Yuuko's test scores trail Chiharu's, but her Mother
had more than enough money and influence to make up
the difference. That was fine with Yuuko since
she's been shinyu (best friends) with Chiharu
since the beginning of Jr. High. The two of them
exchange a diary, but Yuuko's entries are always
in poetry of one form or another, so that Chiharu
has to concentrate to recognize exactly
what Yuuko is talking about. If Chiharu went
back and _very_ carefully read the volumes since
8th grade, she might figure out that Yuuko is
involved in a love affair, but so far she hasn't
made the connection.
Yuuko is passionately in love with Tanaka-sensei,
to the point that she often makes him uncomfortable
with her "availability". Yuuko hasn't set her
sights on seducing Tanaka-sensei, but has
resolved to deny him nothing should he ask.
And yet, she doesn't believe the two of them
will be together forever, or even necessarily
that their relationship will last till next week.
If confronted she would point out how Teacher/Student
relationships are "more like dreams than real life".
She expects that her affair with Tanaka-sensei
will become only a memory, and is determined to
make it as happy a memory as possible.
This view is probably influenced by her Mother's
situation. A successful businesswoman, Sadanori
Haruka divorced Yuuko's Father when Yuuko was
only 4, and has since gone from one affair
to another publicly avowing never to marry again.
As a result the two of them are estranged from
their larger family. Yuuko and her Mother have
a "good" relationship, in that Yuuko neither
fights with or embarrasses her Mother. The
rigors of her work keep Haruka from recognizing
what's hidden in her daughter's heart.
Also hidden from her Mother is Yuuko's growing
success as a poet. Yuuko has published in a
number of trendy and artsy magazines, always
under the pen name of "Butterfly". Chiharu
knows the details of this part of Yuuko's
life, and Yuuko wouldn't deny it if confronted,
but to her Mother, the school and world at large,
even to Tanaka-sensei, Yuuko is only a
cute young lady with a butterfly keychain
attached to her school briefcase.
Attributes (3 free levels plus 1 level of Willpower)
Physique: Fair
Mind: Good
Willpower: Good
Cool: Good
Appearance: Good
Skills (30 free, 30 taken)
Japanese Poetry: Superb
Oratory: Great (only on her own poetry, otherwise Fair)
Business Etiquette: Good
Streetwise: Good
Flirt: Good
Detect Lies: Great
Calligraphy: Great
Flower Arranging: Fair
Athletics: Fair
Sewing: Fair
Cooking: Fair
Gifts (2 free, 2 taken)
Poet: Yuuko composes poetry that moves the hearts of a
wide variety of people, not just a select group
reading a particular genre.
Contacts: Yuuko is known to the publishers of various
artsy and underground 'zines in her city.
Faults
Secret: Love Affair with Tanaka-sensei
Coward: It's not that she fears being punished, but rather that Yuuko doesn't believe in her own future. What looks like a better than healthy "Carpe Deum" attitude is really a profound level of hopelessness.
Daydreamer: Yuuko could do better in class if she'd pay attention instead of composing poetry. Even Tanaka-sensei's lectures may get blown off.
Threads
Chiharu: Superb
Tanaka: Great
Hiroshi: Good
Richard: Fair
Mother: Fair
