Makoto Isshiki
Makoto Isshiki |
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| Kanji: | 一色 誠 |
| Romaji | Isshiki Makoto |
| Statistics | |
| Age: | 15 |
| Birthday: | December 7 (Sagittarius) |
| Height: | 175cm |
| Portrayed by: | |
| Japanese: | Sōichirō Hoshi |
| English: | Greg Ayres |
Makoto Isshiki (一色 誠, Isshiki Makoto), is a recurring character in the anime and light novel series Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai!). A classmate of the main protagonist Yuuta Togashi, Makoto serves as comic relief in many scenes and embodies the typical enthusiastic yet slightly desperate teenage boy archetype. He often finds himself caught between school antics, hopeless crushes, and his awkward pursuit of popularity and love.
Though initially self-absorbed and overly concerned with his image, Makoto eventually reveals a more earnest and caring side, particularly in his interactions with his friends and romantic interest.
Background
Appearance in Anime
Makoto is a first-year high school student at Icho Private High School and part of Class 1-7, the same class as Yuuta and Rikka Takanashi. He becomes friends with Yuuta early in the series, bonding over their attempts to navigate the chaos of teenage life and the quirks of their unusual classmates.
While not directly involved with the “chunibyo” antics that dominate much of the story, Makoto is often dragged into them and plays a supporting role in the social fabric of the class, particularly in events like the popularity poll and group outings.
Appearance
Makoto has short, neatly kept light brown hair and is usually seen wearing the standard school uniform. His clean appearance reflects his desire to be perceived as attractive and well-mannered, especially around girls. His facial expressions are often exaggerated, especially during comedic or flustered moments.
Personality
Makoto is outgoing, talkative, and image-conscious, often preoccupied with how others especially girls perceive him. He is easily flustered in romantic situations and tends to act overly confident, which often leads to humorous failure. Despite this, he is not malicious or arrogant just overly earnest in his attempts to be popular and cool.
He also has a kind and supportive side, particularly shown in his loyalty to Yuuta and eventual honesty with his feelings. While he jokes around a lot, Makoto grows more self-aware over time and begins to value sincerity over appearance.
Role in the Story
Comic Relief and Classmate Dynamics: Makoto frequently serves as comic relief, often being the butt of jokes involving unrequited crushes, embarrassing situations, or his failed attempts to gain favor with the girls in class. He tries to help Yuuta avoid social embarrassment early on but ends up being swept into the chaos of the “Far East Magical Napping Society Summer Thereof.”
Popularity Poll Incident: In one notable event, Makoto tries to boost his popularity by conducting a class-wide ranking poll to see who is the most attractive. However, this backfires when the girls find out, and he ends up shaving his head in shame as a sign of apology. This incident becomes a defining comedic and character moment for him.
Developing Feelings for Kumin: Over time, Makoto develops genuine feelings for Kumin Tsuyuri, the sleepy and kind-hearted member of the group. Their interactions are often sweet and awkward, and although not central to the plot, they add a romantic subplot that contributes to Makoto’s gradual maturity.
Relationships
Yuuta Togashi: Makoto’s closest friend and fellow male classmate. The two often share lunch, gossip, and frustrations about school and love. Their interactions provide grounding moments amid the series’ surreal and exaggerated elements.
Kumin Tsuyuri: Makoto harbors a quiet crush on Kumin, admiring her gentle nature. Though their relationship is underdeveloped in the anime, it adds a light-hearted romantic angle to his character arc.
Other Classmates: Makoto often tries to impress girls like Shinka Nibutani but is regularly ignored or unintentionally humiliated. His antics often put him at odds with classmates, but he remains generally well-liked due to his willingness to apologize and learn from mistakes.