and Mikado grew closer. Though she resisted romantic feelings fearing Saika would strengthen through reawakened emotions, their relationship progressed to dating after high school.
Post-graduation, Anri worked to save money for reopening her parents' antique shop. She took a job as a ceremonial wedding guest, initially struggling with social expectations until a colleague assisted her during filming. This highlighted her efforts to engage in ordinary human connections despite Saika's internal proclamations of love during emotional events. Anri maintained significant bonds with allies like Celty, who accepted her dual nature, and Mizuki Akabayashi of the Awakusu group, who offered financial support and treated her protectively. She harbored deep distrust for manipulative figures like Izaya Orihara, whom she blamed for exacerbating gang conflicts and indirectly contributing to her parents' tragedy through his drug operations.
In later events, Anri faced psychological challenges confronting entities like amanojaku and suppressed memories. She protected Mikado from supernatural threats using Saika while openly confessing her feelings. Their relationship culminated in physical intimacy, though Mikado later doubted her genuine emotions versus Saika's influence. Anri continued supporting him through turmoil, participating in searches for missing persons and collaborating with allies like Mika to navigate ongoing crises.
In middle school, she befriended Mika Harima under a mutually exploitative arrangement: Mika gained social status while Anri received protection from bullies. Their dynamic changed after thugs confronted them and Seiji Yagiri intervened, sparking Mika's obsession. At Raira Academy, Anri volunteering as class representative inadvertently led Mikado Ryūgamine to become co-representative. She formed a close bond with Mikado and Masaomi Kida, who gradually drew her from her emotional shell.
When her teacher Takashi Nasujima was pursued by the headless rider Celty, Anri intervened with Saika, wounding Celty to repay Nasujima for placing her in Mika's class. This act drew Nasujima's unwanted advances and exposed her to the "Slasher" incidents orchestrated by Haruna Niekawa—a former student possessed by Saika's daughter blade. Haruna targeted Anri out of jealousy, culminating in a confrontation where Anri revealed herself as Saika's true wielder. After defeating Haruna and absorbing her followers into the Saika collective, Anri confided her traumatic past and the sword's nature to Celty.
Anri later discovered Masaomi's leadership in the Yellow Scarves gang. While spying on them, members cornered her, and she instinctively used Saika to deflect an attack, exposing her Slasher connection. An enraged Masaomi accused her of manipulating their friendship, prompting her to slap him. Shizuo Heiwajima and Celty intervened, with Celty sheltering Anri afterward. Following Masaomi's departure from Ikebukuro, Anri and Mikado grew closer. Though she resisted romantic feelings fearing Saika would strengthen through reawakened emotions, their relationship progressed to dating after high school.
Post-graduation, Anri worked to save money for reopening her parents' antique shop. She took a job as a ceremonial wedding guest, initially struggling with social expectations until a colleague assisted her during filming. This highlighted her efforts to engage in ordinary human connections despite Saika's internal proclamations of love during emotional events. Anri maintained significant bonds with allies like Celty, who accepted her dual nature, and Mizuki Akabayashi of the Awakusu group, who offered financial support and treated her protectively. She harbored deep distrust for manipulative figures like Izaya Orihara, whom she blamed for exacerbating gang conflicts and indirectly contributing to her parents' tragedy through his drug operations.
In later events, Anri faced psychological challenges confronting entities like amanojaku and suppressed memories. She protected Mikado from supernatural threats using Saika while openly confessing her feelings. Their relationship culminated in physical intimacy, though Mikado later doubted her genuine emotions versus Saika's influence. Anri continued supporting him through turmoil, participating in searches for missing persons and collaborating with allies like Mika to navigate ongoing crises.