Mao Katahira

“

Ruojnob.

”

—Mao disant "Bonjour" à l'envers

Mao Katahira (片平真央, Katahira Mao) est une personnage secondaire figurant dans le one-shot Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan - Episode 8: ADN. Elle est la fille de Mai Katahira.

Apparence

Mao est une jeune fille peu ordinaire qui porte une petite robe blanche avec des roses sur la tête.

Elle n'a pas de sourcils, pas de cils supérieurs, des cils inférieurs épais et des favoris qui poussent jusqu'à sa mâchoire. Sur son derrière se trouve une petite queue (d'environs 5 cm de long).

Dans le TV Drama, Mao n'a pas la plupart de ses attributs et ressemble surtout à une petite fille japonaise normale avec de longs cheveux noirs. Cependant elle a les yeux vairons, son œil gauche étant vert vif tandis que l'œil droit est violet. Elle porte une robe rose à froufrous mêlant froufrous bleus et roses, ainsi qu'un bandeau jaune pâle à froufrous.

Personnalité

Mao est une enfant enjouée et amicale. On la voit constamment jouer avec d'autres enfants au parc, sans être gênée le moins du monde par son apparence et ses autres bizarreries. Bien qu'elle ne parle pas souvent, elle salue tous ceux qu'elle rencontre.

Bien qu'elle ne soit qu'une enfant, Mao semble avoir fait en sorte que sa mère rencontre son père biologique.

Dans le téléfilm, Mao est une enfant plus capricieuse et renfermée, ce qui s'explique par le fait que sa mère la cachait sans cesse des autres. Elle a donc pris l'habitude de se terrer dans les objets et de se couvrir, se construisant notamment une tente faite de peluches dans laquelle elle se cache presque constamment. Mao se sent instinctivement proche de Taro Hirai, avec qui elle devient beaucoup plus enjouée. En fait, comme Taro a reçu des organes de son père biologique et qu'elle a hérité des gènes de son père, Mao semble reconnaitre son père en Taro.

Pouvoirs et compétences

Le "don" de Mao dans le drama

Mao ne sait parler qu'à l'envers et, selon sa mère, n'a jamais parlé normalement en japonais. Cependant, lorsqu'elle rencontre son père biologique, elle commence à parler normalement avec lui. Quand elle marche, ses pas sont silencieux et tout ce sur quoi elle marche devient trempé.

Le "coeur" de Mao a pris la forme d'une queue. Si on le touche, son corps se camoufle instinctivement, se fondant dans son environnement. Selon Rohan qui a examiné Mao avec Heaven's Door, ce pouvoir peut être considéré comme un pouvoir Stand qui est visible et non comme un trait génétique. Dans la série télévisée, cette capacité à disparaître est théorisée par Rohan comme un pouvoir permettant de créer des illusions et de donner l'impression qu'elle n'est pas visible, au lieu que Mao devienne réellement invisible. Rohan dit également que c'est Mai qui est responsable de l'éveil de cette capacité car elle voulait tout le temps cacher Mao aux yeux de tous.

Histoire

Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan - Episode 8: ADN

Rohan using Heaven's Door on Mao

Mao was conceived through an anonymous Sperm donation from Obanazawa to Mai.

Nothing about her life is known, but it can be inferred that despite her deformities, Mai still loved her and she lived a calm life free of bullying. At one point she befriended Tomoya, Obanazawa's son.

Mao is presented to Rohan Kishibe by Yukako Yamagishi at the beginning of her story, but upon examination he does not find anything wrong with her, as she is born the way she was supposed to be. He thus takes his leave without trying to turn Mao into a normal human.

Later, Mao plays a prank on her mother by shedding her skin and disguises Tomoya as herself, frightening Mai who then rushes toward Tomoya and Obanazawa. It is implied that she did it so that her mother and Obanazawa could properly meet each other.^[1]

TV Drama

Mao's backstory remains largely the same in the adaptation although with notable changes to the current story.

Prior to the events of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Mao's father Akira Katahira died in a car crash while her mother was pregnant with her, so she was not conceived through sperm donation. Because of the drama's omission of Obanazawa and his son, Mai instead meets her "father" through Taro Hirai, who was the recipient of Akira's organs after an accident.

One day, Mai brings Mao out on a stroller, making sure that the folded cover hides her from the sun. When Mao points the way to the park, Mai hurriedly hides her hand. Incidentally, Kyoka and Taro cross paths with Rohan at the same place. While Rohan and his editor argue, Mai passes near Taro and Mao pulls Taro's shirt, saying "Hello" in reverse to him. Unfortunately, the tug makes Taro fall and bump his head on a wall. While everyone else goes to a hospital to have Taro treated, Rohan is intrigued by Mao's eyes.

At the hospital, Kyoka and Mai learn that Taro's injury is fortunately not serious. When Mao grabs his arm again, Mai is embarrassed and goes away as quickly as she can. Taro is brought back into his hospital room for further examinations. Rohan and Kyoka are intrigued by Mai's nervousness. Back at Mai's apartment, she scolds Mao for her "dangerous" actions, seemingly upsetting the little girl. Mao quickly runs inside of her plush tent. Soon after, Mao meets Rohan, who turns her into a book to read her. When Rohan is done, Mao exits the tent and plays in a corner. Disappointed, Rohan concludes that there is nothing wrong with Mao. Her appearance comes down to genetics and her quirks of character are just her personality. Mai wants Mao to be made normal, but Rohan calls her out about her definition of normality and declares that Mao was born the way she is and that it is "normal". Mai says that she will be bullied, but Rohan shrugs it off. While Mai wants a second examination, Rohan wants to leave. Mao becomes upset when Mai tries to take her and then runs away and disappears in front of Rohan and Kyoka's eyes, shocking them. Rohan discovers that Mao has a gift like him, and theorizes that she can create illusions and camouflage herself. Mai searches for Mao in the apartment and Rohan reveals that he at least knows that Mai's obsession with hiding Mao is the cause of this ability. Suddenly, Mao opens the front door. The three realize she's gone out but they lose her trail.

At the park, Taro is sitting on a bench and tries his camera. Mao then appears to him and greets him. Taro quickly understands Mao, and they bond with each other. When Rohan, Kyoka, and Mai arrive at the park, Mai hears Mao laughing and is relieved when she sees that Taro is playing with Mao in the playground. Taro is also unusually lively and happy with the little girl. Likewise, Mai is awed that her girl is now smiling and laughing. Taro meets Mai and asks for Mao's name. At the same time, Mao runs off and is almost run over by a car. Thankfully, Rohan manages to catch up to Mao and lifts her out of harm's way, due to his athleticism. Curious, Rohan turns everyone into books. He thus confirms the true nature of Taro's link to Mao and Mai.

Later, Taro, Mao, and Mai walk together, relieved that Mao is well. Mao says she's thirsty and Taro buys her a can. All three walk away, holding each other's hands.