Hamasaki

Hamasaki

Hamasaki is a teasing, flirtatious boy whom Rina first bumps into in chapter 15. It's obvious to everyone else that Rina and Hamasaki have mutual crushes on each other, but Rina adamantly denies it, and Hamasaki's flirting drives her up the wall. Hamasaki is a high school student who wears glasses and rides a motorcycle. Other than that, the manga reveals almost nothing else about this mysterious boy, not even his personal name ("Hamasaki" is his surname.)

Hamasaki and Rina at first only run into each other by accident. Hamasaki tries to get Rina to open up to him and tell him what's on her mind, but she remains silent around him. Ultimately, however, it IS Rina who approaches Hamasaki with an invitation to their first date-like outing: watching the fireworks together on the night of a summer festival. However, even as Hamasaki and Rina see each other more and more, Rina still won't tell Hamasaki what's on her mind. Finally, Hamasaki grows frustrated, and confronts her about it. "You won't show me your heart... I know that you're hiding something from me!" he tells her.

Later, Hamasaki takes Rina to Awami Shrine on Christmas Eve, and tells her that he's a descendant of the man who was saved by the legendary mermaid. "It must seem silly for a high school student to still believe in mermaids... But when I look at you, I just can't help but believe." Hamasaki starts to tell her that he loves her, but Rina screams at him tearfully, "STOP!" So instead, the two hug. "Don't say goodbye to me," Hamasaki pleads to Rina. And Rina vows to him, silently, Someday, I'll return to you.

The final chapters of the manga show Hamasaki and Rina happily hanging out as boyfriend and girlfriend. Rina knows that someday she will leave Hamasaki, but she seems to have made peace with that fact. Hamasaki, as well, is more perceptive than he lets on - he seems to understand the reason for Rina's silences, and has also made peace with the fact that she is keeping secrets from him. But still, he is able to love her just the same.

Hamasaki's given name is "Masahiro." The only place this is revealed in the manga is in Hanamori Pink's introductory notes to chapter 25, published in volume 05. "Masahiro" was named after one of the chief editors of Nakayoshi magazine.