Hitoshi Hayama

Hitoshi Hayama is the protagonist of the game Ari no Tsurugi.

General Information
Appearances: Main Character (Ari no Tsurugi), Secondary Character (Ari no Tsurugi II)

Occupation: Fighter/ Academy Student/ Savior of the World.

Weapon: Longswords

Party Role: Main Tank/Damage Dealer

Hitoshi is the main character and party leader in Ari no Tsurugi and a secondary character in Ari no Tsurugi II. A real slacker in the academic department, Hitoshi none the less is a skilled warrior, with a surprising amount of hidden potential. Skilled in the ways of swordsmanship, he favors straightforward assaults on his enemies one on one, with no tricks. In both games he shows great enthusiasm, and an unflinching will.

Appearance
Hitoshi has brown hair and eyes, and seems to favor a brown color scheme in general. He is never seen without his iconic red bandanna. This clothes and armor are of relatively simple make and are very functional in design.

Skills
Double-Cut (Two 75% damage regular attacks, One target)

Willpower (Raise ATT, self)

Shield Bash (Damage and may stun, One target)

Aerothrust (Air element damage, One target)

Rally (Raises Downed Ally with 1HP, Single Target)

First-Aid (Cures Silence and Sleep)

Blade Storm (6 Regular attacks, One Target)

Limit Break: Oni-Rush (6 Attacks at 150% power, One target)

Limit Break: Yokai Strike (200% Damage attack, May paralyse and lower Stats, One target)

Combo: Double Crosser (300% damage attack, One target, requires Sei)

Combo: Gamma Buster (700% damage attack, One target, Requires all party members)

In-Game Analysis
As a main party member, it will not take long to fit Hitoshi into a role in your strategies. With the most HP and heaviest armor of any character, Hitoshi is the preferred target of any nasty physical abilities aimed at the party. In addition he has similar regular attack power to Sei, but does the most damage overall due to his abilities. With a range of single target attack options at full or slightly increased power, in addition to several support abilities, Hitoshi is the middle ground between Sei's speed and status debuffs and Tarou's support magic. Of his two limit breaks Oni-Rush is the go-to option for boss fights due to its high damage potential, while Yokai Strike is best used in random encounters on stronger targets. Aside from high HP, ATT and DEF, Hitoshi has medium SPI, MP and AGI.

Biography
At 20 Years old, Hitoshi has gained an infamous reputation around the academy as a slacker and middling combatant. Best friends with Sei Kurata and Tarou Koyasu, Hitoshi is also on good terms with Umi Murasaki, looks upon Rui Watase as a good (if at times annoying) friend, and is pushed onward by his Sempai Hiromi Kurumoto. Hitoshi's life was turned upside-down when principal Ayuka tasked him and his friends to investigate the mysterious disappearances that had been plaguing the academy for over 12 years.

After several dead ends Hitoshi became suspicious of the local shrine, and was proven correct of their intent when he unwittingly gave them all the Macrocrystals needed to steal the size of half of the school. After a fierce battle with the witch Masako, Hitoshi and his friends found themselves shrunken to a scant few centimeters tall. On the trip back to the academy grounds, the party was attacked by a massive swarm of hungry bugs, and were nearly consumed. By greatest luck, they were found by Izoku Kaga, master monk and veteran shrink victim for over 12 years. Upon being led to Ant Town, Hitoshi was of the opinion of trying to make contact with the larger world, while Izoku disagreed. A deal was made to first search for a shard of a shattered Macrocrystal, then Izoku would aid them. The trip for the first shard was ill fated unfortunately, as Izoku had to stay behind holding up Umis foot when she nearly stepped upon the party.

After recovering the shard from a dead tree Hitoshi and the party made their way inside the main building, dodging feet along the way. Inside the model town, Hitoshi found more survivors and one of Izoku's friends, a warlock named Yuu Uesugi. Another crystal shard was located inside the nearby model castle, guarded by the Crullers. It was then that the party made their way to the principal's office to try make contact. They failed, and in the process were accidentally drunk by Rui. With quick thinking Hitoshi made a plan to escape the stomach, and the party was burped clear.

''To be continued... ''

Ari no Tsurugi II
In Ari no Tsurugi II, Hitoshi along with his party are secondary characters in the adventure. Following the forces of the Macroverse 12 years into the past, Hitoshi and his friends find themselves fighting alongside the past form of thier good friend Izoku. Thier purpose in the past is to fight battles to allow Izoku and his friends to defeat key opponents from the Macroverse. The two noted times this occurs are holding off mutated queens while Izoku deals with Nozomi, and holding off the Director until Izoku can show up for the final boss.