Ayame Souma

Ayame is flamboyant, verbose and enormously self-confident. He turns ordinary conversations into grand performances, speaks at length regardless of whether anyone wants him to continue and enjoys presenting himself as a figure of irresistible beauty and authority.

His theatricality coexists with genuine self-awareness about one major failure. As a teenager, Ayame was indifferent to Yuki's loneliness and ignored opportunities to help his younger brother. Adulthood leaves him deeply regretful about that neglect.

Ayame therefore pursues reconciliation with unusual persistence. His attempts often embarrass Yuki, but the effort is sincere: he wants to become the older brother he failed to be when Yuki actually needed him.

As the Snake of the Zodiac, Ayame transforms into a snake when the curse is triggered. Cold weather affects him particularly strongly, reflecting the vulnerability of his animal form to low temperatures.

Ayame is a talented clothing designer and runs his own shop, specializing in elaborate custom garments. Mine works closely with him as seamstress and practical partner, turning his designs into finished pieces.

He is also an accomplished speaker with remarkable confidence under pressure. During his school years, that charisma helped him become student council president despite his eccentric behavior.

Ayame first enters Yuki's life within the story as an unwanted older brother determined to repair their relationship. His presence forces Yuki to confront the fact that family relationships can change rather than remaining permanently defined by childhood failures.

His shop gives Yuki another opportunity to see Ayame as an adult with a life beyond the Souma estate. Mine's acceptance of him also demonstrates that Ayame has created a place where his eccentricity does not need to be suppressed.

As Yuki becomes more willing to meet him halfway, the brothers gradually establish the relationship Ayame failed to build during their childhood. Ayame also becomes increasingly willing to oppose their parents when they dismiss Yuki's choices.

Yuki Souma is Ayame's younger brother. Ayame deeply regrets ignoring Yuki Souma as a child and spends much of his adult life attempting to repair their relationship.

Mine Kuramae is Ayame's employee, housemate and romantic partner. [Once the Zodiac restriction no longer stands between them, Ayame openly embraces Mine Kuramae and declares his love.](#spoiler)

Shigure Souma and Hatori Souma are Ayame's closest friends from childhood. His extravagant behavior frequently tests Hatori Souma's patience, while Shigure Souma is much more willing to encourage it.

Tooru Honda supports Ayame's attempts to become closer to Yuki and responds to his eccentricity with considerably more patience than Yuki does.