Manabe, Gaku

マナベ・ガク

Gaku, who is 12 years old, is one of Naota's classmates and close friends. In episode three, titled Marquis de Carabas, he plays a mouse in the school play. Gaku also constantly uses the word "chu", particularly when referring to Haruko. This serves as a pun in Japanese, since "chu" is the onomatopoeia for both kissing and the sound a mouse makes. In the English version, "chu" is replaced with "smooch" to make more sense to English-speaking audiences. He is somewhat hyper, especially compared to the bored composure of his friends, and is usually seen with Masashi. He acts as an encyclopedia of bizarre rumors and legends, many of which are sexual in nature.