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Main Characters
Koharu Hidaka / Hidaka-sensei
The protagonist of the sequel series. 28 years old, single and in the same unambitious rutt she had started the original High Score Girl with, Koharu has just begun her new job teaching in her old high school. Just when Koharu thinks her life as a teacher is slated to be mundane and uneventful, her history with her beloved hobby of gaming has come back to haunt her tenfold.
- Celibate Heroine: Koharu seems to have become entirely disinterested in romance, having made no effort to catch Onizuka's bouquet and getting annoyed at Miyao's attempts at having her paired up with one of his co-workers.
- Closet Geek: Out of all the school staff, only Doi is aware of Koharu's history with arcades. But not even Doi was prepared to bear witness to her proficiency in tournament level play in fighting games.
- Contrasting Sequel Protagonist: To Haruo from the original High Score Girl, who must learn to balance the rest of his life in tandem with his beloved video games. Hidaka-sensei instead is struggling with her teaching career, but keeps unwittingly finding common ground with her students through the subject of video games.
- The Defroster/ Blithe Spirit: With Haruo and Mrs. Oono. as her first success stories, it eventually dawns on Koharu that fate has put her on track as a teacher of her old high school specifically to bring out the very best in people, student and adult, through the magic of video games. She manages to tame three of her most troubled students, earning their cooperation and nurturing their growth and confidence as they improve in Vampire Savior. And now, she intends to reform the tumultuous relationship between the Principal and her belligerent shut-in son, hopefully allowing the Principal to see the good side of gaming.
- Fanservice Pack: Koharu only vaguely provided the eyecandy in the original series, be it in the main story or the promotional art. As Hidaka-sensei she's become much curvier and everyone in the story can readily acknowledge it.
- Hot Teacher: Already has her share of admirers from both the student body as well as the faculty.
- Mama Bear: Hidaka-sensei soon develops an especially scary side of her whenever her students are being threatened or disrespected, and any moment where she comes to their defense is usually preceded by the appearance of Akuma. Surge of Murderous Intent indeed.
- No Guy Wants an Amazon: From 1997 and onward Koharu became entirely unapproachable to the rest of the Mizunoguchi Squad and Futako-Nikotama's night gaming circle thanks to her increasingly impenetrable playstyle. As Vampire Savior had dropped Huitzil as a returning character, Koharu ended up picking up Bishamon, the same character with which her crush from the original High Score Girl had used to tear her heart to shreds. Ever since she chose to let him go, her playstyle had become as unforgiving as steel honed to a razor's edge.
- Sensei-chan: Hidaka-sensei now deals with the baggage that comes from becoming this. Not only does she have to dodge the unwanted advances from a lecherous fellow teacher and grin and bear the off the cuff remarks from her ill tempered principal, she also has to keep a strictly professional relationship with her students. And if it weren't for her history with gaming, that last one might have been a cakewalk.
- Sensei for Scoundrels: Doi certainly thinks so. Hidaka-sensei's coaching towards her students during the Night Gaming arc borders on a Cobra Kai-esque disdain for mercy. She outright tells Shinji at one point "not to play with his food".
- Single-Target Sexuality: Is distraught to realize during a Whole Episode Flashback that she still has feelings for Haruo. She manages to refocus these feelings into reorienting and tutoring Haruo back into finally getting accepted for university, as well as helping Mrs. Oono break the ice with her daughter through Super Street Fighter II Turbo, thereby burying any lingering regrets she might have had for good.
Miwa Katagiri
A problem student in Hidaka-Sensei's class. Angry and abrasive, she's the delinquent girl of the class.
- Abusive Dad: Aside from verbal, the kind of abuse Miwa's dad puts her through is vague. Whatever it is, it was enough to get divorced over, and mom is no longer in the picture.
- Good Smoking, Evil Smoking: Miwa always comes to class smelling faintly of cigarettes, which Hidaka-sensei gives her a hard time over. It then dawns on Sensei after a visit to Miwa's home that Miwa herself doesn't seem to smoke, and that all of it comes second hand from her father.
- Odd Couple: With Mirai, who sees through her tough act and is happy to provide company as her Only Friend.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute A teen girl with a bad attitude racking up wins in the mid to high double digits in her favorite arcade game so that she can delay getting home for as long as possible... you sure we're not talking about Akira Oono?
Mirai Hoshina
A student in Hidaka-sensei's class who's frequently truant thanks to unspecified health issues. Despite all this she's one of the most chipper students in Hidaka's class.
- Cloudcuckoolander: She's way out there, likely because her health prevents her from being too dedicated to her studies.
- Confusion Fu: Gave her opponent hell in the Vampire Savior 3 vs 3 tournament at Futako's place by button mashing.
- Genki Girl: the most energetic and cheerful student in Hidaka-sensei's class bar none.
- Ironic Name: Her name translates to "Star of the Future", but her illness is possibly terminal.
- Odd Couple: With Miwa, who despite being annoyed at times empathizes with her loneliness.
Shinji Yamai
A timid wallflower of a student in Hidaka-Sensei class. Underneath the emotionally stunted exterior lies some deep seated anger issues.
- A Taste of Power: Realizing that he can actually be taken seriously as a person with some effort, Shinji ends up really enjoying video games upon continued exposure to them. He's willing to improve his skills and even join Nikotama's night gaming circle on Arisu's recommendation.
- Dare to Be Badass: It takes one snide remark from Miwa for the epiphany to race through Shinji's skull: He's absolutely had it with playing weak and harmless all the time. Shinji haymakers Habu during another one of his bully episodes and makes his way to the arcade.
- Made of Iron: Years of being bullied probably turned him into stone in more ways than one. Habu-kun broke his wrist trying to slug him one, and he can brush off Miwa's physical abuse pretty well too.
Arisu
A delinquent boy who frequents the arcade in Mizonoguchi in search of a kindred spirit who cherishes arcade games as much as he does.
- Ambiguously Gay: Threatened to forcibly claim Shinji's virginity if Hidaka-sensei loses their match. Hopefully he only said so for psychological warfare reasons but it's honestly hard for anyone present to tell.
- Ambiguous Gender: Very androgynous thanks to his unkempt appearance and all black clothing.
- "Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word: Arisu wants his "Have a good time on me" policy to be seen as a gesture of good will, which immediately sets off a red flag with Shinji, who doesn't want to feel pressured into getting along with Arisu just because he's so charitable about funding a playdate. Hidaka-sensei's interference through her patrols proves Shinji's hunch right. Arisu is in fact very possessive and isn't about to let Shinji go without a proper head to head match in a fighting game.
- Indentured Servitude: Arisu's methods work a little differently from the average arcade hoodlum. Rather than the tried and true art of the shakedown, Arisu instead gives his victims seven thousand yen per hangout to play video games with him... Or else. Habu and his gang made the mistake of picking a fight with Arisu that they couldn't win a while back before the manga's story had started, and since Habu's arm and ego had gotten busted since then thanks to Shinji...
- In Love with Your Carnage: Is now very enamored with Hidaka-sensei, who only tolerates him, albeit with some reproach
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Arisu is ridiculously crass, possibly even depraved, and could be used as an example as to why the educational field should regard game centers with suspicion and disdain. That said, the fact that he's willing to give the friendless Shinji the time of day and coach him in his gaming career helps belance out how offputting he can come off.
- No Sense of Personal Space: Which Shinji calls him out on. Hmm.
- Sensei for Scoundrels: Shinji ends up seeking him out himself after his defeat by Hidaka-sensei for this purpose. Oddly enough, Hidaka-sensei decides to play that role instead.
- Vague Age: Whether he's of school age or twenty something is unknown.
SPOILER: Mrs. Oono
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Akira and Makoto's mother, the matriarch of the Oono Conglomerate. Mrs. Oono currently resides in the Oono Estate located in Los Angeles. Despite not appearing in the original manga proper, she has appeared in a bonus chapter, which serves as a brief epilogue taking place directly after the manga's end.
- The Dreaded: Makoto can't help but be an utter nervous wreck around her, and immediately began barking orders to the maids of the Oono Manor to batten down the hatches as soon as she receives news that she's making a surprise visit to Japan.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Koharu successfully goads her into giving video games an earnest try, with the prospect of breaking the ice with her daughter Akira as the carrot on a stick. Koharu coaches her well enough in Street Fighter II that Mrs. Oono issues Koharu a challenge and ultimatum of her own. This leads Mrs. Oono returning to Los Angeles and not long after writing to Koharu a thank you letter both revealing that Akira was both pleasantly surprised by her mother's interest in gaming, and that Mrs. Oono welcomes and awaits both Koharu and Haruo in Los Angeles.
- Elegant Gothic Lolita: Every bit as frilly in her attire as her daughter Akira.
- Hellish Pupils: Her eyes get cat-like slits for pupils when she's pissed off.
- Like Father, Like Son: A competitive, combative nature, a surprisingly bratty temperament, a penchant for the hands-on approach, and a coincidental preference for Zangief in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. Truly, she is the mother to her children.
- Noblewoman's Laugh: For some unknown reason, she likes to keep a portable stereo handy that plays recordings of her own cackling.
- Nobody Calls Me "Chicken"!: It dawns on Koharu pretty quickly that she can easily prod her into giving video games a serious try if she gets her in a competitive mood.
- Troll: Despite eventually warming up to Koharu in appreciation over suffering a defeat in a challenge she issued over Super Street Fighter II X as well as giving her genuine life advice, She can't resist the urge to send Koharu one final barb by having Koharu see her off at the airport. The same airport lobby where Haruo gave Akira his marriage proposal. Koharu sulks in irritation when Mrs. Oono tells her this.
- "Well Done, Dad!" Guy: Eventually finds herself inadvertently venting out her frustrations with her daughter Akira to Koharu.
- Worthy Opponent: Quickly takes a liking to Koharu's backtalk and utter moxie while she's in the middle of trash talking Haruo.
Returning Characters
Haruo Yaguchi
The hero of the original series. Haruo Yaguchi has been struggling to pass the entrance exams necessary to attend University.
- Book Dumb: All things considered, despite maturing a little Haruo is still as dumb as rocks when it comes to his studies. Having failed an entrance exam for university in a flashback chapter, he needs the little extra push from Koharu tutoring him, not to mention Mrs. Oono's sudden visit lighting a fire under his ass.
- Character Development: From the original series, Haruo appears to be showing a lot more ambition this time around. He's been learning English and intends to pass his college entrance exams. He also shows much more of a spine, not allowing Makoto's accusatory attitude around him still giving Koharu the time of day go unchallenged.
- It Was a Gift: With Hidaka Mart officially shutting down for good close to Koharu and Haruo's graduation, Koharu decides to give Haruo two of the three orange arcade cabinets that belonged to her parent's former general store.
Genta Doi
Koharu, Miyao and Haruo's old classmate. Doi has since become a homeroom teacher in Mizunoguchi High alongside Hidaka-sensei.
- Abhorrent Admirer: Rather than finding love himself , love has found Doi... in the form of Numata-sensei's lovestruck daughter Kumie, who looks very much like a Virtua Fighter 1 character model of Pai-Chan.
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: Not even he knows why he decided to become a teacher, other than because Toono-sensei from middle school floated the idea to him.
Makoto Oono
The older sister of Akira Oono. As much the party animal now as she was in the original series. She, much like Koharu, is coping with unrequited love's painful sting.
- Hot for Teacher: Fell in love with a college professor and has sworn a vow to seduce him away from a relationship he's already in, contradicting a previous point she made to Koharu that she should move on from Haruo and find herself someone else to fall in love with.
- Thanks for the Mammary: Makoto takes the opportunity to manhandle Koharu in the middle of girl talk, unconvinced that she isn't somehow still trying to seduce Haruo with her... assets.
Nikotama Futako-san
Having just recently given birth, Nikotama decides to resurrect her old Night Gaming spot for old time's sake after an extended period of closure.
- Babies Ever After: Has become a mother since before the start of DASH.
- Celibate Heroine: Wanted to be this, and saw Koharu as the ideal role model for this. Whatever all important serious match had occurred between her and Koharu, it was enough to express contentment in her skill level and finally reciprocate the feelings of the Mizunoguchi member of her choosing.
- Driven by Envy: Back in 1997, Futako became envious of Koharu's tremendous boost in skill, which began to eclipse her own. What she didn't realize at the time was just how singleminded Koharu had become in channeling whatever angst her romantic failings had brought on into her playstyle.
- Noodle Incident: As of chapter 16, Nikotama states that way back in the day in their prime Koharu ended up shattering her pride, which the two pass off as friendly banter. When Nikotama's regulars urge her to have a reunion match with Koharu, Nikotama insists she's had enough of playing to win and is solely interesting in nurturing playing for fun as long as she has her Night Gaming apot open. Just what made Nikotama lose her competitive spirit is anyone's guess.
- Surpassed the Teacher: By 1997, Koharu had begun eclipsing her in skill, and above all, utter ruthlessness in playstyle.
