Mai Izawa

Mai is cheerful, compassionate and considerably more socially comfortable than Yuu. She has friends at school and initially sees Yuu as an unusual, withdrawn classmate rather than someone connected to the violent street rumors.

Her concern becomes more serious after she sees him injured and begins recognizing similarities between Yuu and Masaki during a troubled period of her brother's life.

Mai does not share the fighters' fascination with combat. She sees the injuries and emotional consequences more directly and often worries about what continued fighting is doing to Yuu.

Mai has no established martial-arts training and is not portrayed as a fighter.

Her strengths are interpersonal. She can reach Yuu during moments when he withdraws from other people, and her familiarity with Masaki gives her insight into patterns of isolation and self-destructive behavior that others may overlook.

She also provides a connection between Yuu's school life and Masaki's street circle, two parts of his existence that initially remain largely separate.

Mai notices Yuu wandering Shimokitazawa and begins speaking to him outside their normal school environment. Through Shinichi and their classmates, Yuu gradually becomes part of a social group he previously lacked.

As Yuu's fighting becomes more serious, Mai sees injuries and behavioral changes that make his reputation impossible to ignore. Her concern deepens because she has already watched her brother struggle through his own troubled relationship with the streets.

Mai and Yuu eventually acknowledge their mutual romantic feelings and kiss. Their relationship remains complicated by Yuu's inability to simply abandon the place and identity he has found through street fighting.

Masaki Izawa is Mai's older brother. She cares deeply about Masaki Izawa and has firsthand knowledge of the psychological difficulties behind his confident street reputation.

Yuu Kamishiro is Mai's classmate and gradually becomes someone she cares about romantically. Mai Izawa and Yuu Kamishiro eventually make their mutual attraction explicit, but Yuu's bond with the streets complicates their relationship.

Shinichi Kaneda is Mai and Yuu's classmate and part of the same school social circle.