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"I never know how I'm supposed to react at all Everyone else can manage it so well but I can't
Just like everyone laughs and cries I just can't do it well"
― Satō Mafuyu[1]
Note, this is the anime page for Mafuyu, for the manga page: Mafuyu Sato.
Mafuyu Sato (佐藤 真冬 Satō Mafuyu) is one of the main protagonists alongside Ritsuka Uenoyama in the Given anime. He attends the same school as Uenoyama and has an extravagant singing voice. Ever since he asked Uenoyama to fix his guitar upon their first meeting, he has become emotionally attached to Uenoyama. "It was a chance for me to fix the guitar, so I became attached to the summer." Mafuyu owns a nine-month-old Pomeranian named Kedama. He is dating Ritsuka Uenoyama Anime
Appearance
Mafuyu has unkept pink-tinged hair that is long enough to be over parts of his face. His similarly colored eyes are visible and for clothing, Mafuyu wears a cardigan over a buttoned, collared white shirt and dark trousers tucked into a pair of laced boots.
Personality
Mafuyu is considered a quiet, introverted and reserved type. He has difficulties in expressing himself and interacting with other people to the point of remaining silent and even walking or running away from situations. He is very diligent when it comes to his band such as paying attention to how they play to taking up a part-time job and being serious and committed to it. He is a quick learner regarding his musician's side.
Mafuyu shows that he is very straightforward in his style of speech and tends to take certain things literally.[2]
Story
This is an at a glance overview for Mafuyu in the Given anime, for the fully detailed in-depth account of events see:
Mafuyu Sato Anime/Story
In the beginning of the anime, Mafuyu has a recurring dream about a tragic event. He wakes up from his sleep in an isolated stairway at his school and sees Ritsuka Uenoyama. After an awkward moment, in order to make conversation, Ritsuka asks Mafuyu about his broken and rusted guitar strings. He also ends up berating him for not taking proper care of his guitar. Unable to see the sad look on Mafuyu's face, Ritsuka fixes the guitar strings using some spare supplies. When Mafuyu sees him handling his guitar as well as hears him play, he suddenly asks Ritsuka to teach him how to play guitar.
When they meet again, Mafuyu eagerly offers Ritsuka money and bread as a "fee" for teaching him to play guitar. His attempts at persuading Ritsuka to teach him to play guitar doesn't work. In the end, Ritsuka advises Mafuyu to visit the Light Club and probably join them to learn how to play.
That day, Mafuyu follows Ritsuka after school which leads to the latter taking him to meet his band consisting of drummer Akihiko Kaji and bassist Haruki Nakayama. Mafuyu listens to them play and is entranced.
On the way home that night, Mafuyu is again told by Ritsuka that he can't teach him as he has never taught anyone before. Mafuyu is shocked and saddened by this and is almost hit by a car, but Ritsuka pulls him out of the way.
After a few days, Uenoyama starts to feel guilty, so he returns to the steps where they first met. But Mafuyu isn't there. He had gone to the Light Music club as told by Ritsuka but he didn't find them as entrancing as he did "The Seasons." So, he returned to the studio where Haruki let him in.
On their staircase, Mafuyu is at last taught guitar by Ritsuka and learns the type of guitar he has and how to tune it.
By his lockers, he is invited by Ritsuka to watch the band play. Waiting outside his classroom, they take the train together and learn more about the band.
Making their way to the studio Mafuyu has a chance to practice. Connecting his guitar, he finds himself wanting to learn the chord Uenoyama first played, which to his happiness he manages to perfect.
He continues to agree with everything Ritsuka tells him. By the band rules, they all need to pay for the studio they are currently renting, and they all suggest that Mafuyu also find a part-time job like the other members. They discuss it further at a restaurant.
Walking back with Ritsuka, Mafuyu shares that he had fun. At school, during their practice, Ritsuka asks Mafuyu if his guitar belonged to his dad, to which Mafuyu confides that it wasn't and also says that he doesn't have one. He is also unsure of his favorite music but does remember a certain tune that plays in his head all the time even though he doesn't know the name or the lyrics of the music. He sings the song using "lalala" as the lyrics.[3]
One winter, Mafuyu remembers not feeling lonely despite not being able to see someone again.
When invited to join Ritsuka's band after showing he can sing, Mafuyu declines. At a crossing and in front of the school to stay in his class during the break for homework, though Ritsuka comes across him, Mafuyu is distant.
He has attained a job at a small concert venue and is shown around by Tsubaki and first sees Yatake Kouji. Leaving the venue, he finds Ritsuka waiting for him but whilst talking they are come across by an old school friend of Mafuyu's with blonde hair Hiiragi Kashima. This shocks him and when Mafuyu hears Yuki's name spoken, Mafuyu turns and runs.
It takes Ritsuka catching him to get Mafuyu to stop but Mafuyu does not reveal the background of what happened. When it comes to the band, Mafuyu shares he feels he is bad at expressing himself but sings again for Ritsuka hearing that is something he does very well.
Discussing it further next to a vending machine, Mafuyu asks Ritsuka if he is okay with him before announcing he will accept Ritsuka's offer of joining his band.[4]
Mafuyu and Ritsuka go to the city of Shibuya to look for an effect pedal. Mafuyu and Ritsuka come across two music stores with the prices on the effect pedal being high. Mafuyu decides to write his name down on a piece of paper to work for the money to get it. Mafuyu thanks Ritsuka for taking him with the two of them walking back home together.[5]
In the studio, Mafuyu thinks of a song to perform live on stage, at school joins Ryu and Shogo in playing basketball. Joining his band at a barbeque restaurant, they discuss their upcoming performance. Mafuyu later messages Ritsuka on the effect pedal, at school and listens to the song he made.[6]
Working at the concert venue, Mafuyu is found by Hiiragi and they leave to discuss the past including Yuki's guitar. Mafuyu is not sure if he is embracing music to be positive or because he cannot let go.
Announcing that he does not think he can perform for his band, afterward, Mafuyu discusses with Haruki relationships and losing someone.
Mafuyu agrees to join a basketball tournament as he continues to think about the lyrics for the song. At home, he makes his way across the city leading to the ocean and tells himself he is not lonely.
On the school stairs with Ritsuka, Mafuyu shares that he truly loved someone.[7]
Practicing, Mafuyu is called out by Ritsuka on whether he is practicing. Joining Shogo and Ryuu, they oversee Ritsuka calm Kasai outside. Mafuyu has the answer to why Ritsuka is so popular - he is genuinely kind to everyone.
At the studio after a brief nap, Mafuyu awakens with his hands in Ritsuka's, they continue to practice guitar playing. Spending time with daily events, in one case Mafuyu is taken home by Akihiko and told if he is not able to settle his past, he will not be able to write lyrics.[8]
Mafuyu's Performance Lyrics
English
Just like snow that hasn't melted
In the shade I continue on with these feelings inside me
please tell me how I'm supposed to close the door on this love
Your everything has lost its tomorrow
And is now wandering eternally
Along with me who was unable to say goodbye or move on
Just like a spell that still won't break or some kind of curse
I'm still holding on to some heavy baggage
Hey, what kind of tomorrow am I supposed to look for in this town?
The cold tears that fall freeze under the sky
They pretend to be kind and around the time they fall down my face
Two people who were always together are torn apart
That's all there is to this story
Even if your everything loses its shape one day
You'll always be here within me
As I try to move forward again, even though I couldn't say goodbye
You'll always be here with me
Rōmaji
Mada toke kirezu ni nokotta
hikage no yuki mitaina
omoi o daite iki teru
nē
boku wa kono koi o don'na kotoba de tojitara ī no
anata no subete ga
ashita o nakushite eien no naka o samayo te iru yo
sayonara dekizu ni
tachidomatta mama no
boku to issho ni
mada hodokenai mahō no
yōna soretomo noroi no yōna
omoi nimotsu o kakae teru
nē
boku wa konomachide
don'na ashita o sagaseba ī no
tsumetai namida ga sora de
itetsuite yasashī furi shite mai ochiru koro ni
hanareta dareka to darekaga ita koto
tada soredake no hanashi
anata no subete ga
katachi o nakushite mo
eien ni boku no naka de ikite ku yo
sayonara dekizu ni
aruki dasu boku to
zutto issho ni
Japanese
まだ溶けきれずに残った
日陰の雪みたいな
想いを抱いて生きてる
ねぇ
僕はこの恋を
どんな言葉でとじたらいいの
あなたのすべてが
明日を失くして
永遠の中を紡程っているよ
さよならできずに
立ち止まったままの僕と一緒に
まだ解けない魔法のような
それとも呪いのような
重い荷物を抱えてる
ねぇ
ぼくはこの街で
どんな明日を探せばいいの
冷たい涙が空で凍てついて
やさしい振りして舞い落ちる頃に
離れた誰かと誰かがいたこと
ただそれだけのはなし
あなたのすべてが
かたちを失くしても
永遠に僕の中で生きてくよ
さよならできずに
歩き出す僕と
ずっと一緒に
Trivia
- The name Mafuyu means "midwinter".
- His last name, Satō, is the most common surname in Japan and means "help" (佐) and "wisteria" (藤).