Akito Hayama from Kodocha is an antihero. He starts out bad but turns good.
In the beginning of Kodocha, Akito is the “boss monkey” of the gang of 6th grade boys who constantly disrupt class. Sana determines to figure Akito out, and get him to behave, but when she does, she learns more about him.
Akito’s best friend is Tsuyoshi, who is a mild-mannered kid, except when he gets angry– then he is prone to violent outbursts, and only Akito can calm him down, by karate-chopping his head. At the beginning of the story, Tsuyoshi likes Sana, and agrees to help her get a picture of Akito with his pants down (as blackmail material), by doing the pantsing.
Akito’s mother died giving birth to him, and because of this, his sister Natsumi hates him and takes out all her problems on him. His dad is indifferent, because after the loss of his wife, he really didn’t know how to be a father other than to provide.
The family never really talks to one another, and Sana confronts them, calling them morons for the way they have treated Akito, and tells them how he behaves outside of the house.
One night, Sana finds Akito eating fast food by himself on a park bench, and asks him if he misses having a mom. Akito says no, because he never had a mom to miss. Sana pretends to be his mom, and says these words to him: “Akito, I love you, that’s why I gave birth to you.” Helping Akito to realize that he didn’t “kill” his mother– his mother loved him even before he was born, and that’s why she gave birth to him. Then she realizes Akito has a fever, and that’s when Mr. Hayama shows up, and apologizes to his son for neglecting him all these years. Akito can barely stand, and his father carries him home. After this confrontation, the Hayama family starts to talk to each other, have family meals, and function as a real unit.
Because of the help Sana gave him, Akito falls in love with her, though he can’t express himself verbally. He sexually harasses Sana throughout the series (kissing her against her will TWICE, pawing at her chest, feeling her tank top to discover that she doesn’t wear a bra, etc. etc.).
When Akito meets Sana’s fellow actor, Naozumi Kamura (who also likes Sana, and isn’t afraid to say it), he starts to feel insecure, and decides he wants to be good at something. So he takes karate, and becomes very good at it.
In the 4th issue, we are introduced to Fuka Matsui, a new friend of Sana’s, and an old enemy of Akito’s. Akito stole her first kiss when they were in kindergarten, and Fuka is still mad about it. In the 5th volume, Sana accepts a role in a film, and must leave school to go shoot on location. Akito really wants to tell Sana how he feels about her, and his last chance is on the road before the cast and crew leave town. But there are so many other people around, he chickens out, and tells her “We’ll talk when you get back.”
While Sana is away, Akito is asked by Fuka to PRETEND to be her boyfriend, so she can go on a double date with her old crush, Takashi. Afterwards, Fuka starts to actually like Akito, and after seeing tabloids that say that Sana is dating her co-star Naozumi, Fuka asks Akito to be her boyfriend for real, and he accepts. Unfortunately, Sana realizes that she DOES like Akito while she is still on location, and when she gets back, she confesses to him. He admits he has always loved her.
Knowing he can’t just dump Fuka because Sana finally likes him back, Akito continues to date Fuka, but there’s really nothing between them.
Sana, in an attempt to get out of Akito and Fuka’s way, quits school to become a full-time actress. But without Sana, and knowing how she feels about him, Akito can’t keep it together and begins getting in trouble again. He disrespects his teacher, Mr. Sengoku, and gets into a physical altercation with him, resulting in his suspension. He won’t talk to Tsuyoshi or Fuka about anything.
During this struggle, Akito comes to learn about a fellow student whom he’s never noticed before– Kazuyuki Komori, who sees Akito as his best friend, and believes betrayed him. Kazuyuki has threatened suicide at Lake F; a place the class had previously gone to on a field trip. Akito goes to Lake F by himself to find Kasuyuki and bring him home.
In the 8th volume, Akito finds Kazuyuki, who tells him that he wants the two of them to hang themselves from a tree together, because they’re friends. Akito refuses, stating that his mother gave her own life to give birth to him, and that he’ll never throw that away. During the confrontation, Kazuyuki stabs Akito in the right arm in a fit of rage. Akito acts like it doesn’t even bother him, and brings Kazuyuki home with no thought for his own life. He collapses at the train station and is taken to the hospital.
After literally DYING of blood loss, Akito has an out-of-body experience, during which he meets the spirit of his mother, who tells him that she loves him and that he must live for the both of them. Akito is revived on the operating table, but his right hand is paralyzed because of nerve damage.
Fuka breaks up with Akito, after realizing that he really loves Sana and that she loves him. While Akito does WANT to be with Sana, he can’t help feeling guilty for dragging Fuka into this, and having their relationship end this way. But he believes he deserves to be in pain, because of all the pain he’s caused. He also believes his hand being paralyzed is punishment for everything he’s done.
His paralysis impedes his ability to do karate, even with all the physical therapy. But he continues it, because he loves it. In the 9th volume, he and Sana go out on an actual date, but their happiness doesn’t last, because soon after, Mr. Hayama announces that he is moving the family to Los Angeles.
In the 10th volume, Sana falls into a deep depression at the prospect of Akito moving to L.A.
She develops what her mother calls “Doll Syndrome,” a condition where she is unable to express any emotion on her face. Sana loses weight and periodically falls into a deep sleep. Akito visits her every day, and tries to help her get better, but Sana won’t confront any issues, and her mother warns Akito not to tell Sana that she can’t show any expression on her face.
Sana and Akito run away to an amusement park, and stay in a hotel. Sana’s condition gets worse, and finally Akito breaks down and forces her to face the problem. He yells at her “DO YOU THINK YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO’LL BE SAD AND LONELY WHEN WE’RE APART?!” He actually cries in front of her, and the shock of his anguish causes Sana’s expressions to return. They leave the hotel in the morning, only to find their respective parents waiting in the lobby for them.
Akito’s father reveals that he has found a doctor in L.A. who might be able to fix Akito’s hand. Since being able to move his hand is crucial for doing karate, which Akito loves, Sana encourages him to go to L.A., even if it means they have to part.
Akito and his family move to L.A., but he and Sana maintain their relationship. He moves back to Japan for high school.
Personality:
Akito is cold and quiet, and outwardly insensitive. Inside, he is very thoughtful and loyal. He may be a troublemaker, but he does have a code: he will not lie, even to spare someone’s feelings. He won’t blindly respect anyone, even adults. Because of the abuse and neglect he suffered as a child, he can be mean, but after Sana helps him and his family, he calms down and behaves. He has trouble expressing his feelings verbally, and usually lets his actions speak for themselves.
He likes dinosaurs, karate and sushi.