Tonari/Plot

Tonari's Past
Tonari lives rather normal life in a presumably wealthy family. Her dream is to surpass her father Erran G. Dalton. At seven years old, she wakes up and finds her mother dead. Her father gets condemned as a killer and is to be exiled. Tonari is faced with a decision between staying home as an orphan or following her father into exile. Tonari decides on the latter, as she believes in her father's innocence. They are sent to Jananda Island, where everyone is obsessed with the tournament which determines the leader of the island.

One day, Erran reveals to Tonari that he has decided to participate in the tournament. Despite Tonari's worry, he insists and promises her that he will not die. Erran wins the tournament, leaving Tonari in denial as she does not accept her father as a ruthless killer. On her next birthday, she discovers a book from her father as a birthday gift. Whilst 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 lives on her own and meets a few friends. They plan an escape, only to be struck by the reality that they aren't welcome in the outside world.

Meeting Fushi
Tonari is 14 years old when she sees Fushi at a port preparing to board the ship to Sarlnine. She is approached by a mysterious person 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 sailor 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.

Arena Tournament
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. During the arena fight, Tonari is amazed by Fushi's ability to survive all of his opponent's attacks and realized that what the mysterious person said was true. After the fight, she finally introduces herself to Fushi.

Jananda's residents gather around Fushi, celebrating his victory. Tonari announces that she has finally found a proper lawgiver for the island. Fushi walks away in an effort to get rid of her, but Tonari and her group continue following him. While they walk around the city, Tonari explains that the island was once run by a different country, but after a while the population got too big and the prisoners themselves started managing the island, eventually becoming self-sufficient. While only the non-prisoners are allowed to leave the island for the main land, the prisoners work as farmers on the island. After Tonari mentions this, Fushi gets angry and asks why Pioran wasn’t released to work outside. Tonari hesitates to answer, but finally says that serious offenders have certain restrictions and that she heard rumors about her killing 10 people. She then explains that someone told her to bring him and Pioran to Jananda, but also that she doesn’t know that person. After that, Fushi decides to leave the group behind, calling them ‘not normal’ for still being able to smile in their situation. Upon hearing that, Tonari bursts into laughter.

The next morning, Tonari finds Fushi after he once again fails to climb the tall wall. She reminds Fushi of the second round of the tournament which is in two hours. The sailer asks to have a word with Tonari, telling her that the woman from Yanome has run off. They soon find out that this woman has slaughtered her opponents in the arena and intends to win the tournament. Tonari's group soon reunite with Fushi as he was captured and brought back by Ligard while in the form of a mole. Tonari urges Fushi to return to the arena and participate in the second round, where he will again be victorious, although still hesitant to kill his opponent.

After the round, Tonari finds Fushi(in Parona's form) in grief next to a lake, having discovered Parona's death. She tries to invite Fushi to eat but gets rejected. She then starts complimenting Fushi's new body while leading her back to the populated area. Tonari attempts to persuade Fushi that some people are better off dead, such as the man that Fushi fought in the arena who has killed more than 50 people. She reveals to Fushi that she wants them to work together, but Fushi answers that she won't be controlled by anyone and requests Tonari to leave. Tonari puts on a sad expression, questioning how she can make Fushi like her. Fushi explains that she dislikes her because her actions resulted in Pioran being locked up, and that she chooses to believe in the Pioran she knows even if Tonari calls her a murderer. Reminded of her father and the unconditional trust she used to place in him, Tonari comes to understand Fushi's feelings and decides to cooperate with her to save Pioran. Before leaving to investigate, she reminds Fushi to smile when she's sad.

Battle against the Nokker
Fushi wins the third round of the tournament against Nand. A crowd surrounds Fushi, criticizing him for his inability to kill his opponents. Tonari tries to defend Fushi, only to get punched in the face. The chaos quickly escalates as Tonari's friends join the fight to protect her. Tonari hears a rumbling sound, following which is Fushi's(in Gugu's form) body being punctured by a stone-sealed Nokker. The Nokker rises from the ground in the stolen form of Oniguma. Amazed by the giant creature, Tonari asks Fushi what it is and whether he summoned it. Fushi explains that the Nokker is coming for him, and warns Tonari not to follow as he leaves to fight the creature.

Fushi fights the Nokker, but it soon becomes clear that the Nokker has an advantage. Just as Fushi is about to be struck by another lethal blow, Tonari's friends throw an object at the Nokker's back, distracting it for a brief moment and enabling Tonari to drag Fushi away. Tonari learns from Fushi the name of the creature. She then nearly falls down a crack in the ground, but is saved by Fushi. Ultimately, Fushi, Tonari's group alongside other Jananda residents are able to defeat the Nokker using explosive arrows. After the fight, Tonari is somewhat surprised when she hears Fushi saying "thanks" to her. She then goes to celebrate the victory with her group.

Tonari's group, Fushi, and Nand sit down to chat. Tonari learns more of the Nokkers, Fushi's forms and his will. The group starts to share their dreams. When questioned, Tonari states that her dream now is to "surprise her father".

Return of Hayase
At the final round of the tournament, to everyone's surprise, Hayase turns out to be the other finalist and is able to defeat Fushi using the Western Morning Glory. Even more shocking is Hayase's announcement that she will be taking care of Fushi.

A while later, Tonari and her friends arrive at Hayase's estate in search of Fushi. They are met by Hayase who tells them that Fushi is headed to a deep underground room which nobody will find. Frustrated, the group prepares to leave, but runs into Captain Skyfish. As they discuss a plan to leave the island with Fushi and Pioran, Hayase's guards quickly surround them. Hayase gives the group ten seconds to choose between returning quietly or facing death. However, the group has no intention of backing down. As the countdown is about to finish, Hayase is caught off guard by Fushi, putting a knife against her neck and offering a deal: In exchange for him staying with Hayase, let everyone else take the ship and leave. Hayase agrees.

With Fushi's sacrifice, Tonari is now able to leave the island. Tonari decides that her friends, Pioran, and children under the age of 7 will be the ones to leave with her, as she believes that children should be given a chance to define their own lives. However, as Tonari's group says goodbye to Fushi, they are knocked out by Hayase's guards. When they wake up, they find themselves locked up on Captain Skyfish's ship which has already departed from the island. Fortunately, with the assistance of the sailor, Ligard, and Captain Skyfish, Tonari is able to get off the ship. With the goal of saving Fushi in mind, she sets out on her own journey back to Jananda Island alongside Ligard.

Reunion with Fushi
Tonari returns to the hole where Fushi was trapped, only to realize that Fushi has managed to get out on his own. After reuniting, they once again set sail to leave the island. At night, they sit down by a campfire inside a cave and start to chat. Tonari learns more about the goals of the Nokkers and Fushi's creator. When on the topic of gods and demons, Tonari confesses that her father's laughter after his victory in the tournament has made her understand that he and every other prisoner on the island were "murderous scums who are better off dead", and that the way she has lived her life isn't much different from theirs. Fushi tries to comfort her by saying that even if their parents are demons, they still will live exactly how they want to. That night, Tonari dreams of returning home and sharing her newest work with her parents, after which she comes to the painful realization that it is time to move on. The next morning, she and Fushi set sail to continue their journey.

Return of the Nokkers
Stopping at land, Fushi tells Tonari that he is worried about the islanders after hearing news about another Nokker attack. Tonari protests, arguing that everyone worth saving has been saved. However, Fushi ignores her and runs off alone. Fushi finds a large amount of Jananda residents whose bodies have been taken over by Nokkers. He kills one of the residents, but lets the Nokker escape. Tonari, who has followed Fushi, appears and finishes off the Nokker with a small knife. A Nokker-controlled man tries to attack her from behind but gets hit with a chair. As it turns out, the ones who threw the chair are Tonari's friends who also returned to the island to assist Tonari. The group starts to fight the Nokkers, hoping to eliminate them all before sunset. They manage to kill a few Nokkers before Oopa trips on a Nokker and has her body taken over. Mia tries to help Oopa up, but is pierced in the chest.

The group runs away, while Fushi carries the unconscious Mia to a safe spot. As they look after Mia, the Nokker-controlled Oopa appears again. Tonari begs Fushi not to kill Oopa, but Fushi responds that she is already dead. Having returned to consciousness, Mia asks Tonari why she's crying and tells her that life is better spent smiling instead. Heartbroken, Tonari apologizes furiously. The remaining four are forced to run when they see Parona's form robbed from Fushi as she struggled to finish off Oopa. Noticing another Nokker rise out of the ground, Uroy decides to let Tonari and Sandel escape on their own, sacrificing himself. Sandel drags Tonari away to escape as she cries for her friends.

Tonari and Sandel fight through the crowd. Tonari trips, but Sandel is out of arrows. Luckily, Fushi comes to the rescue in Gugu's form and defeats the pursuing Nokkers with his fire breath. They are devastated to see Mia and Uroy also killed and controlled by Nokkers. Fushi and Tonari both put the blame on themselves, but Sandel insists that no one is at fault. Fushi asks what he should do with the three remaining Nokkers, but before he gets a response, Hayase knocks out Tonari and Sandel behind his back and holds Tonari above the pile of burning bodies. Hayase shames Fushi for his inability to kill and says that she will kill the three in exchange for letting Tonari survive. Tonari wakes up and decides that she wants to join her friends. She kicks the cliff and drags Hayase off with her, before Fushi catches them and renders Hayase unconscious with her own poison. Once again faced with the last remaining Nokkers, Tonari picks up a sword but struggles with her emotions. Fushi takes the sword from her and finishes the three off.

Back in town, Tonari recalls fond memories of Oopa, Mia and Uroy, concluding that they were her reason to live. They stand in silence as the bodies are burnt. An islander asks Tonari to give a few words as the chief, to which she responds with a message encouraging the islanders to stop the needless murder and live to help others. Tonari and Sandel ask Fushi about his plans, and reveal that they have decided to stay on the island. Tonari explains to Fushi her goal of purifying the island by stopping the escalation of violence and building a means for people to change their own fates. She then spends the her day helping the islanders with their needs alongside Fushi and Sandel, before it is finally time for Fushi to depart the island of Jananda.

After bidding farewell, Tonari tells Ligard to follow Fushi on his journey, and one day lead her back to him.

The Guardians Arc
40 years have passed. Led by Ligard, Tonari and Sandel find Fushi near a village that was recently attacked by Nokkers, accompanied by The Guardian Force. Fushi however, doesn't realize who they are and is surprised by them recognizing him. The two reveal that they are doctors who have been treating the villagers and invite him to dinner. At dinner, Hisame explains The Guardians' will to protect Fushi, but Tonari argues that all they have done is attempt to assert control and be an annoyance. Fushi interrupts the conversation and requests Tonari and Sandel to remove Hisame's Nokker "tumor", but Hisame changes the topic and orders her soldiers to serve tea mixed with Western Morning Glory. Tonari reveals to Fushi how she immunized herself to various poisons by ingesting small portions of them. Fushi and Sandel quickly fall asleep under the effect of the poison, but Tonari remains awake. She is then served lethal poison, but is still completely unaffected. Panicked, Hisame orders her men to capture Tonari, only to realize that they've already fallen unconscious. Ligard then lands on Tonari's shoulder. Reminded of what she was told, Hisame finally comes to realize Tonari's identity.

Tonari tells Hisame to stop pestering Fushi, and that the Nokker in her arm poses danger. However, Hisame denies that her Nokker, a "precious friend" passed down by her grandmother would do any harm. Tonari attempts to remove the Nokker by force, but is attacked by the Nokker. It inserts itself into Tonari's flesh, but before it can attack further, Ligard knocks Hisame down and Tonari cuts off its roots. The Nokker then escapes, dragging with it the unconscious Hisame. However, the Nokker has already spread roots inside Tonari's body. The next day, Tonari is taken care of by Sandel. Fushi is shocked to learn what has happened and devastated to see Tonari in pain, but Tonari tells him to smile. After learning that there is no cure, Fushi asks Tonari if he can do anything for her. Tonari only requests that Fushi stays by her side until she dies.

Fushi sits down next to Tonari and shares with her why he wants to isolate himself from the world. Tonari suggests that he should find friends who understand him. However, Fushi insists to live on his own as he doesn't want to witness an infinite amount of deaths. Tonari then asks to see the faces of the people Fushi has met. Fushi starts to transform into and introduce to Tonari everyone he met in his journey, but is surprised to realize that Tonari and Sandel are still alive, as he fails to transform into them. After a violent cough, Tonari asks Fushi to describe what kind of person Tonari was. Fushi answers that he thought Tonari was a jerk, but she brought him friends who fought alongside him. He then admits that he is now appreciative of Tonari's help and no longer thinks of her as a jerk. Gratified to hear such a response, Tonari smiles.

Tonari tells Fushi to think back on when everyone was still alive when he can and that it will make them glad that they lived. She then passes away. Sandel sends Fushi away at the dock. He reveals to Fushi that Tonari made her body poison-resistant for Fushi's sake, and that he can transform into her when he needs. While he refrains from telling the confused Fushi their real names, he assures Fushi that they both love him. Some time later, Fushi transforms into the doctor, Tonari. She finds a diary book tied to her waist. Flipping through the pages, she finally realizes who the two doctors really were.