Niina Shimazaki

Niina is kind, sociable and attentive to the emotions of the people around her. She practices seriously with Hina but is also comfortable talking with her about ordinary school life and personal concerns.

Her perceptiveness is particularly evident around Hina. Niina recognizes her friend's feelings for Taiki before Hina is necessarily prepared to discuss them openly and responds by encouraging her rather than teasing her maliciously.

She can be playful about romance, but her support comes from genuine concern for Hina. Niina generally occupies the position of a friend who listens and nudges rather than trying to make decisions for her.

Niina is a rhythmic gymnast at Eimei, a school known for strong athletic programs. She trains in the same club as Hina and participates in the demanding practice routine required by the sport.

The series focuses far more heavily on Hina's elite competitive performances, so Niina's individual results and specialties are not extensively documented. She nevertheless remains an active club member rather than simply a school friend who watches from outside the sport.

Her familiarity with rhythmic gymnastics also allows her to understand the pressure Hina faces as a nationally competitive athlete.

Niina appears early as part of Hina's social and athletic circle at Eimei. She shares Class 1-B with Hina and Taiki during their first year of high school and continues as Hina's teammate in rhythmic gymnastics.

As Hina's feelings for Taiki become increasingly difficult for her to ignore, Niina serves as someone with whom that side of Hina's life can be expressed. She encourages her friend without sharing Kyo Kasahara's more cautious understanding of Taiki's feelings for Chinatsu.

After the characters advance a school year, Niina moves into Class 2-A with Hina and several of their friends. She remains part of Hina's support network as Hina continues balancing rhythmic gymnastics with the changes in her personal life.

Hina Chono is Niina's close friend, classmate and rhythmic gymnastics teammate. Niina recognizes Hina's feelings for Taiki and supports her.

Taiki Inomata is Niina's classmate during their first high-school year and the boy Hina likes.

Kyo Kasahara is another member of the same school friend group and shares Niina's awareness of the complicated feelings surrounding Taiki, Hina and Chinatsu.

Chinatsu Kano is the person Taiki admires, making her indirectly important to the romantic situation Niina observes around Hina.