Appearance
Suzume carries in her upright posture and sharp bright eyes an air of perfect confidence and hints of authority. She is slightly tall in comparison to her peers, and thin, almost fragile looking if not for the healthy way she moves about, not quite athletic either, but decently energetic.
Background
The Tachibana clan has a long tradition of military service. Their influence rooted deep in the complicated system of the Japanese government and armed forces. Yet all it took was one major loss to do away most of their fame, the same time Japan’s independence did. The Tachibana clan is few in number now, their head, an army general, was assassinated by an unmanned drone at the onset of the brief war, his brothers killed soon after in the conflict, then most of their wealth confiscated. Almost ten years later, the late head’s children represent what was once great now three in number, they were Suzume, Ari and Washi Tachibana, of whom the eldest sister Suzume was scarcely adult, and the younger twin, one boy and one girl, barely over ten.
Before the fall of Japan, Suzume was a relatively normal girl, on her shoulder lay the relative normal expectations of a descendant of a wealthy and politically powerful clan. The heaviest of burdens were reserved for the male twin – Washi Tachibana, the boy who would have inherited his father’s position if not for the disaster befell their family. He had no time to learn his responsibilities, while Suzume did. Naturally, the eldest sister had to take the position.
About ten years ago, the children began their lives anew, built upon their family’s ruin, though they had never been in dire need of money, the extravagant lifestyle was no more. They lived in a small mansion in Nashiro, taken care of by a an old maid and a distant relative, whose only meaningful relation to them was his thirst for their remaining meagre wealth.
Back then, Suzume was still every bit naïve and full of fear. But no pushover. In the absence of her deceased mother, her father had taught her to be strong, and if not, appear to be. She greeted the stranger of an uncle with her most piercing gaze, conveyed clearly her unwelcoming intent. She failed, as he stayed, eating away his share of money for the task of babysitting a bunch of uncooperative kids while letting them to their all devices. Only the old maid kept on with her duty as if her masters unchanged. Suzume’s intense wariness, however, prevented her from looking for the warmth in the old maid’s heart. She stubbornly insisted to live independently of all adults and learned to do all the house chores herself. Eventually, only the task of cleaning the mansion was left for the increasingly ageing woman.
For now, Suzume is waiting to be of age. Her efforts had her excel academically, and altogether with her background, she was promised a future by an old friend of her father, who is now a lobbyist in the America controlled government. This haze-covered future seems to her the path she must walk.
Personality
Suzume is the typical honor student who’s also determined to play the part. She is good at studying, dabbles into college-level materials when she has time to spare. Never skips classes, never late, tardiness is unknown to her. She never misses club activities too, although for a very different reason. In general, she adopts a strict attitude towards life, works hard always and extremely organized, borderline a control freak. She even expected everyone else to share her mindset. To her, it seems unthinkable to have a goal and not giving your all to reach it.
Few know that being studious and ambitious was not originally in her nature. Only after the fall of Japan and her family fell along into ruin did the eldest sister took upon herself the task of restoring her family name and looking after for her little brother and sister. And study hard she did. She aimed high, for a place in the political sphere of a colonized Japan, then even further when she has gotten there. At home, she educates her younger siblings with care and keeps the bad influences at bay, an uphill battle it seems, but she has descended from a long line of combatants in one way or another, this too is just another long war to endure through. She cooks their food, picks their study materials, even goes so far as to closely watch who they hang out with. A tyrant she resembles, but if she didn’t do all of that, who would?
The many responsibilities expectedly give her a tremendous amount of pressure, yet she takes great care to hide the stress well away from her innocent siblings and nosy classmates. And luckily, she is most blessed at putting on a carefree façade, which is evident in her club activities.
Suzume likes acting. Whether this interest arised from the pressure to play the role of a reliable sister for her siblings, or a way to escape from her daily tedious role, not even she dares find out. Perhaps she simply likes acting for what it is, much like the way most people enjoy their hobbies – without a reason needed. The drama club was her second home, where she immerses in her acting without any deeper motives, unlike her other interests. Whether a malicious duchess, a poor maiden in love or vain princes and fairies and nymphs, she becomes the characters in their entirety. Their pain and happiness, anger and love become her own, and she would not trade her role for anything but another. Eventually, though, she must. After high school, the chance to act would greatly diminish, she would have to study even more in college and when embarks on her challenging career, all distractions shall be discarded. She clearly loves the school life so dearly now. The current pressures could not compare with what to come. Putting that way, her freedom seemed limited, but whatever responsibility she takes, she takes on her own choosing. She knows well what lights the fire in her heart. Yet what is a selfish flame before the weight of family honor, ambition and her love for the little brother and sister? It is less wretched shackles and more reins of untamed ambition one must ever hold tight.
Her joy too would be as easily removed as she did other temptations and desires.
But for now, she appreciates the time spent with her younger siblings and reading books in a quiet corner in the library. Her favorites are love stories, especially those in epic tales, in which love and passion defy cold reason, cruel logic and whatever else evil may be called. She knew how childish they are, and so ashamed of this hobby, she hides them under piles of difficult technical books, away from curious eyes.
With feelings and secrets to hide, Suzume is still every bit a sociable girl. Even with secrets kept, she finds it easy to get closer to others and form sincere connections using her charisma and compassion. Her hands are always ready to help her classmates and teachers. It was no surprise she was voted to be the class representative and drama club’s vice president. At times her eagerness to help ends up being a nuisance to others. What's more, she expects the same helpfulness in return for her niceness. If someone she considers a friend refuses to help her in time of need, she will feel utterly betrayed.
She hates to fail what is expected of her and be seen as useless. Guilt consumes her when she couldn’t aid a friend. Lives and dies by other’s opinions, her worst nightmare is being treated like a bad person. Words of criticism have special power over her, the worse they are the angrier and guiltier she gets, which keep on torturing her for a long time, forcing the girl to better herself.
The love for her little brother and sister, the resolve to restore the clan’s honor, and a natural desire to do good, each of which is a perfectly noble reason for her ambition, but not all. They play a big part in earnest, but another part exists she often ignores and hates to admit – her competitive nature. Seeing someone superior to her in anyway burns her with envy. This sin is her drive, which truly urges her to improve and surpass the source of envies, but a sin it is nonetheless. What else could it be? It causes the normally polite, conflict-averse girl to spout slander silently, in her mind accuses her superiors baselessly, in reality, give them the cold shoulder. Although she would later feel ashamed of her attitudes, it is no doubt she has no control over the burning jealousy right when it's lit.
FC source:
stem04
BBCode by
@Spectre of the Fade