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Suou Pavlichenko

Suou Pavlichenko (蘇芳・パブリチェンコ, Suō Paburichenko; Russian: Суо Павличенко) is the main protagonist of Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor. She is the daughter of Mikhail Pavlichenko, a scientist researching Contractors, and Asako Makimiya, and the twin sister of Shion Pavlichenko. Following a series of traumatic events, Suou becomes a Contractor and later joins Hei’s team, working alongside July and Mao. Over the course of the series, she struggles with her identity, emotions, and the truth behind her existence, forming the emotional core of the sequel’s narrative.

Background

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Appearance in Anime

Suou Pavlichenko was born on September 5, sharing her birthday with her twin brother, Shion Pavlichenko. The siblings were often referred to as the “twin stars”, a symbolic title reflecting their intertwined destinies. Suou spent her early life in Russia, living with her brother and their parents, Mikhail Pavlichenko and Asako Nakimiya.

However, the Suou seen throughout Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor is not the original. The real Suou died years earlier in Moscow, when an explosion tore through the university where her father was involved in a secret Syndicate project. Her body was recovered by Mikhail, who attempted to extract her memories using an M.E. Squeezer, a device designed to manipulate and preserve memories. Appalled by this act, Asako took Suou’s body, cremated her, and fled the country

The current Suou is a copy created by Shion’s Contractor ability, infused with artificial memories that simulate a shared childhood with her family. These memories include moments such as stargazing in the Russian wilderness, making wishes on falling stars, and hunting deer with her father. One significant memory involves the night the Heaven’s Gate phenomenon began, where stars rapidly fell from the sky, an event that marked the beginning of Shion’s transformation into a Contractor.

Though Suou believes these events to be her own lived experiences, they are part of a carefully constructed reality created by Shion, raising questions about identity, existence, and the nature of memory.

Photo Section with Captions

Personality

Suou Pavlichenko is portrayed as a strong-willed, calm, and reserved girl with a deep appreciation for photography. She is frequently seen carrying her camera, capturing moments from her surroundings, a hobby she later reveals is motivated by her desire to give the photos to her brother, Shion. Her quiet passion for photography reflects her introspective nature and emotional connection to her family.

Despite warnings from her father, Mikhail Pavlichenko, about Shion’s status as a Contractor, Suou continues to care for her brother deeply and shows no fear or mistrust toward him. Her bond with Shion is central to her character, and she vows to protect him at all costs, showcasing a sense of loyalty and familial love that endures even in the face of unsettling truths.

Suou often lives with a sense of longing for the past, as noted by her father, who remarks that she is emotionally anchored to memories of her mother Asako and dreams of visiting Japan to reunite with her. This emotional attachment contrasts with the logical, detached nature typically seen in Contractors.

Compared to other Contractors, Suou retains a noticeably gentler disposition, particularly in how she interacts with others. She treats July, a Doll, as a full-fledged person rather than a tool, developing a close and compassionate friendship with him. Her relationship with Hei also evolves over time, and while she forms a close bond with him, she exhibits subtle jealousy regarding Yin’s relationship with Hei.

Later in the series, upon learning the truth about her origins, that she is a copy created by Shion—Suou begins to confront existential questions about identity and memory. Upon overhearing Asako state that the original Suou died eight years prior, she begins referring to herself as a “copy,” acknowledging the artificial nature of her existence while continuing to assert her own agency and emotions.

Appearance

Suou Pavlichenko is a slim, fair-skinned girl with waist-length cardinal red hair styled in a hime cut, with the longer portion tied into a braid secured by a bright pink ribbon tied in a bow. She has distinct pale green eyes and a soft, youthful appearance that reflects her calm and introspective personality.

Her primary outfit consists of a long-sleeved black shirt, a blue jacket, and an orange layered mini skirt. She wears black tights and cream-colored suede boots, and she is often seen wearing her meteor piece locket, a key symbol tied to her identity and power.

Abilities

After becoming a Contractor, Suou acquires a unique combat ability centered around the summoning of heavy weaponry, complemented by refined marksmanship and combat skills developed through training.

Anti-Tank Rifle Materialization
Suou’s Contractor ability allows her to materialize a PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle from her meteor fragment locket. Each activation produces the rifle along with six 14.5×114mm rounds (including one pre-loaded in the chamber). The weapon retains any damage or wear from previous uses, necessitating regular maintenance. This materialization ability is notable for its sheer firepower and utility in combat situations against heavily fortified targets.

Obeisance
As a Contractor, Suou is bound to perform a payment ritual each time she uses her ability. Her obeisance involves folding origami swans, a repetitive task that contrasts with the destructive nature of her power.

Marksmanship
Suou demonstrates considerable skill as a marksman, an ability rooted in her past experiences hunting with her father. With further training under Hei, she becomes increasingly effective as a sniper, capable of engaging targets from long distances. Her precision is often enhanced by July’s Observer ability, which allows her to pinpoint targets with greater accuracy.

Hand-to-Hand Combat
In addition to her firearm proficiency, Suou receives close-quarters combat training from Hei, which equips her with the fundamentals of self-defense and physical combat. While not as skilled as Hei, she is capable of holding her own in direct confrontations.

Etymology

The given name Suou (蘇芳) is composed of the kanji 蘇 (su), meaning “to be resuscitated” or “revived,” and 芳 (ou), which can mean “fragrant,” “virtuous,” or “beautiful.” This combination is particularly symbolic, as it reflects Suou’s nature as a copy created after the original’s death, as well as her gentle and introspective personality.

Her surname, Pavlichenko, is of Russian origin, consistent with her family’s nationality and the setting of her early life in the series.

Trivia

    • Suou’s character song is titled Yume no Maki (夢の巻), which translates to “Volume of Dreams” in English, reflecting her connection to memory, identity, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.
      • Suou appears as a playable character in the crossover PSP game Heroes Phantasia by Namco Bandai, alongside other characters from Darker than Black, including Hei, November 11, and Genma Shizume.
        • Her surname, Pavlichenko, is shared with Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a famous Soviet sniper during World War II, who is considered the most successful female sniper in history. This may serve as a subtle reference to Suou’s own identity as a sharpshooter in the series.