Hatsuho

Hatsuho (初穂) is one of the main characters in Toukiden. She can fight beside the protagonist during hunts in the single player main story.

Role in Game
Hatsuho was born and raised in Utakata Village. She is Yamato's childhood friend, and she acted like an older sister to him. One day, she wandered away from her home and found herself lost within a dimensional void created by demons. Though disoriented, she eventually found her way back home. Her little side trip through space-time, however, took forty years to complete. Hatsuho hadn't aged a day, yet Yamato had grown to be an older man in her absence. He explained the truth to her and revealed that her family had been killed by demons.

Though shocked by the news, Hatsuho resolved to become a mononofu to protect the remains of her home. She started official duty about a week before the protagonist. At first, Hatsuho tries to act superior to him/her, but her inexperience is too conspicuous for her to hide. She gets restless with being given meager assignments and drags the protagonist with her to hunt for larger prey, accidentally provoking a Mifuchi's awakening and endangering the entire village. Hatsuho wants to take responsibility for her fault and pleads with Yamato to let her slay it. He is hesitant to comply until the protagonist stands up for her. The duo are entrusted to deal with the threat together. Grateful for their trust, Hatsuho later reveals her past to him/her in private.

She continues to help protect the village throughout the story. At the start of chapter 4, she learns that residents are mysteriously suffering from an ancient sleeping disease. Victims sleep endlessly as though they were possessed. After investigating with the protagonist, Hatusho learns that only those who deeply miss their departed loved ones are affected. She inexplicably feels nostalgic for her deceased parents, and, against her own inhibitions, falls victim to it as well. Yamato explains her past to the other mononofu, which invigorates them to locate and find a cure. Ouka and company slay the demon responsible, yet Hatsuho refuses to awaken with the other victims.

The protagonist explains their plight to the divine tree growing near their home. It offers to send the protagonist's spirit to Hatsuho, cautioning that it may endanger him/her in the process. He/She agrees and are teleported to Hatsuho's dream world in the form of a firefly. Inspired by his/her light, Hatsuho gains the courage to return to the living. Her return raises the camp's spirits. Realizing that she treasures the present as much as the past, Hatsuho says goodbye to her longing and guilt over her parents' deaths. Her stronger bond with him/her unlocks the ability to share the Urashima Taro soul within her.

Personality
Plucky and self-confident, Hatsuho is boastful and competitive. She hates to lose or be belittled for her immaturity, insisting that she is the "older sister" for everyone. Despite her sarcastic wisecracks and pouting, Hatsuho staunchly believes in her comrades and duties. Her social practices from her carefree childhood are a vast contrast to those around her, which culturally alienates her from the younger members of the party. She fights to someday see her peaceful past be made a reality.