Ritsuka Uenoyama

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"When I had forgotten my passion when I started playing guitar, I met in the middle of winter. I was attracted by the mid-winter voice that I heard by chance, and I began to embrace special feelings." ― Uenoyama Ritsuka

Ritsuka Uenoyama
Kanji	上ノ山 立夏
Rōmaji	Uenoyama Ritsuka
Alias	Uecchi (nickname)
Gender	Male
Age	16
Height	175cm
Birthday	August 1
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Blue
Blood Type	B
Occupation	Student
Role	Guitarist
Instrument(s)	Electric guitar
Partner	Mafuyu Sato (Boyfriend)
Personal Status
Relative(s)	Yayoi Uenoyama (Older sister)
Debuts
Manga Debut	Chapter 1, page 4
Image Gallery

Note, this is the manga page for Ritsuka, for the anime page view Ritsuka Uenoyama Anime.

Ritsuka Uenoyama (上ノ山 立夏 Uenoyama Ritsuka) is one of the main protagonist's of the Given Series. He is a high school student and has a guitar prowess despite being just a high schooler. He is a guitarist with a strong mindset.

Appearance

He has short black hair that leaves his ears visible and his fringe parted in a fashion that leaves some of his forehead viewable. Ritsuka wears casual attire with clothes including a white undershirt with a dark unbuttoned jacket that he has unbuttoned over the top. He also wears dark trousers and white shoes.

Personality

He's a considerate and compassionate guy and is also a genuine younger brother of his sister Yayoi.

He shows little consideration for small talk and can be quick to be irate.

History

He began playing guitar in sixth grade, when his dad gave him an unused guitar and Ritsuka practiced around Yayoi.

Ritsuka liked music from a young age

Thinking then that he could not play like Thom Yorke or Keith Richards right away he continued playing until he played correctly. Listening to music CDs he has been swallowed by the music and when he entered high school he decided to pursue music just as he planned. Before he knew it, when he played to a certain degree the feeling of excitement from back then had already faded.

Story

In class 2- 10, Ritsuka lies head down on his desk before declining to go and get some bread with a friend. He is tired and will pass, before also saying he is taking a nap when his class mate suggests basket ball instead. When told he always slacks off around 5, he simply asks him to take notes for him.

First coming across Mafuyu

As he walks through the corridors he thinks that recently he found a place no one goes to. Yawning off a request to play basketball from another person he only thinks it feels nice arriving at his location at a secluded stairway. He finds someone sleeping in his place, and reacts by thinking for him to not just sleep there. Making eye contact when the boy awakens, he is recognised as the guy from the class next door and wonders who was he again.

Trying to think what his name was, Ritsuka pauses as he is gestured to join the person still holding onto a guitar. Wondering why he is offering a seat, Ritsuka takes it anyway sitting beside him with Ritsuka initiating conversation that he could have just said something. That, and he states that his guitar strings are rusty and asks should he not cut them and fix it already.

In the middle of Ritsuka asking why a guy who cannot even maintain his guitar regularly owns a Gibson Semi, he immediately reacts with shock telling him that he is too close when he suddenly draws very close to Ritsuka's face.

Asked if the guitar can be fixed, Ritsuka is outwardly confused but internally observes that he spoke. He replies of course, whilst still thinking that he is still too close. Ritsuka turns his head away as the boy asks if he can fix it right away, Ritsuka guesses, and when asked now, he replies now is a bit before trailing off. His silence intensifies as the boy grows further disheartened beside him.

Testing Mafuyu's guitar he repaired

The shared silence ends with Ritsuka overcome with rage at how annoying it is as he provides repair equipment. Snipping the rusted strings he lambastes him for acting as if it is the end of the world just because of the strings. Connecting the strings to the guitar bridge he continues that he would feel bad if he were to just leave now, but seriously wants his nap time back.

The repairs complete, Ritsuka demands he be grateful, respect him and pay for the replacement strings when he receives applause. His irritation has not subsided as he says he is not done yet and for him to be patient. He tunes the guitar before using a plectrum to test the sound.

Simultaneously at having his jacket grabbed and to his surprise also asked to teach him how to play like that, Ritsuka also thinks that at that moment, when the chords were strung that without knowing this guys heartstrings were struck. Presently Ritsuka begins discussing the tuning, whilst thinking to this moment that now he remembers that encounter, that was the event that quickly began to change his world but at the time did not notice a single thing.

After thinking to when he started guitar in grade six, Ritsuka remembers Mafuyu's face when he asked if his guitar can be fixed. Ritsuka looks out the window in class, now that he thinks about it he too was on the verge of tears when his strings snapped for the first time.

The next day, declining another friends suggestion to play basket ball, Ritsuka says sorry as he heads to the stairway. He pauses before thinking that he is here, the guy who wants him to teach him guitar. Ritsuka is resolute that he will decline his request. Walking up to ruffle his hair to wake him, Ritsuka is certain he is here to defend his napping spot before experiencing a sharp turn in expression when Mafuyu dreamily says his name and thanks him for yesterday.

Speechless at being offered money for the guitar strings, Ritsuka thinks is he serious when money is presented for him to teach guitar. Although Ritsuka thinks to himself that he really wants it, he brushes off the cash telling him he does not need to pay him. Offered bread, Ritsuka tells him to listen that even if he paid him or gave him that, he has not taught something like guitar to someone before. It is then suggested that if he want to learn there are music clubs.

Suggesting that he make a band or something and rolling over to nap, Ritsuka is furious to discover that Mafuyu does not know what a band is. He lividly inquires what is wrong with him, carrying a guitar around when he does not even know what a band is. There are crestfallen silences as Ritsuka asks if he is serious before turning up at a studio where he tells his bandmate Akihiko on who the guy with him is. Having brought him along Ritsuka explains to Akihiko that he felt like picking up an abandoned dog, he seriously could not leave him.

He focuses on Mafuyu, instructing him to make sure he introduces himself to Akihiko properly, and not to hide behind himself. Elaborating that Akihiko's face looks scary, he is actually a good person.

His reaction to Haruki arriving is to delineate him as the bass player for Mafuyu's benefit. With his silence, Ritsuka taps him to prompt him into introducing himself with Ritsuka holding the guitar on Mafuyu's back as he bows. Beside him as he does so Ritsuka then confronts Akihiko asking if he is sure with his plan to perform then and there. Stating that Mafuyu is an amateur who knows nothing, Ritsuka points to him under the impression that Mafuyu is probably expecting some kind of godly performance.

No longer concerned for Akihiko and Haruki's induced apprehension on his part, Ritsuka simply does not care anymore and is ready to just play like they usually do. He interjects that their joke is outdated, asks Haruki what a beautiful modern guitar is before turning his attention to Mafuyu. Ritsuka requests a reminder of his name, and then what does he want to listen to. Grimacing that "something cool" is too broad, Ritsuka nevertheless begins playing his guitar at once giving an energetic performance with his band for Mafuyu.

Afterwards he walks, and wonders aloud why he has to take Mafuyu all the way to the station. Ritsuka asks if he is listening when he isn't. Ritsuka replies no to Mafuyu's question if he can come again, and additionally for him to stop requesting that he teach him guitar. Having never taught anyone before Ritsuka would not know how, then advises Mafuyu go to a light music club instead.

Noticing something behind Mafuyu, Ritsuka pulls him aside from a car driving too close. He explains it is dangerous so Mafuyu should stick to the footpath, and make sure to look behind. Ritsuka tells him to not take the words so literally before ending with the light music club suggestion is not done out of meanness but for Mafuyu's sake.

Announcing that he is home to his older sister Yayoi, he ignores her observation that he is late to announce that he has his doubts that she is his sister or a girl when she is like that referring to her overall. Ritsuka heads to prepare the pizza Yayoi has for them both asking is she remembers what he was like when he first started guitar. He knew he should have asked her hearing it described as scratchy.

Preparing the pizza, Ritsuka reflects that he cannot remember much and considers if he were to teach a beginner from square one, he would have a lot of responsibility. He thinks of Mafuyu looking at the sky, wondering if he also had that look in his eyes.

Taking a harmless fall in basketball practice, Ritsuka is helped up by Ryu but cannot answer him why he has been out of it since yesterday. Curious, and not having been to the stairs since then he asks someone to sub for him as he continues to think of Mafuyu. Ritsuka has a feeling he is definitely there now and envisions him as a pom with that abandoned puppy look of his. Agitated and feeling he has done something bad Ritsuka returns to the stairs to find, nothing.

Confused to not locate Mafuyu there, Ritsuka wonders why he himself is so worried. Contemplating whether Mafuyu gave up, Ritsuka's unease does not diminish when Mafuyu fails to appear the next day, and the next.

At work in a convenience store he crouches staring straight ahead. Remaining the same when Akihiko who works alongside him points out that his mouth is wide open, Ritsuka asserts that he is always like this. With their shift ended, he reminds Akihiko of Mafuyu's name and responds to Akihiko's suggestion that he look after Mafuyu. Hearing that it will be good for him since he was super hyped up during the jam session directly causes Ritsuka's facial expression to undergo a sudden and drastic change. He appears aghast at the recommendation and abashed wonders if he was like that.

Arriving at the studio with Akihiko, Ritsuka is inflamed to find Mafuyu there and flustered cannot even get his words out having seen him again. His anger transforms to confusion as Haruki points out to him that Mafuyu has changed his guitar's strings by himself. Ritsuka is asked by Mafuyu if it is tuned before sheepishly inquiring if he visited the light music club. Ritsuka's reaction is one of horror upon hearing that Mafuyu considered him cooler than anyone at the light music club.

Etymology

From Japanese 立 meaning "standing" combined with 夏 meaning "summer" to create (rikka), which translates to first day of summer, beginning of summer.[1]

Trivia

• He enjoys playing the electric guitar and composing music for it and others.
• Ritsuka also plays basketball.