given - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is a subconscious desire to process his grief and understand the feelings connected to Yuki's guitar. As the series progresses, his motivation shifts towards wanting to express himself through music and to connect with his new friends and with Ritsuka, who he develops feelings for.

Mafuyu begins the series as an introverted and seemingly passive high school student, haunted by the trauma of his boyfriend Yuki's suicide. He is emotionally repressed, unable to cry or properly express his grief. Through his meeting with Ritsuka and joining the band, he slowly finds an outlet for his emotions in music. His arc is a journey of catharsis, culminating in his powerful performance in episode 9, where he finally unleashes his bottled-up feelings. He learns to accept his past, open himself up to a new love with Ritsuka, and find his own voice, both literally and figuratively.

His primary motivation becomes helping Mafuyu learn guitar and write a song, driven by the profound impact Mafuyu's voice has on him. This evolves into a desire to understand Mafuyu better and to be with him romantically.

Ritsuka starts the series bored and apathetic, having lost the passion he once had for playing the guitar. Meeting Mafuyu and hearing his voice acts as a powerful catalyst, reawakening his love for music. He takes on the role of a mentor to Mafuyu, but through teaching him, he himself learns about empathy, patience, and the complexities of love and loss. His arc is about rediscovering his purpose and navigating the overwhelming experience of falling in love for the first time, which both excites and confuses him.

Haruki is motivated by a deep love for the band and a desire to keep its members together and happy. He also longs for his feelings for Akihiko to be reciprocated, which influences many of his actions and his patient demeanor.

As the oldest member and bassist of the band, Haruki is the gentle, stabilizing force. His arc in the TV series is more subtle, focusing on his long-standing, unrequited love for Akihiko and his role as the band's supportive 'mom'. He often mediates conflicts and provides a calm presence. While his story is more deeply explored in the movie, the series establishes his kind nature, his insecurities about his musical talent compared to others, and his quiet yearning for love and acceptance.

Akihiko is motivated by his passion for music, but he is also driven by a complex web of unresolved feelings for Ugetsu. He seeks emotional and physical intimacy, but often in self-destructive ways, until he begins to see a path toward a healthier relationship with Haruki.

Akihiko is the band's charismatic and confident drummer, who is knowledgeable about music and relationships. However, his outward charm masks a tumultuous inner life and a destructive, complicated relationship with his roommate and ex-boyfriend, the violin prodigy Ugetsu Murata. His arc, which is also more fully developed in the movie, involves confronting the toxicity of his past relationship and learning to be a better man, particularly as he becomes aware of Haruki's feelings for him.