Shizuru Fujino

Shizuru Fujino (藤乃静留 "Fujino Shizuru") is a fictional character in the Japanese animated series My-HiME and My-Otome. In My-Otome, her name has been changed to Shizuru Viola. In spite of the fact that her role in both series was that of a secondary character, she still has a wide range of admirers among the show's fans. In fact, she has even won a character popularity poll at SUNRISE Studio's official website twice in a row, [ja icon [http://www.my-zhime.net/common/event/index.html 舞-乙HiME ０〜S.ifr〜 シフル ｜ 美術室 ] ] besting even the actual leads.

Shizuru is voiced by Naomi Shindou and Melanie Risdon in both series.

Shizuru in My-HiME

The always-calm president of the Fuka Academy Student Council, Shizuru at first appears in episodes involving important school events, or in scenes featuring the Student Council's homeroom, often calmly sipping tea. Making an entrance as a playful, charming and slightly sarcastic individual, she takes care of significant school affairs single-handedly, even patching up for the academy director when required, but tends to leave all the "dirty work" for the executive committee.

She wears a differently colored uniform to denote her status as Student Council President, something fellow Student Council leaders Reito Kanzaki and Haruka Suzushiro also do. Her beauty and distinctive Kyoto-accent have earned her quite a few fans within the academy - And all mostly female. She occasionally lends Natsuki Kuga use of the Student Council's computer in order to look up information relating to the HiME.

In the novel entitled, "Natsuki's Prelude", some background was provided on the reasons influencing Shizuru's decision to running for the Student Council President position. She was originally just a class representative in her second year of highschool. Natsuki, a middle-schooler at the time, had heard a rumor that class representatives had a higher access level within the school's intranet than normal students. Shizuru teased Natsuki and assumed she was inquiring for the sake of altering her attendance record. Natsuki informed her that she wanted to gain access to the school's state of its administration, the director's name and personal record, and a register of the staff members and pupils plus their personal records. Shizuru regretted to inform Natsuki that her access to the intranet was not much higher than that of a typical student. Witnessing Natsuki looking somewhat disappointed, Shizuru mentally came to a decision and entered herself as a presidential candidate.

The novel continues with the fact that elections were held rather late in the year compared to most schools but Shizuru managed to crush her opponent, Suzushiro Haruka, in a landslide victory. She had become the new President, which enabled her high-level access on the school's intranet. Natsuki of course utilized this to her advantage, but never found out Shizuru's true motivation for running.

In the second half of the series, Shizuru's role becomes more significant, as it is revealed that she's one of the twelve HiMEs. Unlike the other HiMEs, she acts solo, without facing either the Orphans, nor the agents of the Searrs Foundation. Instead she focuses on covertly protecting her best friend, Natsuki Kuga, who is also a HiME. It is implied that Shizuru's "HiME mark" is located on her left side, as she is seen placing her hand there on several occasions relating to the HiME, including the interrogation of Yukariko Sanada, before actually being revealed as one. Shizuru's shadow with her element is first seen in episode 20 when she intervenes and has her child, Kiyohime, block Mikoto's attack towards Natsuki.

During the later course of the series, it becomes apparent that Shizuru has a romantic interest in Natsuki, which begins to unbalance her psychologically. After Natsuki is injured by Nao Yuuki and held for ransom Shizuru rescues her and brings her to a friend's house to allow her to heal. During Natsuki's recovery Shizuru's shadow is observed by Yukino's probes disrobing and lying down next to an unconscious Natsuki, though what actually occurred in this incident is left ambiguous. However, after both her HiME-status and her obsession-like love-interest are discovered by Natsuki herself after Haruka confronts Shizuru about her absence from the school and declares Shizuru's love for Natsuki to be "disgusting", Shizuru loses her mental balance and becomes yet another puppet playing to the plan of the Obsidian Lord, killing the Childs and, by extension, the most important people of Nao (her mother) and Yukino (Haruka) as well as members of the First District, for the sake of her beloved.

In a final confrontation Shizuru fights Natsuki, who having accepted her love for Shizuru now has a new most important person and has hence regained her powers, along with Duran increasing drastically in size. Shizuru misunderstands Natsuki's explanation for Duran's increased size, and believes the "omoi" (literally emotion) Natsuki feels for her is hate. An emotional Shizuru believes that Natsuki has rejected her feelings and entraps her under a bell before drawing her into an embrace. However, Shizuru is taken aback when Natsuki kisses her. She tells Shizuru that she does not have any feelings of romantic love for her, but she is flattered that she would think of her in such a way. Natsuki then orders Duran to destroy Kiyohime, which results in an explosive backlash that destroys them both. Natsuki and Shizuru disappear in each other's arms thereafter.

After their resurrection by Mashiro the two seem to have maintained their close friendship and during the day of Shizuru's graduation, their relationship progressed into something much more. The official Sunrise episode guidebook entitled "My-HiME Anime Book Volume 2" has addressed their current relationship status. On page 25, under Shizuru's profile section, it mentions that "Once again, Natsuki spoke affectionate words to the graduating Shizuru. Before one knows, happiness will visit these two."

My-HiME manga

In the manga Shizuru is not a HiME, and her role is largely reduced. She still provides information to Natsuki, but their relationship is left largely unexplored.

Element and Child

Her Element is a large naginata. It serves as a close range weapon, but she can take opponents by surprise with its long range capabilities, as the blade can extend into a chain-like extension, capable of tying someone up or crushing solid metal within its coils. She can attack long range by using the chain to slice through incoming attacks or to slash an opponent with her extended reach. She has once even used her extending blade to cut through the entire side of a cliff, causing part of it to collapse and crumble. Shizuru's use of the weapon combined with her noble and calm demeanor is likely a reference to Sengoku Period noble women, who were expected to know the art of the weapon in order to defend their families. The naginata was also frequently used as a status symbol.

Shizuru's Child is Kiyohime, a cross between a Squid and a Hydra. Its name is most likely a reference to the Japanese legend of the same name. The trapping of Natsuki under the church's bell during their fight is a direct allusion to this myth. Kiyohime's multiple snake heads allow it to attack quickly and repeatedly, and each of its heads can spray an acidic silver poison. Kiyohime is one of the larger Childs in the anime, comparibly similar in size to Mai's Kagusutchi and Mikoto's Child Miroku, and arguably, one of the strongest.

Shizuru in My-Otome

In the alternate-universe version and the sequel of the original series, Shizuru now appears as a Meister Otome and the Deputy Headmistress of Garderobe. She was a Pearl when Natsuki was a Coral and is seen in a photograph from Natsuki's school days. In the Drama CD Bonus: Memoirs of Shizuru Viola, Natsuki (who was harboring a crush for her then over-idealized Shizuru~oneesama) was also accepted as her heya-gakari (room attendant). This event involved much disillusionment and guilt for both parties. Eventually though, Natsuki expresses a desire to learn about the 'real' Shizuru and the latter reciprocates (having formerly only thought of Natsuki as another nameless fan girl). She still has got her elegant habit of sipping her tea as her quiet, slow way to deal with any situations.

She is one of the Five Columns (#3 in the order): the strongest Otomes in the world who serve not an individual master but Garderobe itself. She materializes in the first episode to fend off a SLAVE and inspires Arika Yumemiya to become an Otome herself. It is strongly implied during the series that her relationship with Natsuki from the original story is now adapted to an actual romantic relationship. They live together in the academy, and are almost never apart. This relationship is confirmed in a Drama CD scene in which Natsuki confesses to Nao that she and Shizuru are an exclusive couple.

Shizuru and Natsuki often tease and confide with each other on various topics, even though Natsuki sometimes feels jealous and envious towards Shizuru. Natsuki's jealousy is particularly evident in response to Shizuru showing affection and compassion to anyone else she meets (this might be because when Natsuki was just a student, she idolized Shizuru very much). For example, in Episode 2, Shizuru proceeded to kiss Arika suggestively. She obviously did it to tease Natsuki as she stopped halfway and looked at Natsuki. Natsuki reacted by sucking in her breath. Then, Arika was overwhelmed and fainted. There's also a time when Shizuru massaged Natsuki (both in bathing suits) as they talked, she did as far as reaching the hem of Natsuki's G-string, which made her blush (Episode 9) Shizuru is often idolized and referred by other students as Oneesama because of her elegant fighting style, charisma, beauty, kindness, and sincerity. Shizuru often acts as the surrogate mother/sister to Arika Yumemiya and Nina Wáng, and gives them her support and comfort whenever necessary.

In the first episode of the OVA My-Otome Zwei, Shizuru is petrified by an unknown entity while investigating a mysterious crater. In the second episode it is implied that the victims are still alive despite their nanomachines being solidified, and in the third episode her body along with the other petrified victims are at Garderobe for analysis by Yohko. She and the other victims are eventually cured in the conclusion to the fourth episode.

GEM

Her GEM, from which the power of an Otome derives, is named the Bewitching Smile Amethyst (嬌嫣の紫水晶 "Kyouen no Murasakizuishou"). Her Robe resembles both her Child from My-HiME as well as the traditional kimono she wore often in that series.

Her Element of choice is a double-edged naginata with blades that extend into whip-like chains. She utilizes her natural grace and agility in her fighting prowess, making her an elegant yet deadly warrior.

My-Otome Manga

In the My-Otome manga Shizuru Viola is still the first Meister Otome introduced, though her first materialization comes in chapter 12, not as early as in the anime. She duels against Rad in the same chapter and Midori in chapter 18 but fails to win decisively. This Shizuru is Arika's oneesama from the beginning unlike in the anime, where it was initially Akane and then Nao. She was also an early target of Manshiro's infatuation.

Since Shizuru Fujino was not a HiME in the My-HiME manga she is not present among the resurrected HiME from the manga (made evident by the presence of Haruka), but Viola nevertheless does do battle against them. However, she is ambushed by Sugiura Midori while comically wondering about her 'black' counterpart (the anime version of Hime's Shizuru, evident in her portrayal as a creepy stalker complete with naginata and "Natsuki Love" bandana). Fortunately, Midori the leader of Schwarz intervenes before the HiME Midori can capitalize on her advantage.

Miscellaneous

* Shizuru's character song, "Katakoi Enka", is presented in My-HiME character vocal album vol.2, by her seiyuu Naomi Shindou.
* It has become something of a running gag in many fanarts of Shizuru for her to be holding Scallions (green onion), because in the radio drama of My-HiME Natsuki develops a cold, prompting Midori to suggest an old folk cure of putting a leek up one's behind. Shizuru is immediately taken to the idea, despite Natsuki's severe objections. The "Fuuka Taisen PC Game" website even features an image of Shizuru spinning the leek in a manner reminiscent of the Loituma Girl [http://web.archive.org/web/20071012233313/http://www.icnet.ne.jp/~my_friends/index.htm] .
* To show that Shizuru speaks with a distinct Kyoto Accent, the English dub of the series gives her a southern accent in order to differentiate her from the other, "normal" speaking characters.
* She is the 5th runner-up of Anime Saimoe 2005 and the 6th one is Natsuki Kuga.

Notes

External links

* http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/my-hime/
* http://www.my-zhime.net/