Naoki Azuma is a bright, hard-working boy born into a family of doctors. He is known for his academic excellence and serves as class representative. Even though he often appears calm and put-together, Naoki struggles with stress caused by his demanding mother and feelings of inadequacy compared to his older brother, Junya Azuma. At school, he secretly keeps an eye on Shizuka Kuze, who is bullied by classmates, but unfortunately, his support rarely reaches her. In contrast, Naoki tends to act bossy toward Takopi, the mysterious alien, often treating him with irritation.
Naoki Azuma has short black hair and often wears glasses.
His glasses are a notable trademark, though he removes them frequently since they don't fit well—his mother purchased them cheaply without a proper prescription.
He is earnest and diligent, which makes him a top student.
Still, constant comparisons to his high-achieving brother make Naoki harsh on himself, calling himself “a serious fool.”
Perfection is almost an obsession for him, reflecting the heavy expectations placed on his shoulders.
Trying to help Shizuka Kuze stems from both empathy and the belief that, if he achieves "perfection," even bullying can be solved.
Naoki Azuma lives with his mother—a strict doctor—and his older brother Junya Azuma, a popular and gifted student.
His family runs the Azuma Clinic, and his home is filled with the push-and-pull of academic expectations.
His mother uses a reward system (like pancakes for perfect scores), but she often fails to give proper support, referring to Naoki impersonally as “you” and buying him ill-fitting glasses.
Naoki excels academically and is responsible as class representative.
He is diligent, organized, and shows a sharp attention to detail.
Despite being young, he tries hard to “fix” things in his life, whether it’s at home or at school.
Shizuka Kuze: A classmate who is bullied; Naoki is the only boy who quietly cares about her. Although he initially scolds her for strange behavior, he eventually becomes more supportive and, over time, develops strong feelings for her.
Marina Kirarazaka: His classmate and one of the main bullies at school; while they had little direct contact in the past, they reconnect in high school.
Takopi: Naoki shows a rather intimidating and sometimes irritated attitude toward Takopi, choosing to utilize his “Happy Gadgets” for practical reasons rather than fun.
Azuma’s Mother: A strict doctor who imposes high expectations and uses impersonal parenting methods, often comparing Naoki unfavorably to his brother Junya.
Junya Azuma: Naoki’s cool, cheerful older brother with dyed hair; Junya is popular, always achieves perfect scores, and is well-liked by his peers. He is revealed to be an “awkward hard worker” himself, but handles family pressure better than Naoki.
The creator, Taizan5, modeled Naoki Azuma after Hidetoshi Dekisugi from a famous classic series.
His glasses were bought for only 3000 yen at an eyewear store—without a proper eye exam.
Naoki’s low self-worth comes from growing up constantly in his brother’s shadow.
“If I’m perfect, I can solve anything.”
“Why can’t I be like my brother?”
“I’m just a serious fool.”
Early in the series, Naoki tries to help Shizuka Kuze but fails to truly connect with her.
After several timeline loops, he changes his approach and avoids getting involved with her from the start.
In high school, after a fierce argument with Junya, Naoki comes out of his shell and becomes closer with classmates, eventually being called “Naoki” rather than just “Azuma.”
This choice, to look the other way, makes readers question if ignoring suffering really leads to a “right” path.
Despite his struggles, Naoki Azuma represents the complicated dance of pressure, family expectations, and hidden kindness within a young boy’s heart.
His journey is a bittersweet reminder that perfection isn’t always the answer, and real connection can be difficult to find, even for the most earnest person.
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