Summary
Akiyama Mio is a shy student who initially aimed for the literary club but was coerced by her childhood friend and club president, Ritsu, into joining the light music club. She plays a left-handed 3-Color Sunburst Fender Jazz Bass with a tortoiseshell pickguard, which the group later names Elizabeth, though she is seen using a Fender Precision Bass in the first manga volume. She uses D'Addario EXL160M medium bass strings. Mio chose the bass because it keeps her out of the spotlight, unlike the guitarist, and she tends to be more technical with music, often helping Yui with guitar tutorials. Despite her technical skill, she is one of the band's main vocalists, though she avoids lead vocals when possible, singing only if Yui cannot. She writes most of the band's songs, which often feature odd, overly girlish lyrics such as "Light and Fluffy Time." Physically, Mio has long, straight black hair and gray eyes that are angled slightly differently from the other characters. She is known for her excellent grades, consistently ranking in the top ten of her grade, and is generally mature and strict, particularly regarding Ritsu. Her weaknesses include a fear of the macabre, horrific stories, ghosts, blood, injuries, and haunted houses, which often incapacitate her with fear. She also suffers from embarrassment and fear of being in the spotlight, making her an easy target for teasing from Ritsu and their adviser, Sawako. As a left-handed person, she becomes entranced by rare left-handed instruments. Mio comes from a typical household with two parents who are office workers, living in a detached home. She walks to school and prefers pants over skirts, wearing sleeveless tops like tank tops in the summer. Her room is clean and chic, but she avoids decorating it with cute items due to self-consciousness and fear of being teased by Ritsu. When alone, she passes the time studying, and she enjoys gateau au chocolat. After their first live performance, Mio gained a significant fan following, partly due to an accident at the end of the show, which attracted an infatuated former student council president. This sudden popularity led her classmates to vote for her to play Romeo in their class play. During university, she overcomes some of her shyness, makes new friends like Sachi and Ayame, and greatly enjoys her new experiences.
