Yuki Hayami

Overview

Yuki Hayami is the son of hero and royal guard Reiko Hayami, a student of the School of Knowledge for Gifted Children, and Ryuji’s first true friend. He has short blond hair, wears a knight’s uniform, carries a rapier, and fights with inherited ice magic. Unlike many students, Yuki states that he judges people by strength rather than status, which allows him to meet Ryuji without demanding submission.

Yuki explains the Battle of the Kings to Ryuji and advances through it by defeating Ali. In the semi-finals he fights his childhood friend Sawano, who remains unbeaten against him, but takes the title of Jack after the tournament. When Ryuji’s treatment of Riki crosses a line, Yuki confronts him in fear rather than abandoning him. In His Return, he raises his blade against Shun and refuses to surrender Ryuji to the Lord of the Tower.

Friend at the Tower

Yuki crosses the continent with the heroes to retrieve Ryuji Sato. His defining role remains that of moral and tactical friend: he asks the practical questions about the Demon Court's Royal Knights and remains beside Ryuji after the family's secrets become public.

Shun criticizes Yuki for watching Sawano's one-on-one spar rather than intervening to save an outmatched ally. Yuki objects that it is a duel; Shun answers that survival is more important than formal fairness. Provoked into joining the fight, Yuki attacks Shun with Ryuji and Sawano and is beaten with them. He nevertheless gathers at the Gate for the journey to the oath duel.