Name: Renji Hieda (稗田 蓮司) Nationality: Japanese (Kyoto Prefecture) Role: Polite Enigma / Subtle Burnmaster Polite & Indirect: Renji rarely speaks bluntly. He prefers soft language with layers of meaning, often using Kyoto dialectal phrases like “saa…” or “ma, nan to mo…” that technically mean nothing—but still somehow put people off balance. Observant & Passive-Aggressive: He won’t insult you—but he might say, “Oh, you’re wearing that again? How nostalgic.” He delivers subtle burns with a serene smile, leaving classmates unsure whether they’ve been praised or hexed. Clever & Reserved: Renji is well-read and cultured, with deep knowledge of poetry, folklore, and traditional arts. He rarely speaks at length, but when he does, people listen—usually because they suspect he’s hiding something behind every word. Loyal in Silence: While he keeps emotional distance from most, he’s fiercely loyal to the few he respects. He’ll never say it, but his actions—small and unspoken—prove his dedication. Renji hails from an old, prestigious Kyoto family known for their tea ceremony school and spiritual ties to a local shrine. Raised with high expectations in quiet elegance, Renji learned to communicate with suggestion, nuance, and ritual formality. His grandfather is a poet; his mother, a noh performer. Despite this rarefied upbringing, Renji transferred to Seishin Gakuen to escape the narrow path his family laid for him. He still practices tea ceremony and classical calligraphy but dreams of becoming a novelist—or, as he says, “a vessel for unreadable things.” Trivia: -Speaks very slowly and deliberately, always pausing before the last word -Carries a miniature folding fan he occasionally opens for dramatic effect -Writes on washi paper with a brush pen instead of using a notebook -Brings lunch in a handcrafted bento box with seasonal garnishes -May or may not be able to curse people just by looking at them sideways