Tonari/Plot

Tonari's Past
As a child, Tonari lived a rather normal life in a presumably wealthy family. Her dream was to surpass her father Erran G. Dalton. At seven years old, she woke up one morning and found her mother dead. Her father was condemned as a killer and was to be exiled. Tonari was faced with a decision between staying home as an orphan and following her father into exile. She chose the latter, as she believed in her father's innocence. They were sent to Jananda Island, where everyone was obsessed with the tournament which determined the leader of the island.

One day, Erran revealed to Tonari that he was going to participate in the tournament. Despite Tonari's worry, he insisted and promised her that he would not die. Erran ended up winning the tournament, however leaving Tonari in denial as she could not accept her father as a ruthless killer. On her next birthday, she discovered a book from her father as a birthday gift. As she was reading the attached note, Erran falls down a nearby set of stairs. He tries to apologize, but dies before he was able to finish his sentence.

In the next few years, Tonari lived on her own and met a few friends. They planned an escape, only to be struck by the reality that they weren't welcome in the outside world.

Meeting Fushi
Tonari is 14 year old when she sees Fushi at a port preparing to board the ship to Sarlnine. She is approached by a mysterious man who tells her that if she leads Fushi to Jananda, he will win the tournament and completely change Tonari and Jananda Island's fate. Intrigued in the opportunity, Tonari appears in front of Fushi and Pioran, guiding them to the ship to Jananda, explaining that the other one is full.

Upon Fushi's arrival in Jananda, he was inspected by a man who notices that his legs aren’t shackled and that he isn’t branded. Tonari appears again, apologizing to the man and stating that she'll bring Fushi back. Tonari grabs Fushi's hand and runs. Fushi questions Tonari about Pioran's whereabouts, to which she answers vaguely that "she's probably already taken care of". Tonari then proceeds to tell Fushi that "everyone who comes here eventually comes to smile", but without explaining any deeper meanings. Fushi frees himself from Tonari's grip and disappears into a crowd.

However, they unexpectedly reunite some time later, as Tonari and her friends find Fushi lying dead on the ground after failing to climb a tall wall. Fushi is able to revive himself, earning cheers from Tonari's group. Fushi asks them if they know a way to get to the other side of the wall, but none of them do. Tonari then explains that Jananda island is a place for criminals, and that even if he found Pioran, she won't be able to leave as long as she's marked. Seeing Fushi enraged, Tonari proceeds to sign him up for the arena tournament, assuring him that if he wins, he will be able to control the island.