Takehisa Nakaba

Takehisa Nakaba (竹久央) is a first year Lily who attends Odaiba Girls' School. She is a member of Legion Heorot Saints. Nakaba is a recurring character in the Odaiba series of stage plays, often appearing together with Kawanabe Nazuna and Suzuki Chinami.

Personality

Nakaba's demeanor is as refined as it is jovial, with her graceful ladylike mannerisms matched by a lively and oftentimes mischievous attitude. Though not as outwardly energetic as her friends Nazuna and Chinami, Nakaba is still very extroverted, frequently making jokes and being very social overall. This more easygoing attitude she assumes when in the company of her friends and the prim and proper image she is known for are both sides of herself that Nakaba will actively switch between depending on the circumstances.

Nakaba stands out as particularly composed within her friend group. She is noted to have a caring, sisterly personality, and to be particularly open-hearted. As such, it often falls on her to rein her friends in when they lose themselves in their antics, as well as being the one to offer them advice and comfort during times of struggle, with her emotional resilience being described as exceptional among Odaiba's first years. Nakaba is also noted to excel in her Student Council duties, and owning to her diligent attitude and remarkable combat capabilities, she is seen as the poster child for Odaiba's first year Lilies. Some speculate that Nakaba might eventually take the seat of Student Council president in the future.

Nakaba is very strongly attached to her longtime friend Nazuna, whom she is "infatuated" with. After first meeting her during their elementary school years, Nakaba came to love Nazuna's personality, and was at the time the only one who truly believed in her yet latent potential, always offering Nazuna encouragement when she struggled to achieve any results in training. Since then, the pair grew to be incredibly close, frequently spending time and doing things together. Nakaba is very protective of Nazuna, having stood in her defense against the ridicule of others in the past, and even being completely open about her occasional jealousy of Hayami Katsura, whom Nazuna is also close with.

History

Nakaba was born in Odaiba, Tokyo, to an incredibly affluent family. She enrolled in Odaiba Girls' School still during her infancy, and immediately drew attention to herself due to already possessing a high Skiller Value at that time. During her elementary school years, she met Kawanabe Nazuna, who had been rescued and brought to Odaiba by Instructor Akira Blanton, and the pair soon became friends. Nakaba grew to genuinely love Nazuna for her personality, and despite the latter possessing a very low Skiller Value, Nakaba still believed that she held great potential deep inside, and so, she would always spur Nazuna on whenever she felt demotivated, and would also come to her defense whenever other Lilies looked down on her.

Unbeknownst to Nakaba, however, Nazuna had developed an inferiority complex towards her due to the large gap between their skill levels, and when the pair entered junior high, this complex drove Nazuna into a deep depression, which eventually made her stop deploying to the battlefield entirely. After receiving advice from fellow first year Kozue West and Odaiba's resident doctor Nakahara Mary Tomoyo, Nazuna opened up to Nakaba about her insecurities, and Nakaba, in return, comforted her still, saying: "now may simply not yet be your time, but I know that the manner in which you take your CHARM in hands is second to none in this entire school. I care not if others don't, I love every part of you".

At an unknown point in time, both Nakaba and Nazuna met and befriended Suzuki Chinami.

The Odaiba Counteroffensive

Main article: Assault Lily Wunder

Both Nakaba and Nazuna were among the junior high Lilies present during the Odaiba Counteroffensive. Having initially attended the Neunwelt Tactic Technical Conference, the pair was later dispatched with the other junior high Lilies together with the Fourth Division to guard the civilians while evacuations were conducted. Nakaba and Nazuna were in Ariake when Haru ultimately decided to destroy Fujimi Bridge in order to deter a swarm of Solder Ants led by a Gigant-type, leaving themselves, as well as all the civilians in the district without a direct escape route. With the Soldier Ants now advancing in their direction, Nakaba proposed that the civilians be evacuated through the Tokyo Port underground tunnel instead, and so, she and Nazuna, as well as three other junior high Lilies moved to intercept the Soldier Ants while the military continued with the evacuation.

After holding back the Soldier Ants for long enough for the military trucks containing the civilians to escape safely, Nakaba's team began to make their way towards Nozomi Bridge. Just then, one of the trucks came to a halt after its engine malfunctioned, and as the Soldier Ants soon moved to attack it, Nazuna was surrounded by the flock and isolated from the other Lilies. Just as one of the Soldier Ants was about to kill Nazuna, she was rescued by Kondo Misaka, a first year Lily of Yurigaoka Girls' Academy who integrated the Second Division.

With Misaka taking the lead on the battle, the Lilies successfully reached Nozomi Bridge, and Nakaba deployed the bridge's defensive wall, bringing the Gigant-class to a halt. Under Misaka's command, the junior high Lilies continued to escort the evacuees and take down the smaller Soldier Ants who were able to climb the wall, leaving Misaka behind as she prepared to face the Gigant-class by herself.

Misaka successfully deterred the Gigant-class Huge for twenty minutes, long enough for the Second Division to arrive at Nozomi Bridge and kill it. Nakaba, Nazuna and the other junior high Lilies then returned to the bridge in order to aid the Second Division in wiping the area clean of the Huge. Their team continued on to Daiba, where they encountered the Fourth Division as they fought another flock of Soldier Ants at the Tokyo Teleport Station. After learning from Tithia Paumgartner that their entire strategy to take down the Nestless Ultra would be changed, Nakaba and Nazuna were tasked with returning to Nozomi Bridge in order to deliver the Second Division the new strategy.

After the Counteroffensive's conclusion, both Nazuna and Nakaba would go on to declare their admiration for Misaka.

After the Counteroffensive

Nakaba's performance during the Counteroffensive drew the attention of several of the Gardens whose Lilies participated in the battle, leading many of them, including the likes of Yurigaoka Girls' Academy, St. Mercurius International School and Ambrosia Ladies' Institute, to reach out to her with enrollment proposals, with rumors that Nakaba received proposals from over ten Gardens. Nakaba ultimately refused all invitations, stating that "the bloom of a flower is ephemeral, their light too quick to fade, which is why I choose to treasure these unchanging feelings I hold. I'll stay and fight in Odaiba, where those I love are". This declaration reportedly brought Nazuna to tears.

Not long after the Counteroffensive, the junior high Lily Hayami Katsura enrolled in Odaiba Girls' School, personally invited by Tsukioka Momiji, the captain of the Heorot Saints, after meeting her during that battle. Katsura would go on to befriend Nakaba, Nazuna and Chinami, developing a particular fondness towards Nazuna, much to Nakaba's jealousy.

Still during her final year of junior high, Nakaba participated in a battle in which she encountered the Greater Large-class Huge "Ginrin". She would be the one to fire the finishing shot against this Huge, and because the Ginrin had the appearance of a dragon, Nakaba came to be known as "The Dragon-Slaying Valkyrie" from that point forward.

Upon entering their first year of high school, Nakaba, Nazuna, Chinami and Katsura would all go on to integrate the Heorot Saints under Momiji's leadership.

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.

Nakaba and the Heorot Saints were joined by Funada Kiito and her newly formed Legion Hronesnæsse in 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 in 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. The two Legions agree to each perform a Neunwelt Tactic in order to destroy both of the Gigant's heads, with Nakaba being the one to fire the Saints' Magisphere. Meanwhile, 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

Nakaba was presumably among the Saints members who accompanied Momiji in the Saints' Expedition to Makuhari.

The Empathy Phenomenon

Main article: Assault Lily: The Empathy Phenomenon

During a mission to neutralize one of the several Caves which formed across Tokyo, the Heorot Saints encounter a Gigant-class Huge, and so promptly begin performing the Neunwelt Tactic in order to destroy it. While making their passes, Chinami struggles to use her Rare Skill, Laplace, to properly counteract the unusually high concentration of Negative Magie permeating the area, and the Saints soon conclude that the Gigant-class possesses the Dominator Skill, which allows it to constantly convert the surrounding ambient Magie into Negative Magie.

Due to this effect, Lunatic Trancer user Saigo Kurena loses control of herself, and begins attacking the other Saints members in a fit of madness. With the other Saints' members working to restrain Kurena, Momiji enlists Nakaba, Nazuna and Katsura to continue making their passes in order to quickly bring the Dominator Huge down. The four eventually complete their Magisphere, but before Momiji is able to fire it, Kiito appears and takes possession of it. With the help of her sister Funada Ui, she fires a direct shot against the Dominator, however, the Gigant-class Huge survives the hit, and successfully escapes the Lilies.

In the aftermath, the Saints and Hronesnæsse first years skip Igusa Subaru's mission review and hold a tea party together. While discussing the events of the mission, the Lilies note how unusual it was for Kiito to fail her finishing shot, with Nakaba's particular remark that she "let it escape" inciting the ire of Shiba Tomoshibi. Nazuna, inebriated from her tea mix, continues on, suggesting that she was unable to perform as she usually would due to Ui's injury interfering with their teamwork. This further aggravates Tomoshibi, and Nakaba preemptively carries Nazuna away before an argument breaks out between the pair.

Later, the Saints hold a training session without Kurena, who had since been placed in Hronesnæsse in order to help her recover from the trauma of having attacked her teammates. Nazuna is particularly annoyed at having to constantly exchange passes with Chinami, who had been working to improve her Laplace for Kurena's sake, and Nakaba tries to comfort her, asking that she endure it for the sake of their Legion.

During another of the first years' tea parties, they discuss how Kurena's temporary move to Hronesnæsse seemed to have negatively impacted the Legion's cohesion. With Kurena performing remarkably well as Kiito's partner in Ui's absence, Katsura ponders the possibility that she might not choose to return to the Saints even after Ui recovers, prompting an angered Tomoshibi to declare that she "will not let that happen". The first years soon presume that Tomoshibi means to drive Kurena out of Hronesnæsse by force, and immediately stop their tea party to go after her.

Some time later, the Saints and Hronesnæsse deploy together once again following the appearance of the Irregular Gigant-class Gigafloat, which possesses an energy shield that renders it invulnerable to regular attacks. As such, the two Legions settle on each performing a Neunwelt Tactic, with the Saints using their Magisphere to disable the shield while Hronesnæsse uses theirs to destroy the Gigafloat's core. While making their passes, Chinami once again struggles to use her Laplace, and the Lilies note that the Gigafloat is also permeating the area with Negative Magie.

With Tomoshibi using her own Laplace to counteract the Negative Magie's effects, the two Legions continue making their passes, while also avoiding the Gigafloat's light tentacles. Suddenly, however, the Gigant-class is able to capture Momiji and Kawamura Yuzuriha, bringing the pair inside its shield. Nazuna is particularly distraught, believing that the pair had been captured due to her failing to activate her Phantasm, and Nakaba soon rushes to comfort her, assuring Nazuna that Momiji and Yuzuriha are safe. As Momiji was in possession of the Saints' Magisphere, the Lilies decide to instead use Hronesnæsse's Sphere to destroy the Gigafloat's shield so that Momiji and Yuzuriha could be rescued and their Magisphere retrieved. However, because Kiito and Kurena were also absent, the two Legions are forced to make their passes close to the Gigant-class in order to exploit its Magie Intensity.

Despite the exhaustion caused by the surrounding Negative Magie, as well as another abnormal phenomenon, the two Legions are able to complete their Magisphere and use it to destroy the Gigafloat's shield, allowing Momiji and Yuzuriha to escape. With the second Magisphere once again in their possession, the Saints resume making their passes. Kiito and Kurena, as well as Ui, return in the meantime, and are entrusted with making the final passes and completing the Magisphere. Finally, Kiito fires the finishing shot, and successfully destroys the Gigafloat.

The Battle to Overcome

Main article: Assault Lily: The Battle to Overcome

During another joint mission with Legion Hronesnæsse, Nakaba notes how, amidst the horde of Huge they're fighting against, there is an unusually high quantity of Soldier Ants, which Kiito soon recognizes as the very same variety they've encountered during the very last battle of their junior high Reserve, the Funada Reserve Corps. After their mission, the first years welcome Nagasawa Yuki to one of their tea parties, and she begins telling them in detail the events of the Reserve Corps' last battle. Nazuna, however, once again becomes inebriated with her tea, causing Nakaba to continuously struggle to control her erratic behavior. After learning that the Funada Reserve Corps disbanded not long after their final battle, the first years muse over what might have been of them had they gone on to become a Legion.

The Soldier Ants are later detected again in Odaiba's Wakasu Park, prompting the Saints and Hronesnæsse to immediately deploy to the location, there, they are joined by Kon Kanaho and Miyagawa Takane, former members of the Funada Reserve Corps who had since transferred to Kamba Girls' High. Just then, a Gigant-class Soldier Ant appears before the Lilies, prompting Odaiba's Light Wall system to enter its full admission mode. With all members of the Reserve Corps now present, Kiito proposes that they once again reform as a single team in order to settle their score with the Soldier Ants, and with all Lilies in agreement, the now reunited Reserve Corps takes on the task of neutralizing the Gigant-class before the Light Walls' full admission mode reaches its time limit, while the remaining Lilies work to keep the horde of Huge at bay.

Nakaba, Chinami and Nazuna watch on as the Reserve Corps members begin performing the Neunwelt Tactic, but while Nakaba and Chinami are exhilarated at seeing the team in action, Nazuna appears much more absentminded. She tells Nakaba and Chinami that learning of the past their seniors had prompted her to look back on her own, reminiscing on her time of homelessness after losing her family, and her friendship with Nakaba after coming to Odaiba, noting how, at the time, she didn't felt worthy to be by Nakaba's side. Nazuna recalls how the words of love Nakaba told her back then inspired her to put her worries behind, and Chinami, flustered, points out how she and Nazuna would also frequently train together during that time. Noticing Chinami's bashfulness, Nakaba notes that she "seems to like [Nazuna] quite a bit".

Meanwhile, the Reserve Corps regroups after significantly charging the Magisphere, but just then, they witness the Gigant-class Soldier Ant devour Odaiba Instructor Inaba Mayumi. Noting how she seemed to let herself be eaten by the Huge, they presume her to be the one responsible for the Soldier Ants' outbreak, noting how the Huge will oftentimes eat each other in order to boost their own abilities. At the same time, Nakaba and Nazuna find Tomoshibi and a second, lifeless corpse of Mayumi. Tomoshibi tries to explain that she was not the one to kill her, but Nakaba and Nazuna are confused, as they had just watched the Gigant-class eat Mayumi before.

Nakaba, Nazuna and Tomoshibi return to the others just as the Gigant-class begins communicating telepathically with the Lilies. They surmise that Mayumi had fused her consciousness with the Huge, but after a brief conversation, Mayumi' voice begins to break down before the telepathic link breaks entirely, leading the Lilies to conclude that the Huge rejected her consciousness. The Reserve Corps decide to resume their Neunwelt, with the other Lilies still keeping the area clear of Huge in the meantime, and after succeeding in killing the Gigant Soldier Ant, the Reserve Corps' members join the remaining Lilies in holding off the horde of Huge while Kiito and Ui move to destroy the Ants' Nest before the Light Walls' time limit expires.

The Snowdrop

Main article: Assault Lily: The Snowdrop

After another of Saints and Hronesnæsse's missions, the first year Komai Sumire suddenly transfers to Odaiba from Ambrosia Ladies' Institute, joining Hronesnæsse as an interim member. The unusual circumstances of her transfer elicit the suspicion of Momiji, and so, she requests that Nakaba and Katsura covertly try to extract any pertinent information from her during one of their tea parties. The first years welcome Sumire, and Nakaba quickly inquires her on why she chose to join Hronesnæsse immediately after enrolling. Sumire responds that she'd made her choice on a gut feeling, but hadn't actually settled on her decision yet. And so, she asks that the other first years tell her more about the Legion and its history so she can make a more informed final decision.

The first years go on to tell Sumire of Hronesnæsse's history, from their time as the Funada Reserve Corps to the present, all the while Nakaba scrambles to keep her intentions undercover, managing both the intoxicated Nazuna and the incredibly nervous Katsura. With this tangent ultimately taking up most of the first years' conversation, the school bell rings before Nakaba and Katsura can extract any meaningful information from Sumire.

Following the appearance of a Great Cave in Odaiba, the Saints and Hronesnæsse deploy together to neutralize it. They're informed by Instructor Akira that the Great Cave had been created by the Cihuateteo, as it had been able to survive their previous encounter with it during their Niigata expedition by absorbing the core of the Gigant-class Giant Zombie. Because of this, all the Huge produced by its Cave possess the Undead ability, and so, in order to avoid unnecessarily wasting their Magie, both Kiito and Momiji agree on ignoring the greater horde of Huge and instead engage only the Huge in the immediate vicinity of the Cihuateteo.

The Lilies agree on a strategy of approaching the Cihuateteo in pairs, and Nakaba tries to approach Yuzuriha. However, she is interjected by Maruyama Amane, who was adamant that the two of them pair up instead. Noting that the Saints had deployed in odd numbers for this mission, Amane proposes that she, Nakaba and Yuzuriha continue as a trio, and though both Nakaba and Yuzuriha appear hesitant to do so, she is eventually able to convince them. After moving past the larger horde of Huge, all the pairs with the exception of Tomoshibi and Sumire are able to regroup, and the two Legions are instructed by Akira to each perform a Neunwelt Tactic, as the resulting damage from the two Magispheres should cause sufficient damage for its core to be exposed, which Akira would be responsible for destroying.

The two Legions begin their operation, and while making their passes, Nakaba reflects on hers and Nazuna's prior experience with an Ultra-class during the Odaiba Counteroffensive, noting how even though they had to rely on the help of Lilies from other Gardens back then, they had since grown much stronger. Reiterating the vow she had made after the Counteroffensive, Nakaba and Nazuna reaffirm their resolve to conquer this battle as Lilies of Odaiba.

Both the Saints and Hronesnæsse eventually finish making most of their passes, but Tomoshibi and Sumire are yet to arrive. Because both Legions would need to approach the Cihuateteo in order to complete their Magispheres, they split between themselves the task of neutralizing its tentacles, which could sap them of their Magie. Though overwhelmed by the high intensity of Negative Magie emanated by the Cihuateteo, the Saints are still able to successfully destroy the tentacles they were in charge with, allowing them to complete their Magisphere. Meanwhile, Tomoshibi and Sumire arrive just in time for Hronesnæsse to destroy the final tentacles and fully charge their own Magisphere. Finally, Kiito and Momiji fire their finishing shots, and the ensuing explosion exposes the Cihuateteo's core as predicted, which Akira swiftly destroys.

Combat Style

Nakaba is particularly known for the grace and beauty of her combat form, that being the origin of one of her titles, "Royal Elegance". Together with Nazuna and Katsura, she integrates the Saints' offensive front in the AZ, and particularly excels in the role of a side attacker, being able to spread out over wide distances in her flank. Her style as a side attacker is said to be a cornerstone of Odaiba's combat leanings as a whole.

Nakaba boasts not only great tactical literacy, but an incredibly stable and consistent combat form, where almost every single movement she makes serve a purpose. When in active combat, she'll almost never even look at her CHARMs, however, she does have a habit of frequently twirling her CHARMs around. Interestingly, her more focused and utilitarian combat style is said to stand in almost complete contrast to Nazuna's, and she particularly prefers to emphasize technique and strategic moves over speed, which is Nazuna's forte.

During the Neunwelt Tactic, Nakaba will operate on the right flank, and she is considered a crucial piece of the Zero-Top Strategy, one of the Heorot Saints' signature techniques. Nakaba also excels in the Duelist combat style, with her "unparalleled prowess" earning her fame even outside of Odaiba. Nakaba is fond of CHARMs that resemble traditional Japanese swords, and notably, one of the CHARMs she owns is the Futsu-no-Mitama, a model famously favored by Lilies who specialize in Dueling.

Toyline

Nakaba's action doll, titled "Assault Lily Series No.39: Takehisa Nakaba", was released in April 2018. It featured four swappable faceplates, her unique variation of the Odaiba Girls' School uniform, and Battle Cloth pieces for the hands and waist. The CHARM included with the doll was the Futsu-no-Mitama.

The doll was re-released in December of 2022, with the only major change being a remodel of the Battle Cloth pieces.

• 
  Nakaba's action doll

Trivia

• Nakaba is known to have a particularly refined sense of taste, being able to discern the ingredients and even the techniques used to cook the foods she eats. She does not, however, cook for herself.
  • Nakaba's favorite foods are chocolate and meat dishes, with her refined tastes leading her to try several of the most high-class meals.
  • Nakaba dislikes tomatoes, however, she will still eat foods with tomato-based ingredients such as tomato sauce.
• Nakaba is friends with Iwaya Kukuri of Irma Girls' High and Louloudis Bromstedt of St. Mercurius.
• Nakaba has been once featured in the Lily Topics Magazine.
• One of Nakaba's hobbies is collecting cutlery, and she is noted to have a collection of high-end items.
• Though the hat Nakaba wears is part of her Legion uniform, she is still personally fond of wearing hats in general.
• Nakaba dislikes pigeons due to an incident where one landed on her head when she was a child.

Gallery

Designs

• 
  Nakaba's original design, by Chamaru Chaa (茶円ちゃあ)

Stage

• 
  As portrayed by Yamamoto Shiori

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