Asano, Rin
Summary
As the only survivor of the Ittō-ryū massacre orchestrated by Anotsu, Rin is the heir to her father’s sword school, Mutenichi-ryū. Despite her mediocre swordsmanship, she is driven by an intense desire to avenge her family’s brutal deaths, a quest that leads her to hire Manji as a bodyguard. Her feelings for him deepen over time, evidenced by her kissing him while he sleeps in volume fourteen and numerous other instances, though these emotions remain largely unreciprocated. Initially presented as someone attempting to act mature while retaining childish traits, Rin gradually matures and sheds her naivety as the series progresses. She frequently struggles with doubts regarding the righteousness of her mission, fearing she is becoming a hypocrite. This anxiety is heightened when Anotsu points out that she resembles the Ittō-ryū, particularly noting her preference for throwing knives over the traditional sword techniques taught by Mutenichi-ryū. Rin wields a unique arsenal comprising a Chinese sword called Kutoneshirika, stored in a Toju-style purse scabbard; a Tantō dagger; and a set of small throwing daggers known as Ogunchu, or Golden Wasps. Although her combat skills are only average, she is more proficient with weapons than most women of her era, and her choice to carry a diverse set of arms makes her distinct among her peers.
