Summary
Shigure Kousaka makes her debut in Battle 7 as a mysterious, slow-speaking young woman standing 159 cm tall. At 22 or 23 years old, she is a Sei master of the Katsujin Ken style who specializes in the Kousaka Style of martial arts using all types of weapons. She operates on the philosophy that weaponry should be treated as an extension of the body, believing that mere reliance on a weapon's power does not constitute mastery. Initially perceived as a loner who avoided interaction with most Ryozanpaku residents except for Apachai, Shigure gradually opens up to Kenichi and the rest of the group, eventually participating in daily rituals like dinner. She instructs Kenichi in weapon usage, helping him overcome his fear of being attacked with arms. Kensei implies that Shigure worries about Kenichi when he is absent, suspecting he has entered dangerous situations, which suggests romantic feelings. She even permits Akisame to reveal her past to Kenichi, citing his identity as the sole reason for her compliance. Among the masters, Shigure trains Kenichi the least, though her actions hint at a desire for him to become her disciple. She is disappointed by his reluctance to use weapons and his persistent fear of her, teaching him only practical skills like swimming and rope tying. Raised in the mountains by her father, a master craftsman and wielder, Shigure was discovered by Akisame during his travels. Her father, suffering from a terminal illness, requested a duel to allow Akisame to end his life honorably. After a forced confrontation, Akisame threw him off a cliff. Before dying, he revealed he never truly wanted to die in battle but acted as a bad example to deter his daughter from his path. Akisame gave her the name Shigure and entrusted her to the old master of the Kousaka-style swordsmanship. Following the master's death, Akisame brought her into Ryozanpaku. Shigure now embarks on missions to retrieve and confiscate swords crafted by her father, likely to prevent them from being used for killing, though her exact motives remain secret. She is often accompanied by a mouse named Tochumaru, who possesses unique abilities and can easily defeat cats and armed mercenaries. Shigure frequently plays with Honoka and Apachai and often beats Kensei for harassing her. Tochumaru is known for stealing food, for which Apachai is frequently blamed.
