Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is to fulfill his duty as the Seventh School Wonder and atone for his past sin. However, as his relationship with Nene deepens, his primary motivation shifts to protecting her and ensuring she can live a long, happy life, even if it means he cannot be a part of it.

Hanako begins as a mischievous, often childish, and enigmatic ghost who teases Nene relentlessly. His initial goal is to maintain the balance of the school's supernaturals. As the series progresses, his cheerful facade cracks to reveal a deeply sorrowful and guilt-ridden individual haunted by the murder of his twin brother, Tsukasa. His bond with Nene forces him to confront his past and develop a fierce, protective love for her. In Season 2, his arc becomes even more tragic as he learns of Nene's short lifespan and is willing to sacrifice everything, even her free will, to save her, showcasing his desperation and the depth of his feelings.

Her motivation evolves from finding a boyfriend to protecting her newfound friends, Hanako and Kou, and understanding the supernatural world she's become a part of. She is driven by a strong sense of compassion and a desire to see the good in both humans and apparitions.

Nene starts as a somewhat shallow, boy-crazy high schooler whose main goal is romance. After becoming Hanako's assistant, she is thrust into the dangerous world of supernaturals. Her initial fear gives way to profound empathy and courage. She grows from someone who wants to be saved into someone who actively fights to save others, seeing the humanity within the school's ghosts. In Season 2, upon learning of her impending death, her arc focuses on her desire to live life to the fullest and her refusal to accept a tragic fate, showing immense growth in maturity and resolve.

Initially, Kou is motivated by his family's legacy and his desire to be as great as his older brother, Teru. This later shifts to a powerful, personal motivation to protect his friends and save those who cannot save themselves, challenging the strict doctrines of his clan.

Kou is introduced as an arrogant and inexperienced exorcist from a renowned clan, determined to eliminate all supernaturals, including Hanako. His worldview is shattered as he befriends Hanako and witnesses that not all apparitions are evil. His arc is one of deconstruction and rebuilding; he learns to question the black-and-white morality of his upbringing and forms his own moral code. His failed attempt to save the ghost Mitsuba becomes a driving force for him to become stronger, not just as an exorcist, but as someone who can protect those he cares about, human or not. Season 2 gives him more agency as he becomes determined to find a way to save both Nene and Mitsuba.