Anri Sonohara

Anri Sonohara (園原 杏里, Sonohara Anri) is a bespectacled girl who attends the same school as Mikado and Masaomi. She is rather quiet and timid, but appears very close towards Masaomi and Mikado. Although possessing a tendency to seclude herself from others, she is intelligent, clever and resourceful. Her full figure and shy behavior gives her the unwanted attention of many males (though she doesn't do anything about them). Her online chat screen name is "Saika".

Occasionally, Anri ponders on the subject of whether she has lost a "purpose" or motive in society. She creates a barrier around her and the rest of the world, supposedly believing that the unchanging state of life is fine. It is mentioned that Mika Harima gave her a reason to seek people and social interaction while in middle school, then becoming apparent that both Anri and Mika both used each other as 'foils'. Once Mika disappeared, Anri became lost of what to do, and starts to experience bullying. She sees herself burdened by the fact that she has to rely on Mika Harima, Mikado Ryugamine, and Masaomi Kida for companionship. It is later learned that she harbored deep feelings for her ex-best friend Mika, but cannot classify it as mutual friendship or love, because she can't tell the difference.

She is Saika, the demon blade's 'parasite'. After episode 17, she gained control of over hundreds of Saika's children created by Niekawa, effectively making her the leader of the cursed blade army. It is also revealed in episode 17 that Anri and her mother lived with an abusive father (although it is implied that he wasn't always like that) who regularly beat them severely. One day, when her father started to take things too far, Anri's mother, Sayaka, used Saika to kill him before he could kill Anri. Possibly starting to lose control, she tells Anri that she loved her before slitting her own throat with the blade. This incident was covered up and it was spread that a burglar killed Anri's parents, and that she was the only one spared. Later on, she discovers that her friend Masaomi Kida is the leader of the Yellow Scarves. When the Yellow Scarves and the Dollars clashed in episodes 20 and 21, she used Saika's "children" to stop the Yellow Scarves from hurting the Dollars members. Eventually as seen in episode 25 she begins to show signs of having a crush on Mikado (revealed when she begins to blush upon being asked of the topic, as seen in Episode 25).

Dollars/ Mika Harima Arc
Anri start attending high school at Raika acdemy. Then when she introduces herself she looks around,and Mikado thinks that she's looking at him,but she's looking at the seat behind him. Who was supposed to be Mika's seat but Mika wasn't there. The next day Anri volteers to be class representive. Then she askes if any boys want to do it with her,and she looks at Mikado. So because of that Mikado does it.

Then she asks Seiji where Mika was but he dosen't know. Then she walks around then she sees ma girl that looks like Mika. So she at her and says that sahe finally found her. But it wasn't Mika so Anri apolizes and runs away.

Then she gets pulled in an alley by some bullies and gangsters. They told her that she isn't cool at all,and keeps clinging on to people. Luckally Izaya comes in with Mikado and scares to Bullies away. Then she see's Izaya VS Shizuo. She start to shake so Mikado takes her hand and runs with her. The next day she walks with Masaomi and Mikado. Then they go to the park and they eat ice cream. Then she tells them that she had a friends called Mika Harima that went missing.

She say the Mika was an stalker so Mikado spits his Ice cream on her face. Then he apolizes. The next day she walked with Mikado out of school,but Mikadow ent on ahead because the black rider and Izaya was following him. Then next day Masaomi hits on her and Mikado stops him.

Saika Arc
She protects Takashi from the black rider by stabbing its arm and cutting off its helmet. Then Anri runs away. The next day she goes to school. Mikado offers to bring her notebook to the teacher for her but she refuses. Then she walks out of class.

She gets apporched by Takashi. Then he starts sexually harassing her. Luckally Masaomi came in to stop him. Then she walks with Masaomi and Mikado being warned that Takashi did go after Haruna Niekawa one time. Then when they slit up she gets pulled ina alley by her bullies. Then they call her parasite because she always go's with people. Then she goes in her own world. She was in the frame room. Where she looks inside a picture frame where she sees a shadow go behind the bullies then it slashed them.

Then she goes to the police box where Mikado picks her up and tells her to be careful. The next day Takashi harrasses her again to be saved by Masaomi. Then at night she goes in an alley asking why is she doing this. Then Shuiji comes in with an knife and tries slashing her.

But Saburo runs him over by his car. Then when they got out Shuiji gets up and tries it again but te black rider and Shizuo come in and stop him. Then the black rider drove Anri home and told Anri that her name was Celty. Then Anri asked Celty what's under her helmet. Then Celty shows her and Anri with no fear says Thank You and walks in her house. Then at late night Haruna comes in Anri's house and told her that she is going to die for taking her Takashi.

Anri told her that she dosen't like but Haruna dosen't believe in her. Then someone knocks on the door and Haruna says whoever it is she's going to kill them. Then haruna opened the door. it was Takashi. so Haruna madly in love, gets some of her men to kill Anri. But Anri takes care of them then goes to where Haruna was with Takashi and told Haruna that she is the true saika.

Then they start fighting. Then Anri pins Haruna down and told her past. She had a mom and and a dad. But her father was abusive when he got angry. So then one day Anri's mom got the saika blade and killed her dad because of love. then Anri's mom uses the sword to kill herself. Then Anri was the only one alive. then Anri touched the blade. Then she heard voices. Then she took the sword for herself.

Anri then took care of Haruna by cutting the back of her neck,and haruna heard all the voices and  Haruna was knocked out. Takashi who saw all of this said that she did it. Then they walk and they see Celty. Takashi told Anri to run but all Anri did is said the day he was chased by her she was there. Then scares Takashi away. The next day she went to the hospital as the last person to be attacked by the slasher.

Yellow Turbans Arc
Anri gets released from the hospital and notices Masaomi is acting weird. So she tails him and watches him be with the Yellow Scarves. Then someone catches her abd she runs. She textes Celty to save her. Then Celty comes. Then when they trie to leave a Yellow Scarve member threw a metal pipe at Anri so she pulls out her sword and cuts it in half.

The next day she is with Mikado and Masaomi and se feels funy around Masaomi. Then the next day the Yellow Scarves corner her. They told her that she shouldn't spying. Then they hear a noise then Anri escapes. Then Anri runs on the street then Shiri told her to follow her. then Shiri grabs her arm and runs her into a building. Then runs runs in a hallway alone.

The Yellow Scarves are still following her. then Kazutano hanging out a window told her to keep on going. Thenb Kazutano afterAnri leaves shuts the garage door there. Then she still gets chased by Horada, but a man in a bunny suit grabs her and gives her his suit. Then she runs into geogry store where Ryo kicks some boxes down on the Yellow Scarves to help her.

Then she gets outside and takes off the bunny suit's head part. Then the Yellow Scarve run at her. but are taken away by Simon. Then Masaomi grabs Anri and goes to a alley with her. then he teases her which cause her to slap him and runaway.

Thern Anri takes off the suit in a park and the Yellow Scarves surround her. She almost gets out her sword when Shizuo jumps in and beat the crap out of the Yellow Scarves. Then Celty comes and brings Anri to her apartment saying that she needs tostay there for a little bit because the Yellow Scarves are after her.

Then the next night a shot Shizuo comes in which causes Anri to run out and save Masaomi. Then she cuts down the Yellow Scarves base door open then sees Masaomi bloody on the ground. Then Mikado comes. Then thew battle goes on. Then Kyohei comes in and takes Masaomi to the hospital when he was out cold. Anri was feeling better when Masaomi turned out to be alive. Then she joins the chat as Saika.

Differences between LN,Manga,and Anime

 * She goes in the frame room in the Ln and manga,but in the anime they Durarara_Slasher.gif mention it.

Light Novel
Light Novel specific spoilers about this character per volume/chapter.

Volume 01:

Volume 04: After the opening ceremony comes to a close, Anri and Mikado are approached by Aoba Kuronuma about giving him a tour of Ikebukuro. The two are immediately overwhelmed by Aoba's hyperactive personality and they have no choice but to accept. Having no experience in being tour guides Anri and Mikado turn to Walker and Erika for help. Walker and Erika agree to accompany them through their tour and they decide to meet them the next day. After the four of them separate, Anri sees Shingen Kishitani conversing with a tall Caucasian man. Saika resonates within Anri at the sight of her old owner and Shingen recognizes Anri as the daughter of a friend of his. Anri asks how Shingen knew her father and Shingen reveals that he was the one who sold Saika to her father in the first place. The man Shingen was conversing with introduces himself as Igor and places a comforting hand on Anri's shoulder. Despite the polite way of speech, Anri has a deep sense of dread and danger when Igor approached her. Almost without her noticing, Saika extended itself out of Anri's shoulder and pricks Igor's palm, infecting him with it's curse. Anri bids farewell to the two of them and runs home.

Anri and the others get together but Mikado is immediately accosted by a few ex-members of the Yellow Scarves looking for revenge but they are saved by Walker and Erika who pull them into their van. They notice that Mairu and Kururi are also in the van with them and Mikado asks what was happening. Kyohei apologizes to them about dragging everyone into their mess. Anri and the others are confused until they see several members of a biker gang called Toromaru barreling towards them. After several hours, they are joined by Celty (who is also being chased) and eventually come across an overpass. Celty tells Kyohei to take the kids away while she holds Toromaru off. Anri and the others are dropped near a police station while Saburo and Kyohei drove back to give Celty a hand. Anri and Mikado also ran back to try and help, with Anri calling out to any of Saika's children. She senses Igor in the bag Celty was transporting and orders him to assist her. When the two of them arrive, Ruri Hijiribe (disguised as another dullahan) has also joined in the fight and she and Igor successfully defeat the Toromaru members. After the incident blows over, Anri attends the hotpot party held at Celty and Shinra's and even helps with the cooking. The color illustrations rate the girl's cooking skills and anri ends up scoring a 30.

Volume 05 & 06: Anri and Mikado are once again approached by Aoba about touring Ikebukuro since their last outing was interrupted by Toromaru. Mikado initially turns him down so Aoba begins to subtly flirt with Anri. Anri doesn't really pick up on it but Mikado panics and states that what he had planned that day could wait. The three of them set a date to meet up the next day. Later that night, Anri answers a knock at the door only to find Vorona coming at her with a pair of garden scissors. Anri draws Saika and manages to gain the upper hand and (with some help from Celty) manages to chase Vorona and Slon away. After chasing the two Russians across the highway, for a bit, Celty returns and asks if Anri is okay. Anri is unharmed but Celty insists that She stay at her place for the night since Vorona would most likely return for a rematch. Celty drops off Anri at the apartment and introduces her to Akane and she spends the night there.

Once Anri wakes up, she gets ready to meet Mikado and Aoba. Shinra suggests that she take Akane with her since there wasn't much to do at home. Anri agrees and the two of them head off. While they are waiting, Rio Kamichika recognizes Anri and asks her if she wanted to hang out with her and her friends for today. Anri declines and watches as Rio and several of her friends head towards a near by cafe. Not long after, Anri gets a message from Aoba stating that Mikado couldn't make it after all and telling her to wait for him. On top of that, several members of the Awakusu surround her and begin talking to Akane. Anri is cautious but doesn't try anything since Akane actually appeared to know them.

Celty and Mikado suddenly rush to the scene and Anri asks him about Aoba's message. Mikado is unable to fully explain but he tells Anri not to trust Aoba. After the arrival to Toromaru, the Awakusu members tell Celty to keep Akane safe while they hold them off. Celty transforms her motorbike into a chariot and Anri, Akane, and Mikado get on and ride thorugh the city. The four of them eventually come to an underground parking lot to regroup. Mikado gets a message from the dollars message board and runs off in a hurry. Celty shows Anri the message about the kidnapping and sees Rio and her friends in the picture. She rushes after Mikado and finds him about to get beaten to death by several rogue dollars members. Anri easily incapacitates them with Saika and tends to an injured Mikado. Although bruised, Mikado has no broken bones and the duo proceed to Raira which is where the kidnappers said they were going. Vorona follows them discreetly.

When they arrive, they see the rogue dollars confronting Chikage and Kyohei. As Mikado watches, Vorona launches another attack on Anri and throws a flash bang which blinds the two of them. Although she loses her eyesight, Anri allows Saika to take control and allows it to fight for her while her eyesight recovers. She tells mikado to run as Vorona leads Anri into the large battle surrounding the Dollars and Toromaru against kidnappers. As they continue to fight, Vorona manages to knock Anri off balance and is about to make the killing blow. Rokujo Chikage blocks both of their attacks, reprimanding them for trying to kill each other. The entire battle is interrupted by the arrival of Shizuo who incapacitates all of the kidnappers. After Shizuo starts chasing after Vorona, Kyohei and the others ask Anri about her Katana. Anri is reluctant to tell them the full details, but the others understand and accept her for who she is which touches Anri. Anri looks around for Mikado but can't seem to find him anywhere. She returns home, exhausted, and logs on to the chatroom. She makes a comment on how empty the forum has been recently and logs off, unaware of the change that has occurred in Mikado's heart.

Volume 08 : Anri is worried over the recent change in Mikado's personality as he begins to grow increasingly distant from her. When she confronts him about his recent change, Mikado asks her about Saika upfront which shocks Anri since they promised not to discuss their secrets until Masaomi had returned. When Anri refuses to give a straight answer, Mikado simply replies that if Anri stayed out of his business, he would stay out of hers. Things are further complicated as Anri begins to notice that it is getting harder and harder for her to keep Saika in check. Anri talks to Celty about her predicament and Anri realizes that Saika only appears to get worse whenever Mikado is around or if she is thinking about him. Since Anri has only been able to keep Saika under control due to an apparent lack of love, the fact that Saika acts up whenever Mikado is around implies that Anri may be developing feelings for him. Anri eventually meets Masaomi who, by this time, has reassembled the yellow scarves. Although Anri is worried, he reassures her and tells her that he'll set Mikado straight. Anri is relieved that Masaomi has returned but is still deeply concerned about Mikado and Saika.

Volume 09 : Anri doesn't appear until near the very end of the novel where she runs into Erika while out shopping. Erika suggests that Anri take up cosplay however Anri is less than enthusiastic about the idea.

Volume 10: She is with Erika when she heard Kyohei was attacked.

Volume 11:Erika asks anri to get cat ears at a cosplay shop so that Kyohei will wake up surrounded by girls wearing cat ears when they visit him. Anri bumps into Haruna who asks her to follow her to a park. Anri asks Haruna if she’s planning on killing her. Haruna said that she would if she were younger but will forgive her now and asks to collaborate. Anri rejects her offer. Haruna thanks her for rejecting her because now she has a reason to fight her. Later Izaya told her what he is going to do with Masaomi and Mikado that it really wreaked Anri. When that happened Erika got pissed off. Then Erika defended Anri by saying that she is Anri's friend and would support her.

Mikado Ryuugamine
Main Article: Mikado Ryuugamine

Mikado developes a very obvious crush on Anri very early in the series and tries (in his own feeble way) to express this feeling only to have it interrupted in some way. Initially, Anri tries to keep herself distant from Mikado, despite his feelings, due to her own inability feel love as well as to keep Mikado from finding out about Saika. As the series goes on, however, Anri slowly begins to open up to both Mikado and Masaomi and enjoys the fact that she finally has people she can genuinely call friends. In the later volumes of the light novel series, Anri begins to show more obvious signs of reciprocating Mikado's feelings for her. This greatly troubles her, however, as this new surge of emotion allows Saika more opportunities to go berserk and take over. When Mikado's darker personality takes over, Anri expresses great concern over the sudden change and tries to find out what exactly changed him.

Masaomi Kida
Main Article: Masaomi Kida 

Although Masaomi has expressed interest in Anri and repeatedly made advances toward her, it is very unlikely that he was actually serious in his antics and merely did so due to his generally playful nature. He still considered Anri a very close friend to the point to where, when she was attacked by the slasher, he reassembled the yellow scarves and returned to gang life just to get revenge for her. Like Mikado, Anri is very close to Masaomi in that the two of them were able to help her escape her emotional shell. In the light novels, when Masaomi finally returned to Ikebukuro, Anri would frequently talk to him about her concerns towards Mikado's sudden change in personality.

Aoba Kuronuma
Main Article: Aoba Kuronuma 

Although initially overwhelmed by his overly energetic personality, Anri and Mikado quickly welcome Aoba as a friend into their group. In a way, Anri's interactions with Aoba vaguely mirrored those she had with Masaomi before he left. All trust she had in Aoba was shaken, however, during the incident with Akane awakusu when Mikado warned her not to trust Aoba. She began to act more cautiously when the three of them would hang out together but remained unsure about how to react. Aoba expresses some interest in Anri but this may only be due to Anri possessing Saika.

Celty Struluson
Main Article: Celty Sturluson' 

Ever since the slasher incident, Celty and Anri have remained very close friends to the point to where Celty would drop everything to help Anri should she ever need it. Celty is one of the few people Anri knows that would accept her along with Saika and would be able to talk about the problems Saika presents. Anri is also one of the few who have accepted Celty's true nature as a dullahan which strengthens the friendship they have. In volume 2 of the light novels, Anri expresses a vague attraction to Celty but this is never addressed again in later volumes.

Akabayashi
Main Article: Akabayashi 

When Akabayashi offers to support Anri financially, she is unsure of his motives but gradually grows to trust him as time goes on. Akabayashi treats Anri like a daughter and is very protective of her but it is unknown if he knows that Anri has Saika.

Erika Karisawa
Main Article: Erika Karisawa

Since Mikado and Anri asked Erika and Walker for some advice on the guide tour matter in volume 4, Anri got closer to Erika, and also to the van crew. After the fight against Vorona and the guys who had set a trap on Chikage's girlfriends in volume 6 where she used Saika to beat her opponents, Erika didn't think of her as a monster and didn't judge her which surprised Anri in a good way. The two remained on friendly terms, and at the end of volume 9, Anri goes out to cosplay with Erika's team. In volume 10, she stayed with Erika the whole time at the hospital when her friend learned that Kadota had been attacked. Finally in volume 11, after Izaya mentally wrecked her with what he intended to do to Mikado and Kida, Erika defended her in front of Izaya, saying she was "Anri's friend" and that she supported her.

Voice Actresses
Japanese: Kana Hanazawa

English: Michelle Ruff

Trivia

 * Her most favorite subject is P.E. while her least favorite subject is Music though she's not particularly weak at it.
 * Her favorite quote is "A friend is a second self," words of Aristotle.
 * Her weight is unknown probably due to her privacy as a girl.
 * She is refered to as "Okaasan" or "Mother" by Saika's children.
 * She sang Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo in the rapping CD.
 * She is the protonigist for Durarara!! Saika manga.
 * She is heroine in Durarara!! manga. And still in other arcs for Mikado.