Reira Serizawa - Character

Character

Although her name is transliterated as "Reira" in the Viz Media manga and Ocean dub anime, Reira is named after "Layla", after Eric Clapton's famous song. She is half-American, half-Japanese, born in New York. Reira's friendship with her band comes all the way back to her elementary school days, starting with Takumi Ichinose. The two met when Reira and her mother moved to Japan. Often criticized by the neighborhood because of her then-vague understanding of the Japanese language, Takumi was asked to befriend her. The two stuck together throughout their childhood, mostly teaching each other about their first language - Reira learned more about Japanese, while Takumi learned more about English.

Reira always showed an interest in singing at a young age, seen through her rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time". During one of the first times she's shown singing this, she tells Takumi she loves him and gives a rather unexpected kiss. As this prompts him to be (not unexpectedly) put-off, Reira explains, though not very convincingly, that she often kissed (or was kissed by) anyone she respected or admired back in America, such as her parents or teacher. After being told that it's usually only reserved for "adults in love", Takumi reluctantly tells her it's fine if she does that, or holds hands with him, as long as it's only when they are alone.

Their friendship remains a close one until the beginning of middle/junior high school, when Reira (again) kisses him after he calls her cute, just like any other day. This time, however, he admits to her that they're getting older and she should only do those things with a boyfriend. Reira doesn't hesitate to ask him to take that place, but Takumi, somewhat unwittingly, rejects her coldly, saying he already has a girl of his own. Takumi begins to tell Reira it shouldn't be hard for her to find a nice boy herself, but by then she's gone from the room.

In between junior high and high school, she befriends both Naoki Fujieda and Yasushi Takagi, the latter of which was then in the band Brute with Ren Honjo. Reira became frustrated with Takumi only seeing their relationship as that of a brother and sister, or in her eyes, being nothing more than Takumi's "caged songbird". At one point in time, she even asks him what she is to him, but he doesn't respond. To deal with her unrequited feelings, she begins to date Yasu. Their relationship doesn't last, but it was a nice distraction from the pain.

Within Trapnest, she has at times been seen 'expressing' interest in both Takumi and Ren, drawing the ire of Nana Osaki. To make matters worse, the tabloid magazine, SEARCH mailed to Nana photographs of Ren and Reira together, though the shots were simply of an innocent trip the two took to their hometown. To stop the magazine from publishing the photos, Takumi decided to reveal his relationship with Hachi, who initially was suspicious of Reira as well.

Around the time when her band was at its most popular, Reira meets Shinichi Okazaki, Blast's bassist, initially finding him and Nobu handsome. Later, she solicits Shin at a nightclub; she is the first woman to give Shin money instead of gifts. The two eventually decide (at first through Reira's wishes) that the relationship is more than that of a prostitute and client, and Shin requests she no longer pays him to stay the night.

Eventually, Takumi catches onto their situation. Knowing that the teen was underage, and also that Reira could possibly ruin her career, Takumi warned both parties to think of the possible consequences. Reira initially brushed off his idea, later realizing how potentially dangerous their meetings were, thanks to the media's recent capture of Reira and Ren together. She reluctantly breaks it off with Shin, only to regret it and beg for forgiveness, possibly repairing their relationship. Shin, however, still a bit scared of Takumi's warning and not wanting to sully her reputation, refused. The two have yet to get back together.

In later chapters, Reira has given valentines chocolates to Takumi and tells him she is "tired of forcing herself" through tears. Takumi states that she is more important to him than anyone, and inquiries whether she's sure that she only wants to become one of his many lovers, knowing that they couldn't have a relationship. She accepts and they kiss passionately, but are soon interrupted. Takumi flees the scene quickly, but not without catching the eye of Ren, who wanders back into the room to check on Reira. They are last seen walking out together, Reira wiping her eyes. Takumi however becomes unsettled about Reira and himself, and its unclear if their relationship continues in the future.