Naoko

"'Wow, things are going really well right now!' — Naoko"Yamada Naoko (山田直子) is a freshman student typically known for his hyperactivity and cheerfulness, as well as being one of the shortest characters in the series.

Appearance
Naoko stands at the staggering height of 4'10", which is notably shorter than the shortest female (at 5'). He's also equipped with ash grey hair and messy front bangs, as well as rounded cheeks as a form of pre-puberty. He wears the default boys' uniform.

The combination of his looks and cute mannerisms often give him the impression of being a loli shota.

Abilities
Like Hisako, Naoko was born with a magical source of energy called mana, which allows him to cast a variety of spells. However, his family background is deeply involved with Shinto practices, so his powers and status are typically thought of as divine. As such, his expertise relies more on healing and purification.

Naoko is an apt exorcist, as well as expert in spell casting itself due to his domestic training. His recitals are typically in spoken Old Japanese (compared to Hisako's Latin) and must be performed with the appropriate hand or body gestures.

Personality
Naoko does not get swayed by tough situations, and often welcomes them for a challenge. He is almost always cheerful and expresses excitement over the smallest things. He tends to favour video games over work.

He can be calm when needed, especially during his priestly duties. He takes his role in the household seriously and preforms to the best of his ability. After his tasks are all done though, Naoko seeks for the first opportunity to goof off again.

Relationships
Naoko is often the peppy freshman who follows his upperclassmen around. He has a fond attachment to the guys, Takumi in particular. In return, they usually dote on him and treat him like a little brother.

Since he shares the same powers as Hisako, he becomes her tutor in order to help her hone her abilities. He suggests forming a binding contract with her so they can share mana sources, but Hisako promptly refuses knowing that they have to kiss in order to initiate it. However, Hisako takes a liking to Naoko because of his upbeat personality. Naoko's feelings towards her are undefined, but he manages their student-tutor relationship quite well.

Backstory
Naoko was born into a religious family and raised in a shrine. His childhood was a luxurious one, as his family was well-off and able to attain several servants to provide for him. As a "young master", he spent most of his time training to become a kannushi while still attending school. It is not stated which kami his shrine is dedicated to.