Atsushi is depicted with dark blue hair that reaches his collar, with long bangs that fall straight over his forehead and frame his glasses. He has brown eyes and is rarely seen without his glasses, except when bathing. Among the Earth Defense Club, he is one of the tallest members, which adds to his composed and mature presence.

His Binan High School uniform consists of a white shirt tucked into black trousers, a black buttoned blazer, and a red tie, paired with brown shoes. Unlike some of his teammates, he wears his uniform neatly, reflecting his orderly and responsible nature.

When transformed into the Piercing Prince, Battle Lover Epinard, Atsushi dons a prince-inspired costume. His outfit features a white jacket with puffed sleeves and green turned-up cuffs, extending into six long coat tails lined in green. At his collar rests a green bow, adorned with a heart-shaped jewel with wings. A frilled white undershirt peeks from beneath the jacket, complemented by white silk gloves and form-fitting white pants. His attire is completed with green knee-high boots, reinforcing his association with the element of wind and giving him an elegant, disciplined appearance.

Atsushi serves as the serious and diligent counterpart to En Yufuin’s relaxed and unmotivated nature. He is hardworking, responsible, and often takes on the role of grounding the group when others are distracted or unfocused. His tendency to give affectionate nicknames to those close to him such as “Kin-chan” for Kinshirō Kusatsu and “En-chan” for En reflects his friendly and approachable side.

Outside of schoolwork and club activities, Atsushi is shown to be a skilled cook, particularly adept at preparing curry. Despite his reliability, he can display moments of hesitation and passivity in battle, especially when confronted with emotionally charged situations. This is most evident in his disagreements with En in Episode 8, Love Wanders!, as well as in flashbacks that explore the complexities of his childhood friendship with Kinshirō.

Atsushi Kinugawa is introduced as a third-year student at Binan High School and one of the five founding members of the Earth Defense Club. He comes from a well-regarded academic background, consistently ranking near the top of his class. His intelligence and sense of responsibility set him apart, and he is often regarded as one of the more reliable members of the group.

Before the events of the series, Atsushi shared a close childhood friendship with Kinshirō Kusatsu, the future leader of the Conquest Club. The two affectionately referred to each other as “Atchan” and “Kin-chan.” However, their friendship eventually deteriorated, leaving unresolved tension between them that resurfaces after the formation of the Defense and Conquest Clubs. This backstory highlights one of Atsushi’s central conflicts, as he struggles to reconcile loyalty to his current teammates with the memories of his former bond with Kinshirō.

Atsushi becomes involved with the Earth Defense Club after encountering the pink wombat-like creature that grants him and his peers the ability to transform into the Battle Lovers. Assigned the element of wind, he takes on the persona of Battle Lover Epinard, combining his natural diligence with his newfound powers to protect Earth from the Loveless.

Kinshiro Kusatsu
Atsushi and Kinshirō Kusatsu were childhood best friends, sharing a close bond that included making promises under shooting stars. Kinshirō wished that they would remain best friends forever, to which Atsushi reassured him that their bond did not need a wish to endure. However, their friendship deteriorated due to a misunderstanding. In Episode 11, it is revealed that Atsushi chose to go out for curry with En instead of visiting Kinshirō’s home after school. Believing that Atsushi had rejected him, Kinshirō grew distant, while Atsushi remained unaware of the effect his actions had caused. Out of respect for Kinshirō’s feelings, Atsushi refrained from forcing reconciliation and gradually began spending more time with En. Despite the distance between them, Atsushi continues to address Kinshirō politely, indicating that he still values the friendship they once shared.

En Yufuin
Atsushi’s closest friendship is with En Yufuin, which began during their childhood when the two bonded over a shared fondness for curry. Their decision to eat together, prompted by a discount coupon, marked the beginning of their companionship and inadvertently caused the rift between Atsushi and Kinshirō. Over time, Atsushi and En became inseparable, developing a strong and enduring partnership. In the present day, their relationship remains central to the dynamic of the Earth Defense Club, with Atsushi’s diligence balancing En’s carefree outlook.

The given name Atsushi (熱史) combines the kanji atsu (熱), meaning “heat,” “fever,” or “temperature,” with shi (史), meaning “history.” His surname, Kinugawa (鬼怒川), is formed from ki (鬼, “demon” or “ogre”), nu (怒, “anger”), and kawa/gawa (川, “river” or “stream”).

Like the other main characters of Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!, his surname references a well-known hot spring resort. Kinugawa Onsen, located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, serves as the direct inspiration for his family name.