The main heroine of "Ascendance of a Bookworm" is the protagonist, Myne, but she has a rather unusual personality, being a tomboy who lives for books. The other heroine is Myne's older sister, Tuuli. She's only 7 years old, two years older than Myne, but she has a brave and kind personality! It's no exaggeration to say she's more heroine-like than Myne (lol). So, this time, instead of the main heroine, I'll be introducing the charms of Tuuli!
What does Tuuli look like?
First, let's talk about Tuuli's appearance. Her hair is the same emerald green as her mother's, and she usually wears it in a braid except for special occasions. When she lets her hair down, it's wavy and waist-length. She's characterized by a few strands of hair growing out around her sideburns. As the child of a poor commoner family, Tuuli is unfashionable and wears patchwork clothing. However, for her baptism, she wore a stylish outfit made by her mother.
Tuli is a hard worker!
In this world, children don't have to go to school; instead, they help out around the house from a young age. At Tuuri's house, Myne is physically weak and can't move around much, so Tuuri is kept busy! Even on snowy days, she goes out early in the morning to harvest nuts, go shopping, and help with meat processing... She works so hard that it's hard to believe she's just a 7-year-old girl. In particular, the fruit that grows on the magic tree called Paru (a tree made of ice) can only be harvested in the morning on sunny winter days. To harvest, the ice must be melted with bare hands. Tuuli's hands become red and worn as she holds the ice... Still, she smiles and says, "Myne would catch a cold," seemingly unconcerned.
Tuli is a big sister, but she still has a childish side, doesn't she?
Tuli works hard as Myne's big sister and takes care of her, but inside she's still a 7-year-old girl. She can also sometimes show a childish side. Early in the story, she treasures a doll made from tattered wood that Myne tries to break to use as a hairpin. She also sulks, tearing up when she sees Myne making baskets better than her, saying, "I'm the older sister!" (Which is only natural, since Myne is actually a 22-year-old Urano who excels at basket making.) However, Tuuli's childish side, always on edge and acting like an older sister, is refreshing, cute, and charming.
Tuuli's dream is to become a successful seamstress!
Inspired by her mother, Eva, who works at a dyeing workshop, Tuuri's dream is to work as a seamstress. She's still skilled at sewing, so she'll start working as a seamstress after her baptism. Tuuri admires Corinna, Otto's beloved wife and Benno's sister. She's a skilled seamstress and a high-ranking member of the association at a young age. Even Tuuri was envious when she heard that Myne had been asked by Otto to meet Corinna regarding the simple shampoo.
Hair accessories make her even more beautiful! Tuuli suddenly becomes the center of attention
Before the baptism, Myne asked Tuuli, who was showing off her outfit, "What are you going to do with your hair?" To which Tuuli replied, "I'm going to pick some flowers and use them as a hair accessory." This inspired Myne! She decided to make a lace hair accessory as a gift for Tuuli. Her father made a crochet hook, and Myne and Eva created a hair accessory unlike anything seen in this world. Once they styled her hair and put the accessory on... she was a beautiful girl who had everyone falling in love with her! When people compliment her on her cuteness, she shyly replies "Oh, really..." instead of "Thank you," which is a very cute and typical Tuli moment. Incidentally, her father, Gunther, burst into tears afterward (lol).
Tuuri is only 7 years old, but what about romance...?
When you hear the word "beautiful girl," you wonder about her love life. Tuuri is only 7 years old, so it seems a little early to be talking about that sort of thing, but... it seems like she's not completely opposed? Lutz's brother Ralph showed signs of interest in Tuuli, but Myne immediately saw through them. Tuuli also blushed and became embarrassed when Ralph smelled her hair and commented, "You smell nice." Was she embarrassed simply because he got so close to her, or because he complimented her hair, or was she embarrassed romantically? I don't know why, but her behavior was very girly. Still, she does have some childlike qualities, like being overjoyed when her father hugs her.
Tuuli values her family! Her final scene, waiting for her family, is truly heroine-like!
As the story nears its end, Myne and her parents head to the temple to speak with the temple head. However, Myne and her parents' opinions are opposed to the temple's requests, and rebelling against the nobles by her commoner parents is quite a serious matter of facing capital punishment. As a result, Tuuri is left alone at home, waiting for her family to return... Her worried expression as she gazes toward her family's expected return is truly heroine-like.
The final scene features a tearful reunion with her family!
When Tuuli, who had been waiting for her family to return, hears Myne's voice, she rushes to her family. As she stops nearby, she says with tears in her eyes, "Welcome back, Myne," and they embrace, bringing the first season of the anime to a close. Tuuli remained a true heroine until the very end.
The voice actress who played Touli is Megumi Nakajima
The voice actress who plays Touli in the anime is Megumi Nakajima. While she has appeared in a variety of anime, her most well-known role is "Ranka Lee" in Macross F, her debut work. She's also a vocalist, so if you're interested, be sure to check her out.
A classic heroine! Tuuli Summary
So far, what do you think of Tuuli? She's a really kind, cute, and well-behaved girl! In fact, she's my favorite heroine in the series, so I hope everyone will discover her charms!
