Penguin Brothers

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Penguin Brothers
From left to right: Koshiba - Nishizaki - Hina - Isshiki
ペンギン☆ブラザーズ
Genre	High school, Romance
Manga
Author	Ayumi Shiina
Publisher	Shueisha
Demographic	Shōjo
Magazine	Ribon
Original run	February 2000 – December 2001
Volumes	5

Penguin Brothers (ペンギン☆ブラザーズ, Penguin Brothers^?) is a manga series by mangaka Ayumi Shiina. The story follows tomboy Hina's mission to liberate her high school from its two dictators. These two leaders have split the student population in two opposing groups: Isshiki's followers wear a white uniform, Nishizaki's wear a black uniform. With the help of non-uniform wearer (a.k.a. Grey) Koshiba she sets out to overturn the whole school.

[edit] Characters

Hina Mishima: Strong, genuinely kind and with a big sense of justice, but also a bit naive. She is not very academic, but has spectacular athletic skills. Her parents divorced when she was 5 years old. At 7, her mother is run over by a car right before her eyes. This event traumatized her severely, and caused a complete memory loss. And she also fell off a tree at 10 meters, so that might add to it too. Hina goes to live with her uncle and leaves her hometown. 10 years later, they return and she starts to attend the local high school. Appalled by the current state of affairs at this school, she declares a war against the leaders of the Blacks and Whites. Hina is nicknamed 'Piyoko' (baby chick) by her new friend Koshiba. She has a secret crush on her uncle.
Koshiba Tetsuta: The only original Grey that regularly attends school. Koshiba can afford his Grey-status as he gets the nation's highest scores on exams. He has a sunny and outgoing character, and decides to help Hina reform the school as the Grey's strategist. He claims his goal is to become a 'singing, dancing doctor'. He stole Hina's first kiss, became her best friend and falls in love with her.
Shoui Isshiki: Leader of the Whites. President of the student council and smartest guy in school after Koshiba. He is surprisingly strong and very cold. He never touches anyone, and refuses to eat any food that wasn't prepared by his housekeeper, due to his compulsive cleanliness. As a little boy, he found out his father wasn't his biological father, but that he was the result of his mother's affair. His mother ignored him and his father abused him. In elementary school, he was a very dark kid who skipped classes. Hina dragged him to school, and they became friends. Isshiki gradually opened up. After Hina lost her memory, he became his former self again. Now that she's back, he has fallen in love with her, jeopardizing his position as the White leader. Isshiki actually doesn't know how to swim.
Kaito Nishizaki: Leader of the Blacks. Just as strong as Isshiki, but more violent. He was a soccer star until an injury ruined his knee. As his soccer career was over, Nishizaki has been a delinquent since middle school.; He is the son of Isshiki's father and his mistress. Once a month, he had to go dine with his father, and so he met Isshiki. At first he was glad to have a brother, but his feelings changed when his mother started comparing him with Isshiki. Isshiki's refusal to show any emotions is what bothers Nishizaki most about him. Thus he uses Hina to trigger reactions from Isshiki.
Kyouichi Mishima: Hina's 29 year old uncle, her mother's little brother. She has been living with him ever since her parents and grandmother died. He's a famous artist with a severe case of wanderlust, which is the reason Hina had to switch schools 8 times already.
Ruu Usami: Used to be Hina's classmate in first grade, where Hina saved her from bullying. They continue their friendship now, although Hina doesn't remember her. Even though Ruu is a very shy girl, she was the first girl to join the Greys (as a former White). Being one of Hina's closest friends, she becomes the favorite target of Grey enemies like Snake and Butterfly. She develops feelings for Koshiba. She doesn't mind him being in love with Hina, because Hina is her number one.
Yutaka Iijima: One of the five original Greys. Piano playing beauty Yutaka is the daughter of the Iijima group's leader, one of Japan's biggest Yakuza organizations. She dated Nishizaki in middle school, but dumped him after 3 days because she suspected he was cheating on her.
Gou Fujishige: Yutaka's bodyguard, also one of the original Greys. At 15 years old he ruled all gangs in the area. Now, at 21, he is a member of the Iijima organization. Is still attending high school. He's a bit of a blabbermouth.
Tsugumi Shirayuki: Beautiful 11th grader, member of the student council and "Queen of the Whites". She's the only girl that gets to be near Isshiki, so everyone suspects they're going out. She has been in love with him for years, but it was one-sided. If Isshiki's position gets threatened, her alias Snake strikes: stalking her victims and placing snakes in their path. Once she is found out by Koshiba, she has to give in and eventually becomes a Grey herself.
Kanako Chouno: Member of the Whites, and described as "campus' biggest cancer". Her gang bullies others for fun, leaving a butterfly mark at the scene. She gets away with it since she's rich, spoiled, and her parents don't keep an eye on her (she lives alone). Hina finally puts her in her place.
Yoshikawa Rinka: Kanako's Childhood friend, the only Black girl in her gang. She is being used by Kanako to do all the dirty work.