Chizuru Mifune

Chizuru is initially aloof and deliberately antisocial. His behavior comes less from arrogance than from exhaustion: constantly hearing people's private fears, resentments and dishonest thoughts has taught him that getting close to others can be painful.

That attitude begins changing after he meets Bondo's circle. Reading their minds reveals that the supposedly intimidating or eccentric children around him are much kinder than appearances suggest. Gachi and Motsuo in particular undermine his expectation that people's hidden thoughts will inevitably disappoint him.

Chizuru becomes more relaxed once he has friends he can trust. He retains a comparatively cool demeanor, but later appearances allow him to participate naturally in the group's school activities and comedy.

Chizuru is a genuine psychic whose principal ability is telepathy. He can hear the internal voices of people around him, giving him access to thoughts they have not spoken aloud.

The ability is effectively always active rather than something he casually switches on whenever useful. That lack of control is an important drawback: crowds and emotionally complicated people can subject him to information he never wanted to know.

Roboco presents an unusual challenge. Her thoughts are so forceful and bizarre that reading them can overwhelm Chizuru and draw him into the elaborate mental scenarios unfolding inside her head.

Chizuru transfers into Bondo's class in Chapter 51. He gives an intentionally minimal introduction and avoids attempts to befriend him, but his telepathy immediately lets readers see why: he has learned to distrust people because he hears the thoughts behind their public behavior.

Bondo, Gachi and Motsuo gradually undermine his assumptions. Their internal thoughts reveal genuine kindness rather than hidden contempt, giving Chizuru reason to reconsider his policy of remaining alone.

His encounter with Roboco becomes the decisive absurdity of his introduction. Her mental noise is unlike the ordinary thoughts he is accustomed to reading and pulls him into her imaginative world.

Later stories pair Chizuru particularly often with Shun Motesugi, while his telepathy continues to provide a device for exposing the difference between what characters say and what they actually think.

Bondo Taira is one of the first classmates to break through Chizuru's defensive attitude. Reading Bondo's mind convinces Chizuru that his friendliness is genuine.

Gorilla Gachi initially looks like exactly the sort of person Chizuru expects to distrust, but his thoughts reveal an unusually kind and considerate boy.

Motsuo Kaneo similarly surprises Chizuru because the wealthy, handsome student is sincere in his concern for his friends.

Roboco produces an overwhelming psychic experience when Chizuru reads her thoughts. Her mental world is so unusually forceful that she becomes impossible for him to treat like an ordinary person.

Shun Motesugi becomes one of Chizuru's recurring friends, with later chapters frequently pairing the two boys.