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Ririna Sanada

Ririna Sanada (真田 莉々奈, Sanada Ririna) is one of the main heroines in the Koi to Uso (Love and Lies) anime and manga series. She is a second-year student at Rijō Girls Academy, an all-girls school, and is assigned as the government-designated marriage partner of Yukari Nejima under the Yukari Law. Despite her initial awkwardness, Ririna plays a pivotal role in the emotional dynamics of the story and eventually forms a friendship with Misaki Takasaki, Yukari’s first love.

Appearance

Ririna Sanada is a petite and attractive teenage girl of mixed heritage, being of German descent on her father’s side and Japanese on her mother’s. She has a slim build and delicate features, giving her a youthful and doll-like appearance. Her porcelain skin and expressive facial traits contribute to her distinctive charm.

She has long pink hair typically styled in twin pigtails, with fringes that cover her forehead and two longer strands that frame her face. Her large, amethyst colored eyes stand out prominently, enhancing her already striking appearance. Ririna’s small stature and graceful look often draw attention, and her unique appearance is noted within the story Yukari Nejima, upon meeting her for the first time, considers her the most beautiful girl he has ever seen.

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Personality

Ririna Sanada is bold, outspoken, and often direct, which sharply contrasts with Yukari Nejima’s shy nature and Misaki Takasaki’s soft-spoken kindness. Although she appears delicate and graceful, Ririna has no hesitation in expressing her thoughts, often voicing opinions that others might keep to themselves.

Despite her strong personality, Ririna is naive when it comes to romantic relationships. Lacking firsthand experience with love, she struggles to understand its emotional depth. This curiosity drives her to observe others, as seen when she bluntly asks Misaki and Yukari to kiss believing that seeing love in action would help her grasp its meaning. Her straightforwardness in such matters reflects her genuine desire to learn, even if it leads to socially awkward moments.

Though she presents herself with confidence, Ririna is also emotionally sensitive. During a brief conversation with Yūsuke Nisaka, she is visibly hurt when he teases her about being a virgin, revealing that her assertiveness can mask deeper insecurities and inexperience.

Background

During her childhood, Ririna Sanada experienced recurring health complications that required extended stays in the hospital. These frequent hospitalizations led to prolonged periods of isolation, and she was often unable to attend school or interact with children her age. During this time, she was watched over by Naoki Mimasaka, a medical intern who had also served as a homeroom teacher for her sixth-grade class. His presence offered Ririna some comfort during her otherwise lonely days.

Due to her health, Ririna was unable to start school with her peers and did not begin attending classes until the second term of her first year in junior high. Even then, complications caused additional absences, making it difficult for her to build friendships or maintain consistent social connections.

Despite these setbacks, Ririna excelled academically upon returning to school. Her intelligence and performance placed her among the top students in her class. However, her academic success inadvertently created social distance between her and her classmates, who perceived her as aloof or unapproachable. As a result, she was given the nickname “Snooty Sanada”, further reinforcing her social isolation during her formative years.

Relationships

Yukari Nejim
Yukari is Ririna’s government-assigned marriage partner under the Yukari Law. Their first official meeting took place during a formal gathering between their families. At the time, Yukari was emotionally conflicted after a conversation with Misaki Takasaki and appeared distant and unresponsive. Ririna, frustrated by his lack of engagement, bluntly criticized his manners and made it clear that she had no desire to marry a stranger.

Misaki Takasaki
Misaki is considered Ririna’s first true friend. Despite being aware of Misaki’s feelings for Yukari, Ririna does not show jealousy or resentment. Instead, she encourages Misaki and Yukari’s closeness, going so far as to suggest that they kiss in order to explore the meaning of love, an idea that Misaki initially finds naive but eventually comes to appreciate.

Yūsuke Nisaka
Ririna’s initial interaction with Nisaka was tense. During their first meeting, Nisaka bluntly referred to her as a virgin, a comment that visibly upset her. Despite the awkward and confrontational start, they later manage to establish mutual understanding and become acquaintances. While not particularly close, their relationship stabilizes over time into one of mutual respect.

Arisa Mimasaka
At first, Ririna often ignored Arisa Mimasaka, who persistently called out to her using unusual and sometimes teasing nicknames. Ririna misinterpreted Arisa’s intentions, believing them to be dismissive or mocking. Eventually, the misunderstanding was resolved when Arisa openly expressed her desire to be friends. This honesty laid the foundation for a sincere friendship, and Ririna grew close enough to invite Arisa to attend Yukari’s school festival, signaling the strength of their bond.

Etymology

The given name Ririna (莉々奈) is composed of the kanji 莉 (ri), meaning “white jasmine,” and 奈 (na), which is commonly associated with “apple tree” or used phonetically in names. The repetition of 々 emphasizes the floral and gentle qualities often attributed to her character.

Her surname Sanada (真田) consists of 真 (sana), meaning “true” or “genuine,” and 田 (ta or da), meaning “field” or “rice paddy.” Together, the name can evoke a sense of sincerity and groundedness.

In the Ririna Route, she takes on the married name Nejima (根島) after her union with Yukari Nejima. This surname is formed from 根 (ne), meaning “root,” and 島 (shima or jima), meaning “island,” symbolizing stability and connection.

Trivia

    • Ririna is commonly referred to by two different names depending on the adaptation: “Lilina” in the manga and “Ririna” in the anime.
    • She is one-quarter German through her father’s side.
    • Ririna has a strong fascination with romance and is deeply interested in observing romantic relationships and experiences. This curiosity often influences her actions throughout the series.