Chisato Nishikigi

Chisato's characterization was the staff's first priority and series director Shingo Adachi notes it feels as if she is writing herself on her own. Adachi also felt that Chisato should be more humanizing to make her likable to the audience and express more due to her status as a main character.[1] Adachi describes Chisato as an intelligent, yet normal kid, not having answers to anything but following what is right in her heart, believing that her words is what drives the story forward. He also wanted her to speak after a moment of thinking, finding unnecessary dialogue and pauses to be significant and shows authenticity to a character.[2] Chisato was intended to be a serious character who would later softened as she and Takina's relationship progresses. When Adachi later joins the project, Asaura was interested in the former's idea of happiness and type of woman, causing Chisato's current sunny characterization and is satisfied with the change. Asaura notes that due to Chisato's personality, she would be difficult to write and could only be expressed in anime. He also expressed that her changes made her the perfect fit to Takina's aloof persona' stating that if they were the same as it once was, they would both be busy people.[3] Chisato was also originally meant to be disastified having Takina as a partner. Asaura reflects that he didn't like the plot point as the first episode would be too tense for his taste.[4] Adachi discusses how difficult it is to present a story of a child shooting in a positive manner, thus the staff changed the focus into Chisato and Takina's developing friendship.[5]

In her initial design, her hair was originally white with a bluish shadow to it, but Imigimuru thought she ends up looking like royalty, redesigning the hair with the same color but with yellowish shadows instead. He also wanted to give her a distinct look, thus her hair gains curls and ribbons.[6] Imigimuru also did this as he thought that Takina and Chisato's hairstyles have to be symmetrical from each other with Takina having long-black hair and not wearing any accessories.[7] When coming up with Chisato's abilities, she was meant to be only skilled with guns, but Adachi thought that means they would have to make a "John Wick-like movie", as it would be too difficult for a TV series. Thus, Chisato's ability to dodge bullets was created.[1]

Chisato becomes the top among the Lycoris at a very young age and almost defeated terrorist Majima during the Radio Tower Incident.[12] Due to her heart problems, she met Yoshimatsu and was given an artificial heart that keeps her living, giving her a new perspective in life, unaware that she was used to become a weapon.[13] Chisato was called to be in Takina's mission. She then leaves seeing the problem resolved. She becomes Takina's partner as the latter is discharged there for disrespecting orders.[14] The duo would go on a mission to protect Walnut, who is actually hiding in a suitcase and joins Café LycoReco after.[15] While going to the headquarters of Direct Attack, Takina tags along in hopes of being reinstated where Takina finds she is replaced by Sakura Otome as Fuki Harukawa’s partner and forced to fight with them on a match-up. As the latter is upset of being replaced, Chisato consoles her that she has a place in the cafe.[16] On a night while the Lycoris were forced to stay indoors, she was targeted by Majima, but is able to escape.[17]

Chisato goes undercover to the club where Mika went to after accidentally checking out his phone and finally meets Yoshimatsu once more.[18] After a confrontation with Majima, she went to her check-up test and was sedated by Yoshimatsu’s assistant to damage on her artificial heart, ultimately causing her death in 2 months.[19][13] Chisato, along with Takina, are called to be involved with the attack against Majima.[13] As the café will close down, Mika reveals of his and Yoshimatsu's ulterior motives. Despite this, she still chose to love them.[20] Finding out that Yoshimatsu is held hostage, she goes to the tower that she blew up years ago and finds that Majima’s responsible for it.[21] Later, Yoshimatsu tells her that she had a new artificial heart for her that is inside him and wants her to murder him, which she refuses. As Yoshimatsu escapes, Chisato and Takina arrive to Enkoboku to save the remaining Lycoris from being murdered as their existence had been revealed.[22] Majima interrupts before she could join the rest, wanting to have a final showdown with her. Chisato then left, thinking she’s going to die but was then brought back by Takina as she and the rest of the workers in the café come to Hawaii.[23]