Hojo Monica Asahi

Hojo Monica Asahi (宝城・モニカ・朝妃) is a first-year Lily who attends Ludvico Private Girls' Academy. She is a member of the Garden's top Legion, the Temple Legion. Asahi is the Schwester of Tachibana Theresia Nagisa, and a longtime friend and rival of Narumi Clara Yuko. She is a major character of the Ludvico series of stage plays.

Personality

Due to enjoying a reputation as the strongest Duelist amongst Ludvico's new generation of Lilies during junior high, Asahi came to see herself as the true greatest first-year prodigy upon entering into high-school. Arrogant and condescending, Asahi will frequently flaunt her high level of skill and past recognition in order to belittle other Lilies she deems inferior, being notably much more blunt and harsh towards others than the equally conceited Clara. Because of her attitude, Asahi is noted to not have many friends.

Asahi strongly cares about status, as shown in her eagerness to be selected for the Temple Legion soon after becoming a high school Lily, and even going as far as claiming her own Class A to be superior to Clara's Class B, despite Ludvico's classes not being sorted by the students' capabilities. Due to this trait, Asahi can be very competitive, and much like Clara, she'll often serve as the instigator during her arguments with others. On the other hand, Asahi appears to have an easier time acknowledging her own faults, and will cease to insist on an issue if she is sufficiently proven wrong.

However, despite her smug and confident front, Asahi is very emotionally sensitive deep down. She greatly struggles to cope with her own emotions whenever they're in turmoil, often keeping them to herself rather than opening up to others. Conversely, whenever her peers' struggles with their own emotions cause them to make bad decisions, Asahi will serve as their voice of reason, being particularly able to recognize insincerity in others.

Most of Asahi's actions are driven by her longing for Clara, her longtime friend and partner during junior high. The two were very close friends prior to entering high school, and though Asahi was once the more powerful Lily, Clara eventually came to greatly surpass her. Since then, Asahi has wished to earn Clara's validation, with her haughty personality and fixation on status stemming from her deeply held desire for Clara to once again hold her in the high regard she did in the past, ultimately wishing that they can become partners again. Asahi notoriously antagonizes Amamiya Sophia Seren, as Clara had since turned her affection to the Lily upon entering high school

History

During her time in junior high, Asahi devoted herself to specializing in Duelist techniques, and though she would eventually become the single most exceptional Duelist among her peers, her focus on such an individualistic fighting style caused her to greatly struggle with fighting as part of a team. She eventually met Narumi Clara Yuko, and the pair became very close friends, as well as combat partners. Clara greatly looked up to Asahi, and wished to surpass her one day, while Asahi became herself very attached to Clara, at one point gifting her the pink teddy bear Kumama.

The pair also met and befriended one Ishikawa Aoi during her short stay in Ludvico. They would not only share the battlefield, but also conduct their study sessions as a trio. Eventually, Clara's efforts allowed her to greatly surpass Asahi, ultimately leading to a falling out between the two. Clara and Asahi ceased to be partners, while Aoi would later leave Ludvico, continuing her pilgrimage across Tokyo's Gardens.

Stage plays

This information is specific to the stage play continuity.

Schwester's Prayer

Main article: Assault Lily: Schwester's Prayer

Upon entering high school, Asahi was assigned to first year Class A, while Clara was assigned to Class B. Asahi attempts to mock her for it, arguing that her failure to make it to Class A must mean that Clara's abilities are not up to par with her own. However, Clara dismisses Asahi's taunts, being greatly pleased to be in the same class as Amamiya Sophia Seren, whom she became enamored with due to passing the entrance exams at the top of their grade. Bothered, Asahi makes light of Seren's achievement, pointing out how she had been a well regarded Lily since middle school, while also reminding Clara of how she used to admire her during junior high.

When the Ludvico Lilies are deployed at large to neutralize a Cave, Asahi approaches Clara and Seren as they fight, smugly declaring that she had "come to save them". Despite Clara's attempts to dismiss her aid, she and Asahi naturally complement each other in battle, while Seren takes off on her own. Clara runs after Seren, with Asahi following after her.

During Ludvico's Easter Festival, a Cave manifests near Ludvico, and as the Temple Legion members begin to be appointed, Asahi is confident she'll be chosen. She runs into the Class B Lilies, and as she is about to join them in searching for Kishimoto Lucia Raimu, they are approached by Instructor Kosaka Anastasia Ryoko, who attempts to talk them out of leaving to the battlefield and instead join her Cheering Squad. Nagase Marta Nonoka, Hanaoka Angela Moe and Hasegawa Gabriella Tsugumi agree to join her, while Saeki Julia Karen and Haneda Catalina Mei still decide to leave for battle. Still believing she'll be chosen for the Temple Legion, Asahi initially refuses to join Instructor Ryoko, but after Raimu is appointed as the final member, Asahi ultimately decides to join the Cheering Squad in watching the Temple Legion's battle.

Schwester's Secret

Main article: Assault Lily: Schwester's Secret.

Asahi once again visits Class B as they discuss Tsugumi's Rare Skill, Brave, explaining its workings to the clueless Raimu while scoffing at her inexperience. Asahi reveals to the Lilies that she awakened to the Rare Skill The Way of the World, the same as Seren's, and as they both also fight in the AZ position, Asahi posits that she might completely replace Seren in the Temple Legion going forward. Clara interjects Asahi, pointing out that she is yet to be chosen a single time, and surmises that her eagerness to join the Temple Legion is due to her wishing to become her partner once again, leaving Asahi greatly flustered.

After Clara reaffirms her devotion to Seren, Asahi throws a challenge to the latter, proposing that the first to take the Schwester's Oath with the strongest Lily they can find wins. Seren agrees to her challenge, and Clara immediately voices her support to her. Bothered, Asahi scoffs at Clara's obsession with Seren, claiming that her devotion for someone as emotionally immature like her might cause Clara's Schwester, Ichinomiya Michaela Himari to regret taking the Oath with her. Furious at Asahi for speaking ill of her Schwester, Clara challenges her to a duel, and Asahi accepts, with the condition that should she win, Clara must annul her vows with Himari.

When a Gigant-class Huge is detected in Ludvico's territory, the Temple Legion is assembled to defeat it, with Asahi being chosen as a member this time. Shortly upon arrival, the Legion carries on a Neunwelt Tactic, however, they are unable to take down the Gigant-class despite making a direct hit. The Lilies are then surprised by the reappearance of Kishimoto Maria Mirai, Raimu's older sister, who was previously thought dead. Mirai uses her Rare Skill, Phase Transcendence, to divert the Gigant-class away from the Lilies, before she promptly leaves the area.

After the battle, Clara and Asahi begin their duel, with Asahi initially gaining the upper hand due to her experience with the combat technique. Though she initially succeeds in knocking Clara down, she resumes fighting after being encouraged by Himari. As they continue to battle, Clara begins to gain the advantage, telling Asahi that, having wished to surpass her for the longest time, she is intimately familiar with her technique. Eventually, Clara completely overpowers Asahi, only being stopped by Kuroki Francisca Yuria before she can deal the finishing blow.

Asahi acknowledges her defeat, and while Clara is ecstatic at her victory, Himari harshly scolds the pair, reminding them that dueling between students is against the Garden's rules. Though she assures the two that she will not report this one occurrence, she declares their duel as void. Asahi then notices that Clara still carries Kumama after all this time, revealing to the other Lilies that she was the one to give it to her. Finally, Asahi and Clara reconcile, just before the Cave alarm goes off, prompting the Lilies to begin preparing for battle.

Soon upon arriving in the location, the Temple Legion begins a Neunwelt Tactic as they're once again faced with a Gigant-class. However, Mirai appears once again, preventing the Lilies from taking the finishing shot. This time, however, Mirai begins to attack the Lilies directly, and is soon able to single-handedly overpower all of the Temple Legion. Yuria theorizes that the multiple Boosting experiments she was subjected to caused Mirai to be overtaken by the Huge cells in her body, and concluding that the only way to stop her is by shooting her with the Magisphere, the Temple Legion members work to restrain Mirai, eventually allowing Raimu to take the shot.

In the aftermath of the battle, Asahi learns from the Class B Lilies that Raimu's Rare Skill is the very uncommon Charisma, being initially doubtful of the news, as none have awakened to the Rare Skill in Ludvico's history. She is then approached by Clara, who informs her that she lost her challenge with Seren, as she succeeded in taking the Schwester's Oath with Yuria. Asahi, however, calmly accepts her defeat, telling the other Lilies that after finally joining the Temple Legion, she came to realize her own shortcomings, which she hopes to earnestly learn from going forward.

White Resistance ~The Promise's Path~

Main article: Assault Lily: White Resistance ~The Promise's Path~

After most of the Class B Lilies fail to deliver a good performance during their regular training session, Asahi once again takes the opportunity to mock them, remarking that "they might as well go take lessons from the soon to be retired third-years". Asahi scolds Raimu, pointing out that her awakening to Charisma is worthless if she cannot learn to properly make use of it, as well as Karen, going as far as to suggest that she give up on being a Lily entirely. Despite her extremely harsh words, Tsugumi attempts to reason that she means to encourage them by acting strict.

When Himari is suddenly ambushed by a Cave while tutoring Moe, the Temple Legion members set out to rescue them. Immediately after reaching the pair, the Lilies find themselves surrounded by multiple Huge, including three Large-class. And so, the Lilies are soon overpowered by the Huge in the ensuing battle, and after Himari is ultimately knocked down, Moe's panic drives her to awaken to the Rare Skill Phantasm, which immediately allows the Lilies to repel the surrounding Huge. Himari is overjoyed at this, as having a Phantasm user is a crucial part of the ideal fighting formation she wishes to realize. Clara, however, is deeply bothered by the continued attention Himari gives to Moe, and leaves. Meanwhile, Fukuyama Jeanne Sachie declares her intention to defect from the Temple Legion and form her own independent Legion, as she can no longer trust the Garden's administration.

Raimu and Seren attempt to invite the other first years to join Sachie's new Legion, and after having an intense argument with Moe over her relationship with Himari, Clara tries to join them out of spite. Asahi stops her, however, reminding Clara that she needs to stay by Himari's side so that she may offer her support. Clara suggests that Asahi join them as well, so they can fight side by side once again, but Asahi refuses to give her an answer, prompting Clara to leave, feeling rejected by her classmates.

Asahi goes to the combat simulator to vent her frustrations, where she is met by Tachibana Theresia Nagisa, who encourages her to not hold her feelings in. Asahi tearfully tells Nagisa of how she couldn't follow along with Clara's decision despite wishing for so long to fight together with her once again, as she understood Clara was not being genuine. Nagisa questions Asahi's devotion towards Clara, advising her to not base her own worth as a Lily merely on who she is fighting with, and instead think of who and what she fights for.

The Temple Legion is once again assembled for deployment, and as its members are appointed, Asahi finds Clara fighting by herself. Despite being selected, Clara refuses to join the other members, arguing that she now has Moe by her side. Asahi disagrees, revealing to Clara that she also felt unneeded after Clara finally surpassed her in junior high, but even so, she still continued to work hard in hopes that she'd once again be worthy of being her partner. Asahi points out that despite everything that happened neither Clara nor Himari thought of annulling their vows to each other, and encourages Clara to use her current frustration as motivation to reclaim her place by Himari's side.

After succeeding on getting through to Clara, Asahi and her finally rejoin the rest of the Temple Legion. Now complete, the Legion proceeds with performing the Neunwelt Tactic, while Sachie's Legion, titled Ironside, keeps the surrounding Huge at bay. However, during Moe's turn with the Magisphere, she is unable to properly control it, and ultimately causes it to be lost. And so, with half of their members depleted of their Magie, the still capable Temple Legion switch to performing a joint Neunwelt Tactic together with Legion Ironside, eventually allowing Raimu to successfully destroy the Huge.

Though Moe is left greatly depressed due to her failure during their previous battle, Clara, having worked through her insecurities, offers to personally train her in order to ensure she is a pupil worthy of Himari's tutelage. As her first lesson, Clara has Moe carry the unusually heavy Kumama, and while Nonoka worries for Moe's wellbeing, Asahi believes that Clara is the very type of strict teacher that Moe needs.

White Resistance ~The Blade of Truth~

Main article: Assault Lily: White Resistance ~The Blade of Truth~

Despite Moe also joining the Temple Legion, the formation of Legion Ironside means that there are no longer enough powerful Lilies in Ludvico to provide the Temple Legion with the minimum of nine Lilies required to perform the Neunwelt Tactic. As such, when faced with a Gigant-class Huge during a mission, they are forced to rely on the aid of Instructor Makabe Melania Sayoko in order to defeat it.

Later, during the first years' regular training session, Asahi watches on as Clara and Moe train together, having grown much closer since Clara began personally tutoring Moe. Asahi is once again met by Nagisa, confiding to the second year her sadness at seeing someone else take her place by Clara's side. Empathizing with her feelings, Nagisa tells Asahi of how she used to yearn for the attention of Nosaka Jacqueline Kazane during her time in middle school, but after Kazane chose Seto Veronica Ichika to become her Schwester, she decided to leave Ludvico to study abroad. Encouraging Asahi to begin walking her own path, Nagisa offers her Medalha to the first year, remarking how she "can't bear to just leave her by herself". Though initially surprised, Asahi ultimately accepts her proposal, and the pair then take the Schwester's Oath.

While training with Nagisa, Asahi spots Raimu and Seren as they leave Ludvico in order to return to Raimu's old family home. During their time away from the Garden, the pair is suddenly attacked by a Cave, and so, Asahi and Nagisa leave to find and warn Sachie, being soon joined by the other Temple Legion members in their search. Though eventually finding Sachie and the rest of Legion Ironside, they are unable to reach Raimu and Seren due to the large outpour of Small and Mid-class Huge from the Cave. And so, the Temple Legion agrees to stay back and keep the Huge at bay, while Ironside sets out to rescue the pair.

In the aftermath of the battle, Asahi learns that Mei had recently awakened to her Rare Skill, Zenon Paradoxa, with her snarky comments on how long it took causing Nonoka and Karen to become depressed, as the pair is yet to awaken to their own Rare Skills. Asahi continues to mock the pair, telling them that if they fail to awaken their Rare Skills during their second year as well, they'll instead need to worry about the abatement of Magie suffered by Lilies upon entering their third year.

Karen is particularly bothered by her apparent uselessness as a member of Ironside, and wonders if it would be better to retire from being a Lily and instead become an Arsenal, however, Tsugumi is deeply hurt by the idea of her retiring. Asahi and Clara then attempt to encourage Karen to continue trying to succeed as a Lily, with Asahi urging Karen to try to consider Tsugumi's point of view as her longtime friend. As Clara and Moe leave for their usual training session, Asahi then invites Nonoka to join her in training under Nagisa.

Later, the Temple Legion and Ironside deploy together as a Gigant-class appears near Ludvico. However, as they assemble, Tsugumi tells them that Raimu, Seren and Matsunaga Brigitta Kayo were trapped fighting Instructor Sayoko inside the Garden. And so, Himari orders Sachie, Yuria, Tsugumi and Karen to rescue them, while the remaining Lilies of the two Legions perform the Neunwelt Tactic together. Before they can take the finishing shot, however, the Lilies are ambushed by a resurrected Kazane, who steals the Magisphere and fires it against the Lilies. The Gigant-class flees, and the Lilies set off in pursuit of it, while Ichika and Nagisa stay back to fight Kazane.

While chasing the Gigant-class, the Legions reunite with Sachie's group, who succeeded in rescuing Kayo, Raimu and Seren. With Sano Matilda Kokoro returning to the Garden to retrieve a second Neunwelt bullet, the Lilies work to fend off the surrounding Huge in the meantime, with Karen finally awakening to the Rare Skill Regista in the ensuing battle. Once Kokoro returns with the bullet, the two Legions begin a second joint Neunwelt Tactic, and after making their passes, Asahi and Karen are ordered to Himari to find and help Ichika and Kazane.

Asahi and Nagisa reach the second years just as Ichika is shot by Instructor Sayoko as retaliation for their successful takedown of Kazane. Sayoko is soon driven away by Instructor Ryoko, while Asahi and Karen tend to the injured Ichika. Karen tells Ichika of how she finally awakened to her Rare Skill, reminding her of their promise to take the Schwester's Oath once she did. Ichika places her Medalha on Karen's neck, but her consciousness gives out before Karen can reciprocate. With Asahi holding onto Ichika, Nagisa encourages Karen to give her the Medalha regardless, and so, she places her Medalha around the unconscious Ichika's neck, finally taking the Schwester's Oath with the second year.

The Bond with the White Rose

Main article: Assault Lily: The Bond with the White Rose

Upon learning that Ludvico's campus was being directly attacked by the Huge, Karen and Asahi leave Ichika in Nagisa's care while they set off to join the Temple Legion in helping with evacuating the Lilies still in the Garden. The pair manages to reach Clara and Moe, who had been fighting the multiple Irregular Huge that had escaped GEHENA's Ludvico Labs, and after informing them of Ichika's situation, the four Lilies set out to continue defending the Garden from the Huge. Unable to establish communications with the other Lilies due to the high concentration of Negative Magie, they hoped to eventually be found by Himari and the rest of the Temple Legion.

With a large amount of Huge not only pouring from the Cave, but also emerging from Ludvico Labs as Irregulars, the Lilies are quickly left severely exhausted from the continuous battle. Karen suggests that they retreat and try to regroup with the other Lilies, but Asahi and Clara refuse, with the latter pointing out that if they leave, the Lilies still in the Garden would be left defenseless. Despite this, however, the Lilies continue to struggle against the Huge, and even after the more experienced Asahi and Clara try to take the lead in the battle, they are eventually completely overpowered, ultimately being rescued by Legion Hakolberand of Irma Girls' High School for the Arts.

Together with the four Lilies, Legion Hakolberand eventually meets with Irma's Top Legion, the Irminshines, who themselves had rescued Ironside members Takatori Natalie Towa and Li Christina Susu from an Irregular Gigant-class. Concluding that the Gigant-class possesses the Dominator Skill, the Lilies split themselves in two teams in order to carry out the double Neunwelts required to take it down. With the Ludvico Lilies joining the first team, Nishikawa Miharu proposes that Towa serve as their tactician, but Towa instead suggests that Karen take the role, due to possessing the Rare Skill Regista.

Though the Legions eventually succeed in destroying the Gigant-class, they are immediately ambushed by the Huge Sennen Mogura, the master of the Great Cave looming over Ludvico. After learning that its paralyzing breath has a cooldown time, the Lilies devise a plan to force the Huge to use it, in order to disable the attack for long enough for the Lilies to perform the Neunwelt Tactic. The first year Lilies of each Legion are placed in the luring teams, centered around Phantasm users Moe and Higashikuze Tokuko, while the second and third year Lilies perform the Neunwelt Tactic.

Their plan proceeds as expected, however, due to the high degree of exhaustion of all the Lilies present, they are unable to create a powerful enough Magisphere, prompting the Ludvico first years to ask that they also participate on the Neunwelt. And so, together with Towa and Susu, the four first years pour all of their remaining Magie into the Magisphere, with the remaining Lilies working to wear down the Sennen Mogura in the meantime. Exhausted, the Lilies are soon overpowered by the Huge before Himari finally reaches them, and receiving the Magisphere from Clara, she succeeds in completing the Magisphere with the aid of Miharu, Hibino Waku and Tejima Komachi, finally succeeding in taking down the Sennen Mogura, and neutralizing the Cave over Ludvico.

While evacuations were successful, Ludvico's campus was completely destroyed in the battle, causing it to completely lose functionality as a proper Garden. While the first years mourn the loss of their Garden, Himari comforts them, remarking that though Ludvico's facilities were left in ruins, the unity between its Lilies remain unbroken. Due to Ludvico's upper administration completely falling apart, the Temple Legion no longer exists in any official capacity, and so, the Lilies are ordered to aid the Legions dispatched by other Gardens to cover Ludvico's territory while rebuilding efforts take place, with the first years agreeing to continue following Himari as she expresses her desire to remain as the Temple Legion's captain in the future.

Trivia

• Asahi's confirmation name, "Monica", is likely in reference to the famous Catholic Saint Monica.
• Asahi's existence as a character predates her appearance in the Assault Lily universe. A character named "Hojo Asahi" appears in other plays by Ludvico Private Girls' Academy dating back to 2016, where she was performed by Hirosawa Mai.
  • Hirosawa Mai, who portrayed Asahi in the original stage plays from Schwester's Oath onwards, later became the primary actress for Ishikawa Aoi, Asahi and Clara's close friend during junior high.
• In the recap performance Schwester's Oath, Asahi is followed by fellow Class A Lilies Igarashi Bernadetta Sumire and Horie Agata Yukino, with their dynamic being very similar to the one between Clara, Moe and Nonoka. Sumire and Yukino are completely absent from both the original and revival versions of the stage plays.
• Asahi's hobbies include sewing and fencing.
• Asahi's favorite foods are lasagna and melons.

Gallery

Designs

• 
  Asahi's original design, by Iizuka Haruko

Stage

• 
  As portrayed by Yamazaki Yuki
• 
  As portrayed by Saito Airi
• 
  As portrayed by Hirosawa Mai
• 
  As portrayed by Eto Sayaka

References

Temple Legion Members Ichinomiya Michaela Himari  ·  Tachibana Theresia Nagisa  ·  Hanaoka Angela Moe  ·  Narumi Clara Yuko  ·  Hojo Monica Asahi  ·  Hasegawa Gabriella Tsugumi  ·  Matsunaga Brigitta Kayo  ·  Sano Matilda Kokoro  ·  Makabe Melania Sayoko Former members Fukuyama Jeanne Sachie  ·  Kishimoto Lucia Raimu  ·  Amamiya Sophia Seren  ·  Kuroki Francisca Yuria  ·  Seto Veronica Ichika Related people Haneda Catalina Mei  ·  Nagase Marta Nonoka

Temple Legion Members Ichinomiya Michaela Himari  ·  Tachibana Theresia Nagisa  ·  Hanaoka Angela Moe  ·  Narumi Clara Yuko  ·  Hojo Monica Asahi  ·  Hasegawa Gabriella Tsugumi  ·  Matsunaga Brigitta Kayo  ·  Sano Matilda Kokoro  ·  Makabe Melania Sayoko Former members Fukuyama Jeanne Sachie  ·  Kishimoto Lucia Raimu  ·  Amamiya Sophia Seren  ·  Kuroki Francisca Yuria  ·  Seto Veronica Ichika Related people Haneda Catalina Mei  ·  Nagase Marta Nonoka