Hiro Sohma

Hiro is a boy of unremarkable height and build who is far more often seen frowning than smiling, though a grin does break through now and then. His brown hair is short and spiky, sticking out at odd angles with a stubborn cowlick and leaf-shaped bangs that cover much of his forehead.

He usually appears in his elementary uniform, a black sweater over a white shirt with a black collar ribbon, black shorts, and long white socks, and switches to a black gakuran once he starts middle school, leaving its top buttons open. Off duty he leans toward a dark green shirt and trousers. A stickler against sloppiness, he dresses with care and keeps his clothing neat, avoiding accessories beyond small accents.

Prickly and quick to bristle, Hiro is a gifted complainer with a talent for sarcasm and cutting remarks, able to talk rings around most adults and pile on pretentiously big words without pausing for breath. He is a touch hypocritical too, griping about people who gripe and needling Tohru for clinging to her mother when he is every bit as attached to his own. Serious and level-headed for his age, he nonetheless lacks the emotional maturity to keep his mouth from landing him in trouble, and his early treatment of Tohru is openly rude, jabbing at her weak points and resenting her closeness with Kisa.

Underneath the arrogance he is wracked by guilt over failing to help Kisa and Isuzu when they needed it, a burden that finally spills out when he breaks down and tells Hatsuharu the truth. He genuinely wants to change, disliking the childish part of himself that lashes out, and dreams of maturing into someone composed enough to protect those he cares for. The birth of his sister Hinata deepens that resolve, turning him into a doting older brother who grows more self-aware and even philosophical, and over time he mellows into a gentler, more considerate boy.

Born two months premature, Hiro first transformed the moment his mother, Satsuki, embraced him, taking the shape of a small lamb, and she cheerfully declared her love of sheep rather than recoiling. Unusually among the Sohmas, Satsuki was neither rejecting nor smothering, so Hiro grew up in a rare pocket of peace with loving parents. His close friendship with Kisa dates back to elementary school, and when his feelings for her deepened he decided the family head, Akito, ought to know; the confession enraged Akito, who attacked Kisa badly enough to hospitalize her for two weeks. Blaming himself, Hiro began avoiding Kisa and felt useless when she was later bullied. He also happened to witness Akito shoving Isuzu from a window, a secret he was forced to keep even from Hatsuharu, who was dating her.

Hiro's first meeting with Tohru is deliberately obnoxious: he flings his shoe down for her to fetch, lectures her about blindly obeying others, and swipes the wallet holding a photo of her late mother before running off. Kisa and the others help retrieve it, and Tohru's chosen punishment, a hug, turns him into a sheep. Despite his jealousy, he later opens up to her about his history with Kisa and his shame at being unable to protect her, and Tohru gently assures him it takes courage to admit he is still a child, planting his vow to one day become a 'prince' who can shield Kisa.

When his curse breaks during the third-year arc, Hiro is aware of it at once and immediately hugs Hinata to be sure; staying human, he dissolves into bittersweet tears as his overjoyed mother comforts him. His was among the earliest curses to lift, the third overall after Momiji and Kureno. He goes on to face Akito for the first time since the break, is stunned to hear her admit a grudging admiration for his stubbornness, and attends the final banquet at her side. By the epilogue he and Kisa are inseparable, and he urges her to let her tears flow freely as they both reflect on everything Tohru brought into their lives.