Anri Sonohara (園原 杏里, Sonohara Anri) is a bespectacled girl who attends the same school as Mikado and Masaomi. She is rather quiet and timid, but appears very close towards Masaomi and Mikado. Although possessing a tendency to seclude herself from others, she is intelligent, clever and resourceful. Her full figure and shy behavior gives her the unwanted attention of many males (though she doesn't do anything about them). Her online chat screen name is "Saika".
Characteristics
Apperrance-wise, Anri is known for her short, bob-cut hair, glasses and her rather large breasts. She is usually seen wearing her Raira uniform but is shown wearing a black vest with a pink dress underneath when not in school.
Initially, Anri is very introverted and quiet, rarely speaking to anyone for any extended period of time. She is shown to be rather submissive and tends to "go with the flow" even when somone is harassing her. This timid demeanor stems primarily from the trauma she recieved when her parents died. As the series progresses, while she retains her shy personality, her interactions with Mikado and Masaomi serve to pull her out of her emotional shell and she become much more expressive and shows a caring side to those close to her.
Although Anri tends to let things slide, there have been moments where she has been shown to lash out at people such as when Izaya was taunting her about Saika in episode 24, or when someone threatens her friends.
Background
It is revealed in episode 17 that Anri and her mother lived with an abusive father (although it is implied that he wasn't always like that) who regularly beat them severely. One day, when her father started to take things too far, Anri's mother, Sayaka, used Saika to kill him before he could kill Anri. Possibly starting to lose control, she tells Anri that she loved her before slitting her own throat with the blade. This incident was covered up and it was spread that a burglar killed Anri's parents, and that she was the only one spared.
Relationships
Mikado Ryuugamine:
Masaomi meet's Anri through Mikado and the three of them develop a fast friendship together. The trio are often seen hanging out either to see the sights or to participate in whatever crazy Idea Masaomi is able to think up at the time (as shown in episode 12.5). Specifically with Anri and Masaomi, despite the relatively short time they have known each other, they have developed a very close bond. When Anri was attacked by Haruna, Masaomi was willing to return to the Yellow Scarves, a part of his life he was desperately trying to leave behind, just to get revenge on the slasher. Likewise, Anri sees Masaomi, as well as Mikado, as the people who have finally managed to draw her out of her emotional shell that she encased herself in since her parents' deaths. She values her friendship with both of them deeply and (in the anime) and is willing to go to extreme measures to prevent them from being harmed.
It is also worth noting that Masaomi has been known to be rather flirtacious with Anri at various points in the series. However, considering that Masaomi is flirtacious with almost every woman he meets, as well as his relationship with Saki, it's best to assume these advances aren't serious.
CONFLICT:
Some strain is placed on their relationship towards the end of the anime after Anri discovers Masaomi was the leader of the Yellow Scarves. Likewise, Masaomi becomes infuriated when he figures out that Anri is affiliated with the Dollars as well as the fact that she was seen spying on him and his group. This culminates with him confronting Anri about her intentions and he even accuses her of manipulating him and Mikado for her own ends which prompts her to slap him. Within the anime, the conflicts are brought to an end with the help of Celty and Kadota and the trio are able to resolve their differences peacefully, although Masaomi still decides to leave the city.
In the light novels, however, it is revealed the Masaomi has been rather afraid of returning to the city, as he felt that the others were still mad at him over the incident with the Yellow Scarves, or that too much time had passed and, if he were to return, things wouldn't be the same between them. Some encouraging words from Saki dispel any doubts Masaomi had and he resolves to return to Ikebukuro.
Aoba Kuronuma:
Although initially overwhelmed by his overly energetic personality, Anri and Mikado quickly welcome Aoba as a friend into their group. In a way, Anri's interactions with Aoba vaguely mirrored those she had with Masaomi before he left. All trust she had in Aoba was shaken, however, during the incident with Akane awakusu when Mikado warned her not to trust Aoba. She began to act more cautiously when the three of them would hang out together but remained unsure about how to react. Aoba expresses some interest in Anri but this may only be due to Anri possessing Saika.
Celty Struluson:
Ever since the slasher incident, Celty and Anri have remained very close friends to the point to where Celty would drop everything to help Anri should she ever need it. Celty is one of the few people Anri knows that would accept her along with Saika and would be able to talk about the problems Saika presents. Anri is also one of the few who have accepted Celty's true nature as a dullahan which strengthens the friendship they have. In volume 2 of the light novels, Anri expresses a vague attraction to Celty but this is never addressed again in later volumes.
Akabayashi:
When Akabayashi offers to support Anri financially, she is unsure of his motives but gradually grows to trust him as time goes on. Akabayashi treats Anri like a daughter and is very protective of her but it is unknown if he knows that Anri has Saika.
Erika Karisawa:
Since Mikado and Anri asked Erika and Walker for some advice on the guide tour matter in volume 4, Anri got closer to Erika, and also to the van crew. After the fight against Vorona and the guys who had set a trap on Chikage's girlfriends in volume 6 where she used Saika to beat her opponents, Erika didn't think of her as a monster and didn't judge her which surprised Anri in a good way. The two remained on friendly terms, and at the end of volume 9, Anri goes out to cosplay with Erika's team. In volume 10, she stayed with Erika the whole time at the hospital when her friend learned that Kadota had been attacked. Finally in volume 11, after Izaya mentally wrecked her with what he intended to do to Mikado and Kida, Erika defended her in front of Izaya, saying she was "Anri's friend" and that she supported her.
Characteristics
Apperrance-wise, Anri is known for her short, bob-cut hair, glasses and her rather large breasts. She is usually seen wearing her Raira uniform but is shown wearing a black vest with a pink dress underneath when not in school.
Initially, Anri is very introverted and quiet, rarely speaking to anyone for any extended period of time. She is shown to be rather submissive and tends to "go with the flow" even when somone is harassing her. This timid demeanor stems primarily from the trauma she recieved when her parents died. As the series progresses, while she retains her shy personality, her interactions with Mikado and Masaomi serve to pull her out of her emotional shell and she become much more expressive and shows a caring side to those close to her.
Although Anri tends to let things slide, there have been moments where she has been shown to lash out at people such as when Izaya was taunting her about Saika in episode 24, or when someone threatens her friends.
Background
It is revealed in episode 17 that Anri and her mother lived with an abusive father (although it is implied that he wasn't always like that) who regularly beat them severely. One day, when her father started to take things too far, Anri's mother, Sayaka, used Saika to kill him before he could kill Anri. Possibly starting to lose control, she tells Anri that she loved her before slitting her own throat with the blade. This incident was covered up and it was spread that a burglar killed Anri's parents, and that she was the only one spared.
Relationships
Mikado Ryuugamine:
Masaomi meet's Anri through Mikado and the three of them develop a fast friendship together. The trio are often seen hanging out either to see the sights or to participate in whatever crazy Idea Masaomi is able to think up at the time (as shown in episode 12.5). Specifically with Anri and Masaomi, despite the relatively short time they have known each other, they have developed a very close bond. When Anri was attacked by Haruna, Masaomi was willing to return to the Yellow Scarves, a part of his life he was desperately trying to leave behind, just to get revenge on the slasher. Likewise, Anri sees Masaomi, as well as Mikado, as the people who have finally managed to draw her out of her emotional shell that she encased herself in since her parents' deaths. She values her friendship with both of them deeply and (in the anime) and is willing to go to extreme measures to prevent them from being harmed.
It is also worth noting that Masaomi has been known to be rather flirtacious with Anri at various points in the series. However, considering that Masaomi is flirtacious with almost every woman he meets, as well as his relationship with Saki, it's best to assume these advances aren't serious.
CONFLICT:
Some strain is placed on their relationship towards the end of the anime after Anri discovers Masaomi was the leader of the Yellow Scarves. Likewise, Masaomi becomes infuriated when he figures out that Anri is affiliated with the Dollars as well as the fact that she was seen spying on him and his group. This culminates with him confronting Anri about her intentions and he even accuses her of manipulating him and Mikado for her own ends which prompts her to slap him. Within the anime, the conflicts are brought to an end with the help of Celty and Kadota and the trio are able to resolve their differences peacefully, although Masaomi still decides to leave the city.
In the light novels, however, it is revealed the Masaomi has been rather afraid of returning to the city, as he felt that the others were still mad at him over the incident with the Yellow Scarves, or that too much time had passed and, if he were to return, things wouldn't be the same between them. Some encouraging words from Saki dispel any doubts Masaomi had and he resolves to return to Ikebukuro.
Aoba Kuronuma:
Although initially overwhelmed by his overly energetic personality, Anri and Mikado quickly welcome Aoba as a friend into their group. In a way, Anri's interactions with Aoba vaguely mirrored those she had with Masaomi before he left. All trust she had in Aoba was shaken, however, during the incident with Akane awakusu when Mikado warned her not to trust Aoba. She began to act more cautiously when the three of them would hang out together but remained unsure about how to react. Aoba expresses some interest in Anri but this may only be due to Anri possessing Saika.
Celty Struluson:
Ever since the slasher incident, Celty and Anri have remained very close friends to the point to where Celty would drop everything to help Anri should she ever need it. Celty is one of the few people Anri knows that would accept her along with Saika and would be able to talk about the problems Saika presents. Anri is also one of the few who have accepted Celty's true nature as a dullahan which strengthens the friendship they have. In volume 2 of the light novels, Anri expresses a vague attraction to Celty but this is never addressed again in later volumes.
Akabayashi:
When Akabayashi offers to support Anri financially, she is unsure of his motives but gradually grows to trust him as time goes on. Akabayashi treats Anri like a daughter and is very protective of her but it is unknown if he knows that Anri has Saika.
Erika Karisawa:
Since Mikado and Anri asked Erika and Walker for some advice on the guide tour matter in volume 4, Anri got closer to Erika, and also to the van crew. After the fight against Vorona and the guys who had set a trap on Chikage's girlfriends in volume 6 where she used Saika to beat her opponents, Erika didn't think of her as a monster and didn't judge her which surprised Anri in a good way. The two remained on friendly terms, and at the end of volume 9, Anri goes out to cosplay with Erika's team. In volume 10, she stayed with Erika the whole time at the hospital when her friend learned that Kadota had been attacked. Finally in volume 11, after Izaya mentally wrecked her with what he intended to do to Mikado and Kida, Erika defended her in front of Izaya, saying she was "Anri's friend" and that she supported her.
