Crimson Hero

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Crimson Hero

Genre	Sports, Shōjo
Manga
Authored by	Mitsuba Takanashi
Publisher	Shueisha Viz
Serialized in	Bessatsu Margaret Shojo Beat
Original run	2003 – Present
No. of volumes	9 (Ongoing)

Crimson Hero (originally published as Beniiro Hero in Japan) is a shōjo manga written by Mitsuba Takanashi, the author of Tenshi no Pocket and The Devil Does Exist (originally published as Akuma de Sourou in Japan).

Beniiro Hero was originally published in Bessatsu Margaret magazine. It is currently being serialized in the United States by Shojo Beat.

1 Brief Summary
2 Characters
3 Volumes
- 3.1 Japanese
- 3.2 English
4 External links

[edit] Brief Summary

The series follows Nobara Sumiyoshi, a 15-year old tomboy with a passion for volleyball. Her love of the sport is disapproved by her mother who wishes Nobara to become the next hostess for the ryotei (old-fashioned Japanese restaurant) ran by the family. Frustrated by her mother's constant pressure and frequent comparisons between herself and her sister, Nobara finally decides one day to move out and make it on her own. After seeking out her aunt for help, Nobara ends up living with four members of Crimson Field High School's boys' volleyball team as their dorm mother. What follows is a drama of a girl's dream of making it into volleyball, and her difficult journey in fulfilling that dream.

Unfortunately, the Crimson Field girls' volleyball team as been disbanded from lack of interest. Nobara successfully reinstates the team after challenging the boys' team in a three-on-three game, winning, and recruiting three more members to the team, including star setter Tomoyo Osaka.

Before her first official match, Nobara learns her sister Souka has been forced to go on a date with a politician's son. Souka calls her sister two hours before the girl's volleyball team's first game and Nobara runs to her sister's aid. Following Souka's rescue, she witnesses Nobara play volleyball and sees how truly happy Nobara is while playing. The sisters make a deal with her mother to allow Nobara to play volleyball until she graduates high school, when she will inherit the inn. Until then, her sister will assist their mother in running the inn.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Crimson Field Girls Volleyball Team

Nobara Sumiyoshi - the tomboy heroine of this manga, a first year in Crimson Field. Her main obsession is volleyball. She has said several times that she has no interest in boys, but that may change. Stubborn and determined, she will do anything to stay on the court.

Yui Suzushiro - a third year in Crimson Field, the captain of the girls volleyball team. She only has one school term left to play volleyball before graduating. When the girls are knocked out of their first tournament, Yui leaves the team and the team elects Tomoyo as their new captain.

Tomoyo Osaka - a second year in Crimson Field, Tomoyo was known to be a star volleyball player in junior high until she suffered a terrible fall during a game and she injured her knee. She resolved that she should no longer play volleyball, despite the fact she is considered a 'genius setter' on the court. After a lot of persuasion, Tomoyo joins Nobara's team as the sixth member required to form the team. She once dated Keisuke Haibuki.

Ayako Mochida - a second year in Crimson Field. She is an experienced player and, along with Yui and Nobara, is one of the first three members of the team.

Rena Komizu - a first year at Crimson Field. She has no experience playing volleyball, but because of her admiration of Nobara from watching her play during her match against the boys, Rena joins the team as the fifth member. She is small and short, but has fast reflexes and played tennis in junior high.

Kyouka Gotou - a first year at Crimson Field and the fourth member of Nobara's team, who joins as the same time as Rena. She played volleyball regularly in junior high.

Kanako Noda - the newest member of the volleyball team, an athletic girl who actually joins the team to become closer to Yushin.

[edit] Crimson Field Boys Volleyball Team

Keisuke Haibuki - a first year in Crimson Field. Considered one of the best players on the men's volleyball team, and he lives in the same dorm as Nobara. He breaks up with Tomoyo Osaka shortly after Nobara comes to live in his dorm, and he mysteriously explains this by saying he has had a crush on Nobara since grade school. As a child, he was asthmatic, which ostrasized him from other children and caused him to develop his aloof and reserved personality. Nobara's indifference towards his condition and positive attitude inspired him to play volleyball and overcome his physical problems.

Yushin Kumagai - a first year in Crimson Field. Another star player on the men's volleyball team and lives in the dorm with Nobara and Keisuke. Nobara tries to tell him that she likes him, however, he explains that that is unfair to Abe Satomi. Almost immediately after, Yushin and Nobara see Satomi with another guy - and Satomi weakly tries to apologize to Yushin. Yushin later breaks up with her, after Nobara convinces him to talk with her.

Naoto Tsuchiya - a second year at Crimson Field and a member of the boys' volleyball team. He lives at the same dorm as Nobara.

Tomonori Ichiba - a second year at Crimson Field and a member of the boys' volleyball team. He lives at Nobara's dorm.

[edit] Nobara's family

Momoko Sumiyoshi - Nobara's maternal aunt, the younger sister of her mother. Momoko works as the school nurse at Crimson Field and the sponsor of the girls' volleyball team. She helps Nobara when she can, but draws the line at giving her money or doing anything that might enrage her older sister.

Shizuko Sumiyoshi - Nobara's mother and the current hostess of a famous ryotei, she is known to have turn business around for the better ever since the downfall of business from her great-grandmother's generation. She hopes her elder daughter will soon give up volleyball and take the family business seriously.

Souka Sumiyoshi - Nobara's younger sister, who is graceful, quiet, and obedient. Nobara has always admired her sister's ability to be ladylike while Souka finds that she can always rely on Nobara to protect her. Souka, after seeing how volleyball makes Nobara truly happy, helps persuade their mother into allowing Nobara to continue playing volleyball until she graduates from high school while Souka helps run the inn.

Nobara's father - While her father cannot help Nobara as much as he would like, he shows how much he loves her by giving her money to buy food when Nobara and Souka persuade their mother into letting Nobara remain at Crimson Field.

Nobara's grandmother - A traditional woman and former hostess of the Sumiyoshis' ryotei. She blames Nobara's behaviour on volleyball and disapproves of her older granddaughter's behavior, often commenting that Nobara should be more like Souka.