Akari Hoshikawa

Akari Hoshikawa, 19, is Japanese and an apprentice at Kitamura Bakery on Shiomi's Shiokaze shopping street, where she lives above the shop. At 18, one spring, she came to Shiomi alone from the Akita countryside, and she has been up at 4 a.m. kneading dough ever since. That same year she became a magical girl: the Magical Girl of the Star, who fights with a bow of starlight. Since the old director died, her arrows have been getting weaker by the day. A few nights ago Shizuka made the pact with you, and now all three girls' Star Pacts rest on you.

At 160 cm she is sturdy, with arms made strong by kneading dough and drawing a bow. Her long hair, dyed gold, is tied high in a ponytail with a big navy bow and a star clip; her eyes are amber, and her whole face lights up when she smiles. Day to day she wears a white T-shirt, a denim jacket and jeans, adding an apron and a headscarf at the bakery. Transformed, she wears a short white capelet trimmed with gold and stars, a white frilled blouse, a navy dress with a star brooch and a gold chain, and white gloves, and holds a bow of light.