Character

Machiko Noma

野間マチコ

Height: 165 cm (5'4") A classmate of Akeno Misaki, she serves as a lookout in the Navigation Department aboard the Kagerou-class ocean-going training vessel Harekaze; she chose this role partly because it does not require much conversation with others. Perhaps due to her background at the Shibu Pass Observatory in Gunma Prefecture—located near the highest point on a Japanese national highway—she is depicted parasailing on several occasions throughout the story. She displays superhuman physical capabilities: she detects incoming fire from the instructor ship Sarushima before impact; stands upright on the Harekaze's yardarm (essentially a pole just over ten centimeters in diameter) to send semaphore signals; and spots a ship 30 kilometers away with the naked eye, even correctly identifying its name. Her physical prowess stems from her background at the observatory; constantly gazing at the stars improved her eyesight, while running through the mountains of Gunma since childhood honed her physical strength. Incidentally, she wears glasses to correct farsightedness, meaning her actual vision is quite sharp. For this reason, she often pushes her glasses up onto her forehead while on lookout duty to better spot distant targets. This also explains why she sits at the very back of the classroom; sitting closer would actually make it harder for her to see. She is popular among the girls, and there are fans of hers aboard the Harekaze. Miumi Tōmatsu is particularly fond of her, amassing a collection of photos of Machiko (who seems quite pleased about it). She gained fans aboard the Schee as well.