Yamada Ryu

Ryu Yamada (山田 竜 Yamada Ryū) is the titular character and main protagonist of The Thirteen Arcane Witches. In the Teacher's Lounge, Ryu sits in a chair as a professor berates him for his poor conduct in school. Albeit, he only mumbles to himself and sighs when noted professor announces his grades. As he walks in the halls and thinks to himself about the start of the school year, noting how boring his life has become, two other students converse among one another about his problems. By a flight of stairs, he watches as Urara Shiraishi, a girl whose grades meet no competition, heads upwards. He murmurs to himself comments about her intelligence, he decides to go past her. Meeting her gaze once he comes pass her, he suddenly takes the wrong step, tripping and falls on top of Urara.

He wakes up confused about where he is, and believes that he died. He is shocked to know that he is still alive, and realizes that he is in the Nurse's Office. When he looks down at himself however, he finds himself with a pair of breasts. After groping around for a while, he realizes that his manly part is gone as well. Bewildered, he ignores the nurse to find a mirror. He sees Urara's reflection, and concludes that he has turned into her. The nurse informs that he and Urara were found collapsed at the bottom of the stairs. He checks and sees that she has already left, which the school nurse tells him that she has gone back to class. He leaves the room, realizing that if he is in her body, she must be in his, and is exasperated that she returned to the classroom, being very studious. Incensed, he grabs Urara by her collar and drags her out of the room, ignoring that class is still going on.

He takes her up to the roof and demands to know why they switched bodies. He is enraged as she nonchalantly responds, complaining how calm she is in this situation. He is stopped as she reveals how they can switch back, by falling down on the stairs again. Which he insists they go to the stairs, however he is shocked as she refuses, not wanting to skip out on class again. In disbelief, he accuses her of wanting to stay this way, which she denies due to the thing between her legs, which embarrasses him. He is asked to wait until after school, and that no one will suspect anything as long as they act normal. Which he claims she has ruined his image, to which she replies that he should deal with it, as she notes the situation is his fault in the first place. Which he claims she has a point.

Frustrated, Ryu wonders what he is should to do while he waits. Which he suddenly realizes that he can look at her body, causing a bit of a commotion in the girl's restroom. Which although he feels guilty after doing so, he tries to justify it with the fact that she has seen his too. As the teacher asks him to take a stack of notebooks to the math department, initially angering him, but realizes that he needs to act, he politely agrees. Complaining on the way, he accidentally drops the stack, a few of Urara's admirers offer to pick them up, creeping him out. In order to make them believe that he is Urara, he tries to act cutesy, which disturbs them. He delivers the books to the math department, where the teacher stares at his breasts. Once again, he goes against his initial reaction of violence and sweetly asks him to stop. Exhausted, he slumps on the ground and wonders if Urara has to go through this every day, wishing for his body back.

While this he is found by Rin Sasaki and her friends stumble across him and invite him to eat lunch together. He's hesitant at first, because although she is in their class, she does not seem like the type of person Urara would hang out with, but he decides to go along with them anyway. When he opens Urara's bento, he finds the contents have been clutttered, but eats it anyway and thinks it is delicious, not seeing the other girls laughing at him. Rin asks if he brought his notebook as there is a quiz in history that they should study. As he opens the book, he finds all the pages have been vandalized with curses and insults. He mistakenly believes that this is normal for smart people's notes, still not noticing the others' laughter. When he looks over questioningly, Rin says that they should get ready for the next class. As he opens Urara's locker, the contents spill out with even more curses inside the locker, making him finally realizes that Urara is being bullied. Back on the roof, he complains to Urara about how bitchy girls are and asks why she never told him anything, blaming her for his bad day. As she apologizes, she offers to switch back now. However he declines, knowing that she wants to attend class. He tells her that he also loathed her, but now he understands her. He offers to take care of her bullies after they change back, since they technically bullied him as well. Asking if it is alright with her, he is grabbed by his collar by Urara, who tells him that she does not need his help, because it will make everything worse.

He glances over, noticing that Rin has seen everything, before shrugging off his assent. He meets with Rin, who asks him what he was talking to 'Ryu' about. Which he responds that they talked about nothing, which he is knocked over with her bag, and Rin calls him pathetic for clinging onto a boy. Which he confirms his assumption that she thought he asked for help. He then hears her calling him a loser, among other things, and doubts he could even do anything, angering him. He replies that he really does know, and that 'she' was feeling bored since there was no one in this school 'she' could fight. Panicking, Rin reminds 'her' of the consequences, which 'she' ignores. He thinks that Rin is the type of person to back off if she is taught her lesson just once. Readying his punch, Urara steps in front of her. She asks what he is doing, unfortunately he is unable to stop and punchers her instead. He calls her a moron, telling her that he was not going to punch her. As she tears up and blames him for really hitting her, he claims that he could not stop in the middle of it. When she asks him, he explains that he did it because she would not. From this they see Rin running away, confusing them both. The bell rings and Urara forgets about the situation at hand, much to his disbelief.

After school, they head to the stairs and both agree that this was the worst day ever. He ponders if Rin will still bully her, which she responds that she does not know, but she feel vindicated when she saw Rin run away. As she thanks him, it makes him blush and think she is straightforward. Afterward, they throw themselves down the stairs, but still find themselves in each other's bodies. After repeating the action several times and failing every time, he wonders aloud if they are going to be stuck like this forever. Urara reveals to him that they have not tried one thing yet, which makes him grab onto her collar, demanding to reveal it is already. She explains that when they fell, they kissed. He pushes her away, embarrassed on her statement, questioning why, as she responds he fell on her. She says they should try it, and kisses him, who is completely embarrassed. They find themselves in their original bodies, and she smiles at him before heading home, making him blush.

The next day, he enters the classroom and sees that everyone fears Urara because she beat him up, a delinquent. He notices that Rin has started to stare at him, although he does not know why. Ignoring that, he asks Urara if she is the wild type, since she so nonchalantly kissed him the other day. She asks completely unamused, if he is "touched in the head", much to his confusion and annoyance.

In the courtyard, Ryu and Urara lock lips again. As a result, they end up in each other's bodies once more, which confirms Urara's suspicion that the switch depends on neither time nor place, but only on the condition that they kiss each other. As she tries to understand the implications of that,

Ryu notices some students passing by, and swiftly shoves them both into a hedge. When she asks why they are hiding, he points out that more strange rumors will spread if they are seen together. She acknowledges his reasoning, and suggests they keep this "their little secret" as she kisses him. He agrees, and she leaves with a smile, to his bemusement. As he wanders the school grounds, Ryu reflects on the fact that he can switch places with Urara whenever he wants, although he is hesitant to do so after what happened last time, and especially since he has to kiss her every time.

He wonders how she can kiss him so easily, and daydreams that it is because she loves him. As he passes by a bulletin board, he sees an announcement with his name listed for making up the midterm, which he completely forgot was today. If he does not receive at least 80 points on the exam, he will be expelled. He finds Urara and begs her to switch with him, which she agrees to do since he took care of Rin for her.

As she takes his test, he pretends to be her and attends her next class, which fortunately for him, is gym. His hopes for a good show, however, are ruthlessly crushed when all the girls change too quickly for him to see anything. Annoyed, he begins changing himself, but a nearby classmate quickly covers him up with a shirt. She says he needs to be careful because there has been a peeping tom around lately. The teachers have not done anything about it, and the girl warns 'Urara' that the boys are particularly crazy for 'her'. He is mildly surprised that Urara is so popular, but ultimately does not care about the peeper, until the girls say that the peeping tom is Ryu, since he never goes to gym class in the first place.Shocked, he asks what he ever did to them, confusing the girls. Abruptly remembering 'her' cover, 'she' says Ryu would not do that, but the girls dismiss 'her', since Ryu is a delinquent and seems like the type to do such a thing.

As the girls leave, he hears a noise outside the window. When he checks it out, an arm appears from a nearby bush and takes a picture of him, with his shirt unbuttoned and clad only in a bra and skirt. The peeper escapes, and he lets out a death threat. The peeping tom shows the picture to his friends, who are delighted because the picture would net them a lot of money. The ringleader is wary since it looks like 'she' saw the peeper, but the peeper isn't worried about 'her' bothering them, right as 'Urara' appears behind them, asking to see the picture too. The boys panic, and try to push the blame onto Ryu, but 'Urara' obviously does not believe them. 'She' beats them up, delivers them to a shocked teacher, and switches back with Urara, who easily completed the midterm.

Ryu's enjoyment is cut short, however, when a group of girls friends invite him(in Urara's body) to eat lunch together, but he ends up enjoying their hugs instead, calling it a fair trade off. Ryu remarks that Urara was right when she said things have changed at school earlier that day. Five hours ago, she noticed that thanks to their body-switching, he has good grades and she has friends. The biggest change of all is that school has now become enjoyable for the two of them. In response, he proposed an experiment: spend the day as the other until school was over.

Awakening from his thoughts, Ryu is gorging himself on the food offered to him by Urara's friends, who are entertained by how he devours everything. He muses that people are not noticing the difference between her and him, since body-switching seems too absurd to even think about. As he is lost in thought, Toranosuke Miyamura comes to the classroom and calls out to Urara, saying that it has been a while and hthat he wants to talk. Ryu is wary, and wonders if Toranosuke knows her, especially since he has a reputation in the delinquent circles, which seems inconsistent with Urara's proper lifestyle. When a friend of Urara's asks if Toranosuke is looking for a date, he denies it and invokes his authority as vice-president of the Student Council, requesting a conversation with the top student of their year. Seeing no way of getting out of it, Ryu plays along and leaves with him.

On the rooftop, Ryu asks Toranosuke what he wants. Toranosuke mentions that he did not think Urara was the type of girl who would rough up those peeping toms. Ryu is immediately taken aback, wondering if he suspects something, but reconsiders and thinks that he would not know that he is not Urara. Ryu plays the part of a clumsy girl, saying that he slipped and punched them. Toranosuke leans in, and after looking at him, suggests that he likes strong women. Thoroughly uncomfortable, Ryu concludes that he is in love with Urara and inches away from him. Toranosuke asks if Urara remembers the promise they made, which is to go on a date today. Ryu is immediately chagrined, shocked that Urara would agree to such a thing. Ryu walks down the street with Toranosuke, cursing Urara in his head for not giving him any warning and forcing him to go on a date with a guy. Ryu's vexation only grows, as girls flock to Toranosuke, despite his callousness to them. Toranosuke then asks her about the rumor that she and Ryu are best friends, which she immediately denies. Toranosuke comments that a top student like her and a delinquent like him being close is completely ludicrous anyway, which pisses Ryu off.

Before she can adequately respond, however, the peeping toms she caught appear and heckle her, blaming her for their expulsion while she sees it fit to go off and enjoy a date. Ryu acts helpless, and asks Toranosuke to save him. He agrees, and tells him to hide, but he is quickly beaten. Believing Toranosuke to be unconscious, Ryu knocks one of the peepers unconscious with a roundhouse kick. When he turns to face the other two, however, he finds that they have already been defeated. Toranosuke shows up, explaining that he knew something was off with the peeping incident, and admits that he does not even know Urara, let alone promise anything to her. He recognized the kick he gave the peeper, and asks if he is really Ryu. In his attempt to deny it, Ryu slips up and says things Urara would not, further proving his point. Toranosuke grabs him by the collar and asks him for a favor.

Ryu explains to Toranosuke that he and Urara can switch bodies by kissing, although he finds it strange that Toranosuke is not that shocked, and is more intrigued instead. He is also irritated that the secret that was supposed to be kept between Urara and him got out. Ryu then asks about the favor Toranosuke spoke of. Toranosuke explains to him that he needs him for something only he can do: discover what motives Urara. In a survey, asking what the students' plans for college were, Urara put down that she did not intend to go, despite being the top student of their year, which would reflect poorly on the school. When Ryu brings up the possibility that she may have extenuating circumstances, such as family issues, Toranosuke notes that there are none, and that even her parents want her to go. Ryu agrees to find out, on one condition, being that Toranosuke does not tell Urara that he knows their secret.

Ryu and Toranosuke arrive at Urara's residence. Ryu contemplates that despite switching with Urara back and forth, he does not truly know her. Ryu and Toranosuke enter Urara's house. While Ryu observes that her house is pretty normal, Toranosuke points to where Urara's room is, entering and shocked upon the girlish room within view. Toranosuke takes out an E-cup bra and shows it to Ryu, despite Ryu's warning not to touch anything. After searching through Urara's underwear, Toranosuke lies on her bed, excusing his actions by claiming that he might be able to find something. While Ryu desperately fixes the bed, Toranosuke observes that the only books on her bookshelf are textbooks and reference books, and in her drawers are stationary supplies. As Toranosuke reasons that Urara must have an incurable disease, Urara, as Ryu, enters the scene.

Toranosuke and Ryu apologize to Urara. Urara, extremely irritated, asks them why they are in her room. Ryu explains, and Urara expresses her hatred to school. Urara kisses Ryu to switch back, and explains that she will go to college if Ryu goes too while smiling at him. Shocked upon hearing her resolution, Ryu blushes in a stunned state as Toranosuke assures Ryu that he will be receiving extra lessons everyday from now and on.

While in Class 2-B, Ryu is looking quite bored, explaining that Urara and him have not swapped since Urara decided to go to college, which was one week ago. Urara became popular, and Ryu became liked by teachers. They were busy, so they did not have a chance to swap places. Ryu thinks that Urara does not need to swap places because school is not that bad anymore. Toranosuke suddenly appears and yells that Ryu is losing his place in the world. He states that he is bored when Ryu and Urara cannot swap, so he has got a plan.

A girl in Urara's class calls the former over, explain that Toranosuke is looking for her, only to notice that Ryu is hiding behind Toranosuke. Toranosuke brings Ryu and Urara to a dusty, vacant classroom. Toranosuke explains that this room used to be the disbanded Supernatural Studies Club, and he gives the room to Ryu and Urara for them to use for their body swapping. But Toranosuke gives a condition, being that Ryu and Urara will need to join the Supernatural Studies Club. Toranosuke also explains that he joined the club to keep it from dying.

Ryu thinks who would ever think Toranosuke was in the Supernatural Studies Club. Ryu say to Urara that joining a club is too late, to which Urara agrees. Ryu goes and states that he would rather die than join a club, to which Urara replies that a club would be fun. Urara's friends calls over her and they leave, leaving Ryu thinking that it is not necessary anymore to keep switching. While Ryu goes up the stairs and Urara walks away, Ryu calls Urara over, and tells her that he is going to join the club and that she is going to come with him. Urara smiles happily and follows after him. In the Supernatural Studies Club, Toranosuke decides that Urara will be President, he will be the Vice President, and Ryu will be "Rookie." Toranosuke goes on and states that he expects them to help out with the Student Council, to which Urara complains about, and Ryu agrees. Shocked, Toranosuke asks if Ryu or Urara have ever kissed another person until now. Urara plainly informs him that she has not, and Ryu, whilst blushing, repeats Urara's words. Toranosuke explains that if they were first-timers, then they may be able to switch places with other people by kissing them.

After Toranosuke states the possibility that Urara and Ryu may be able to switch bodies with other people, Urara states that it could be true. Toranosuke goes on and tries to kiss Urara to test it out, but Urara denies his attempt, with Ryu sighing in relief. Ryus claims that they cannot go around kissing other people, but Toranosuke suggests that Ryu and he kiss. Ryu promptly rejects the idea, but Toranosuke explains that a kiss is a small price for a swap. Even Urara goes along with the idea and grabs Ryu so Toranosuke can kiss Ryu. When they kiss, Ryu and Toranosuke swap places.

Ryu, now in Toranosuke's body, explains that Toranosuke's body is a lot different from a girl's. When Ryu wants to switch back, Toranosuke has already gone out to take a walk around school in his body. Ryu, in Toranosuke's body, walks around the school and many girls call him out, and he answers back, but the girls are disappointed to see that his alluring aura is gone. Shortly enough, Nene calls out to him, thinking that he is Miyamura. Ryu thinks that Nene knows him too well, assuring himself that she will not be fooled, but Ryu realizes that Nene and Toranosuke do not like each other. Nene begins to talk about the Supernatural Studies Club, speaking of how it is not that important and questioning why Ryu is in it. Ryu becomes angry, but he manages to conceal his emotions. While leaving, Nene tells him to have fun with his club while he still can. Ryu then wonders what she meant by claiming that the club is important to Toranosuke. Subsequently, Toranosuke finds Ryu, and Toranosuke note that everybody hates Ryu; as Ryu is annoyed at this especially when Toranosuke questions him on this. Disappointed, he now wants to switch back.

In the Supernatural Studies Club, Toranosuke decides that Ryu can switch with Urara and him. Toranosuke announces that he will find a girl who is fine with kissing anyone and bring her over to see if Ryu can switch with anyone he kisses. Urara stops him from doing that, leading Ryu to thinks that she is jealous of Ryu kissing other girls, but Urara explains that Ryu's secret is to be kept within the club and its members, because if it became common knowledge, then it will be terrible, much to Ryu's disappointment. Toranosuke creates a rule to never reveal the secret to anyone outside of the club and plans to investigate Ryu, to which leads Ryu to remind them that he is not a lab rat. While conversing, a girl stops at the door and states that she wants to join the Supernatural Studies Club, shocking the others.

Miyabi Ito, the girl who had requested entrance to the Supernatural Studies Club, questions if her request was heard. Ryu is surprised that someone wants join the club, calling the club a sham. Toranosuke states they cannot reject her, noting that there is a certain school rule that forbids them from doing so. They then decide to let her join.

Miyabi asks them if they are doing anything, to which Toranosuke and Ryu are unable to answer, with Urara solely sitting at a nearby chair with a book in her hands. Ryu tries to explain that they just started the club, and thus why they are not sure of what activities there are for them to perform. Miyabi exclaims that she knows the perfect thing and brings forward a spoon and tells them to watch her bend it with her mind. She concentrates, using all of her might to bend it, but ends up bending it physically. Ryu thinks to himself that he could have done that. Miyabi continues, and explains that, that was Psychic Power, and that with practice they will eventually learn how to do bend a spoon. But Miyabi is not done just yet, and pulls out a picture of a UFO. However, the others can clearly see the string in the picture hanging from above, but Miyabi acclaims that people are seeing it all around the world and assures them that it appears at important points in history. Just then, Miyabi pulls out another "supernatural" object and shows off a Materia stone, to which Ryu and Toranosuke note to be a regular stone. Miyabi goes on to say she has a lot more in her collection.

Miyabi is surprised that the smartest Junior, Urara, and Toranosuke from the Student Council are in the Supernatural Activity Club, but quickly dismisses Ryu's position. She smiles and exclaims that life is about to get a lot busier, and returns to her classroom. Ryu feels bad that Miyabi is fired up about what the club is actually for, and to tell her that they just want the room for their body swapping activities would only harm her, knowing that they are unable to reveal their secret to her. Urara say that Miyabi is not suspecting them, and Toranosuke informs them that they will just have to keep her from knowing the truth. Miyabi comes back into the class, bringing a box full of cleaning supplies to clean the room. Miyabi orders Ryu to take the garbage out, and when he complains, she tells him to be a part of

Abilities

 * Copy (コピーKopī): When Ryu kisses a witch, he replicates their power and automatically uses it against them. At the same time, this renders him immune to the abilities of the witch. If Ryu kisses another witch, then the abilities he had won't affect the said witch. Instead, the witch's abilities will overwrite whatever ability Ryu is currently holding. This can be seen when he kissed Nene Odagiri, he did not swap bodies with her because of the principle that two witch abilities will not affect one or the other. Likewise, witch powers won't affect him unless the power is two-way (Meiko and Kotori's power, for example) and only through direct kissing (Kotori cannot read his mind with her doll, but can read after kissing Ryu directly).


 * Hand to Hand Combat: Because of his brash and short-tempered nature, Ryu is very proficient in hand to hand combat especially when he fights other people like Ushio and thugs from other schools.


 * Swordsmanship: Ryu is fairly proficient in not only in hand-to-hand combat but also all sorts of weapons such as swords, daggers, spears, and even axes.


 * Arcanium Amplification: Not only can Ryu copy other abilities of any person with a witch gene but also amplify their power as unwell as his.

Equipment

 * Giant Broad Sword: Yamada used this sword in the Holy War 3,000 years ago, also used it when he was the leader of the Ten Commandments. The sword is at least twice the size of Yamada. It was broken in the battle Yamada and the goddess Elizabeth fought and lost against the Demon King and the Supreme Deity. The sword did not show any traits of being able to use an ability like a Sacred Treasure.
 * Incursio: As a member of The Thirteen Arcane Witches, Yamada possesses a Cryptic Relic. Incursio is a "replication gauntlet" which corresponds with his abilities which blends in when needing to boost or create a personal weapon for that ability.