Character Relationship Map: Another Heaven

Characters

• Manabu Hayase (played by Yosuke Eguchi) — protagonist

  An investigator who examines the bizarre murders and leads the search for the force believed to be controlling human brains. He becomes convinced that it is targeting him.

• Asako (played by Miwako Ichikawa) — supporting

  A woman who begins acting strangely and tells Manabu that something is inside her head and causing her pain.

• Atsushi Kimura (played by Takashi Kashiwabara) — supporting

  A crime enthusiast who monitors police communications and contacts Manabu with a disturbing gift. He claims that Chizuru's brain moved into him and escapes after an armed confrontation.

• Detective Tobitaka (played by Yoshio Harada) — supporting

  A detective who joins Manabu and Doctor Akagi in examining the first murder scene.

• Doctor Akagi (played by Akira Emoto) — minor
• Chizuru Kashiwagi (played by Yukiko Okamoto) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Manabu Hayase → Asako (Possible Romantic Bond) — Their emotional connection becomes central to Manabu's fear and final decision.

  Manabu becomes convinced that the force may be hiding in a woman he could love, and Asako later calls him when she says something is inside her head.

• Atsushi Kimura → Chizuru Kashiwagi (Meta Claimed Brain Transfer) — Kimura presents himself as the possible host of a force associated with Chizuru.

  Kimura claims that Chizuru's brain moved into him and suggests that the same force continues the killings.

• Doctor Akagi → Chizuru Kashiwagi (Professional Medical Investigator) — Akagi's medical role connects him to the physical evidence surrounding Chizuru's case.

  Doctor Akagi participates in the investigation of the victims whose brains were removed or damaged, including the case later associated with Chizuru.

• Detective Tobitaka → Doctor Akagi (Professional Case Colleague) — They are professional collaborators on the murder investigation.

  Detective Tobitaka and Doctor Akagi are both present with Manabu Hayase while examining the initial murder and discussing the unusual evidence.

• Manabu Hayase → Doctor Akagi (Professional Investigation Associate) — Their cooperation combines investigative and medical perspectives.

  Manabu Hayase examines the first crime scene alongside Doctor Akagi, who contributes medical expertise to the investigation.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Detective Tobitaka → Atsushi Kimura (Conflict Police Adversary) — Kimura becomes an adversarial figure within the police investigation.

  Kimura's communications concern the police investigation, and his erratic escape follows an armed confrontation during the case response.

• Atsushi Kimura → Manabu Hayase (Narrative Provocative Informant) — Kimura directly targets Manabu with information, threats, and psychological provocation.

  Atsushi Kimura monitors police communications, contacts Manabu, and leaves him a disturbing gift marked "For Beloved Manabu."

• Detective Tobitaka → Chizuru Kashiwagi (Conflict Police Suspect) — Tobitaka's police investigation treats Chizuru as a central suspect.

  Physical evidence and witness testimony lead the police to arrest Chizuru Kashiwagi for the bizarre attacks.

• Manabu Hayase → Chizuru Kashiwagi (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Manabu investigates Chizuru while questioning whether she was truly responsible.

  The investigation focuses on Chizuru Kashiwagi after witnesses claim she attacked a man and opened his head; Manabu remains troubled after her arrest...

• Manabu Hayase → Detective Tobitaka (Alliance Investigation Partner) — They work together as investigators pursuing the brain-removal killings.

  Manabu Hayase joins Detective Tobitaka in examining the murdered man's body and continues investigating the connected murders with him.

Story Analysis

An investigation into brain-removal murders becomes a nightmare about an unknown force using human bodies and threatening personal trust.

Plot Progression

1. The Missing Brain — Manabu Hayase joins Detective Tobitaka and Doctor Akagi at a gruesome murder scene. The suspicious butcher and the discovery of similar crimes broaden the case beyond an ordinary homicide.
2. The False Solution — Evidence and witness testimony identify Chizuru Kashiwagi as the apparent killer. Her arrest and death seem to close the case, but the investigators cannot reconcile her body with the crimes' apparent...
3. The Hidden Presence — The investigators consider that an unknown force may use human brains. Atsushi Kimura contacts Manabu, claims Chizuru's brain moved into him, and escapes after an armed confrontation.
4. Morphine And Fear — A morphine requirement suggests that the force may be using access to hospitals or medical workers. Further deaths deepen Manabu's fear that the threat is moving closer to him.
5. The Woman In Danger — Asako acts strangely while the police consider killing her. After she tells Manabu that something is inside her head, he goes to find her, leading into an unresolved final confrontation.