Ariga, Makoto

Makoto is a trans girl who makes her first appearance when she and Shuuichi are in sixth grade, though they are in different classes. Known as Mako-chan, though mostly only to Shuuichi, she too wishes to be accepted as a girl and shares Shuuichi's interest in cute outfits; it is this that spurs Makoto to become Shuuichi's close friend. Makoto realizes that due to her facial freckles and round glasses, she is not able to appear as cute as Shuuichi when assuming the appearance of her gender. Makoto wonders if her primary reason for wanting to be accepted as a girl is due to an attraction to men, something Shuuichi cannot relate to.

Makoto comes off as being mature for her age, and is able to think calmly and objectively while providing advice for her friends. She is a good listener, allowing her to get along well with both boys and girls her age, which often leads to her being an onlooker to what is going on in other characters' lives. She is an only child and her parents run a bakery.