Warning: This page contains a few SPOILERS.
Bio:
Name: Aso Kira
Kira is an average, high school student who loves art. She is a great painter and spends most of her time studying people at the park to paint. While she is busy drawing a couple of kids in a sandbox, a very handsome young man asks her if she knows the way to the medical center. She quickly turns over a piece of paper and draws him a map. She hands it to him without saying a word and rushes off. She knows the guy because he goes to her school. She doesn't like him because he smokes and does things behind the teachers' backs. He doesn't even realize they have ever met before. This is the beginning of a great manga.
From this point on, things get stranger for Kira. At school, Rei (the guy from the park) recognizes Kira and starts trying to get her to talk. All the girls in school are crazy about Rei, and so they are extremely jealous when he gives attention to Kira. Some of the girls start harrassing her and before she knows it, Kira's in love with Rei. She even asks him to pose for her painting. The girls get furious and threaten to break Kira's hand. She cries and admits she loves him.
Rei finds out about this and rushes to her rescue. He sees her huddled in a corner of the gym holding her hand. He runs and hugs her to make sure she's ok. Things continue to get more insane for these two, and we find out more secrets and lies in both of their pasts.
This manga is 15 volumes long and has an extra book called "A Horse with No Name". It's a beautiful story and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance. Kira basically reminds me of Mizuno Ami from Sailor Moon because of how smart she is and how she reacts to situations. She's also a little like Jill Valentine from Resident Evil.
If you like this story, I would recommend reading: Peach Girl, Marmalade Boy, or Sailor Moon.
My thoughts on Kira
I think the reason Kira is so likeable is because she has an inner strength that's hard to find in most characters. In 16 years, she's been through enough that would turn most people into hateful, vindictive monsters. SPOILERS: Her stepdad raped her when she was only in the eighth grade. From then on, everyone thought she hated men. But it wasn't true. She just didn't trust men anymore. Then when Rei came along, she didn't really know what to think. And before she knew it, she loved him. His strength and kindness won her over. He made her feel safe for the first time in a long time. He promised to protect her.
Then when the girls from school started bullying her, she found out just how much she did love Rei. They threatened her, and through her tears, she said she loved him. Her inner strength is amazing. She's easily one of my favorite characters because of this. Through it all, she still ends up being incredibly sweet and believable. She may look innocent, but there's so much more to her than that.
Age: 16
Occupation: Student and Artist
Likes: Art, getting by unnoticed
Dislikes: Attention