OVA
Description
Masaki Itō is the protagonist of the anime With You ~Mitsumeteitai~, a young man at the center of a love triangle that forms the core of the story. Six years before the events of the series, his childhood friend Manami Naruse moved to Myanmar. At the time of her departure, Masaki attempted to confess his feelings to her but failed to catch her train, leaving his emotions unresolved. This experience drove him to join his school’s track and field team, specifically focusing on short-distance running, as he believed that if he could run faster he could have reached her. Over time, however, he lost his motivation when he realized that no matter how fast he ran, there was no one left to confess to. His other childhood friend, Naori Hikawa, often had to push him to keep going.
Personality-wise, Masaki is depicted as a kind and generally good-natured young man, though he is somewhat passive and indecisive when it comes to matters of the heart. He tends to dwell on the past and struggles to articulate his true feelings, which leads to tension as both Manami and Naori re-enter his life. His motivation throughout the story is to understand his own heart and to protect the bonds he shares with both girls. As the protagonist, his choices drive the narrative, and the viewer sees the story develop through his perspective.
Masaki’s key relationships are with Manami Naruse, the girl he once loved and who has now returned, and Naori Hikawa, his steadfast friend who has quietly supported him over the years. His relationship with his younger sister, Noemi Itō, is also significant; she is a caring presence who often helps at the family’s café and dotes on her brother. Masaki’s character development revolves around confronting his lingering feelings for Manami while coming to recognize the depth of his connection with Naori, ultimately forcing him to make a difficult choice.
Notable abilities include his athleticism in sprinting, a skill he honed during his time on the track team, though his emotional growth rather than physical ability is the focus of the series. In the supernatural elements of the story, Masaki becomes involved with mysterious jewels tied to the past of his friends, adding a layer of fantasy to his personal journey.
Personality-wise, Masaki is depicted as a kind and generally good-natured young man, though he is somewhat passive and indecisive when it comes to matters of the heart. He tends to dwell on the past and struggles to articulate his true feelings, which leads to tension as both Manami and Naori re-enter his life. His motivation throughout the story is to understand his own heart and to protect the bonds he shares with both girls. As the protagonist, his choices drive the narrative, and the viewer sees the story develop through his perspective.
Masaki’s key relationships are with Manami Naruse, the girl he once loved and who has now returned, and Naori Hikawa, his steadfast friend who has quietly supported him over the years. His relationship with his younger sister, Noemi Itō, is also significant; she is a caring presence who often helps at the family’s café and dotes on her brother. Masaki’s character development revolves around confronting his lingering feelings for Manami while coming to recognize the depth of his connection with Naori, ultimately forcing him to make a difficult choice.
Notable abilities include his athleticism in sprinting, a skill he honed during his time on the track team, though his emotional growth rather than physical ability is the focus of the series. In the supernatural elements of the story, Masaki becomes involved with mysterious jewels tied to the past of his friends, adding a layer of fantasy to his personal journey.