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Rei Suwa

Rei Suwa (諏訪 零, Suwa Rei), is the deuteragonist of the anime series Buddy Daddies. A stoic and lethally skilled professional hitman, Rei works alongside Kazuki Kurusu as part of a two-man assassination team. While Kazuki handles logistics and emotional labor, Rei provides precision and firepower, often acting as the muscle in their missions. Despite his cold exterior and withdrawn behavior, Rei is a deeply complex character whose gradual emotional awakening forms a central part of the series’ narrative.

A recluse by nature, Rei spends most of his time off the job playing video games, sleeping, and avoiding interaction. However, his life begins to change when he and Kazuki take in Miri Unasaka, a young girl orphaned by one of their missions. As Rei is thrust into the unexpected role of a father figure, he begins to confront his own trauma, suppressed emotions, and desire for connection.

Background

https://everipedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shibuya.jpg

Appearance in anime

Rei comes from a strict and violent upbringing, raised by a powerful and abusive father who was also deeply entrenched in the criminal underworld. Groomed to be a killer from a young age, Rei’s life lacked emotional support, affection, or freedom. His stoicism and combat prowess are direct results of this harsh training, leaving him emotionally stunted and emotionally disconnected.

Eventually breaking away from his father’s influence, Rei joined forces with Kazuki, forming a hitman duo that blends Kazuki’s charisma with Rei’s lethality. Despite living independently, Rei continues to struggle with trauma, emotional detachment, and finding a purpose outside of killing until Miri enters their lives and starts to thaw his frozen heart.

Photo Section with Captions

Appearance

Rei is tall and lean, with pale skin, long, straight black hair usually tied in a low ponytail, and icy blue eyes that reflect his distant, detached demeanor. His posture is often slouched or relaxed, giving off an air of indifference, but he moves with deadly efficiency when on a mission.

He typically dresses in casual clothing hoodies, sweats, or loose shirts and shows little interest in fashion or formality. His casual style and frequent blank expressions contrast sharply with the precision and brutality he exhibits in the field.

Personality

Rei is a quiet, introverted, and emotionally reserved individual. He prefers solitude, avoids unnecessary conversation, and finds comfort in repetitive or passive activities primarily video games and lounging around. His apathy is a shield developed from years of emotional suppression under his father’s control.

Though he rarely expresses emotion, Rei is deeply observant and highly intelligent, with a dry sense of humor that occasionally surfaces in unexpected moments. He struggles to express affection or vulnerability, but his actions often speak louder than words especially when it comes to protecting those he cares about.

As the series progresses, Rei undergoes significant emotional development, learning to open his heart to Miri, embrace responsibility, and redefine what it means to live on his own terms rather than in the shadow of his past.

Role in the Story

  • A Lethal Partner
    Rei operates alongside Kazuki as a hitman, acting as the team’s primary shooter and combat expert. He is rarely involved in planning or social interactions, preferring to follow Kazuki’s lead and keep to himself when not working. His professional efficiency and cold demeanor often intimidate others, but Kazuki understands and respects his quiet nature.

  • The Reluctant Father
    When Miri Unasaka becomes a part of their lives, Rei is the most resistant to taking her in. He views her as a disruption to his simple routine and tries to maintain emotional distance. However, through small, meaningful interactions such as playing with her, sharing meals, or silently protecting her Rei slowly begins to bond with Miri in his own quiet way. Over time, he begins to change his behavior waking up earlier, helping around the house, and even adjusting his gaming schedule to spend time with her. These subtle shifts reflect his growing emotional investment and his desire to become someone Miri can rely on.

  • Confronting His Past
    Rei’s greatest internal struggle is with his controlling father, who disapproves of his current life and urges him to return to the criminal organization. Their confrontation becomes a major turning point in the story, forcing Rei to choose between the life he was forced into and the life he’s slowly building with Kazuki and Miri. Ultimately, Rei rejects his father’s legacy, choosing found family and freedom over blood ties and duty an act that symbolizes his personal growth and emotional liberation.

Relationships

Kazuki Kurusu
Kazuki is Rei’s partner, roommate, and emotional opposite. While Kazuki is expressive and socially skilled, Rei is introverted and blunt. Despite their differences, they work together with mutual respect and an unspoken understanding. Kazuki helps draw Rei out of his shell, while Rei grounds Kazuki’s impulsiveness.

Miri Unasaka
Initially a burden in Rei’s eyes, Miri becomes a central figure in his transformation. Though he rarely shows it overtly, Rei grows to love her deeply, protecting her fiercely and adjusting his lifestyle to care for her. Their bond is subtle but profound, marked by shared routines and quiet comfort.

Rei’s Father
A manipulative and abusive figure from Rei’s past, his father represents everything Rei is trying to escape. Their relationship is cold, transactional, and rooted in control. Defying his father is Rei’s way of reclaiming his autonomy and identity.

Trivia

    • Rei is a hardcore gamer, often staying up late playing console games and neglecting chores.
      • His favorite food is hamburg steak, which Miri later learns to make.
      • Despite being reserved, Rei is surprisingly good with children, though he doesn’t realize it himself.
      • He has an impressive shooting record and is considered a top-tier assassin in the criminal underworld.
      • Rei was trained from childhood to kill, which explains his emotional detachment and hyper-focus during missions.
      • His name “零” (Rei) means “zero,” symbolizing his emotional emptiness at the start of the series, which gradually fills through found family.

    Legacy

      • Rei Suwa is a compelling and emotionally nuanced deuteragonist who exemplifies the journey from emotional repression to quiet healing. His transformation from reclusive assassin to dependable father figure is subtle, realistic, and deeply affecting. Through his bond with Kazuki and Miri, Rei learns that strength isn’t just about survival but about choosing love, softness, and vulnerability in a world that taught him to suppress them.
        • Rei’s story reinforces Buddy Daddies’ core themes of found family, redemption, and emotional growth, making him a central force in the anime’s heartfelt narrative. His quiet resilience, inner conflict, and gradual opening of his heart make Rei a memorable and beloved character in the landscape of modern anime.