Saki Hanajima


Saki Hanajima, aged 16–18, is a psychic girl who has the ability to sense people's "waves" and send out electric "waves", and one of Tohru's closest friends. She is depicted as very perceptive, polite, with a usually deadpan manner, and is often seen eating or doing Tohru's or Arisa's hair when not in class. According to an author's note, in contrast with her Gothic Lolita appearance, she likes shojo manga and novels and bought a copy of Shigure Sohma's Summer-Colored Sigh. Tohru calls her Hana-chan, and her manga symbol is a small flower, the meaning of the first kanji of her family name. Hanajima had trouble controlling her abilities when she was young, and blamed herself for the near-fatal collapse of a boy who was bullying her. Like Arisa Uotani, Hanajima is extremely protective of Tohru, who was the first person in school who truly accepted her, which acceptance helped her gain control of her powers. She wears black fingernail polish and (when not in her school uniform) black dresses, often with a cloak or veil, habits Hanajima started before she met Tohru as a way of signaling her guilt. With Arisa, she promised on Tohru's mother's grave to look after Tohru and in their near-"parental" protection, she acts as the "motherly" figure. She uses her reputation for sending out "poison waves" to shield Tohru from the malice of Yuki's fan club. She has a close relationship with her family, which accepts and nurtures her gifts, especially her younger brother, Megumi, who also has psychic abilities. When Hanajima sees Kazuma Sohma when he comes in for Kyo's parent-teacher conference, she calls him "handsome," and later at the class performance of Sorta Cinderella, she seeks Kazuma out to talk with him. Kyo is disturbed enough at the idea of Hanajima in a relationship with his foster-father, that she and Uotani tease him with the possibility. However, in the final chapter, Hanajima is working as a cook at Kazuma's dojo, and it is implied they are in a relationship.

Voiced by: Reiko Yasuhara (Japanese), Daphne Gere (English)