Tsubaki Sawabe

Tsubaki is energetic, athletic, impulsive, and fiercely protective of the people closest to her. She is accustomed to physically dragging Kousei into activities when he retreats into himself and can become frustrated by his passivity, especially when she believes he is allowing his past to dictate his future.

She considers herself poorly suited to the refined world of classical music. Piano competitions and musical terminology do not come naturally to her, while softball provides a straightforward environment where effort produces results she understands. This difference becomes increasingly important as Kousei is drawn back toward musicians who can share an experience with him that Tsubaki cannot.

Tsubaki is also slow to examine her own feelings. She has spent so much of her life thinking of Kousei as a troublesome childhood companion or younger brother figure that changes in their relationship are difficult for her to acknowledge.

Tsubaki has no supernatural abilities. She is an accomplished athlete and a dedicated softball player, eventually serving as captain of her school team.

Her athleticism gives her considerable stamina, coordination, and confidence in physical activities. She approaches competition with determination and is accustomed to working toward concrete goals through practice.

Tsubaki's strengths outside sports are primarily interpersonal. She knows Kousei extremely well and can recognize changes in his mood that people less familiar with him might overlook, even when she does not fully understand the musical problems troubling him.

Tsubaki watches Kousei remain emotionally and musically stagnant after the death of Saki Arima. Hoping to pull him out of his routine, she arranges a meeting involving Kaori and Ryouta Watari, bringing Kousei along as Watari's friend.

Kaori's arrival begins returning Kousei to the world of performance, something Tsubaki initially welcomes. As his involvement with piano deepens, however, she becomes increasingly aware that music may carry him into a world and future separate from her own.

Tsubaki also begins dating her older schoolmate Saitou, whom she had admired for years. The relationship forces her to confront the fact that her strongest emotional attachment is actually to Kousei. Saitou recognizes this before she fully accepts it herself and ends their relationship.

Tsubaki eventually admits that she loves Kousei rather than merely regarding him as a younger brother. Her fear of being left behind becomes especially painful when his musical ambitions make attending a distant high school increasingly likely.

Kousei Arima is Tsubaki's next-door neighbor and childhood friend. She has watched over Kousei Arima since they were children and initially describes their relationship in sibling-like terms. She eventually recognizes that her attachment to him is romantic and struggles with the possibility that his future will take him away from her.

Kaori Miyazono is Tsubaki's classmate and the girl she introduces to her childhood friends. Tsubaki initially supports Kaori Miyazono's apparent interest in Watari, while gradually becoming jealous of the powerful connection developing between her and Kousei.

Ryouta Watari is another of Tsubaki's childhood friends. Ryouta Watari understands her well and occasionally recognizes her feelings before she is prepared to discuss them.

Saitou is an older baseball player Tsubaki admires and later dates. He realizes that her heart belongs elsewhere and ends their relationship rather than forcing it to continue.

Nao Kashiwagi is Tsubaki's close friend and teammate. Nao Kashiwagi repeatedly challenges her attempts to deny her feelings for Kousei.