Gakusha

Gakusha, born Gakuga Octo, was a traveling monk living in Jakoku during the ninth century EC and the husband of Kayo Sudou. Disowned by his family, the youth eventually married his cousin Kayo, living with her in Enbizaka. Losing his memory after a great fire struck the neighborhood, the man was rescued by the traveling monk Giyara. Inspired, Gakusha became a trainee monk and joined Giyara in his travels.

Early Life
Gakuga was born a member the Octo Family and the grandson of Izasa magistrate Gato Octo. Growing in Onigashima, Jakoku, Gakuga began committing numerous debaucheries as a teenager. At the age of fifteen, he made a pass at a blacksmith's wife, getting his hand burned by the blacksmith as a result. Sometime after, he was disowned by his family.

In EC 838, Gakuga met local tailor Kayo Sudou and the two became close. Pursuing a romance, the two cousins eventually married, with Gakuga living with her at her family's tailor shop at Enbizaka. Following their marriage, he and his wife sired a son, naming him Ren. Gakuga then continued to be a drunkard, staying outside of their home for a majority of the time.

Neighborhood Tragedy
Later that year, Gakuga spotted a man attempting to start a fire starting at the Freezis trade house on the hill. Calling out to him, he eventually startled the man, witnessing set fire to a bush instead. Gakuga rushed home, seeing his wife working. Asking what she was doing, Gakuga was rhetorically asked in response, asked if he could see that she was working. Telling her that there was a fire approaching from the trading house on the hill, Gakuga said they would burn to death if they didn't flee quickly.

Witnessing Kayo prepare for their departure, Gakuga told her they would flee to the bridge on the other side of the hill. Reaching the bridge, Gakuga and his family attempted to cross, held back by the number of people evacuating. He then heard Kayo comment on Oyuka's hairpin shop burning. Having a casual conversation about food, Gakuga eventually boasted that he could sprout wings and take them away, only that his wings were weak. Sometime after, he sprouted wings and flew to Izasa Mount before losing his memories and collapsing.

A New Life
Regaining his consciousness, he was eventually found by the travelling monk Giyara. Inspired, "Gakusha" joined Giyara and decided to become a trainee monk himself. Journeying around Jakoku and performing his various duties, Gakusha began wearing basket over his face at all times in order to hide his burns.

In EC 842, Gakusha came upon Enbizaka, encountering a severed head gibbeted in the town. He then asked the townspeople what crime it had committed. After learning the story of the tailor and the murders she committed, the monk went away wondering why the lovely woman of the story murdered those people.

The next day, he approached the severed head again to perform the proper rites for the murderess and found a boy there. Questioning who he was, Gakusha learned that the child had been the one to carry out Kayo's execution. Joining hands with the boy, the monk chanted the rites for the murderess before going on his way.

Personality and Traits
Gakusha was an unscrupulous but faithful man. As a youth, he had no qualms with committing immoral acts, becoming a drunkard and engaging in womanizing. Following his marriage to Kayo, he continued to be a drunkard but stayed faithful to his wife. Sharing a close relationship with her due to their similar temperaments, Gakusha loved his wife greatly, and did what he could to protect her and her son. He also made small talk with Kayo during their evacuation, and boasted about his ability to sprout wings. Following his memory loss, Gakusha felt indebted to Giyara and was inspired by the monk, deciding to follow him in his travels to become a monk himself.

Skills and Abilities
As a descendant of Sateriasis Venomania, Gakusha inherited the ability to sprout wings and fly. Despite this power, he was unable to carry a large amount of weight with him while flying. The man was also particularly alert even when drunk, able to call out Kai after noticing he was about to set fire to the Freezis trade house. Aside from this, Gakusha could think on his feet in times of emergency, rushing to evacuate Kayo and Ren once the fire struck Enbizaka. After becoming a trainee monk, Gakusha was able to perform all of his expected duties.

Character Connections
Kayo Sudou: Gakusha's cousin and later wife. The man shared a close relationship with the tailor due to their similar temperaments. Despite his habit of womanizing, Gakusha staying faithful to Kayo. Devoted to her and their son, Gakusha had a similar temperament to her and sought to protect her during times of tragedy.

Ren: Gakusha's son. Gakusha cherished the child and sought to protect him.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Gakusha's name is partially inspired by that of his representative Vocaloid, Gackpo, with both names containing "Gaku" in the romanization.
 * His name is derived from Japanese, meaning "discarding human pleasure", a popular concept in Buddhism; fittingly, Gakusha draws many parallels with Buddhist monks.
 * The name of mountain where he lost his memory, Izasa, appears in Takemikazuchi, the legend of the Japanese thunder god; Jakoku, his native country, is inspired by Japan.

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