Takeshi Kotobuki

Takeshi Kotobuki
Manga Anime
Information
Name	Takeshi Kotobuki
Kanji	寿武
Rōmaji	Takeshi Kotobuki
Status	Unknown
Age	17
Gender	Male
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Red-Brown
Occupations	Assumed student (former)
Height
Voice Actor	Sōma Saitō
First Appearance	Chapter 28 Episode 16
Image Gallery

Takeshi Kotobuki (寿武 Kotobuki Takeshi) is an Ajin and Kaito's partner in jail.

Appearance

Takeshi is a young man of average height. He has short, dark eyebrows and droopy eyes. He mostly has an indifferent expression. His hair is black, and cut short. He was only seen in his jail outfit. When he was last seen, his hand was in a sling and he had two plasters on both sides of his face.

Personality

Takeshi is usually indifferent to things around him, however he can be very irritable and vocal about his opinions on several occasions (telling Kaito to shut his mouth, saying that he's annoying, and the like). He also prefers to work alone for the most part and doesn't understand why Kaito is so devoted to Kei Nagai. Although, despite what he says, his actions do show that he feels gratitude, by offering to let Kaito escape prison should anything happen to Nagai Kei.

Background

Little is known about his past, however, when talking to Kaito he mentions that the reason he ended up in prison was because he had also once thought that favours got repaid. It is therefore implied that he was also abandoned in some way, which is why he holds a slight resentment for Kei's treatment of Kaito.

Story

Kotobuki escaped the jail facility on August 6 to attend Sato's Ajin gathering, which he had seen on TV in prison. However, he suddenly returned on his own volition two days later as he decided not to go to the regrouping. He was then taken into questioning for a month in solitary confinement. The questioning, however, was proven to have no effect as he insisted on his ignorance, saying he was "outside by the time he noticed it". There was no evidence to hint how he escaped. It is implied it was with the help of his Black Ghost, which the police know nothing about. The police decided to keep the case under wraps and pretend as if it never happened as it would damage the reputation of the prison.

Kotobuki warns Kaito not to interfere again.

After being released from solitary confinement, Kotobuki is assigned to share a cell with Kaito and three other inmates. One of these inmates in particular begins to bother him as news spread of his escape, and he presses Kotobuki for an answer to how he escaped. Kotobuki does not give any answer and takes their beating. When Kaito interferes twice, he grows irritated and tells Kaito to mind his own business, because favours to not get repaid in the real world, and if he continues to stand up for him he will only get an extended sentence and a serious beating.

The other inmates wake up Kotobuki in the night once more and begin to beat him again, even breaking his arm. Kaito tries to turn a blind eye to it at first, however, due to his altruistic nature, he ends up fighting them off anyway. Kotobuki is both surprised and amused, and calls Kaito a "supreme idiot". Still, he does not allow Kaito to be hurt other further and takes out the inmates with his Black Ghost.

He approaches Kaito later and shares his cigarettes with him, then asks him about Kei Nagai. After hearing that Kaito is still willing to run to Kei's aid, he offers to help Kaito escape prison should anything happen to him.

Kotobuki helps Kaito escape.

Kotobuki is shown again in a few brief appearances. In chapter 59, he and Kaito are shown to be watching Kei at the Iruma Base runway on TV. At the start of chapter 64, he tells Kaito while on their way to the yard to pull weeds that he will be getting him out and will be ready at any moment, and at the end of this chapter he launches Kaito into the air with his Black Ghost and Kaito is able to fly away from the prison.

In chapter 69 he appears in a flashback where he seems to be inquiring more about Kaito's relationship to Kei.

Relationships

Kaito

Kotobuki repays Kaito's favour after all.

Kotobuki seems to dislike Kaito at the start, often insulting him and telling him to stay out of his business even after Kaito helped him, stating that he doesn't feel indebted to him. However, after the second fight in the jail, Takeshi's IBM helped Kaito by beating up the rest of the prisoners. Afterwards, Takeshi shared his cigarettes with Kaito and asks him about Kei Nagai. He later tells Kaito that if something happens to Kei and he needs to get out of there, to tell him so he can help him escape. He then does help him escape in chapter 64. When Kaito is speaking to Kei during their reunion, he comments that he "even made some friends" in juvenile prison, likely referring to Kotobuki.

Kei Nagai

Kei and Kotobuki have never met, but it is assumed that Kotobuki holds some sort of resentment towards Kei, based on his conversation with Kaito. He said that Kei just abandoned Kaito even after Kaito was in his aid. However, he also said if Kei is in danger and Kaito needs to rescue him, he will help him get out.

Abilities and Powers

Most of Takeshi's abilities as an Ajin were left ambiguous, however, it assumed he is immortal and can regenerate quickly. He is also able to see Black Ghosts and can summon one with the promient ability of flying with bird like wings.

Quotes

• "Some people think that favors always get repaid, but that's not what happens in the real world." (to Kaito)

Trivia

• His IBM is the only seen Black Ghost in the series that has wings.
• His IBM can be seen in chapter 13 at Sato's gathering.
• His Ghost may be a representation for his want of freedom as wings and birds are seen as symbol for freedom and his first scene chronologically is him breaking out of prison.