Ringo Noyamano

Ringo is caring, responsible and considerably more guarded than Ikki. Around him she often behaves like the familiar girl he grew up beside, hiding both the scale of her Air Treck ability and the responsibilities she carries within Sleeping Forest. Her romantic feelings for him further complicate that secrecy.

Her gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness. As Thorn Queen, Ringo can become severe and uncompromising when she believes the safety of the Trophaeum or the people around her is threatened. She is willing to fight Ikki rather than support a course she believes will destroy him.

That conflict produces one of her defining tensions: she wants Ikki to succeed but fears where his relentless pursuit of flight will take him. Protecting him can therefore mean helping him in one situation and standing directly in his way in another.

Ringo is a King-class Storm Rider and the Thorn Queen of the Sonia Road. The Road emphasizes extreme flexibility, agility and rapid changes of direction. Its techniques use hyperventilation and nitrogen-related effects within the joints to permit movement beyond ordinary human flexibility, placing tremendous strain on the rider's body.

The Sonia Road is consequently described as a Road of torture. Ringo can perform violent, whip-like attacks associated with thorns while maintaining exceptional maneuverability, but using the Road inflicts pain and physical stress on her own body. Her fighting style favors rapid attacks and mobility rather than prolonged exchanges.

As Thorn Queen, she uses the Thorn Regalia and techniques associated with the Road's Infinity Atmosphere. Her skill is high enough that even talented riders can be overwhelmed when confronting her directly.

Ringo later demonstrates the ability to use the Storm Regalia temporarily, despite it being designed around a different Road, further illustrating her exceptional technical skill and adaptability.

Ringo is present from the beginning as part of Ikki's home life, but her importance to the Air Treck world is initially concealed. She belongs to Sleeping Forest, the team connected to the defense of the Trophaeum, and her position as Thorn Queen gives her obligations that extend far beyond supporting Ikki.

Her disguised identity as Croissant Mask allows her to assist Kogarasumaru without openly compromising those responsibilities. The disguise also gives her an indirect way to express emotions that she finds difficult to communicate to Ikki normally.

Her conflict with Ikki eventually becomes unavoidable. Ringo believes his pursuit of the sky is leading him toward the same dangers that have consumed other powerful riders, while Ikki refuses to let fear determine how high he is allowed to climb. Their confrontation therefore grows directly from two people who care deeply about each other but disagree over what protecting someone actually requires.

Ringo eventually admits her love for Ikki while disguised as Croissant Mask, and their relationship continues developing beyond the unresolved childhood affection that defines much of the earlier story.

Itsuki Minami is Ringo's childhood friend and adoptive brother within the Noyamano household. She has romantic feelings for him, but her responsibilities as Thorn Queen repeatedly conflict with her desire to support him.

Rika Noyamano is Ringo's eldest sister and the previous Thorn Queen. Rika's history with the Sonia Road and Sleeping Forest strongly influences Ringo's understanding of what the title demands.

Mikan Noyamano is Ringo's older sister and fellow member of the Noyamano household and Sleeping Forest.

Shiraume Noyamano is Ringo's younger sister and another member of Sleeping Forest.

Kururu Sumeragi becomes closely connected to Ikki as his tuner, creating another emotional complication for Ringo. Ringo eventually relinquishes the Croissant Mask role as Ikki's anonymous supporter to Kururu.

Simca is both an important figure in the wider Storm Rider conflict and a source of jealousy for Ringo because of her interest in Ikki.

Kanon serves as Ringo's tuner, maintaining the technical relationship required between a King and the specialist responsible for adjusting her Regalia.