Inspired by @kommandonuovidiavoli @theamericanwoodcock
Official Age: 41 (Early 40s)
Sexuality: Androromantic Pansexual (attracted to masculinity/masculine-presenting individuals, regardless of gender identity)
Relationships Key:
Nigel Uno ; Best Friend/ Older Brother Figure (Sibling-Coded)
Hogarth Hoagie Gilligan Jr.; Best Friend/ Twin-Coded (Sibling-Coded).
Wallbee Wally Beetles; Best Friend /Husband/Childhood Sweetheart.
Abigail "Abby" Lincoln; Best Friend/Platonic Soulmate (Platonic Girlfriend).
Kuki Sanban grew up in a wealthy Japanese household where she was expected to be the perfect daughter in every aspect of her life, leaving very little room to simply be herself. Living with ADHD, she learned at an early age to mask her struggles behind an endless smile, becoming a chronic people pleaser who believed her value came from making everyone else happy. Rather than expressing frustration or disappointment, she buried her emotions and convinced herself that being cheerful was the easiest way to avoid conflict. Joining Sector V gave her a place where she finally felt accepted, and her teammates quickly became the family she chose for herself. Her closest friendship was with Wally, who always seemed to understand her without asking her to pretend. Everything changed when he unexpectedly moved back to Sydney during fifth grade because of a family matter, leaving Kuki feeling abandoned even though she never blamed him for leaving. She threw herself into her missions and friendships, trying to fill the emptiness by becoming even more dependable to everyone around her. Wally returned near the end of sixth grade, but years apart left both of them unsure how to reconnect the way they once had. An impulsive kiss at the end of a pier only complicated those feelings, and the two silently agreed to pretend it had never happened instead of confronting the emotions neither of them understood. Soon afterward, Kuki experienced one of the hardest periods of her childhood as she watched each member of Sector V become decommissioned, eventually leaving her as the youngest and final member behind. Losing her teammates one by one only strengthened her fear that everyone she loved would eventually leave her, convincing her she simply needed to work harder to keep people close. During her teenage years she became an overachiever, filling every hour of her schedule with school, theater, volunteer work at an animal shelter, extracurricular activities, and T&D, rarely giving herself time to rest or reflect. Although she and Wally repeatedly drifted together and apart, their bond never truly disappeared, with friendship bracelets, misunderstandings, and unresolved feelings defining much of their adolescence as they slowly discovered who they wanted to become. By the time she entered college, Kuki had spent most of her life believing love, acceptance, and success were things that had to be earned through perfection, leaving her vulnerable to anyone willing to take advantage of that belief. When she met Mark, his kindness and stability seemed like everything she had spent years convincing herself she needed, never realizing the relationship would become the greatest challenge of her life.
Kuki's relationship with Mark appeared loving during its first two years, but after they moved in together his behavior became increasingly controlling, manipulative, and eventually abusive, leaving her trapped in a cycle she believed she could fix if she simply loved him enough. Years of believing that good people endured hardship without complaint caused her to excuse his actions and continue masking her pain behind the same bright smile she had worn since childhood. It was Abby who finally recognized the truth, refusing to ignore the signs and telling the rest of their friends despite Kuki insisting everything was fine. With the support of her friends, and Wally refusing to stand by while she suffered, Kuki was finally able to escape the relationship and begin rebuilding her life. She temporarily moved in with Abby and Cody, where she slowly learned what genuine care, safety, and unconditional support actually looked like. Recovery was neither quick nor easy, and she had to unlearn years of guilt, self-blame, and the belief that her worth depended entirely on what she could do for others. As she healed, she and Wally found their way back to one another, this time choosing honesty over avoidance and communication over silence. Their relationship still faced challenges, but unlike before, they actively worked through their differences instead of pretending everything was fine, allowing their bond to grow into something genuinely healthy. Together they eventually married and welcomed four children, creating the kind of loving, emotionally open home Kuki had always wished for as a child. She fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher, where her patience, creativity, and empathy allowed her to become a safe adult for children who struggled to fit into expectations. Her relationship with her parents never truly recovered after they openly supported Mark because he represented the successful, respectable husband they had always wanted for her while refusing to acknowledge the abuse she endured. Choosing Wally instead created a permanent divide, and although they remain informed about major milestones in her family's life, they are no longer close and rarely speak beyond occasional updates. For many years Kuki distanced herself from her Japanese heritage because it reminded her of the impossible standards she grew up under, but healing eventually allowed her to reclaim it on her own terms rather than her parents'. She continues speaking Japanese with her children, cooks traditional family recipes, and celebrates the holidays that hold personal meaning while allowing her multicultural family to create traditions entirely their own. By the end of her journey, Kuki finally understands that love is not something earned through perfection, but something built through honesty, respect, and the freedom to be completely herself.
