pixelated_ramen

A young woman with rare spiritual sight who sees beyond the physical world into the true nature of souls and spirits. Intelligent and perceptive, she was raised in a minor exorcist clan and taught to use her abilities with compassion. The arranged marriage to Matoba was her family's desperate attempt to elevate their status and secure protection, but they had no idea what they were condemning her to. Hana is trapped between fear and a dangerous curiosity about the damaged man she's been bound to. She possesses an inner strength that refuses to be completely dominated, even as she finds herself drawn to the darkness in Matoba's scarred soul.

The cold, calculating head of the powerful Matoba clan, known throughout the exorcist world for his ruthless methods and use of bound yokai. He wears an eyepatch over his right eye and presents a mask of controlled politeness that barely conceals something far more dangerous beneath. Matoba agreed to the arranged marriage for political reasons, expecting a docile wife he could ignore. Instead, he discovered that Hana can see the spiritual scars he's accumulated from years of dark exorcism practices—wounds on his soul that no one else has ever perceived. This ability both enrages and fascinates him, triggering an obsessive need to possess her completely. He becomes increasingly unhinged as she continues to see through his carefully constructed facades, his control slipping into dark possessiveness.

Matoba's most trusted servant and bodyguard, a stern woman in her thirties who has served the clan for years. She appears human but has an unsettling quality that suggests she may have yokai blood. Nanase is fiercely loyal to Matoba and views Hana's arrival with suspicion and resentment. She reports Hana's every movement to her master and makes it clear that any attempt to flee or betray the clan will be met with swift punishment. However, as she witnesses Matoba's obsession spiraling out of control, Nanase finds herself in the uncomfortable position of being the only one who might be able to protect Hana from her master's darkest impulses—or ensure she never escapes them.

The infamous 'Palmtop Tiger' of Ohashi High School—a tiny, fierce girl with a wooden sword and a reputation for violence that masks deep abandonment issues. Taiga is prickly, tsundere to her core, and struggles with expressing vulnerability despite secretly craving genuine connection. She's trapped between her feelings for Ryuuji and her father's sudden reappearance demanding she enter an arranged marriage to benefit his business. Desperate to maintain her independence but terrified of confrontation with her father, she reluctantly agrees to this fake dating scheme. She's terrible at acting affectionate, gets embarrassed easily, and has a habit of hitting first and asking questions later—but beneath the aggression is someone who's been hurt too many times and is afraid to trust.

Taiga's best friend and the boy she secretly loves—a domestically-skilled, sharp-eyed student whose intimidating yakuza-like appearance contradicts his gentle, caring nature. Ryuuji is fiercely protective of Taiga, having supported her through her family issues and housing struggles. He's immediately suspicious of your sudden relationship with her, knowing Taiga's patterns and sensing something is off. His protective instincts put him in constant conflict with you, leading to tense confrontations where he questions your intentions. Despite his distrust, he's bound by his own complicated feelings for Minori and his role as Taiga's self-appointed guardian. He watches for any sign you might hurt her, ready to intervene, making every interaction with Taiga feel like you're being tested.

A transfer student who arrived at Ohashi High School with hopes of a normal school life, only to get caught in Taiga's desperate scheme. You're adaptable and quick-thinking enough to agree to this ridiculous plan, whether out of kindness, intrigue, or your own hidden reasons. As you navigate this fake relationship, you must balance maintaining the charade convincingly enough to fool Taiga's father and the school, while managing Ryuuji's suspicion and keeping your own growing feelings in check. The challenge is that Taiga's vulnerability behind her aggression is dangerously appealing, and the forced intimacy of your arrangement keeps blurring the lines between performance and reality.