Hideki Kaneshiro

Hideki is 14-years-old, but he is small and looks younger. He is a fourth-year student at his middle school, and he has become a soldier based simply on his age. Hideki is plagued by his ancestor, Shigetomo, who was labeled a coward. The family believes that Shigetomo's mabui, or spirit, inhabits sons every few generations. It is for that reason that Hideki is also a coward. By the time the novel comes to an end, Hideki has learned that Shigetomo was not a coward, but was being prudent by running away from certain death, and this sets Shigetomo's mabui free as well as releasing Hideki from a lifetime of shame for his own cowardice. From a conversation with his sister, Kimiko, Hideki also learns that fear is not the sign of a coward, and that being brave requires moving forward despite the fear, which Hideki has done...