kousaka shigure

First Appearance: Battle 7
Age: 22-23
Height: 159 cm
Type: Sei
Type: Katsujin Ken
Martial Arts: Kosaka Style (All Weapons)
Shigure is an enigmatic and slow-speaking individual. She excels in all forms of weaponry and believes that weapons should be treated as extensions of the body, emphasizing that mastery comes from more than just relying on the weapon's power. Initially perceived as a loner, she mostly kept to herself at the dojo except for interactions with Apachai. However, over time, she starts opening up to Kenichi and others, even joining them for daily activities like dinner.
She instructs Kenichi in weapon usage and helps him overcome his fear of being attacked by weapons. Kensei hints that Shigure worries about Kenichi when he's absent, suggesting she has developed a fondness for him. She permits Akisame to share her past with Kenichi, stating it's fine simply because it's Kenichi.
Among the masters, Shigure trains Kenichi the least. Her behavior subtly indicates a desire to have him as a disciple, but she's frustrated by his reluctance to use weapons and his constant fear of her. So far, she has mainly taught him practical skills like swimming and tying knots.
It's revealed that Shigure was raised in the mountains with her father, an expert in crafting and wielding weapons. During one of Akisame's journeys, he encountered Shigure and her father. Due to her father's terminal illness, he asked Akisame to end his life in a duel so he could die honorably. After some resistance, Akisame eventually had to throw him off a cliff during a forced confrontation.
Before dying, Shigure's father admitted he didn't truly want to die in battle but was trying to set a bad example so his daughter wouldn't make the same mistakes. Akisame then named Shigure (as her father never did) and took her to be raised by an old friend, the current master of Kosaka-style swordsmanship. After the old man passed away, Akisame brought Shigure to Ryozanpaku. Shigure embarks on missions to retrieve swords crafted by her father and remove them from circulation, keeping her reasons secret, though it's suggested she doesn't want her father's weapons used for killing.
A unique mouse, later named Tochumaru, often accompanies her. Shigure usually plays with Honoka and Apachai and frequently beats Kensei for harassing her. Tochumaru can easily defeat cats and even armed mercenaries. It's also known for stealing food, which Apachai is often blamed for.