Ruka Nogi

nihongo|Ruka Nogi|乃木 流架|Nogi Ruka is a fictional character from the manga and anime series "Alice Academy".

Background

Ruka Nogi is Natsume's childhood friend and often referred by Mikan throughout the story as "Ruka-pyon". It was also revealed in the manga, that Ruka is rich and a half-French due to the fact that his mother is French. He has constantly moved to one place to another with his mother in order to avoid the Academy.

At a young age, after being saved by Natsume, he became friends with him. He later befriended Natsume's sister, Aoi who unfortunately calls him 'Ru-chan'. He was surprised to find out that the two actually had Alices like him, but he was a bit embarrassed about his Alice until Natsume says Ruka has a great Alice because it doesn't hurt anyone it only helps them.

He transferred to Alice Academy together with Natsume, and like him, he is also popular with the ladies. He always carries a rabbit around with him, and it is shown that he loves animals. His dream is to become a veterinarian someday.

In the anime, after meeting Reo, he begins to have suspicions towards the Academy and he becomes increasingly rebellious, constantly questioning their actions, especially when they deal with Natsume. But it was later revealed, that Ruka was under Reo's Alice and that explains why he only listens to Reo's orders at that time.

He is a three star student. In Chapter 70, he threw away his stars (star ranking) because he wanted to be a no-star like Mikan before to be free of a burden. Despite this, the school still recognized him as a three-star student. He has stated that he earned his star-ranking not because of effort like Hotaru and Yū (Iinchō).

Personality

He has a gentle and pleasant personality that balances out Natsume's. He usually stays away from girls, except Mikan whom he has a crush on. He blushes furiously every time Mikan gets close to him or whenever she wears cute and stunning outfits. His feelings are completely obvious to people in the "Watching Over Ruka Group", but Mikan has yet to realize that.

He values his friendship with Natsume greatly. He makes it a point that if Natsume won't smile, he won't smile either. He doesn't want Natsume to be the only one in pain.

Ruka has a competitive spirit when it comes to Mikan. He truly likes her and challenges his rival and best friend, Natsume, saying that he won't lose to him. He's extremely loyal and dedicated to his feelings for Mikan.

Relationships

Mikan Sakura

Though he usually stays away from girls, he has affections for Mikan, proven when he was ready to be kissed by her in a play (In the manga, this seems to have been a last-minute change to the script done by Narumi-sensei; Ruka seems more confused than expectant in this scene). The kissing scene was ended, however, when an apple (but it was a black board eraser in the manga) thrown by Natsume hits Mikan on the head.

Ruka, because of his feelings for Mikan, has a hard time complimenting her on how she looks. He had seen her in a genie and prince costume and he blushed at the sight of her, and always thought of her as a cute girl. He is constantly teased by the 'Watching Over Ruka' group in the manga.

After the play, it was evident that he wanted to be Mikan's "Last Dance" partner, but he was too shy to ask her. The upper-class girls who were jealous of Mikan did not help at all, but Mikan and Ruka did end up dancing some time during the festival. In the manga, there was also the time when Ruka and Tsubasa become drunk after penguin gave them grapes that contained alcohol. Tsubasa hugged an embarrassed Mikan and told her that she looked cute, Ruka pushed Tsubasa saying "Stop touching her idiot!" Ruka then hugs Mikan himself until Natsume hesitantly intervenes. On Christmas eve Ruka also kisses Mikan on the cheek after she was kissed on the cheek by Yōichi, to show Mikan that he was thankful.

Another evidence of his affection for Mikan was in the manga chapter 71, he told Natsume, "I will protect Sakura too. Not losing to Natsume, I like Sakura and I wish to keep protecting the smile on Natsume's face." In chapter 84, he asked Mikan to have lunch with him and others thought of them as a couple, even preventing Sumire Shouda from bothering them.

Natsume Hyūga

Ruka and Natsume are childhood friends. He seemed to be wary of Natsume at first, because he thought of him as a person who is not easy to get along with. He found out about Natsume's Alice when he saved him from a man with the use of his fire. They had a little talk after that, and Ruka thought of Natsume as a free bird. When Ruka, stuttering, told Natsume his name, Natsume teasingly called him 'Ru-chan'.

Since Natsume took all the blame for Aoi, the townspeople insulted him and threw things at him. Ruka tried to protect Natsume and told them that it wasn't his fault. But Natsume punched him and roughly said, "Don't touch me!" Despite that, Ruka still tried to go to him. Ruka's mother held him back and explained to him that Natsume did that in order to protect him. Many people saw Ruka and Natsume together, and therefore, they suspected him too.

Alice

This is the animal version of Narumi-sensei's pheromone Alice. His animal pheromone Alice allows him to get cozy with animals, a fact that he is embarrassed about and is often blackmailed over by Hotaru. He can understand the animals by heart and he likes taking care of them. His love for animals inspires him to become a veterinarian someday. He thought his Alice was useless, because it can't protect anyone. But Natsume assured him that he possesses a great Alice and that he has nothing to be ashamed of.

His pheromones are not as strong as Narumi's, so there's no need for him to wear control devices. He belongs to the Somatic types.

ee also

*List of Alice Academy characters
*Alice Academy