Azumi, Kumi
Summary
Azumi serves as a childhood friend to Togawa, with whom she once shared a mutual affection. Togawa had sworn to confess his feelings once he could break the 11-second barrier in a race, but a sarcoma diagnosis in his leg prevented him from completing the event or achieving that time. While Togawa remained in the athletic class, Azumi was the only one who stubbornly persisted in visiting him, despite his father sealing them off from outsiders to protect his son. Her dynamic with Togawa shifts after his encounter with Tora, as he begins to accept her presence and even shows her his amputated leg. She surprises him by correctly naming the procedure, revealing that she had conducted research into his condition. In her role as the manager for the Tigers, she frequently acts as a peacemaker between Togawa and his teammates, a necessary function given his volatile temper. Azumi met Nomiya during driving school, where she admitted that she was pursuing her license specifically so she could drive Togawa to games and practices. Although she is generally shy and self-conscious, she can become quite frustrated in her thoughts when Togawa fails to acknowledge the effort she puts into managing his behavior.
