Takeru Homura
Takeru Homura is a main character in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. Like the protagonist Yusaku Fujiki, he is a survivor of the traumatic Lost Incident. After spending years in isolation due to the aftermath of the ordeal, the arrival of the Fire Ignis named Flame inspires him to face his destiny. Transferring to Den City High School to join forces with Yusaku, he logs into LINK VRAINS under the handle Soulburner and commands a FIRE Cyberse-Type Salamangreat deck.
Overview
Takeru Homura is a main character in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. Like the protagonist Yusaku Fujiki, he is a survivor of the traumatic Lost Incident. After spending years in isolation due to the aftermath of the ordeal, the arrival of the Fire Ignis named Flame inspires him to face his destiny. Transferring to Den City High School to join forces with Yusaku, he logs into LINK VRAINS under the handle Soulburner and commands a FIRE Cyberse-Type Salamangreat deck.
Appearance
In the physical world, Takeru has short, two-tone hair combining white and red, and wears green cell-frame glasses alongside a pink necktie with his school uniform. Prior to moving, he wore a tracksuit and styled his hair brushed backward. As his avatar Soulburner, his hair shifts to orange in the front and blue in the back. He wears a flame-themed costume complete with a red muffler that features an automatic retraction mechanism.
Personality
In daily life, Takeru is quiet and mild-mannered, using polite self-referential language, and stands out among his peers for his lack of tech-savviness. When operating as Soulburner, however, his persona transforms into a passionate, hot-blooded warrior. Due to his past confinement, he harbors a severe fear of ghosts and undead-like entities. Despite his quiet demeanor in reality, he possesses deep inner resolve, inspired by the strength of his allies and his partner Flame.
Abilities
Takeru utilizes a FIRE Cyberse-Type 'Salamangreat' deck, centered on Reincarnation Link Summoning as well as Ritual, Fusion, and Xyz tactics. His key monsters include Salamangreat Heatleo and Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix. In VR Duels, he activates the Skill 'Burning Draw,' which reduces his Life Points down to 100 in exchange for drawing cards proportional to the life points lost. Prior to relocating, he commanded a deck featuring FIRE Warrior-Type monsters.
Background
After surviving the Lost Incident, Takeru suffered intense guilt upon learning that his parents perished in an accident while searching for him, leading to years of reclusive living. His life altered when Flame appeared, revealing the truth behind the incident and the new threats emerging in LINK VRAINS. Determined to confront his past, Takeru entrusted his grandparents to his childhood friend and moved to Den City, allying with Yusaku. Through numerous fierce battles, he overcame his trauma and eventually returned to his hometown after the conflicts concluded.
Relationships
He shares a tight bond with the Fire Ignis Flame, engaging in lighthearted bickering while trusting him implicitly. He deeply respects Yusaku Fujiki (Playmaker) as a fellow victim of the same trauma and a trusted comrade. Towards Revolver, the leader of the Knights of Hanoi, Takeru initially harbored intense resentment over the loss of his parents, though their interactions gradually evolved into a complex rivalry. His childhood friend Kiku Kamishirakawa continuously looked after his well-being during his years of isolation.
Trivia
Soulburner's design, personality, and fighting style were consciously crafted to evoke the classic archetype of a hobby-anime protagonist. According to interviews with the anime's director, Soulburner and Flame were framed during production to function as an alternate heroic lead duo alongside the main protagonist.