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North Star (n.) A guiding star, the brightest in the heavens.

Opposite Twins
Hokuto-chan is the first born of the Sumeragi twins, and as her name reflects, she is the guiding force in her younger brother’s life.

The twins are polar opposites; Subaru is shy and polite to a fault, whereas Hokuto-chan is rude, opinionated and brash; while Subaru has problems being different, Hokuto-chan thrives in her uniqueness, even drawing greater attention to it with her wild sense of fashion; whereas Subaru is respectful of his traditional upbringing, Hokuto-chan resents it. But these differences have only served to make the pair inseparable; they share a deep bond stronger than that between most siblings.

Hokuto-chan is not just his big sister and twin, but also Subaru’s best friend and even mother figure. The pair have had to endure many hardships in their short lives, and were once even separated for year towards the end of Subaru's training. Despite her seeming recklessness and continual attempts to fix her brother up with an older man, she is fiercely protective of Subaru. She even once half-jokingly threatened to kill Seishirou-san if he ever hurt her brother.

Supporter
When it was found that Subaru had stronger spiritual powers than Hokuto-chan, a sense of guilt settled over the girl. Fearing Subaru was too pure for the task, she would have accepted the responsibility in a split second if there was some way to transfer his abilities to her. But her only option was to always support him, focusing upon making life easier for Subaru. She even felt that perhaps the reason for her own birth, and for her lack of magical abilities, was to stand by her brother's side and help him to understand his own, often forgotten, emotions.

"...I do have one thing that you don't. The ability to know what's in your heart. You can see into other people's hearts, Subaru. But you don't understand yours at all. You're so sensitive to other people's pain and sadness, but you're numb to your own emotions. Maybe that's why I understand what goes on in your heart instead."

~ Hokuto-chan

This support comes in many forms. She not only prescribes almost all the clothes her brother wears, but she cooks most of his meals (Subaru often gets so wrapped up in work he forgets to eat). She often helps him with work and is his unofficial match-maker. With someone as lively and free-spirited as Hokuto-chan by his side, Subaru is able to cope with the seriousness of his destiny.

Matchmaker
Concerned that her brother focuses to little on making himself happy, for years Hokuto-chan strived to find something that Subaru could care for so much that he would fight to keep it, no matter what other people thought. At first this was Subaru's wish to become a veterinarian or zoo keeper, but when she met Seishirou-san, her attention settled on pushing the two together.

In Seishirou-san, Hokuto-chan saw someone her brother could fall in love with, as well as someone that would be devoted to Subaru and treat him as she wished. She spent the next year helping Seishirou-san seduce Subaru.

However, things did not remain that simple for long. When Seishirou-san lost his eye protecting Subaru, Hokuto-chan began to grow suspicious of their friend. With his glasses removed, she could see something unsettling in his uninjured eye and sensed blood around him. She also had the uncomfortable feeling that somehow Seishirou-san would take Subaru away from her, but she couldn't even understand her own suspicions. She was just so scared that, as Seishirou-san was now special to her brother, something bad was going to happen, and that it would crush his heart.

Her perceptions turned out to be an indication of what was to happen.

After Seishirou-san betrayed and attempted to murder Subaru, Hokuto-chan was heartbroken. As she had been the one to push them together, to try so hard to make Subaru love Seishirou-san, she believed it was her fault. Knowing that the Sakurazukamori would never leave one of his victims alive, she took Subaru's shikifuku (ceremonial robes) and left to search for her old friend.

Sacrifice
After a month, the two met under the sakura tree in Ueno Park. Understanding that there was no way she could defeat the Sakurazukamori, Hokuto-chan used a spell only she could cast, one that meant the sacrifice of her own life: if the Sakurazukamori was ever to try to kill Subaru in the way he killed her, his attack would be reversed and he would die instead of her brother.

Withdrawn into his own mind, Subaru sees the death of his sister. Before he was contented to remain in catatonia, but after he feels his twin’s life slip away, her calling his name with her last breath, he vows to kill the one he loves in revenge.

“So no matter how hard your work gets, no matter how sleepy
you are, I want you to say “Good Morning” to me. That
alone will make me love you even more, Subaru.”

- Hokuto; TYOB Vol. 7, Annex Start

Hokuto’s death changed Subaru in a way nothing else could. Already reeling from Seishirou’s rejection and torture, this final blow destroyed almost all that was left, turning him into a broken man. Even years later he is taunted by visions of her death in his nightmares and is unable to wear anything but the drabbest clothing. He also stops refering to her by the normal "Hokuto-chan"; he now uses the more respectful "nee-san".

 

Extra
For a translation of Subaru's character file, which includes him speaking to his sister in his heart, visit the "I Hyu Because...Yes" website.

 

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