Nobana Higashiyama

"I never wanted to join the Devil Hunter Club! My mom made me! She said it'd get me scholarships!"

Nobana Higashiyama (東 (ひがし) 山 (やま) ノバナ, Higashiyama Nobana^?) is a supporting character in the Academy Saga. He is a high school student attending Fourth East High School and a member of the Devil Hunter Club as well as a tour guide for the Chainsaw Man Church. He is the younger brother of Kobeni Higashiyama.

Appearance[]

Nobana bears a notable resemblance to Kobeni, especially his face and eyes. Similarly to Kobeni he also has moles on his face, precisely two just under his right eye. He has short, brown hair that is kept in line by six hair clips on his right side and falls to his face on the left. Similarly to his sister, he is also quite short. Nobana wears the standard boys' uniform of Fourth East High School and has the typical cap from the Devil Hunter Club, though he sometimes wear it. He is always seen with sweat on his face, often also blushing.

Personality[]

Much like his older sister, Nobana is perpetually anxious but, unlike her, even more so and he hasn't had any moments of competency or bravery so far. He gets easily embarrassed and stutters uncontrollably when merely trying to say the word "sex". Similarly to Kobeni, his parents put a lot of pressure on him and force him to do activities he doesn't enjoy, like joining the Devil Hunter Club. Nobana's mind is fragile, as he goes insane after a few days of being trapped in the aquarium, licking the glass senselessly.

Later, Nobana joins the Chainsaw Man Church and becomes fully devoted to their cause, easily believing the lies which the Church tells its followers showing he's very susceptible to manipulation and conspiracy theories. For example, he believes that the concept of marrying as an adult is a system from the USA designed to control the Japanese like slaves and encourages students to have children and marry each other.

Plot[]

History[]

At some point in his life, Nobana was forced to join the Devil Hunter Club by his mother, as she believed it would earn him scholarships. He was also constantly picked on by various bullies who made him to light up their cigarettes with his lighter.

Dating Denji arc[]

Nobana first appears alongside Fami, Haruka Iseumi, and Seigi Akoku during the aftermath of Yuko's attack on Fourth East High School. From there, the group allows Asa Mitaka to join the Devil Hunter Club before leaving elsewhere.^[1]

The Devil Hunter Club trio later show up at Tanashi Aquarium patrolling for any nearby Devils, having been trapped inside the building by the reincarnated Eternity Devil alongside Asa, Denji, and Hirofumi Yoshida. When Haruka attempts to introduce himself, Nobana freaks out and frantically explains his situation. Afterwards, the group try finding a way out, but to no avail they can only find a limited supply of food to keep them alive.

Nobana also witnesses Asa's failed attempt to prove herself useful to the Devil Hunter Club after the latter briefly argues with Denji.^[2] Three days pass, and everyone sans Denji and Yoshida are slowly going insane. Nobana himself constantly licks the glass containers as he loses his mind.^[3] The group eventually manages to escape thanks to Asa turning the aquarium into a powerful spear to take down the Eternity Devil.^[4]

Chainsaw Man Church arc[]

Sometime after the Falling Devil's attack, Nobana joins the Chainsaw Man Church alongside various other students from Fourth East High School. Once Miri Sugo brings Denji to the church's headquarters, Nobana gives the two a tour through the building. It is revealed that Nobana has fallen for the church's crazy conspiracy theories, to which Denji denies any assumptions the church has made about him.

This causes Miri to argue back to Denji about the church's intentions, to which Nobana tries calming the two Hybrids down. Before he can show more of the building's areas, Barem Bridge stops Nobana and tells him to resume his usual duties. Nobana complies as he flees from the scene.^[5]

On the day Public Safety attacks the Chainsaw Man Church's forces, Haruka and Nobana are informed by the elderly cult leader to send all combat-trained followers to meet outside the prayer room.^[6] Despite appearing confused by this, Nobana and the other members arm themselves with guns to fight back. However, the members end up getting restrained by the Nail Fiend and Katana Man.^[7]

When various Chainsaw Man Church members have transformed into Pseudo-Chainsaw Devils due to their contracts with the Fire Devil, Nobana is not seen among the group charging at an enraged Katana Man.^[8]

Current arc[]

A week after the recent ongoing Fire Devil attacks, Nobana and the other Chainsaw Man Church leaders were captured and locked up within the Tokyo Devil Detention Center by Public Safety.^[9] Once Asa and Fami manage to disarm a group of Public Safety guards with help from the Guillotine Devil, Nobana is freed alongside Haruka and Seigi.

Knowing how dangerous Fami is, Haruka tells Nobana and Seigi to get behind him. Haruka tells Fami to stay away from his group as their family's lives have been ruined thanks to her machinations. It is also revealed that anyone associated with the church are now placed on the country's most wanted list. However, the trio decide to accompany Fami's group once Asa informs them that she and Fami plan to rescue Chainsaw Man, who is held captive.^[10]

The group eventually runs into a Public Safety grunt who questions them the origins of the Pseudo-Chainsaw People locked inside a nearby room. A shocked Nobana continues listening to the man's words. However, Yoru deduces that the grunt was actually distracting them as Katana Man and the Nail Fiend arrive to stop Fami's group from proceeding any further.^[11]

Chapter Appearances[]

Academy Saga[]

Etymology[]

• Nobana's surname Higashiyama means "east" (東 (ひがし) , higashi^?) and "mountain, hill" (山 (やま) , yama^?).

Trivia[]

• Nobana is not the same brother Arai mentioned in Chapter 15, since that brother is older than Kobeni, who is already an adult. Meanwhile, Nobana still attends highschool.

References[]

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