Summary
Hotaru is a benevolent magic user of mixed Japanese and Irish heritage. Although he is American, he frequents the Japanese server to immerse himself in his mother's culture and improve his Japanese language skills. His avatar bears a resemblance to Elk from the .hack game series, and his class is that of a Wavemaster. He is often mistaken for a girl by Shugo, though he is biologically male, a fact revealed during an offline meeting in .Hack//Legend of the Twilight. On his initial visit, he encountered Sanjuro, who explained the meaning of his name and with whom he formed a friendship. Hotaru frequently struggles with Japanese vocabulary and grammar, often appending unnecessary "-desu" endings to his speech. His profound love for animals sometimes hinders his party members, as he refuses to attack monsters. With Shugo's assistance, he nursed a Grunty back to health and adopted it as a pet. In the anime, this creature was named Puchiguso-san and is typically seen clinging to his cap.
