Ivanov, Boris
Summary
Boris Ivanov makes his debut in Battle 175. At eighteen years old, he is a Sei and a practitioner of Satsujin Ken, wielding the Yomi Symbol of Ice and the martial art Command Sambo. As the leading disciple of Alexander Gaider, Boris is a member of Yomi and was among the first four of its members transferred to Kenichi’s school. He is notably the second Yomi member to engage Kenichi in a duel. Visually, Boris sports a muscular build and silver hair spiked at the back, typically adorned with a small headband. Due to his deep loyalty to his country, he usually wears a military outfit, though he dons a school uniform while attending classes at Kenichi’s institution. His background as a Russian soldier and the right-hand man to a colonel influences his behavior, causing him to act in a strictly militaristic manner. He views orders as absolute and follows them without hesitation, whether they come from his master or his teacher. Boris harbors a strong hatred for disobedience and feels jealous toward those who display greater loyalty than himself. However, he holds a small degree of respect for individuals who are brave enough to speak against him openly. Despite being an enemy of Kenichi, Boris is capable of cooperation. He has worked alongside Kenichi to defeat common opponents and listens to Kenichi’s words, interpreting them as advice or tips rather than orders. He is also skilled at finding loopholes to twist orders to his advantage without technically violating them. Like Ethan, Boris left a positive impression on many students and maintained a high level of respect for his teacher, Ono Kyouko. He obeyed her every request and performed good deeds at school, leading her to view him as a kind person. This perception is supported by his actions, such as allying with Kenichi to protect Kyouko from his own men by exploiting loopholes, suggesting he may be more lenient toward Katsujin Ken than his demeanor implies. Boris maintains good relations with his militia men, who follow him as their commander, but he ignores Kanou Shou until he receives direct orders from his master. In a significant moment, Boris becomes the first opponent to acknowledge Kenichi’s strength, even conceding that Kenichi is stronger than himself.
