Kuga Hiroto
Kuga Hiroto is the main protagonist of Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE. A 17-year-old high school student residing in a coastal city, he is a veteran diver in GBN with top-tier talent as both a Gunpla builder and pilot. Haunted by the loss of someone precious to him in the past, Hiroto initially operates as a quiet solo mercenary wandering various dimensions. After a chance encounter with Kazami and others, he becomes a founding member of the new BUILD DiVERS, eventually leading him into a battle over the distant world of Eldora.
Overview
Kuga Hiroto is the main protagonist of Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE. A 17-year-old high school student residing in a coastal city, he is a veteran diver in GBN with top-tier talent as both a Gunpla builder and pilot. Haunted by the loss of someone precious to him in the past, Hiroto initially operates as a quiet solo mercenary wandering various dimensions. After a chance encounter with Kazami and others, he becomes a founding member of the new BUILD DiVERS, eventually leading him into a battle over the distant world of Eldora.
Appearance
Hiroto's GBN avatar closely resembles his real-world physical appearance, featuring slightly longer hair and blue or grey eyes. He wears a wanderer-style poncho over his attire along with black fingerless gloves.
Personality
Hiroto is naturally gentle and mild-mannered, though he carries a melancholic and reserved demeanor due to past emotional trauma. Initially, he tends to isolate himself, taking on burdens alone rather than relying on teammates, which reflected in his pragmatic and solitary fighting style. Beneath his aloof exterior lies a deeply caring nature that cannot ignore those in distress. Through his bond with his teammates, Hiroto learns to open up, ask for help, and rediscover his genuine passion for Gunpla battles.
Abilities
Hiroto excels at the highest level in both Gunpla building and piloting skills. He possesses exceptional strategic intelligence, analyzing battlefields, constructing traps, and creating custom simulation programs within GBN. His custom unit, the Core Gundam (and later Core Gundam II), utilizes the Planets System to dock with specialized armor packs, allowing him to adapt to any tactical situation such as underwater combat, long-range fire support, or high-speed flight. He is also adept at swift evasive counterattacks and improvised battlefield tactics.
Background
Raised in a family with a screenwriter father and a translator mother, Hiroto enjoyed Gunpla battles since his middle school GPD days. In GBN, he met Eve while finalizing the Core Gundam, forming a deep bond with her until her tragic disappearance left him grief-stricken. During the Second Coalition of Volunteers Battle, unresolved anger led him to almost shoot Riku Mikami, causing Hiroto to leave Force AVALON in guilt. He later joined the new BUILD DiVERS to answer Freddie's call, facing the AI entity Alus on planet Eldora and eventually overcoming his trauma to save both Eldora and GBN.
Relationships
Eve was a mysterious diver with whom Hiroto shared an indelible connection, and her loss deeply wounded his heart. Hinata Mukai, his childhood friend, constantly offers him warm emotional support in real life. Within the new BUILD DiVERS, Hiroto develops deep mutual trust with teammates Kazami, May, and Parviz. He also resolves his past remorse toward Riku Mikami through a grueling battle in GBN, while gaining renewed respect from his former Force leader, Kyoya Kujo.
Trivia
The modular design concept of the Core Gundam originated from a past match where Hiroto used a tiny Speed Grade RX-78-2 Gundam to defeat a much larger PG Strike Gundam by utilizing scavenged battlefield weapons. In Gundam Build Metaverse, his personal growth is highlighted when the once-solitary Hiroto proactively invites newcomer Rio Hojo to form a party.
