Kagerou Project

Mekakushi Dan

Kido (キド, Kido) / Tsubomi Kido (木戸 つぼみ, Kido Tsubomi)

Voiced by: Yūko Kaida

Kido is member No. 1 of the Mekakushi Dan and its current leader. She is often mistaken as a male due to her ambiguous appearance. The other members of the Dan call her "Danchō" (lit. gang leader). Like Kano and Seto, she is addressed by her legal last name (which she retains) even by her closest friends. Her personal song is "Never Lost Word" (失想ワアド, Shissō Wādo), though she initially debuted in "Blindfold Chord" (メカクシコード, Mekakushi Chord).^[3]

She was born as the first daughter of a wealthy family, but due to being the illegitimate child between her biological father and his mistress, her biological mother, she always felt out of place, even at home. Because she was always treated cautiously by those around her, she harbored a strong desire to "disappear". One day, her father's business went bankrupt, driving him to set their house on fire. After being burned to death in the blaze, Kido came into contact with the Heat Haze along with her older half sister Rin (Voiced by: Yuki Kaida) and was possessed by the snake with the "Concealing Eyes" ability, thus acquiring the power to hide her presence, as well as the presence of anyone else within a two meter radius. She would then proceed to forget this event (of the Heat Haze) completely, until she has to remember it later on in the seventh novel, "From the Darkness" (partially told from her point of view, with her as the "lead" of the story). Becoming childhood friends with Seto and Kano in the same orphanage, she was later fostered^[4] temporarily by the Tateyama family, until events forced them out of the Tateyamas' home, including a "route" where they cut off all ties with Ayano. Initially encouraged by Ayano that having red eyes was the sign of a hero, she and the "trio" (her, Seto, and Kano) started the Mekakushi Dan. After Ayano's death, she was then given the role of "leader".

In the manga's alternate second timeline, Kido is the first to be killed after stumbling upon the Snake of Clearing Eyes. Kano then reflects on her death after she is found, and while later reconciling with Ayano, who did not get to reconcile with Kido in turn before Kido died. The manga also reveals the event of Kano first meeting Kido at the orphanage, told during the different alternative second timeline (also different from the novels version). Kido gives Kano her coat, as she noticed he was cold, Kano reacting with a surprised expression. The timeline would then go on to explain the two became fast childhood friends before meeting Seto later on, becoming a childhood friend of Seto's as well; the three being described officially, in relationship charts published in the official website as well as "Kagerou Project Perfect Guide" (2016),^[2] as seeing each other as "childhood friends".^[2]

Though Kido (in the novels) initially requests they do not use keigo (Japanese formalities), as it reminds her of her biological family, and because she dislikes such formalities now; Kano in the manga's alternate second timeline thought he was originally going to use keigo with her before she requested that. Initially dropping the formalities and beginning to call her by her first name alone, "Tsubomi", while with the Tateyamas and while during middle school two years before the main series begins (including while attending the school festival put on by Haruka and Takane), Kano would later come to address her by her last name ("Kido") after they leave the Tateyama household (an event which occurs in every "route" described in the "Kagerou Project Perfect Guide" (2016).),^[2] the other two of the trio doing the same for him in every "route".

Though Kido was initially described (in Mekakucity Actors' script) with an "official" age of "17", and Kano and Seto "16", this would not be chronologically possible as the "trio" of Kido, Kano, and Seto are all in the same school grade, with varying birthdays (January 2, May 10, and March 3rd respectively). As a typical Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March (the series taking place in "Kashiwa City", Japan, later noted to also be in the Chiba prefecture) the ages conflicted with the official timelines, many taking place on August 14th-August 15th and later (in some cases) 17th. Sidu's published official artbook would later re-confirm Kido's age being "16", as Kano's is also officially changed correctly to "17", him (May 10) being older than Kido (January 2). Seto (birthday March 3rd) is the youngest of the trio, though still in the same grade as them.^[2]

Seto (セト, Seto) / Kōsuke Seto (瀬戸 幸助, Seto Kōsuke)

Voiced by: Sōichirō Hoshi, Sayori Ishizuka (young)

Seto is member No. 2 of the Mekakushi Dan. He is often portrayed as the "nice" one of the group, and gets along very well with Marry. Like Kano and Kido, he is addressed by his legal last name (which he retains) even by his closest friends. His song is "Shōnen Brave" (少年ブレイブ, "Brave Boy").

As a young boy, his small body and timid nature resulted in him being often bullied, and he had trouble speaking with people. He considered an abandoned dog (named "Hanako") to be his only friend, and wished that he could "understand how people felt without using words". One stormy day, he witnessed some kids trying to throw his dog friend into a river. Despite his efforts, the dog was thrown in, and Seto threw himself into the river in order to save it. As he drowned, he came into contact with the Heat Haze and was possessed by the snake with the "Stealing Eyes" ability, acquiring the ability to read others' minds upon eye contact. However, he generally dislikes using his eye ability as he feels that it is invasive and makes communication redundant, so he avoids using it unless it is absolutely necessary. He eventually was fostered^[4] temporarily by the Tateyama family along with Kido and Kano. Together they created the Mekakushi Dan after being initially encouraged by Ayano.^[3]

In "Imagination Forest" (as ""Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest")")'s original music video for the "music route", where he first debuted, he comes into contact with Marry as his "younger" looking design, animated initially here for the first time by (わんにゃんぷー Wannyanpū). His expression is partly hidden the entire time, as his full redesign to look "older" hadn't yet been made by animator Sidu (this would not occur until later on, with the official website's reveal). In "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest"), Seto appears with his eyes and expressions visible, now fully redesigned, with his "older" self appearing towards the end as well. Both music videos have slight differences between the two in their animation styles and noticeable changes in their endings, though "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest") debuted later on. The music video for Seto's song, "Shōnen Brave" (少年ブレイブ, "Brave Boy"), shows the younger Seto alternating and standing side by side with the older Seto in some scenes, implying the two are aware something is happening, as they hold hands at the end. The younger Seto in "Shōnen Brave" (少年ブレイブ, "Brave Boy") once again meets Marry in a similar fashion to both "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest") and "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest"). In both music videos, he appears to play music for her to hear, using his phone (though initially looking similar to a music player in "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest")).^[3]

In the manga's alternate first timeline, "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest") is referred to as an initial chapter title for the Japanese edition, before changing abruptly to "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest") in the manga's alternate second timeline. This change possibly references the music videos, as the entire course of the typical plot changes in the manga route's second timeline, when Marry hears loud text message notifications on Seto's phone instead of music playing, becoming frightened by the sound. The text message notifications are coming from a worried younger Kano, Kido, and Ayano, as Seto was already with the Tateyamas in this "route". (In both "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest") and "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest")'s music videos, Ayano's connection to the trio hadn't been revealed yet, as it wouldn't be revealed until the later "Ayano's Theory of Happiness" music video.) The author, Jin, had also commented in 2012 in the official "Kagerou Daze Disintegration Book" that Ayano as a character was still being finalized around that time. (Both "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest") and "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest")'s music videos, meanwhile, had debuted by May 18, 2012, when "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest") debuted.) Kano as a character also was not revealed nor finalized until the first novel was released and the official website opened in 2012. Thus, in both "Sōzō Foresuto" (空想フォレスト, "Imagination Forest") and "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest"), only Kido is seen at the end with Seto, and not Kano, who wouldn't appear until the later music video for "Kisaragi Attention" (如月アテンション).^[3]

Though Kido was initially described (in Mekakucity Actors' script) with an "official" age of "17", and Kano and Seto "16", this would not be chronologically possible as the "trio" of Kido, Kano, and Seto are all in the same school grade, with varying birthdays (January 2, May 10, and March 3rd respectively). As a typical Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March (the series taking place in "Kashiwa City", Japan, later noted to also be in the Chiba prefecture) the ages conflicted with the official timelines, many taking place on August 14th-August 15th and later (in some cases) 17th. Sidu's published official artbook would later re-confirm Kido's age being "16", as Kano's is also officially changed correctly to "17", him (May 10) being older than Kido (January 2). Seto (birthday March 3rd) is the youngest of the trio, though still in the same grade as them.^[2]

Kano (カノ, Kano) / Shūya Kano (鹿野 修哉, Kano Shūya)

Voiced by: Shinnosuke Tachibana, Yuki Kaida (young)

Kano is member No. 3 of the Mekakushi Dan. He is depicted as a deceitful young man, to the point where no one can tell if he's lying or telling the truth. His song is "Yobanashi Deceive" (夜咄ディセイブ, "Night Tales Deceive").

When Kano was younger, he did not attend preschool or kindergarten and instead lived alone with his mother in an apartment. His emotionally unstable mother raised her hand against him from time to time, and the neighbors spread rumors that he was being abused by her. In the novels "route", he believed that he was wrong for upsetting her, and desired strongly to "hide the bruises/wounds on his body" from those around him because they were the reason the neighbors disliked his mother. One day (in the novels "route"), his apartment was broken into by thieves. Kano's mother was stabbed and killed as she tried to protect him. He was stabbed to death as well when he tried to fight against the thieves, coming into contact with the Heat Haze. He was then possessed by the snake with the "Deceiving Eyes" ability, acquiring the power to alter how people around him perceive him and anything in immediate contact with him.

He was eventually brought to an orphanage and was later fostered^[4] temporarily by the Tateyama family, where he met Kido, Seto. While being fostered^[4] temporarily by the Tateyama family, they meet a younger Ayano (Kano having already met her previously as a stranger in the novels "route"). They created a team of "heroes" and Kano gave it its name, the Mekakushi Dan—"Mekakushi" being a pun on Kido's eye ability. Unlike Seto, Kano uses his eye ability frequently, shifting outward emotions on a whim while never showing what he is truly feeling on the inside. He and Ayano were very close, as evidenced by the fact that (in the novels and anime "routes") she only shared her suspicions about Kenjirō with him. As a result (in the novels "route") he often impersonated her and went to school in her stead, while she researched a way to stop the plans of Clearing Eyes. Ayano's death affects him greatly, and the added trauma of (in the novels "route") having to pretend to be Ayano's corpse during the funeral (as she did not leave behind a body) leaves him emotionally distressed. Though he uses his power to maintain a mask of lightheartedness and mischief, he develops a tendency to lash out at people close to him, sometimes by imitating people they care about, such as when he impersonated Haruka to upset Ene, or when impersonating Ayano to upset Shintarō.

In the music video for "Yobanashi Deceive" (夜咄ディセイブ, "Night Tales Deceive") in "music" route, Kano continuously walks the streets at night. He briefly is seen wearing hair clips while grinning, while images of a younger Seto and younger Kido are also seen behind him (Ayano is also noted to wear such hair clips; Seto being shown wearing them too in the video). Kano is later seen with a "female" form, shown more than once (including together) in both the official music video as well as published artbooks.^[2] He is always "Deceiving", initially believing himself to be something like a "monster". When a "monster" (implied to be Clearing Eyes in the novels) speaks to him one day, Kano begins to descend into always telling "lies", unable to tell his true self from his "Deceiving" self. He is frequently seen around and holding (including up to his face) masks, indicating his "Deceiving". At the end of the video, he bows to the viewer, as if it was a performance.^[2]

In the manga's alternate second timeline, his relationship with Ayano is more strained due to him being angry at her for suggesting to kill Marry. Kido's death greatly angers him to the point he wants to fight against her killer, the Snake Of Clearing Eyes.

Though Kido was initially described (in Mekakucity Actors' script) with an "official" age of "17", and Kano and Seto "16", this would not be chronologically possible as the "trio" of Kido, Kano, and Seto are all in the same school grade, with varying birthdays (January 2, May 10, and March 3rd respectively). As a typical Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March (the series taking place in "Kashiwa City", Japan, later noted to also be in the Chiba prefecture) the ages conflicted with the official timelines, many taking place on August 14th-August 15th and later (in some cases) 17th. Sidu's published official artbook would later re-confirm Kido's age being "16", as Kano's is also officially changed correctly to "17", him (May 10) being older than Kido (January 2). Seto (birthday March 3rd) is the youngest of the trio, though still in the same grade as them.^[2]

Marry (マリー, Marī) / Marry Kozakura (小桜 茉莉, Kozakura Marī)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa

Marry is member No. 4 of the Mekakushi Dan, and the first non-founding member. She is 1/4 Gorgon and has white hair that wiggles when she is happy or frightened and naturally occurring red eyes. Her appearance is that of a fourteen-year-old girl, but due to her gorgon blood, her actual age is 140 years. Marry is extremely shy around strangers, and will often hide behind Seto, Kido, or Momo. Her songs are "Kūsō Forest" (空想フォレスト, "Fantasy Forest") and "Marry no Kakū Sekai" (マリーの架空世界, "Marry's Fictional World").

When Marry was younger, she lived in a small house in the woods with her mother, Shion, who was half gorgon. While growing up, she was constantly warned by her mother that should they make eye contact with others, the person would be turned to stone. One day, when she was playing outside against her mother's warnings, she was found and tortured by a group of boys. Shion successfully turned Marry's attackers to stone, but the two were both beaten to death, and were brought into the Heat Haze by Azami, Shion's full gorgon mother (and Marry's grandmother). Upon entering it, Azami planted the snake with the "Combining Eyes" ability, the core of the gorgon, into Shion, who willingly gave it up to Marry so that she could have a second chance at life. As a result, along with the "Eye Contact" ability she had since birth, which allowed Marry to temporarily paralyze anyone she made eye contact with, Marry also acquired the ability to unify all of the "snakes".

After coming back to life, she lived in isolation for over a hundred years, greatly traumatized by her mother's death and terrified by the outside world. By chance, Seto visited the forest and befriended her, making her realize that the outside isn't so scary after all. He has since managed to bring her to the outside world and invited her to join the Mekakushi Dan.

After coming to the Mekakushi Dan's hideout and joining the group, she started a side job making fake flowers in her room, which generates a negligible income. She is said to be a fujoshi, or a female who likes boy's love.^[5] In Route XX among other "bad end" timelines, Clearing Eyes then kills all the members of the Mekakushi Dan besides Marry, and has her reset the timeline. This happens by means of her Combining Eyes ability, used through her by the snake of 'Clearing Eyes', who "awakens" her^[5](often in "Queen" form), and, by "collecting" the snakes that "have lost their owners",^[2] she reverses time in order to save everyone. Marry seemingly reverses time at the end of every official "route" and "timeline" seen thus far.^[2]

In the manga's alternate second timeline only, she was found by Seto years before than in the other timelines and was fostered^[4] temporarily by the Tateyama family. When Ayaka and Kenjirō both died, Marry became completely guilt ridden, believing that her being a "monster" caused the whole tragedy to happen. She also believes she herself is why the relationships between every member of the "trio" (including herself, and Ayano) had been "changing", stating this belief to Seto. Seto encourages her, explaining it's natural for human beings to "change", and implying it's not her fault. This event occurs after a scene in which Marry asks Kano, "do you like Kido?", comparing Kano's feelings towards Kido and seeing them similar to those relationships seen in her fairy tale books (and claiming she read about it in a book). The specific word she uses in the Japanese edition is "suki", often used in romantic situations in Japan and between couples. Though Kano blushes and nervously denies such, Marry continued to press the question until Kano "ran away" to escape. The implication that the trio, Marry, and Ayano were all "changing" indicates that their former relationships had all thus "changed", in some cases drastically (such as their initially kicking Ayano out of the household) and in some cases not (such as Seto viewing Marry as a friend and human being, and the trio and Marry all viewing each other as "friends".).

It's also revealed in the same alternate second timeline of the manga that Marry's "Queen" (of the snakes) power here causes a great toll on her body as it slowly deteriorates her body to the point she can't move at all, possibly a result of her being more human than gorgon. Despite her cheerful personality, a monologue in the manga implies that while she loves her friends, she harbors a grudge against the world for taking everything from her, reflecting some of the attitudes her grandmother Azami and her mother Shion held towards humanity. She begins to absorb the powers of the snakes of her fallen comrades. The Mekakushi Dan members left, including her, would then attempt to face off against the snake of Clearing Eyes.

Momo (モモ, Momo) / Momo Kisaragi (如月 桃, Kisaragi Momo)

Voiced by: Nanami Kashiyama

Momo is member No. 5 of the Mekakushi Dan. She is a first-year high school student.^[6] She is the younger sister of Shintarō and a popular idol, which greatly disrupts her normal life and causes a lot of stress for her. Unlike her brother, she does badly at school, and is a clumsy yet cheerful girl. Momo's tastes are also shown to be rather strange. Her songs are "Kisaragi Attention" (如月アテンション), "Otsukimi Recital" (オツキミリサイタル, "Moon Viewing Recital") (with Hibiya Amamiya), and "Tomodachi no Uta" (友達の唄, Song of Friends/A Song of My Friend).

When Momo was younger, she was constantly overshadowed by her brother Shintarō causing her to yearn for attention. During a trip to the beach, she drowned in the ocean and was swallowed up by the Heat Haze, along with her father who had tried to save her, and given the snake of "Drawing Eyes", which is capable of catching people's attention regardless of their preferences. At a fairly young age as a Junior High schooler, she gets a job as an idol, but she finds the constant attention and pressure miserable, lamenting that she just wants to be normal. It's here that she meets Kido, who explains the nature of their powers and offers to use teach Momo how to control her Drawing Eyes if she joins the Mekakushi Dan. Momo accepts, to Shintarō's eventual chagrin.

In the manga's alternate timeline, she becomes the second victim of the Snake Of Clearing Eyes' killing spree, when she is thrown off a tall building by "Hibiya Amamiya" (as taken over by Clearing Eyes). Clearing Eyes (as "Hibiya") gets Momo to follow him when he asks for Momo's (referring to her as "onee-chan") "help". ("Please help me, onee-chan.") However, it's implied Momo knew something was wrong right away, as she reacts with a firm-looking expression and follows him; and likely recognizing he wasn't using "oba-san" or "Aun" (his "ruder" nicknames and "honorific") for her. This was incorrectly translated in the official English version of the manga; even though in the Japanese version and editions, the different honorifics are clearly displayed (including as kanji). Similar to this, in the novels, another instance occurs: Shintarō recognizes right away Kano is posing as Momo when "Momo" (Kano) doesn't use the Japanese honorific "onii-chan" (lit. "big brother") for Shintarō. ("Momo calls me 'onii-chan', Kano.")

Though the script for Mekakucity Actors introduced her as being "16" years of age, as she is a 1st year high school student^[7] in Japan (the series takes place in "Kashiwa City", and somewhere near Chiba Prefecture), she can chronologically only be "15" at the current point of the series (August 14th-17th), as she would not have her 16th birthday until the next years' February 14th. The Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March; thus, she could only be 15 at the start of the school year with a birthday of February 14th. This inconsistency was acknowledged by the anime staff at an event for fans in Japan, and Momo's canonical grade of "1st year high school student" (10th grade) is stated on the official website.^[7] She would later be shown as also the correct grade for her "age" range in both the manga's second alternate timeline and the sixth novel ("Over the Dimension"), showing her as a Junior High (equivalent to "middle school") schooler 2 years before the main series begins, when she'd be around 13-going-on-14 years of age and in the 8th grade.

Ene (エネ, Ene) / Takane Enomoto (榎本 貴音, Enomoto Takane)

Voiced by: Kana Asumi

Ene is member No. 6 of Mekakushi Dan. She is a mischievous cyber girl who lives in Shintarō's computer, but is also able to travel to other electronic devices. Once a human named Takane Enomoto (榎本 貴音, Enomoto Takane), her personality as Ene is a cheerful prankster, a sharp contrast to Takane's pessimistic outlook at life. Her songs are "Jinzō Enemy" (人造エネミー, "Artificial Enemy"), "Headphone Actor" (ヘッドフォンアクター), "Ene no Dennō Kikō" (エネの電脳紀行, "Ene's Cyber Journey") and "Yūkei Yesterday" (夕景イエスタデイ, "Yesterday Evening").

As a human, she suffered from an illness that causes her to lose consciousness at random times. Because of this, she was placed in a separate class at school with Haruka Kokonose, whom she harbored feelings for. As a human, Takane was ranked second in the country on a game called 'Dead Bullet -1989-' under the name of "Senkou no Maihime" (lit. Dancing Princess of the Spotlight)' and often stayed up late at night playing. This exacerbated her narcolepsy and made her irritable and bad-tempered at school. She died after being poisoned by Kenjirō. Upon entering the Heat Haze, she is given the snake of "Opening Eyes," giving her immortality through the ability to reside in digital objects. After becoming Ene, she was sent to Shintarō's computer in an email from an unknown sender. Shintarō refers to her as a 'virus' as she constantly plays pranks on him by deleting his files and threatening to upload his embarrassing poems on to the internet. Ene joins the Mekakushi Dan after helping to stop a terrorist attack at a local department store with Shintarō.

In the manga's alternate timeline, she meets Haruka while both are hospitalized, and quickly bonds with him over video games. While she leaves, Haruka remains in the hospital, though she continues to talk to him. Upon seeing his fast friendship with Shintarō, she stops talking to him out of jealousy. Later, she discovers that he had an attack and passed away, and that shortly beforehand he had sketched her in his notebook. It is strongly implied that her regret caused her to commit suicide by jumping off the hospital building, at which point she entered the Heat Haze and became Ene.

Shintarō (シンタロー, Shintarō) / Shintarō Kisaragi (如月 伸太郎, Kisaragi Shintarō)

Voiced by: Takuma Terashima

Shintarō is member No. 7 of Mekakushi Dan. He is the main protagonist of the story and has an IQ of 168. While he was in school, his intelligence caused him to have an apathetic personality. His songs are "Lost Time Memory" (ロスタイムメモリー) and "Tōmei Answer" (透明アンサー, "Transparent Answer").

After a while, he became interested in the girl who sat next to him in class, Ayano Tateyama. Despite Ayano always acting cheerful and friendly towards him, Shintarō would treat Ayano with something like coldness - though he is also shown to begin to regard Ayano at all, if not fully as a "friend". Ayano appears happy whenever Shintaro regards her. After Ayano's suicide, he falls into a deep depression and becomes a hikikomori addicted to the internet. A year after, he was "sent" a mysterious "virus" named Ene, and as he was unable to control her actions, his lifestyle was at a loss. After stopping a terrorist attack with Ene, he became involved with Mekakushi Dan. He would later come to possess the "Retaining Eyes", which allow him to remember all of the past (including all other previous routes and otherwise diverging timelines).

In the songs ("Music Route") Ayano's death results in two possible routes for the Mekakushi Dan, as shown in Lost Time Memory. In Route 1, also known as the Good End Route, Shintarō (often portrayed in a red jersey) goes out and meets the Mekakushi Dan instead of staying at home and mourning Ayano. In Route XX, also known as the Bad End, Shintarō (often portrayed in full black clothing), still mourning over Ayano's death at 18 years old, becomes fed up with Ene and kills her through unknown means, causing him to have a mental breakdown. The main Shintarō dies while saving "Kuroha" (or, Clearing Eyes possessed Konoha) from shooting himself, while Route XX Shintarō commits suicide by slitting his throat with a pair of red scissors. However, all of these events would supposedly lead to Shintarō coming to possess "Retaining Eyes".

In the manga's alternate first and second timelines, Shintarō is shown to have never met Ayano at all. However, after he dies in the first timeline, a "vision" (or "dream") of "Ayano" appears before him, asking him if Shintarō knew why she died. After injuring himself in the new timeline he is hospitalized beside Haruka Kokonose, who serves the role of causing him to come out of his shell instead (and instead of Shintarō meeting Haruka at school and becoming his, Ayano's, and Takane's classmate). When Haruka's illness causes him to have an attack and pass away, Shintarō breaks down at the loss of his only friend and becomes a hikikomori like in the other timelines. It is later revealed Takane watched some of this happen from mostly afar (while going mostly unnoticed by Shintarō and Haruka, when she tries to visit Haruka's hospital room to see Haruka). Takane would later seemingly commit suicide; becoming Ene, who again enters Shintarō's life, and decides to help him come out of his shell herself this time. Shintarō thus befriends Ene in a much different fashion from before, genuinely viewing her as a friend as time goes on. Together with Ene, Shintarō and her would also play with the younger Junior High school aged Momo (Ene was even who seemed to pick out Momo's "Aun" hoodie). Shintarō also watched over Momo from afar while she was in Junior High school, and as time went on, noticing her strange ability to attract attention even though he didn't understand it well at the time. In the manga's second timeline, he eventually would encounter Ayano again, this time as strangers; who requests his assistance.

Later on in the manga's alternate second timeline, he would officially join the Mekakushi Dan again. He does so by going to their new hideout, and encounters Ayano. Though Ayano initially tries to point out he doesn't have an eye power to protect himself while seeming nervous by his presence; Shintarō goes on to explain: he thought, if there was "someone he could save", he'll "keep struggling" to "protect that person", "and that person can be no one else" but Ayano herself. He declares he'll use all of his "life force" to "fight" for her, also declaring, "I'm here to help you!". Ayano responds by blushing terribly in her shock and surprise, and he is accepted into the Dan's hideout.

In the music video for the "Music Route" song "Additional Memory" (2018), it is revealed Ayano apparently loved Shintarō since the very start all along, saying she didn't want to be "just" "friends". This revelation and seeming realization to herself occurs as she continuously falls from the buildings' rooftop, eventually waking up in the Heat Haze, appearing to herself as a classroom in monochrome colors while warped. Ayano sees the classroom from the sky as well, and seems to come to another realization; later encountering who appears to be Marry (in "Queen" form), while a physical snake (in snake form) appears above a then-leaning Ayano (as she leans in front of the also-kneeling Marry). Ayano would then go on to say (as she falls continuously, and seemingly not in person); "I'm sorry", "Sayonara", (lit. "goodbye" or "farewell"), and "Daisuki da yo" (lit: "I love you"), to who is indicated to be "Shintarō" (seen as he looked previously in the beginning of the "Lost Time Memory" music video, where he walked with Ayano down the street to their school).

Hibiya (ヒビヤ, Hibiya) / Hibiya Amamiya (雨宮 響也, Amamiya Hibiya)

Voiced by: Misuzu Togashi

Hibiya is member No. 8 of Mekakushi Dan. He is mentioned to be mature for his age, and is shown to have an immense crush on Hiyori. In the novels and anime, he joins Mekakushi Dan after being spotted escaping the hospital he was at after an accident. His songs are "Kagerou Daze" (カゲロウデイズ, "Heat Haze Daze") and "Otsukimi Recital" (オツキミリサイタル, "Moon-viewing Recital") (with Momo Kisaragi). Though it is not his song, he also appears in "Konoha no Sekai Jijō" (コノハの世界事情, "Konoha's World Situation").

As a sixth grade primary schooler, he is the youngest member of the group, at 12 years old (in "Mekakucity Talkers", he prepares to take Junior High exams, and later meets back up with Hiyori at school). He has the "Eye Focusing" ability, meaning he can see distant objects from an aerial view. He is originally from a village in the rural countryside and came with Hiyori Asahina to the city for the summer. He stayed at Hiyori's sister's house for the visit and met Konoha, who was living there at the time.

Hibiya sees Hiyori die in a traffic accident and somehow becomes stuck in a time loop trying to save her from dying, each time ending with him sacrificing himself to try and save Hiyori. He comes in contact with the Heat Haze and is given the snake of 'Focusing Eyes'.

In "Konoha no Sekai Jijō" (コノハの世界事情, "Konoha's World Situation")'s music video in "music route", Hibiya has seemingly "switched" the timeline, and is now the one dying repeatedly; while Hiyori is seen witnessing this, shocked and crying. Konoha tries to reach them both in time, but is unable to, as he is not visible physically at the time. Though they are different "routes", the novels appear to reference a similar event, as well - an upset Hibiya tells Konoha, "you were just standing there and watching!". The implication is that Hibiya actually could see Konoha during this point of time, at least, in the novels timeline. (The song contains the lines, from Konoha's point of view; "With my wobbling see-through body; My hand won't reach them in time.") In the 3rd novel, "The Children Reason", Shintarō even references and repeats the line, when he discusses with Kido the possibility that Hibiya remembers the events of him being in the Heat Haze, both initially concluding that Hibiya did remember.

In the music, anime, and novels timeline, during "Otsukimi Recital", Hibiya is depressed because he hasn't been able to save Hiyori. Momo notices his depression, dragging him along to get him to partake in various "fun" events. In the music timeline, this involves things such as eating an extremely large meal (Hibiya only takes a bite), playing games at the arcade (where he slowly begins to seem to have fun), and trying on clothes and costumes (one of which involves Hibiya crossdressing while wearing a maid dress, as Momo gets him to do so.) The two later sit by the curb, where Hibiya's soda hits him in the eyes in a similar fashion to how Momo's own hit hers in "Kisaragi Attention". Momo continues to drag him along; and they reach a park. Hibiya begins to have flashbacks of Hiyori smiling, petting a cat, as Momo does the same thing, albeit getting scratched by one. As he begins crying again, Momo realizes the situation is desperate, and puts on a "recital" before him, encouraging him as her eyes turn red, drawing his attention. The full moon is visible behind them in the music video, relating to the song's title ("Moon-viewing Recital"), while in the anime, they are inside as she gives a performance on stage, again drawing his attention with her red eyes. At the end of the music video, he hesitantly reaches out for what seems to the viewer (and possibly him) as the back of Hiyori's dress; instead, he reaches Momo's hand. The two realize he's holding her hand, Momo getting an increasingly mischevious expression, while Hibiya becomes embarrassed and tries to look away. However, Momo grabs him by the hand and pulls him along happily, Hibiya now seemingly back to "normal". Shintarō watches over them and his sister from afar with a grin (behind a tree), as does Kido, who is also there when Momo awakens after seemingly fainting from using her ability. In the novels, Momo and Hibiya head back. Hibiya proceeds to call Momo by only her name ("Momo"), instead of the rude nicknames he was using for her before (such as "Aun", similar to "auntie", implying she was middle aged, or "old"). Momo had previously requested he stop calling her those, and the fact Hibiya does so implies their relationship became closer, by means of yobisute.

In the manga's second alternate timeline, Hibiya instead comes out of the Kagerou Daze with the Snake of Clearing Eyes, who proceeds to possess him and hunt down the Mekakushi Dan, after throwing Momo off a building. Clearing Eyes, using Hibiya's body, breaks through a window of the same building, falling far below. Clearing Eyes, still using Hibiya's body, then proceeds to speak to Konoha and the rest, telling them they can't change what is happening. Using Hibiya's body, Clearing Eyes moves towards the nearby street. While Hiyori runs to the scene from afar, Konoha chases after from a closer distance, reaching out with his hand in order to reach Hibiya - only to watch, yet again, as Clearing Eyes, possessing Hibiya, throws Hibiya's body into the street, right in front of the incoming truck. As Hiyori approaches, watching in shock, Hibiya appears to finally regain his conciousness, before he tells Hiyori, "I'm sorry", eyes full of tears.

Though Hibiya and Konoha were both in front of the truck as it strikes, as Konoha was still reaching out for Hibiya; Clearing Eyes then uses the opportunity to jump to Konoha's body and leaves the scene. On the news Kano watches, three days passed since. Hibiya's corpse, as well as Momo's, were burned and thus unidentified. But since there were other wounds besides those caused by the "accident", there are chances the two were involved in some kind of case. Hibiya's status from then on is unknown.^[8]

Konoha (コノハ, Konoha) / Haruka Kokonose (九ノ瀬　遥, Kokonose Haruka)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano

Konoha is member No. 9 of Mekakushi Dan. Shown to be a rather absent-minded individual, he has a large appetite, similar to his human self as Haruka. His songs are "Konoha no Sekai Jijō" (コノハの世界事情, "Konoha's World Situation"), "Yūkei Yesterday" (夕景イエスタデイ, "Yesterday Evening") (as Haruka), "Outer Science" (アウターサイエンス) (as Black Konoha), and "Summertime Record" (サマータイムレコード) (as both, or Haruka).

As a human, Haruka suffered from an illness which caused him to have "attacks" and collapse, making him have less time to live, hence making him wish for a body that would not be as vulnerable, and hence being placed in a separate class with Takane Enomoto. With the interference of Kenjirō, he suffers an attack and dies, entering the Heat Haze with Takane, and therefore receiving the "Awakening Eyes" ability, which allows him to live in his ideal body. However, instead of being sent back like the others in the Heat Haze, Haruka stayed in the Heat Haze while the Snake of Awakening Eyes inhabits his body as Konoha, attempting to carry on Haruka's wishes of spending time with his friends. After this, the amnesiac Konoha stays at Ayaka's house, where he meets Hibiya and Hiyori and attempts to save them from the Heat Haze.

Though Konoha is born from such means, he is seen as being overall different from Haruka - Takane even noting such in the anime (and Ene thus calling Konoha "imposter") and is treated as being his own person. He is noted to have an "immortal body".^[5]

In "Summertime Record", the "ending theme" for the overall series, Konoha appears to "join" with Haruka's body, disappearing, and Haruka gaining Konoha's same mark on his cheek, as well as a slightly changed look. The specific events that lead to this occurrence were unknown. However, the various other endings show alternative fates for Konoha - in the anime, Konoha appears to disappear, Haruka regaining his physical body (only seen in the shadows, from afar), and Konoha's shadow briefly "seen" (to the viewer) running separately; in "in a Day's", the MX4D short movie, Konoha is instead seen leaving together with the rest of the Mekakushi Dan after they stop the terrorist incident all together (sans Ayano, and with both Hibiya and Hiyori, as well as Ene instead of Takane) only to be implied killed (with the rest) by the hidden bomb underneath the building at the end, Clearing Eyes seemingly never appearing; in the manga's first timeline, he is possessed by Clearing Eyes, and kills the then-formed Mekakushi Dan (sans Hibiya or Hiyori, who were instead unable to enter the mall due to an incident, and left outside of it; only to still have the timeline repeated) very early on; in the manga's second timeline, he is taken over by Clearing Eyes yet again after it leaves Hibiya's body, which Clearing Eyes possessed. In the "Mekakucity Talkers" spinoff, Konoha is again seen still "alive" along with the rest of the Mekakushi Dan (sans Hiyori, and with Hibiya, as well as Ayano and Ene). The implication that Hibiya is studying for Junior High school and later returns to school ("after" the summer would be over, while meeting up with Hiyori) seems to imply Konoha (as Konoha, and not Haruka) as well lives past August 15th-17th in that timeline, if temporarily.

An alternate version of Konoha appears in Outer Science, notably during the "Music Route", called Black Konoha (also dubbed as Kuroha by Japanese fans, kuro (黒) meaning 'black'), and kills everyone in Route XX. In Route 1 (notably during "Lost Time Memory", in "Music Route") for unknown reasons, he attempts to shoot himself in the head, only to be saved by Shintarō; "Kuroha"'s eyes widening in shock as he watches Shintarō fall (it is unknown if the one shocked in "Music Route" was Konoha, or Clearing Eyes himself). In the anime, "Kuroha" is revealed to be the snake of 'Clearing Eyes', Kenjirō's eye ability, which has transferred itself to Konoha (termed "forming" in him) and possessed him, believing him to be a stronger vessel.

Ayano (アヤノ, Ayano) / Ayano Tateyama (楯山 文乃, Tateyama Ayano)

Voiced by: Mai Nakahara

Ayano is member No. 0 of the Mekakushi Dan and was the daughter of Kenjirō and Ayaka Tateyama. Shown to be a happy-go-lucky girl with rather poor grades, she was the deskmate of Shintarō, and it is suggested that her poor grades stemmed from her family matters. Her songs are "Tōmei Answer" (透明アンサー, "Transparent Answer"), "Ayano no Kōfuku Riron" (アヤノの幸福理論, "Ayano's Theory of Happiness"), and "Adishonaru Memorī" (アディショナルメモリ, "Additional Memory").

In most major timelines after her parents briefly fostered^[4] three young children with red eyes, Kido, Seto, and Kano, she decided to fulfill her role as "big sister" ("onee-chan") by creating the Mekakushi Dan to encourage them. After the death of her mother in a landslide and the discovery that her father was experimenting on her friends in an attempt to bring her back to life, Ayano grew increasingly concerned of the safety of the "trio". She committed suicide by jumping off the roof of her school in an attempt to save her family and friends from the plot of the snake that gives Kenjirō the 'Clearing Eyes.' She gets possessed by a snake and obtains the 'Favoring Eyes,' which allows her to project her thoughts and emotions unto others.

In the manga's alternate first timeline, she is there with Marry when the landslide happens, now killing both her parents. She receives Favoring Eyes as a result, as well as the memories of Azami. Becoming far more stoic and cynical, she comes to the conclusion that to save the trio from harm, she must kill Marry, the catalyst of the tragedies to come. Kido punches Ayano hard enough to draw blood (reflecting a similar incident from their past when they were younger, and Kido was still new to the household) but Ayano doesn't change her mind. Extremely angered, shocked, and fearing for Marry's well-being and life, the trio then kick Ayano completely out of the house, cutting all ties with Ayano. In turn, she never meets Shintarō or her other school friends, but also doesn't remain trapped in the Daze. Unfortunately, her relationships with all of the trio worsened to an extreme as a result as well. When meeting her again, Kano addresses her extremely coldly as "onee-chan" (formal Japanese honorific, meaning similar to "big sister") instead of "nee-chan" (informal Japanese honorific, meaning similar to "sister"), something he had never done before that. As the manga's storyline continued, many further events would eventually lead to Kano reconciling with Ayano, reinstating her "nee-chan", however, she would be unable to reconcile in person with the already dead Kido, and Seto who was busy at the time taking care of Marry.

In the fifth novel "The Deceiving", alternative events would again occur from other timelines, in which a young Kano meets young Ayano at the park one day, a short time before he initially dies being killed during a robbery (and before they would have met at her household), and thus meeting as strangers at the park. Ayano swung from the metal bar at the park, only to then have a brief conversation with Kano, in which he didn't reveal his name to her (and she didn't get to reveal hers to him). Kano would then come to mentally describe Ayano as "Park Girl", remembering her to the point of being able to take on her form, including while at the orphanage, before they meet the Tateyamas and Ayano again later on, and again are fostered^[4] temporarily at the household. This event does not seemingly occur in any other timeline but the novels.

An Ayano that Shintarō meets at some times (in the real world) is revealed to also be Kano (including in the novels) using his "Deceiving" ability, who does so to spite Shintarō, whom he believes caused Ayano's death. However, Kano would later apologize for the incidents in the seventh novel ("From the Darkness") and Shintarō forgives him, genuinely befriending Kano. Kano would go on to believe (thinking to himself) he was no match for Shintarō. Kano also notes to himself Shintarō would "show a different kind of smile" to "Ayano only"; then thinking Shintarō showed "that kind of smile" to Kano himself as well, showing they fully reconcile.

An Ayano that Shintarō meets in the Heat Haze at other times is revealed to be his own snake, taking on her form wearing her black school uniform, but without her red scarf.

In the short novel "My Little Daze", an encounter and first meeting with Shintarō at Junior High school 2 years before the main series begins is told through her point of view (as his point of view is told in the drama CD track for the same event). There, she meets Shintarō for the first time in Junior High school. She initially mistakes Shintarō for a girl because of his surname ("Kisaragi") sounding feminine, being slightly shocked when she learns he is a boy. This information is revealed to her through a female teacher at the school, who Ayano speaks with after the teacher notices Ayano in a daze during a ceremony (Ayano herself describing it as a "daze", while she had been imagining what it'd be like to be a "hero", as her father talked of). When the teacher glares at Ayano, Ayano describes it as similar to a "frog that was being glared at by a snake". The teacher lets Ayano go, revealing Shintarō was male, and Ayano would then meet Shintarō in person. Though Shintarō treats her same as he always does at the start, in the drama CD track and short novel, he appears to also be regarding Ayano while doing so. Ayano later asks Shintarō to tutor her, and Shintarō agrees "just for today" after an initial pause. Ayano was "so happy" she "felt like jumping up and down, but figured that was probably a bad idea, and stopped" herself. She asks if they would "finally" "be able to become friends", asks if her "pounding chest" was going to be "able" to "stand this", then concludes, "no", she was "going to be fine". Her father once told her "A pounding chest is the proof of justice", so she was "definitely going to be fine". The entire story from both forms of media appears to reflect the beginning of "Transparent Answer"'s music video in the "Music Route", albeit told in a different way, and with different events and perhaps results. As Ayano also does not mention the "trio" of Kido, Kano, and Seto at all during this entire monologue, it is unknown if they would take the trio into her household in this series of events. Before the series was adapted into other published media such as the manga, novels and anime, Ayano was also never described in connection with the trio until the "Ayano's Theory of Happiness" music video debuted, revealing a connection there, before the anime. She was instead described initially as "taking care of her father and friend", implied to be Kenjirō and Shintarō respectively, during a timeline where only her mother died.^[3][5][9]

In Route 1, after Shintarō (in red jersey) meets the real Ayano in the Heat Haze, she passes her eye ability to him.

In the music video for the "Music Route" song "Additional Memory", it is revealed she apparently loved Shintarō since the very start all along, saying she didn't want to be "just" "friends". This revelation and seeming realization to herself occurs as she continuously falls from the buildings' rooftop, eventually waking up in the Daze, appearing to her as a warped classroom in monochrome colors and covered in flowers. Ayano sees the classroom from the sky as well, and seems to come to another realization; later encountering who appears to be Marry (in "Queen" form), while a physical snake (in snake form) appears above a then-leaning Ayano (as she leans in front of the also-kneeling Marry). Ayano would then go on to say (as she falls continuously, and seemingly not in person); "I'm sorry", "Sayonara", (lit. "goodbye" or "farewell"), and "Daisuki da yo" (lit: "I love you"), to who is indicated to be "Shintarō" (seen as he looked previously in the beginning of the "Lost Time Memory" music video, where he walked with Ayano down the street to their school).

Other characters

Kenjirō (ケンジロウ, Kenjirō) / Kenjirō Tateyama (楯山　研次朗, Tateyama Kenjirō)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara

Kenjirō is the father of Ayano and husband of Ayaka. He was also Haruka and Takane's homeroom teacher and is Momo's tutor. His song is "Dead and Seek" (デッドアンドシーク).

He possesses the ability of 'Clearing Eyes' and seems to know about Medusae. When he was in university, he fell in love with Ayaka, who turned him down, not interested in such a pathetic man. This caused him to become much more hard working and taking studying more seriously. After that, he was able to marry Ayaka. Together they had Ayano and temporarily fostered^[4] Kido, Kano and Seto. Kenjirō was interested in the theory of Medusae and researched it with Ayaka, only to be caught in a landslide with her and die. He came in contact with the Heat Haze and was possessed by the snake of 'Clearing Eyes'. He became much more engrossed in research after Ayaka's death, eventually experimenting on and killing his two students (Takane and Haruka), this was done while possessed by the snake of 'Clearing Eyes'. His fate is that he dies and reunites with Ayaka in the Heat Haze; in Route XX, the snake of 'Clearing Eyes' (while it is possessing Konoha) kills him.

Hiyori (ヒヨリ, Hiyori) / Hiyori Asahina (朝比奈 日和, Asahina Hiyori)

Voiced by: Kotori Koiwai

Hiyori is a stubborn young girl from the countryside who yearns for the city. She is very popular at her school and has her own fan club. She drags Hibiya to the city with her in order to get Momo's autograph and stays at her sister's, Ayaka, house. She falls in love with Konoha who was staying there at the time. She becomes involved in a traffic accident and gets stuck in a time loop trying to save Hibiya, but while Hibiya successfully escapes the Heat Haze, she passes away. Despite her apparent pessimistic personality and constant insults she uses towards Hibiya, she truly cares about him. She seemingly thinks of him as an important person; since she never saw her distant older sister before her sister's death; and, because of her popularity that makes it harder for her to be friends with others. She appears in "Kagerou Daze" (カゲロウデイズ, "Heat Haze Daze") together with Hibiya, who mostly tells the song through his point of view, changing to Hiyori's only in the final verse. She also appears in "Konoha no Sekai Jijō" (コノハの世界事情, "Konoha's World Situation"), now witnessing Hibiya dying, while shocked and crying. Konoha tries to reach them both in time, but is unable to, as he is not visible physically at the time.

In the manga's alternative second timeline, she became one of the protagonists. After entering the Heat Haze by what seems to be an "accident", she seemingly gained the 'Focusing Eyes' in Hibiya's stead as he was the one who received the 'Clearing Eyes' instead. Hiyori eventually helps the Mekakushi Dan after the aftermath of the 'Clearing Eyes' incident.

In the final novel for the novels' timeline ("Summer Time Reload"), Hiyori eventually became an official member of the Mekakushi Dan sometime after the aftermath of witnessing Hibiya dying repeatedly in previous timelines. She is "invited", or "forced", by Ene, who she describes as the "noisy blue girl", to become the now officially "10th" member.

Shion (シオン, Shion) / Shion Kozakura (小桜 紫苑, Kozakura Shion)

Voiced by: Akemi Okamura

Shion is a 1/2 medusa and Marry's mother. When Shion was younger, she lived with her parents Azami and Tsukihiko. She loves Marry very much, and in order to protect her she refrains from letting Marry play outside. One day, Marry bypasses her mother's orders and plays outside anyways, however some boys come to attack her. She sacrifices herself in order to save Marry, and uses her eye power to turn the boys to stone; but the strain on her body was too much and she passes away with Marry.

She gets consumed by the Heat Haze and is given the 'Combining Eyes' ability, however she passes the power on to Marry and sends her to the outside world. Her song is "Gunjō Rain"群青レイン ("Ultramarine Rain").

Azami (アザミ, Azami) / Azami (薊)

Voiced by: Satomi Arai

Azami is a full medusa and Shion's mother. Snakes grow from her hair, each with a unique power. She once thought humans were 'dull creatures that die easily' but fell in love with a human named Tsukihiko and started a family. After realizing how short human lives were compared to her immortality, she goes away to use the power of the snakes to create a Never Ending World (The Heat Haze) where she could live with her family forever. It is currently unclear if she waited for her family to arrive in the Heat Haze, before realising that her husband would have died by then, or that when she returned, the villagers attacking her house made her revert to her original ideology, causing her to return to the Never-Ending World alone.

Many years later, her daughter and granddaughter, Shion and Marry were killed on August 15. Knowing this, she was unable to bear her grief and ordered the Heat Haze to "bring in every person who died on August 15", giving the ability of 'Combining Eyes' to Shion to allow her to return to life (who gave it to Marry). This causes her to lose control of the Heat Haze, thus drawing in every person who had died on August 15, the day Marry died, it is presumed that she died due to her power completely taken over by him and eventually suffocating to her death. Her body is later used by the Snake of The Clearing Eyes so that he might able to use her power to find a perfect vessel for him which is Konoha, In the end she finally able to peacefully die with Shion by her side ,finally freed from the torture she's suffering for very many years. Her song is "Shinigami Record" (シニガミレコード, "Death-God Record").

Ayaka (アヤカ, Ayaka) / Ayaka Tateyama (楯山 絢香, Tateyama Ayaka)

Voiced by: Mako Hyōdō

Ayaka is Ayano's mother, Kenjirō's wife and Hiyori's sister. She became interested in the myth about Medusae and fell in love with Kenjirō at university. She gave birth to Ayano and temporarily fostered^[4] Kido, Kano and Seto from the orphanage after hearing about their strange abilities. She died in a landslide with Kenjirō while researching, passing on her trademark red clips to Ayano.

Tsukihiko (ツキヒコ, Tsukihiko)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu

A soldier who fell in love with Azami. Tsukihiko is an albino man, and has long been considered a 'monster' by the other villagers. He tells Azami that he is also a monster, and that they should spend their life together. Together, they had Shion and live peacefully until villagers attacked their home, mistakenly thinking he had been held captive. His song is "Shinigami Record" (シニガミレコード, "Death-God Record").

Rin (リン, Rin) / Rin Kido (木戸 凛, Kido Rin)

Voiced by: Yuki Kaida

Tsubomi's older sister who died when their family home was burned down.

Black Konoha (黒コノハ, Kuro Konoha) / Snake of Clearing Eyes (目が冴える蛇, Me ga Saeru Hebi)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano

A snake who, seemingly previously as a "Wide Eyed Snake", suggested to Azami to create the Heat Haze. It is the true antagonist of the series. :Its songs are "Outer Science" (アウターサイエンス) (as himself) and "Dead and Seek" (デッドアンドシーク) (while formed in Kenjirō).

In many timelines, it took control of Kenjirō's body and survived under his wish of reuniting with his wife, going to extremes by doing so. Its true goal, however, is living forever. Also in many timelines, it transfers itself to Konoha's body and possesses it, causing Konoha's appearance to change into a "darker" look as well (wearing a full black version of Konoha's clothing, and with black hair).^[2]

However, in the manga's alternate second timeline, he initially possesses Hibiya Amamiya instead, only body-jumping to Konoha later on (after killing Hibiya, by throwing Hibiya while Clearing Eyes is still using his body into the path of an incoming truck). Konoha was trying to reach Hibiya in time, but is unable to. Though both Hibiya and Konoha are seen in "front" of the truck just before it strikes, Clearing Eyes would then body-jump to Konoha, as the truck kills Hibiya, surrounding them with fire.

In many timelines, it then kills all the members of the Mekakushi Dan besides Marry, and has her reset the timeline. This happens by means of her Combining Eyes ability, used through her by the snake of 'Clearing Eyes', who "awakens" her^[5](often in "Queen" form), and, by "collecting" the snakes that "have lost their owners",^[2] she reverses time in order to save everyone. Marry seemingly reverses time at the end of every official "route" and "timeline" seen thus far.^[2]

However, in the manga's alternate second timeline, Clearing Eyes takes on a new "look" for the first time, discarding Konoha's previous form while still seemingly in use of Konoha's body. On his body, notably his arms and legs, his skin takes on hues of pure black (also coming from the shadows surrounding him) while fading into a dark red color gradient, his eyes being the same glowing dark red. Snake-like skin covers the top half of his face and cheeks, leaving the area around his mouth a light grey. His spiky hair hangs downwards, a large and long piece of which falling between his eyes, while two other equally long strands also frame his face.

It's also revealed in the same alternate second timeline of the manga that Marry's "Queen" (of the snakes) power here causes a great toll on her body as it slowly deteriorates her body to the point she can't move at all, possibly a result of her being more human than gorgon. Despite her cheerful personality, a monologue in the manga implies that while she loves her friends, she harbors a grudge against the world for taking everything from her, reflecting some of the attitudes her grandmother Azami and her mother Shion held towards humanity. She begins to absorb the powers of the snakes of her fallen comrades. The Mekakushi Dan members left, including her, would then attempt to face off against the snake of Clearing Eyes.

In the anime's timeline, it is seemingly "defeated" when Kenjirō's wish is granted and it has to comply to Konoha's wish, which was bringing Hiyori back life, so it becomes her surrogate life. It is eventually revealed that he was powered by the souls that were trapped in the haze. The Heat Haze was in fact not only created by Azami, but powered by the "wishes" of people who died on August 14th-15. Anybody who died on those days can't move into the afterlife at all, until someone with gorgon blood (Marry) who can use the Combining Eyes repeats the current timeline. Repeating the timeline in turn (seemingly) stops the haze and frees all of the dead souls that are trapped inside. This appears to permanently weaken the Snake of Clearing Eyes.^[2]

However, the "Kagerou Project Perfect Guide" (2016) would then reveal most "routes", or timelines, are repeated after all; including seemingly the initial anime's.^[2] The MX4D short film's "route" seemingly does not contain Clearing Eyes at all, though it contains very different events from the initial anime's timeline, as the near-full Mekakushi Dan (sans Ayano, and with Ene, Konoha, Hibiya, and Hiyori all together) appear to stop the mall "incident"'s terrorist attack on their own and together, defeating other "new" characters who appear as the terrorists. However, at the end of the MX4D, a bomb is seen at the end, ticking down to zero, and indicating the timeline reset. It is unknown if Clearing Eyes exists in this timeline due to him not appearing physically or being referred to; however, the similar initial events (specifically, the start of the mall incident) may indicate he does. In the novels, it was also revealed he controlled nearly all of the city, including officials.

In a short manga "Marry no Kakū Sekai" (マリーの架空世界, "Marry's Fictional World"), published near the start of the manga's alternate second timeline, Clearing Eyes faces Marry, who proceeds to use her power to turn him into stone. As she does so, Clearing Eyes, as "Black Konoha", with a bloodied scratch on his cheek and eyes widened in shock, surprise, and possibly even hurt, begins to become stone. However, Marry was later awoken at the Mekakushi Dan hideout by a worried Momo (the trio also being present). Marry would smile through her tears, realizing it was a "dream". This short manga having the same title as the song of the same name, where Marry sings and indicating herself repeating timelines so she can continue to remain with her friends, indicates it may not have completely been a "dream". "Marry no Kakū Sekai" (マリーの架空世界, "Marry's Fictional World") is also included by title at the end of routes similar to "Route XX", especially notable at the very end of the initial music "route", where it is placed after the events of "Konoha no Sekai Jijō" (コノハの世界事情, "Konoha's World Situation") and "Kagerou Daze" (カゲロウデイズ, "Heat Haze Daze") (which occur at the same time as each other), leading into "Outer Science" (アウターサイエンス) and concluding with "Marry no Kakū Sekai" (マリーの架空世界, "Marry's Fictional World") along with a repeat.^[2]

CD / DVDs

The series began as a series of albums that were released alongside the novels. The soundtracks were produced by Jin and released by IA Project. The first album is titled Mekakucity Days (メカクシティデイズ, Mekakushiti Deizu) and was released on May 30, 2012. It was followed by a single, "Children Record" (チルドレンレコード, Chirudoren Rekōdo), on August 15, 2012. A second album titled Mekakucity Records (メカクシティレコーズ, Mekakushiti Rekōzu) was released on May 29, 2013. A third album titled Mekakucity Reload (メカクシティリロード, Mekakushiti Rirōdo) was announced on August 15, 2017.^[10]

Light novels

The Kagerou Daze light novels are written by Jin with illustrations from Kagerou Project music video maker Sidu. The first volume was released on May 30, 2012 by Enterbrain on their KCG Bunko imprint, and will conclude in the eighth volume on December 29, 2017. Yen Press has been releasing the novels in English in North America since May 26, 2015.^[11]

There is an anthology series called Mekakushi Dan: Watchers (メカクシ団:ウォッチャーズ, Mekakushi Dan: Uotchāzu) that is made up of short stories from a Pixiv contest.

There is a novel anthology series named Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology (カゲロウデイズノベルアンソロジー, Kagerō Deizu Noberu Ansorojī) made from other Pixiv competitions.

Manga

The Kagerou Daze manga is illustrated by Mahiro Satou.^[18] It began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Gene on June 15, 2012.^[19] The first tankōbon volume was released on November 27, 2012;^[20] ten volumes have been released as of October 27, 2017.^[21] Yen Press will release the manga in English in North America, with the first volume released on April 21, 2015.^[11][22]

There is also an ongoing anthology series called Kagerou Daze Official Anthology Comic (カゲロウデイズ公式アンソロジーコミック, Kagerō Deizu Kōshiki Ansorojī Komikku) and each volume goes with a certain theme. It is written and illustrated by various people including Kagerou Daze light novel artist and music video creator Sidu, the Kagerou Daze manga artist Mahiro Satou, and Kagerou Project music video creator Wannyanpu (わんにゃんぷー, Wannyanpū).

Anime

A Kagerou Project anime titled Mekakucity Actors (メカクシティアクターズ), directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and produced by Shaft,^[27] began airing on April 12, 2014.^{[28][n 1]} The anime has been licensed for streaming by Aniplex of America.^[29] The opening theme is "Daze" sung by Maria from Garnidelia and the ending theme is "Days" by Lia. For episode six, the opening theme is "Headphone Actor" (ヘッドフォンアクター) and the ending theme is "Yūkei Yesterday" (夕景イエスタデイ); both songs are sung by LiSA. For episode eight, the ending theme is "Lost Time Memory" (ロスタイムメモリー) sung by Kōta Matsuyama from Byee the Round. For episode nine, the opening theme is "Ayano no Kōfuku Riron" (アヤノの幸福理論) sung by Aki Okui. All songs are composed by Jin.

A Kagerou Project short anime film titled Kagerou Daze -in a day's- (カゲロウデイズ-in a day's-) was directed by Sidu and produced by Studio Jumonji.^[30] It was produced with MX4D presentation in mind and premiered on November 4, 2016. The opening theme is "Red" by Gouache, a band Jin is a part of.

A Kagerou Project anime titled Mekakucity Reload (メカクシティリロード) was announced at the Seek at Mekakucity event on August 15, 2016.^[31]