Tetsuo Ishimaru

Ishimaru is mild-mannered, cooperative and remarkably unassuming. He rarely demands attention, complains about his limited recognition or tries to compete with Deimon's louder personalities for prominence.

He is also dependable enough to balance football with his responsibilities to the track team and his newspaper route. Sena's willingness to help with that workload is what initially persuades him to assist the Devil Bats.

His forgettable presence becomes a running joke. Teammates and opponents can overlook him even when he is standing close by, but Ishimaru accepts this with little visible resentment.

Ishimaru brings track experience to Deimon's backfield. His 4.7-second 40-yard dash gives him useful speed, while a 110 kg bench press makes him stronger than his understated appearance suggests.

His unusual "stealth" is frequently turned into a tactical advantage. Defenders concentrate on Deimon's famous threats and fail to register that Ishimaru has received the ball until the play is already developing.

He also blocks as a fullback and contributes at cornerback, giving Deimon a versatile athlete who can fill several roles without requiring the offense to revolve around him.

Ishimaru is one of the earliest outside athletes Sena recruits to help Deimon field a functional team. He initially treats football as an additional commitment rather than his primary sport.

His continued availability becomes important because Deimon spends much of the series operating with a small roster. Ishimaru can run, block and cover defensive assignments without demanding a specialized role.

The joke that nobody notices him eventually becomes a legitimate football weapon, allowing Deimon to hide carries in situations where opponents are preoccupied with Sena or other established threats.

Sena Kobayakawa recruits Ishimaru by helping him complete his newspaper route, beginning his involvement with Deimon football.

Youichi Hiruma exploits Ishimaru's low profile tactically and often refers to him through his track background rather than treating him as one of Deimon's headline players.

Ryokan Kurita plays alongside Ishimaru as one of the original members around whom Deimon's expanding roster forms.