suzuki hajime

First appearance: Battle 437
Type: Sei
Type: Satsujin Ken
Martial Arts: Karate
Suzuki Hajime was a master-class Karateka and the late friend of Sakaki Shio and Hongou Akira. He displayed incredible talent and power as a martial artist, being powerful enough to analyze all moves in Sakaki's fight against Hongou, which both Kenichi and Miu found extremely challenging. By merely observing, he could replicate their techniques and pinpoint flaws in their fighting styles.
During Yami's death match, he fought both Sakaki and Hongou, even overpowering them at times. Hongou noticed minor flaws in Suzuki's stance but praised his perfect hand movements and efficiency. After witnessing Suzuki copy their moves, both Sakaki and Hongou believed he was stronger than they were. The only hindrance was his illness, which occasionally affected his performance. He was also an exceptional teacher, providing students with thorough instructions to better teach them techniques.
Suzuki's personality combined elements of Kenichi's and Kanou Shou's, leaning more towards Shou's. This resulted in a playful demeanor that could shift to seriousness when faced with critical matters, such as eagerly participating in a death match with Sakaki and Hongou. Simultaneously, he humorously feared the two, similar to Kenichi. His serious side might have influenced Hongou's decision to choose Kanou Shou as his successor.
Suzuki's passion for martial arts mirrored Shou's, demonstrating a strong desire to learn and apply it in his future career. He particularly enjoyed watching Sakaki fight Hongou, refereeing 250 of their matches and requesting Hongou to keep his eyes open upon death so he could witness their 251st match. Suzuki dreamed of becoming the strongest karate master.
Suzuki first appears in Sakaki's flashback, asking him to take him as a disciple. Despite Sakaki's reluctance, Suzuki followed him, and they soon met Hongou. They discussed a tournament Sakaki entered, from which Hongou was absent. Upon hearing this, Suzuki asked to see them fight, acting as their referee. This first observation ended poorly, as Suzuki admitted he didn't clearly see who delivered the finishing blow. Nonetheless, he continued refereeing their matches, initiating a series of alternating wins between the two.
At one point, Suzuki discovered he had an illness but chose to live life according to his beliefs. Later, he joined Sakaki and Hongou in tracking weapon dealers, eager to use his martial arts skills. Observing their fighting styles, he suggested they switch stances, noting Sakaki's recklessness and Hongou's caution. The next day, he was delighted to see them adopt his advice. Suzuki later showcased his ability to mimic their moves, earning praise from the masters. He fell in love with Sakaki's older sister, quickly eliminating weapon dealers and protecting her lunch while the others chased a truck. During this period, he took up teaching children karate.
Suzuki's final moments came when Yami lured him to a pagoda, forcing him into a death match with Sakaki and Hongou, who were less enthusiastic about fighting him. As he leaped to elbow Hongou, he was killed by Hongou's knife hand. His last request was for Hongou to leave his eyes open, allowing him to see Sakaki's final battle. His death ignited rage in Sakaki, ultimately destroying his friendship with Hongou.