Hayami Katsura

Hayami Katsura (速水桂) is a first year Lily who attends Odaiba Girls' School. She is a member of Legion Heorot Saints, acting as one of its several tactical commanders. Katsura is a recurring character of the Odaiba series of stage plays.

Personality

Katsura is stoic and excessively disciplined, her demeanor being compared to those displayed by the warriors of old. She speaks in a polite, yet monotone, matter-of-fact tone, and her body language is similarly mechanical, comparable to that of Kuroki Francisca Yuria. Katsura is noted to be "a Lily who devotes her entire being to the battlefield", and as such, she'll often spend her free time studying battle tactics or meditating, only partaking in recreation at the request of her friends, particularly the outgoing Kawanabe Nazuna. Despite this, Katsura is not altogether unsociable, and will still join her friends or Legion mates in more casual activities, such as having lunch or holding tea parties together.

Katsura's diligence and pragmatism extends beyond her duties as a Lily and into her daily life, personally adhering to the teaching that "every day without fail, one should consider themself as dead". Stemming from this earnest attitude, Katsura is someone who will unabashedly voice her genuine thoughts and opinions, including criticisms she may have of others. Though she may not have any ill will behind her words, simply seeing them as statements of fact, her dry and upfront delivery will still be enough to bother the more emotional types, like Nazuna. Conversely, Katsura's sincere, yet aloof disposition causes her to struggle with lying or acting in secrecy, as she will have great difficulty hiding her true intentions to the point of showing visible panic when attempting to do so.

In spite of her stone-faced presentation, Katsura is not at all cold-hearted, and particularly cares very greatly for the safety and well-being of those around her. Katsura notably completely retired from being a Lily during elementary school due to the immense guilt and grief she felt at the loss of her classmates during a Huge attack, and even when she later succeeded in protecting her schoolmates when faced with a similar situation during the Odaiba Counteroffensive, Katsura was still heartbroken at her failure to prevent her friends from being hurt.

History

Katsura is a native of Kamakura, and enrolled in the prestigious Garden of Yurigaoka Girls' Academy during elementary school, where she soon rose to prominence due to her remarkable proficiency in fighting in the AZ position. During her elementary school days, Katsura became close friends with Yamashita Ayako, Yoshida Shie, Tanaka Akiko and Kitahara Sui, with the four of them making a vow to one day form a Legion together. Katsura also developed a close friendship with Kanabako Misora, and the pair would often train together, sharing a dream of fighting side by side one day.

Additionally, Katsura was also the first Lily to befriend Luise Ingels upon her arrival in Yurigaoka, with her, Luise, and Misora becoming good friends with each other. Katsura was also friends with Asanaga Ichigo, and was also in good terms with Tanaka Ichi.

The elementary school tragedy

One day, a group of Yurigaoka's elementary school Lilies was brought outside of the Garden's limits during a particular training session, and over the course of it, the group was suddenly ambushed by a swarm of Irregular Small-class Huge. Katsura and Luise, who were among the Lilies in the group, fiercely fought together to fend off the erratic horde, but as the battle progressed, a certain Yamaguchi Chihiro hypothesized that, because she and Luise were both Boosted Lilies, they were the ones constantly inviting the Huge's attention. And so, Chihiro broke off from the group in order to lure some of the Huge away from the others, but despite her best efforts to fight them by herself, Chihiro was ultimately overpowered by the Huge and collapsed.

The sight of Chihiro's seemingly lifeless body sent Luise into a rage-fueled rampage, as she single-handedly decimated every Huge within her sight. At the same time, Katsura similarly succeeded in exterminating every Small-class she encountered. Thanks to Katsura and Luise fighitng to the very limit of their abilities, as well as the efforts of other Lilies present such as Kiko Totori, Imagawa Homare and Kondo Misaka, the swarm of Small-class was successfully repelled. However, the viciousness of the Huge's attack still led to many casualties among the elementary school Lilies, with several wounded to the point where they could no longer continue serving as Lilies, and many others losing their lives. And among these Lilies who were killed in the attack were Katsura's friends Ayako, Shie, Akiko and Sui.

The loss of her friends, particularly Ayako, left Katsura saddled with a crushing guilt, having grown to see herself as powerless even in spite of her genuine accomplishments during the battle. This trauma led Katsura to momentarily stop attending school and begin considering retiring from being a Lily altogether. Misora, who greatly admired Katsura's talents, attempted to convince her otherwise, but Katsura reportedly responded that she "cannot keep on fighting if my friends’ last moments still flash before my eyes every time I try...”. And so, despite Misora's pleas, Katsura ultimately decided to leave Yurigaoka and enroll in a civilian school for her junior high years. However, before leaving, she stood in Luise's defense, as the latter's feral behavior during the battle led her to grow infamous within the Garden. Katsura credited Luise for their successful repulsion of the Huge's swarm, stating that "were it not for her, even more lives would have been lost."

After leaving Yurigaoka, Katsura enrolled in a private girls' junior high school. There, she met and befriended a girl named Iwai Emi.

The Odaiba Counteroffensive

Main article: Assault Lily Wunder

During her third year of junior high, Katsura's school conducted a field trip to Odaiba, Tokyo, where they would be given a tour of the local military installations, as well as the Neunwelt Tactic Technical Conference, which was set to be held on the same day. However, the Nestless Ultra suddenly appeared while the students were visiting the military facilities in Yumenoshima Park in Shin-Kiba, and so, the students were swiftly evacuated out of the district while the military and some Lilies of Odaiba Girls' School present in the area kept the Huge at bay.

Though most of the students were safely brought to the confines of the Light Wall, the bus where Katsura and Emi were in was the only one unable to enter it in time, and after suffering an attack by the Huge while on their way to an alternate evacuation route through Shinonome, they were forced to abandon the bus entirely and escape on foot, relying on the military to hold off the Huge. As they no longer had any backup from the local Lilies, Katsura retrieved a first-generation CHARM from one of the nearby CHARM pods and used it to strike down any Huge that approached her and her classmates.

Katsura after her solitary battle against the Small-class Huge

The group eventually arrived at Shinonome Park, one of the designated evacuation zones, but to their dismay, it was completely empty, as the appearance of a Gigant-class Huge nearby forced the military to move the evacuees elsewhere. Just then, Katsura spotted a group of Small-class advancing towards the park, and not wishing to relive the tragedy she experienced during her elementary school years, Katsura retrieved several first generation CHARMs from the nearby CHARM pods, and completely by herself, began slashing down the Huge as they approached the park, switching CHARMs as soon as the previous one would break.

It took Katsura a total of seven CHARMs to kill the twenty-six Small-class Huge that breached into the park before the military and the Second Division arrived at the scene. The Second Division's vice-captain, Tsukioka Momiji, approached Katsura and commended her for her bravery, owing it to her efforts that her schoolmates and all the civilians were able to survive the Huge attack. Katsura, however, was disheartened, as even though none of the other students or teachers had died, many of them were still severely wounded by the Huge. Seeing this, Momiji invited Katsura to join her in Odaiba Girls' School, with the assurance that even if she alone is not strong enough to protect those she loves the way she wants to, she may still be able to do so by fighting alongside others as a Lily, an offer that Katsura, though initially reluctant, would ultimately accept.

After a heartfelt reunion with Emi and her other classmates, Katsura stayed alongside the other civilians while Momiji and the Second Division carried on with their operation.

Following the Counteroffensive's conclusion, Katsura would follow through on her promise to Momiji and return to active duty as a Lily of Odaiba Girls' School, and upon entering her first year of high school, she came to integrate Momiji's Legion, the Heorot Saints, being appointed as one of its several commanders.

The Liberation of Niigata

Main articles: Assault Lily Glory, Assault Lily: The Raid for the Liberation of Niigata

Note: this section follows the webnovel version of the story, and is therefore incomplete.

During her first year of high school, Katsura and the Heorot Saints, as well as the Odaiba's newly formed Legion Hronesnæsse, deployed together to an Expedition to Niigata, Japan, following a request by Amatsu Marei that they aid Legion Álfheimr and Ryuto Girls' Academy in taking down the Fafnir, one of the Seven Great Ultra-class Huge which had made its Nest to Niigata in the year following the Odaiba Counteroffensive. The Saints and Hronesnæsse initially arrived at the neighbouring prefecture of Tochigi, where Ryuto's Legion Kólga was locked in combat against a horde of Huge that suddenly emerged from Lake Chuzenji.

After rescuing Legion Kólga, the Heorot Saints were tasked with accompanying Legion Dúfa in retaking Niigata's harbour from the Huge's control, as Ryuto hoped to have a clear path towards Niigata's Sado Island, where the Fafnir was located. There, the Saints and Dúfa encountered the two-headed Gigant-class Restore Orthrus, and the two Legions agree to each perform a Neunwelt Tactic in order to destroy both of the Gigant's heads. The Saints quickly perform theirs and successfully destroy one of the Orthrus' heads, however, after Legion Dúfa makes their passes, their captain, Sumitani Miki inadvertently rushes directly towards the Huge's animate, snake-like tail, exposing herself to its attacks. Katsura and Hishida Haru quickly step in and sever the Orthrus' tail, allowing Miki to take the finishing shot and destroy the Gigant-class.

Soon after, Katsura and Haru approach Miki in order to tend to her wounds. Though Miki is apologetic, the pair still scolds her for acting so recklessly, and Katsura notes how Miki appears to desperately want to be killed in combat, inquiring the Ryuto Lily on why that is. Miki confides in Katsura and Haru the events that transpired during the Fafnir's arrival a year prior, where she alone was instructed to evacuate Sado Island while the rest of Legion Dúfa, including one Enomoto Yaya, whom she pined for, fought to their deaths in order to prevent the Huge from reaching the mainland. Miki explains how her survival in the face of her Legion mates' perishing earned her the scorn of other Ryuto Lilies, including Yaya's younger sister Enomoto Komomo. After listening to her story, Katsura and Haru comfort Miki, with Katsura in particular urging Miki to keep on living, so that she may one day find happiness and honor Yaya's last wishes. As Miki breaks down in tears, Katsura and Haru keep by her side.

At the same time, Legion Hronesnæsse had joined Legion Kólga in returning to Lake Chuzenji, where they learned that the master of the Nest in the Lake, the Gigant-class Cihuateteo, had since evolved into an Ultra-class, forcing them to retreat. Now with two Ultra-class Huge to contend with, the Lilies devised the strategy called "Mission Drachentöter", which entailed separating their forces into two teams, as they ascertained that the Fafnir and the Cihuateteo would eventually converge, hence requiring them to be neutralized simultaneously. And so, with Legion Álfheimr and the leaders of Ryuto's Legions of the Nine continuing with their operation to neutralize the Fafnir, The Heorot Saints and Hronesnæsse were tasked with defeating the Cihuateteo together.

Stage plays

This information is specific to the stage play continuity.

The Singular Ability

Main article: Assault Lily: The Singular Ability

Katsura was presumably among the Saints members who accompanied Momiji in an Expedition to Makuhari.

The Empathy Phenomenon

Main article: Assault Lily: The Empathy Phenomenon

The Heorot Saints deploy on a mission to neutralize one of the several Caves that formed across Tokyo, and over the course of it, they encounter a Gigant-class Huge. As they carry on with the Neunwelt Tactic, Katsura scolds Nazuna for playing with her CHARM while holding the Magisphere. The Saints eventually realize that the Gigant-class possesses the Dominator Skill, which allows it to convert the ambient Magie into Negative Magie, and when Lunatic Trancer user Saigo Kurena falls victim to its effects, Momiji enlists Nakaba, Nazuna and Katsura to join her in making the Neunwelt's final passes while the remaining Saints members attempt to restrain the rampaging Kurena. After making their passes, Hronesnæsse's Funada Kiito usurps the Magisphere from Momiji, and after exchanging passes with her sister Funada Ui, she fires the finishing shot. However, their Magisphere proves insufficient to take down the Huge, and it escapes.

In the aftermath, the Saints and Hronesnæsse's first years skip Igusa Subaru's mission review and hold a tea party together. Uncomfortable at neglecting her duties, Katsura attempts to leave and join Subaru's meeting, but she is stopped by Nazuna. Inebriated by her tea blend, Nazuna forces Katsura to stay, demanding satisfaction for being scolded during their earlier mission, claiming it to be unfair. Katsura, however, insists that her behavior was not befitting of a proper Lily. The first years turn their discussion to Kiito's failure to take down the Gigant-class, and Nazuna wonders if it was the result of her being unable to perform in proper synchronicity with her sister due to the latter suffering an injury during their earlier Expedition.

Following their respective Legions' training sessions, the first years reunite for another tea party, where they discuss Kurena being temporarily placed with Hronesnæsse in order to help her recover from the shock of having attacked her Legion mates during their previous mission. Noting how she was able to make significant progress by joining Hronesnæsse, Katsura expresses her concern that Kurena might choose not to return to the Saints even after she recovers, and in response, an irritated Shiba Tomoshibi assures her that she "will not allow that to happen" before storming off. Nazuna points out that Tomoshibi is not one to politely ask others for things, leading Katsura and the other first years to presume that she intends to forcefully kick Kurena out of Hronesnæsse. Panicking at the prospect, Katsura and the other first years halt their tea party and hurriedly follow after Tomoshibi.

The Saints and Hronesnæsse deploy together following the appearance of another Cave, being accompanied by Hirose Minato and Kishida Hanabusa of Legion Coast Guard. Soon after arriving at the Cave's location, they encounter the Gigant-class Huge Gigafloat, which possesses an energy shield that renders it impervious to regular attacks. In order to properly neutralize it, the two Legions agree to perform a double Neunwelt Tactic, with the Saints using their Magisphere to destroy the shield while Hronesnæsse uses theirs to destroy its core. As the two Legions carry on with performing their Neunwelt Tactics, the Saints' Suzuki Chinami struggles to properly make use of her Laplace due to the Gigafloat flooding the area with Negative Magie. This incites Tomoshibi's ire, who blames it on Chinami that Kurena lost control of herself during their encounter with the Dominator Huge, leading her to be shoehorned into Hronesnæsse and disturb the Legion's harmony. Katsura refutes this, assuring Chinami that she had done everything she could then, and pointing out that Tomoshibi had been acting unusually aggressive.

The Gigafloat captures Momiji and Kawamura Yuzuriha and brings them inside its shield. As Momiji was the one in possession of the Saints' Magisphere, the two Legions change their strategy, now intending to use Hronesnæsse's Magisphere to destroy the shield and hopefully retrieve Momiji and Yuzuriha and their Sphere. But with not only Momiji and Yuzuriha, but also Kiito and Kurena absent, the Lilies are forced to continue their passes while in close proximity to the Huge, in order to ensure its Magie Intensity produces a powerful enough Magisphere to destroy its shield. Hronesnæsse eventually succeeds in completing their Magisphere and are able to destroy the Gigafloat's shield, allowing the Saints to retrieve Momiji and Yuzuriha. Together with Minato and Hanabusa, the Saints resume their Neunwelt while Hronesnæsse moves to clear the area. Kiito and Kurena eventually return with Ui, and joined by Chinami, Yuki, Tomoshibi and Sunao, they make the Neunwelt's final passes, successfully destroying the Gigafloat.

The Battle to Overcome

Main article: Assault Lily: The Battle to Overcome

While on a joint mission to neutralize a Cave, the Saints and Hronesnæsse notice several Irregular Soldier Ants present among the Huge's troops. Kiito is quick to recognize them as the very same ones they encountered two years ago, during the final battle of their junior high team, the Funada Reserve Corps.

Upon returning to the Garden, the two Legions' first years hold another tea party, where they're told the story of that battle by Nagasawa Yuki. The third year explains how, two years ago, the Funada Reserve Corps had been completely surrounded by the Soldier Ants after a miscalculation by their commander, Kon Kanaho, left them with no viable escape routes. In her desperation to rectify her mistake, Kanaho attempted to cut a way through the Huge's troops by herself, a decision that Katsura particularly notes to have likely been an attempt to throw away her own life as a means of atonement. Ultimately, when Kanaho's close friend Miyagawa Takane attempted to follow after her, she was caught and mauled by one of the Ants, and though she survived the attack, the injury left her chronically impaired, and no longer able to integrate the Funada Reserve Corps, Kanaho and Takane left the team, as well as Odaiba entirely, choosing to enroll in the Garden of Kamba Girls' High School for the Fine Arts.

Later, the Soldier Ants are soon detected again at Odaiba's Wakasu Park, and as the Saints and Hronesnæsse arrive at the scene, they are joined by Kanaho and Takane. A Gigant-class Soldier Ant appears just as Odaiba's Light Walls are placed in full admission mode, and Kiito, hoping to finally put their past with the Soldier Ants to rest, proposes that instead of fighting as different Legions, they reassemble as the Reserve Corps for the final time. With all former members in agreement, the Reserve Corps takes charge of defeating the Gigant Soldier Ant, while the remaining Lilies of both Legions fend off the remaining swarm of Huge.

While fighting, Katsura reminisces on her past, the death of her friends during her time in Yurigaoka, her one-man stand against the Huge during the Counteroffensive, and her fateful encounter with Momiji. She expresses her gratitude to Momiji for granting her the opportunity to recover the drive to fight as a Lily, and vows to continue fighting for the sake of protecting the new companions she found in the Heorot Saints.

As the Reserve Corps' Neunwelt nears its conclusion, they are brought to a halt as they witness the Gigant-class devour the Odaiba Instructor Inaba Mayumi. The Lilies note how she appeared to allow herself to be consumed by the Huge, and pointing out how the Huge will sometimes eat their own to enhance their abilities, they presume her to be the one responsible for the Soldier Ants' outbreak. Mayumi, having merged herself with the Gigant-class, briefly contacts the Lilies telepathically, but after a brief conversation, her voice begins to falter before the telepathic link breaks, leading the Lilies to presume the Gigant-class rejected her consciousness. The Reserve Corps resumes their Neunwelt, and eventually succeed in destroying the Soldier Ant. But as the accompanying swarm of Soldier Ants still remain, Kiito orders all the other Lilies to continue holding them off while her and Kiito proceed to destroy its Nest.

In the aftermath, Hronesnæsse and the Saints, including Katsura, reunite to see Kanaho and Takane off as the pair returns to their Garden.

The Snowdrop

Main article: Assault Lily: The Snowdrop

The first year Lily Komai Sumire suddenly transfers to Odaiba from the Garden of Ambrosia Ladies' Institute of Secondary Education, temporarily joining Legion Hronesnæsse in circumstances that elicit the suspicion of the Heorot Saints' second years, particularly Momiji. And so, they task Katsura and Takehisa Nakaba with covertly extracting information pertaining to her transfer during one of their tea parties. The always honest Katsura, however, is helplessly nervous at the prospect of acting deceitfully, much to the second years' worry.

Sumire arrives at the tea party, and as their conversation carries on, Nakaba inquires Sumire on why she chose to join Hronesnæsse in particular, she responds that she is not quite sure yet, and asks the first years to tell her more about the Legion so that she can make a more informed final decision. And so, the first years turn their focus to telling her about Legion Hronesnæsse's origins, from their members' past in the Funada Reserve Corps to the present. Their conversation progresses to Odaiba's Blood Oath, with Katsura in particular explaining to Sumire the workings of the ritual.

When discussing who they would like to take the Blood Oath with, Kozue West assumes that Katsura wishes to exchange her vows with Momiji. This causes Katsura to become incredibly flustered, refusing to offer an answer as she was aware that Momiji was listening nearby. Katsura, wishing to continue her mission, asks Sumire who she would like to take the Blood Oath with, but Sumire responds that she is not quite sure yet. After conversing for some more time about Tomoshibi's past, the school bell rings, and the first years end their tea party, with Katsura and Nakaba returning to the second years without any particularly meaningful information to show for.

Not long after, Odaiba is alerted to the appearance of a Great Cave, prompting the Saints and Hronesnæsse to deploy together in order to neutralize it. They learn from Instructor Akira Blanton that the master of the Cave is the Cihuateteo, which had survived their takedown of it in Niigata by merging itself with the core of the previous master of the Lake Chuzenji Nest, the Giant Zombie. Because of this, all the Huge spawned by the Cave possess the Undead ability, and so, in order to avoid needlessly exhausting themselves fighting the resurrecting Huge, the two Legions agree to ignore the larger horde and focus on approaching the Cihuateteo and the Huge in its immediate vicinity.

The Lilies set off, agreeing to close in on the Cihuateteo in pairs. Katsura partners with Momiji, and as they progress, Katsura apologizes to her for failing to fulfill the mission she'd been given, saddened that she was unable to be of any use to Momiji. In response, Momiji insists that Katsura shouldn't let herself be bothered by the events of the previous day, assuring her her that she had always seen her as someone incredibly useful, citing her pivotal role in their Zero Top Technique as an example.

The two Legions regroup after successfully moving past the horde of Huge, however, Tomoshibi and Sumire are yet to arrive. Akira instructs the two Legions to perform a double Neunwelt Tactic, as the two Magispheres would damage the Cihuateteo enough to expose the Giant Zombie's core, allowing her to destroy it. However, because the Cihuateteo possesses tentacles that can sap the Lilies of their Magie, they agree to momentarily step back and perform the Neunwelt out of its reach Both Legions succeed in charging their Magispheres, but as making the final passes would incur approaching the Cihuateteo, they split the task of neutralizing its tentacles between the members of their two Legions. Despite their exhaustion, the Saints are able to complete their Magisphere while fighting off the tentacles, and Tomoshibi and Sumire return just in time to allow Hronesnæsse to complete theirs, allowing Kiito and Momiji to finally fire them against the Cihuateteo. The resulting explosion exposes its core as predicted, and Akira successfully destroys it.

Combat Style

From as early as her elementary school days, Katsura was noted to be a prodigy of the AZ position, and she was particularly well regarded for her strength, being called the "Thousandfold Lily" by her classmates. Currently the Heorot Saints' center AZ, she is a very important piece of their Zero Top Technique, as after falling back from the AZ to the TZ, she'll act as her Legion's primary intermediate for their passes, and upon returning to the AZ, will be the one to retain the Magisphere while the remaining Lilies close in on the Huge.

During her time in Yurigaoka, Katsura reportedly wanted her Legion to adopt a combat approach similar to the one which would later be employed by the Second Generation Álfheimr. Furthermore, she has reached the S-Rank of her Rare Skill, The Way of the World.

Toyline

Katsura had a set of doll head parts, titled "ALHP-55 - Assault Lily Head Parts: Hayami Katsura", released on October 2024 through the Rampage Store. The set consists of four swappable faceplates, as well as a hair piece, which may be mounted on a standard doll body in order to create a complete action doll. Katsura's Claíomh Solais was made available as a separate item, titled "ALCK-57 - Assault Lily CHARM Kit: Claíomh Solais - Hayami Katsura version", in November of that same year.

• 
  Katsura's head piece, mounted on a standard doll body wearing the Odaiba uniform

Trivia

• The motto that Katsura adheres to, "every day without fail, one should consider themselves as dead" (朝毎に懈怠なく死して置くべし), is a passage from the Hagakure, a book that chronicles teachings by the samurai turned Buddhist priest Yamamoto Tsumetomo, particularly pertaining to his views on bushido, the samurai moral code.
• Katsura is noted to have a particular fondness towards Nazuna. Interestingly, Katsura's late friend, Yamashita Ayako, is said to greatly resemble Nazuna in her demeanor.
• Futagawa Fumi hypothesizes that, had Katsura stayed in Yurigaoka, she would have likely joined the Second Generation Álfheimr.
• Katsura's likes include:
  • Dogs, and her favorite breed is the Kai Ken.
  • Reading.
  • Cooking, particularly specializing in Japanese cuisine. She is particularly fond of Shuto.
  • Fishing, being said to often let her catches escape due to being lost in thought, but still being able to bring in big catches.
  • Conducting maintenance on CHARMs.
• Katsura's dislikes include:
  • Anything that is too gaudy.
  • Electronics, as she is not particularly good at handling them.

Gallery

Designs

• 
  Katsura's original design, by nauribon

Stage

• 
  As portrayed by Kanna

Navigation

Legion Heorot Saints Members Tsukioka Momiji  ·  Kawamura Yuzuriha  ·  Hayami Katsura  ·  Hishida Haru  ·  Kawanabe Nazuna  ·  Saigo Kurena  ·  Suzuki Chinami  ·  Takehisa Nakaba  ·  Yokoyama Azusa Reserve Ito Urara  ·  Maruyama Amane  ·  Otake Sunao  ·  Uemura Warabi