Yo gamers! Borealis here.

It’s Monday, which means you need a bit of fun to get you through the day, right?  Well, look no further!  We’re exploring Kudo-sensei’s character today, and his journey of creation has been pretty funny.  Let’s dive in!

--

I have to admit that out of all the main characters of Venus: Improbable Dream, Kudo-sensei, the music club advisor, is the one whose personality and style changed the most.  When I first started writing him, he was intended to be almost a side character, not particularly forward in his presence within Kakeru’s story.  I’d figured that the emphasis had to be on Kakeru and Haruka, so initially, Kudo-sensei was only a figure that was there out of necessity, since the music club had to have an advisor.

I’d imagined him to be a quiet teacher who pretty much let the students get on with things by themselves, allowing himself to shrink into the background.  I didn’t imagine that he’d have much importance in the story itself, so I was content to just let him be not much more than a face and a name.  However, the more the story began to develop, and I came to understand what was necessary for a compelling and effective narrative, the more Kudo-sensei started to change in how I wrote him.  In the end, he became a completely different person, polar opposite to his original form, and in a way, it almost felt as though he was writing himself through me at times!  I’m still not entirely sure where some of his quirks came from - he just jumped into existence and announced with a swish of his conductor’s baton, “I’m here!”

So, what is the real Kudo-sensei like?  As you can probably see, he’s a very cheerful guy, always optimistic and sporting a grin.  He’s quite laid back in comparison to other teachers at Kakeru’s school, not likely to scold anyone or raise his voice.  He prefers to lead with an attitude of camaraderie, as though he’s one of the group, as opposed to their superior, and thanks to this friendly approach, he’s pretty popular among his students.  As an advisor, Kudo-sensei is outwardly passionate about music, youthful in his vigour and excitement, and often gets caught up in what he’s doing, like a giddy child.  He simply loves to nurture young musicians, and his apparently unending patience and enthusiasm for the subject makes him perfect for his job.  If you get him engrossed enough in a piece of music, he’ll forget about almost everything else in the world.  With his flamboyant humour and impish winks, he always makes the music club a casual yet exciting place to be.

Kudo-sensei is also very understanding and empathetic, which makes him a great potential ally for Kakeru.  When Kakeru first became a part of the music club, Kudo-sensei instantly grasped the extent of his anxiety, and worked around it without missing a beat.  Determined to make the music club feel like a place that Kakeru could feel comfortable in, he went out of his way to give him both the space he craved, and the musical guidance that he needed.  I think Kudo-sensei felt for Kakeru in a way that he saw something of a caged bird in him - a burgeoning talent that could be set free with the right treatment, and further than that, a good person who deserved to make friends.  Alongside his club duties, Kudo-sensei makes it his prerogative to encourage Kakeru as much as possible, and let him know that he’s someone he can turn to if he needs it.

It’s also thanks to him that Kakeru and Haruka meet properly.  Knowing that the both of them share a deep fear of similar proportions, he spurs Kakeru on to get to know her, instead of keeping him firmly within the group.  It’s his hope that the two might make a meaningful connection and thus begin to forge new friendships, helping them both to grow more confident in themselves.  This makes Kudo-sensei so much more than just his original face and name; it makes him a crucial component in Kakeru’s story, as he’s gently pushed closer and closer towards people and events that will change his life for the better.

--

And that’s all for our fabulous bespectacled sensei!  Next time, we’ll be exploring Kakeru’s parents’ characters, starting with his mom.  Stay tuned!

Have a good day everyone!

Borealis