Elena Aoki
Elena Aoki |
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| Kanji | 青木江麗奈 |
| Romaji | Aoki Erena |
| Personal Information | |
| Birthday | February 13 |
| Species | Human (formerly) Monster |
| Gender | Female |
| Affiliation | Student (formerly) |
| Status | Deceased |
| Debut | |
| Manga | Chapter 7 |
| Anime | Episode 3 |
| Portrayal | |
| Japanese VA |
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| English VA | Morgan Garrett |
Appearance
Elena Aoki is a fair-skinned young woman with short dark blue or black hair and striking red eyes. She has a slim and more modest physique compared to her younger sister, Clair. Elena’s demeanor is often calm and composed, in stark contrast to the chaos surrounding her transformation.
She is commonly seen wearing a brown hat, which adds a subtle touch to her overall appearance.
In her monster form, Elena transforms into a large, ghost-like creature with a gloomy, eerie presence. Her appearance becomes unsettling, with long, flowing hair that further emphasizes her otherworldly and haunting nature.
Personality
Elena Aoki is an emotionally unstable and dangerous character, embodying the traits of a yandere a person whose love is obsessive and violent. She harbors a deep, possessive crush on Shuichi Kagaya, which makes her shy and timid around him. However, this affection is tainted by a selfish, murderous attachment, and she becomes dangerously fixated on him.
Elena is responsible for transforming Shuichi into a monster, intending to “become one” with him by entering his body in a manner similar to Clair. Her mental state is volatile, shifting from psychotic outbursts to moments of unexpected calm. She is capable of switching from murderous rage to a more docile attitude in an instant. For example, after attacking Shuichi with the intent to kill, she immediately calms down and even apologizes when she realizes he is still alive although she later shifts back to violence upon discovering the presence of Clair inside him. Her obsession with Shuichi and her need to possess him take a dark turn when she decapitates him to determine who the girl inside him is, showing her complete disregard for any boundaries or lives, including Shuichi’s.
Manipulative and cunning, Elena prefers to use others as pawns rather than directly engaging in violence herself. She demonstrates a chilling lack of remorse for her actions, which highlights her cold, calculating nature. Elena’s capacity for murder is demonstrated by her indifference to killing her own parents, a deed she commits without hesitation. Both Shuichi and Clair are horrified upon realizing the extent of her murders, and they fear that she is a true monster one whose actions are driven by an unhinged desire for control.
Despite her emotional instability, Elena retains moments of lucidity, particularly when it comes to her younger sister. After killing their parents, she spares Clair, claiming she did it for her sake, and even gives her a coin she believes could be useful. Upon discovering Clair inside Shuichi’s monster form, Elena’s aggression momentarily subsides, and she gives Clair another coin before leaving, signaling a complex, albeit twisted, form of affection.
Plot
Elena Aoki, after finding a mysterious coin, uses it to have her wish granted, transforming Shuichi Kagaya into a monster. This act sets off a chain of events that drastically changes the lives of everyone involved.
When Shuichi and Clair Aoki finally track Elena down, Clair attempts to confront her, only to reveal that she is inside Shuichi’s monster form. As Clair tries to kill Elena, Shuichi intervenes, making her miss her shot. Elena, visibly shaken, transforms into her monstrous form, and the confrontation freezes both Shuichi and Clair in fear. However, Elena quickly begins apologizing to Shuichi, displaying an unexpected remorse for her actions.
The group retreats to a more private location, where Elena wonders if Shuichi has learned about her from the Alien. She begins to suspect that Shuichi knows she was the one responsible for turning him into a monster. Shuichi, who has no memory of the events, is confused and doesn’t fully understand her implications. But then, Clair’s voice emerges from inside Shuichi, and upon hearing her sister, Elena’s demeanor changes. In a fit of madness, Elena tears off Shuichi’s mascot head, desperate to see who is inside. The moment she sees Clair, she realizes what she’s done and begins apologizing profusely.
After the initial shock, Elena and Clair exchange words. Clair asks about their parents, and Elena reveals painful truths: their father was a corrupt politician, and their mother had a young lover. Elena explains that she killed them for Clair, as Clair had once expressed a desire to kill them herself. Elena no longer needed protection, and this act of violence was her way of showing strength.
Before leaving, Elena gives Clair another coin, telling her to use it wisely. She then receives a phone call and departs, leaving Clair with more questions about their past and the complex, twisted bond between them.
Etymology
The name “Elena” is composed of the kanji 江 (e), meaning “bay” or “inlet,” 麗 (re), meaning “beautiful” or “lovely,” and 奈 (na), meaning “apple tree.” The combination of these kanji evokes a sense of natural beauty, with the imagery of a bay or inlet conveying tranquility and elegance, while the “apple tree” adds a touch of warmth and growth.
Elena’s surname, “Aoki,” is made up of the kanji 青 (ao), meaning “blue” or “green,” and 木 (ki), meaning “tree” or “wood.” This combination suggests a connection to nature, particularly the vitality of trees and the calming colors of blue and green, symbolizing life and growth.
Power and Abilities
After receiving her wish and transforming, Elena gains the ability to turn into a large, ghost-like creature with long, flowing hair. Her monstrous form is incredibly powerful, demonstrated when she easily rips off Shuichi Kagaya’s head during a moment of emotional instability. This immense strength highlights her formidable abilities in her transformed state.
Elena also possesses the ability to transform into an ash-like matter, which allows her to take on her monstrous shape. This fluidity in her form adds a supernatural element to her powers, making her more versatile in battle.
Her mere presence exudes an overwhelming force, to the point where Shuichi, in his monster form, is filled with terror just from being touched by her. This fear stems from his belief that he is not on her level, suggesting that Elena’s powers are far superior to his own and that she exudes a sense of dominance and control in her transformed state.
Relationships
Shuichi Kagaya
Elena Aoki and Shuichi Kagaya shared a past relationship, with Elena once being deeply involved with him. However, their connection took a tragic turn when Elena, fearing that Shuichi’s memories and emotions would become an obstacle for her, erased his memories. She believed that keeping him unaware of certain truths would prevent him from becoming a weakness that could undermine her goals. In the anime, Elena specifically erases Shuichi’s memories to prevent him from remembering his encounters with Honoka, fearing that those memories would complicate her mission. Despite her harsh actions, Elena is shown to harbor conflicted emotions about Shuichi, and when Chihiro Yoshioka confronts her, Elena is seen crying, reflecting her deep internal struggle and desire to hide her feelings from those around her.
Clair Aoki
Clair Aoki is Elena’s younger sister. Their relationship is strained, as Elena’s transformation into a monster and her violent actions, including the murder of their parents, create a rift between them. Despite the destructive actions, Elena still shows moments of care for Clair, sparing her life and even giving her a coin that she believes could help Clair in her journey. The bond between the two sisters is complex, shaped by deep emotional turmoil and Elena’s twisted love for Clair.
