
Yusa Nishimori
Yusa Nishimori |
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Kanji | 西森 柚咲 |
Rōmaji | Nishimori Yusa |
Age: | 15-16 |
Birthday: | 27 August |
Height: | 158 cm (5′ 2″) |
Voice Actor | |
Japanese | Maaya Uchida |
English | Ryan Bartley |
Yusa Nishimori (西森 柚咲, Nishimori Yusa), also known by her stage name Yusarin, and born as Yusa Kurobane (黒羽 柚咲, Kurobane Yusa), is one of the main characters in Charlotte. She is the lead vocalist of the idol group How-Low-Hello, a teen idol, and a member of the Hoshinoumi Academy Student Council.
Despite her cheerful and bubbly personality, Yusa possesses an unusual ability she can be possessed by spirits, the most frequent being her deceased older sister, Misa Kurobane, who has a completely opposite personality and the ability to manipulate flames. Yusa’s dual existence as an idol and an ability user adds a unique dynamic to the Student Council, where she often serves as comedic relief while also dealing with the emotional burden of her sister’s spirit.
Background

Appearance in anime
Yusa was born as Yusa Kurobane and grew up with her older sister, Misa Kurobane. The two were very close, but after Misa’s tragic death, Yusa unknowingly developed the ability to channel spirits, which caused Misa to occasionally take over her body.
Unaware of her ability at first, Yusa continued pursuing her dream of becoming an idol, eventually rising to stardom as the lead singer of How-Low-Hello under the stage name Yusarin. However, her spirit channeling ability eventually drew the attention of those seeking to exploit ability users, making her a target.
To protect her, the Hoshinoumi Academy Student Council, led by Nao Tomori, recruited her, and she soon became a member of the team, assisting in locating and safeguarding other ability users while juggling her career as an idol.
Appearance
Yusa has long, light blonde hair tied into twin tails, bright sky-blue eyes, and a cute, youthful face, fitting her idol image. Her signature accessory is a heart-shaped hairpin, which complements her cheerful and energetic personality.
She wears a pink frilly dress when performing as Yusarin but switches to the Hoshinoumi Academy uniform a red blazer, white blouse, and black skirt when performing Student Council duties.
When possessed by Misa, her appearance remains the same, but her eye color changes to red, and she gains a more aggressive expression and demeanor.
Personality
Yusa is bright, innocent, and extremely cheerful, often acting as the energetic and airheaded member of the Student Council. She is kind-hearted, naive, and always eager to help, making her one of the most approachable and likable characters in the series.
She also has a natural charisma, which contributes to her idol success, as fans are drawn to her sweet and adorable personality. However, her naivety sometimes leads her to misunderstand situations, making her the target of gentle teasing from her friends.
Whenever Misa takes control of Yusa’s body, her personality flips completely she becomes loud, blunt, and aggressive, often scaring people with her fiery temper and tendency to insult others. Despite her rough nature, Misa is incredibly protective of Yusa and cares deeply about her. Yusa herself has no memory of what happens while possessed, making for hilarious moments when she suddenly snaps back into control, completely oblivious to Misa’s actions.
Role in the Story
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Joining the Student Council
Yusa is recruited by Nao Tomori and Jōjirō Takajō after her ability becomes a liability, as people seeking to exploit ability users start targeting her. Though she is not a fighter, she agrees to help the Student Council in their mission. -
Balancing Her Idol Career and Student Council Duties
Throughout the series, Yusa struggles to balance her idol activities and supernatural responsibilities, often switching between the two worlds with comedic results. Her idol persona, Yusarin, is adored by Jōjirō, who frequently geeks out over her presence, leading to several hilarious moments. -
Possessions by Misa
Misa occasionally takes over Yusa’s body, particularly in dangerous or high-stress situations, using her pyrokinesis to fight enemies or express her frustration at those who threaten Yusa. Though Yusa is completely unaware of these possessions, Misa’s presence serves as a source of both comedic chaos and emotional depth, especially when dealing with the theme of sibling bonds and loss. -
Final Goodbye to Misa
As Yuu Otosaka’s power grows, he eventually gains the ability to permanently remove supernatural abilities. Knowing this, Misa decides to say her final farewell to Yusa, allowing herself to pass on peacefully rather than remaining as a spirit. Though Yusa never fully realizes the significance of Misa’s departure, this moment serves as one of the most emotional parts of her character arc, showing the strength of their sisterly bond.
Relationships
Misa Kurobane (Older Sister & Spirit)
Misa is Yusa’s protective older sister, even after death. While Misa often teases or insults people when possessing Yusa, she deeply loves her sister and would do anything to protect her. Their relationship is one of the most emotional aspects of Charlotte, particularly when Misa chooses to pass on peacefully, allowing Yusa to live freely without interference.
Yuu Otosaka
Yusa sees Yuu as a good friend and reliable ally, though she remains unaware of most of his struggles. When Yuu steals her ability, she is oblivious to the significance of what happened, showing her lighthearted and carefree nature.
Nao Tomori
Nao respects Yusa but often finds her airheadedness amusing. Though they are not particularly close, Nao ensures that Yusa remains safe, knowing she is a high-profile target.
Jōjirō Takajō
Jōjirō is a hardcore fanboy of Yusa, constantly gushing over her idol persona, Yusarin. Though Yusa is polite toward him, she often does not fully grasp the extent of his obsession, leading to several hilarious moments.
Ayumi Otosaka
Ayumi idolizes Yusa, frequently mimicking her phrases and mannerisms. When they meet in person, Ayumi is overjoyed, reinforcing her pure admiration for Yusa as a celebrity.