Layer 02 - The Characters Mizuki Arisu Mizuki Arisu (or Alice) is a kind, compassionate girl in Lain's class. She makes a concious effort to include Lain in outings and conversations she shares with Reika and Juri (her other two friends). Arisu looks out for Lain unlike many others, and Lain slowly begins to realize the importance of that friendship that she holds dearly more and more. SPOILERS The more Lain changes into an outgoing girl, the more Arisu is concerned for her. Then in episode 8 (Layer 08: Rumors) Digital Lain (a rather evil, unruly, and careless Lain) spreads a rumor across the Wired about Arisu's affair with a teacher, the one secret she wanted no one to know. But later Lain erases the memory from everyone elses memory, thinking this will make up for it because no one would remember it happened. But Arisu only thinks then that Lain hates her because she left the bad memory only in Arisu's mind. Lain makes the choice she does in the end of the series partly because she doesn't want to hurt Arisu anymore - the only friend she ever truly had, yet never connected to fully. In a flashforward sequence we see Lain visit Arisu when she's 25 and through her friend recognizes her Lain is still in 13 year old form and had erased the memory of her from everyone, so in the end Arisu could not place the little girl's face. When she left saying 'Maybe we'll see each other again.' Lain replied 'Yes, I'll be watching.' MY THOUGHTS Gah, isn't Arisu pretty? She just has a kind and thoughtful face. I think she has a classic look and is one of my favorite side characters. Plus the friendship she and Lain try to have is beautiful. If only it could of happened. -- Juri-chan <<Return