Dandadan: Who is Aira Shiratori?

Important takeaways

• Aira Shiratori's distinctive energy sets her apart in the quirky world of Dandadan, showcasing fearless decision-making and leadership.
• Aira's encounter with a yokai named Acrobatic Silky leads to a tragic yet transformative series of events in her life.
• Aira evolves from a narcissistic teenager to a remorseful hero, forming new friendships and fighting evil with her newfound powers.

Dandadans unique amalgamation of supernatural, romance, and comedy genres thrives primarily on a quirky cast of characters, each of whom leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Among some of the most memorable personalities in the saga is Aira Shiratori, an intriguing character whose presence adds more layers to the story and draws readers into the mysterious supernatural mishaps.

Unlike other characters in the series, Aira brings with her a distinct energy that allows her to navigate the bizarre world of Dandadan. Not only does she fearlessly speak her mind, but she also demonstrates superior decision-making and leadership, even in a crisis. In this article, we will explore Aira Shiratori's life, the origins of her supernatural powers, and the twists of fate that got her entangled with the occult.

A narcissist turned selfless savior

After a series of bizarre incidents, Aira Shiratori found her purpose

At Kami High, Aira Shiratori is considered one of the most beautiful girls in the school. She has considerable influence over her peers and does not hesitate to increase her popularity to get what she wants. Unfortunately, her fame slowly goes to her head as she develops delusions of grandeur and begins to look down on others. With her looks and fake persona, Aira loves to charm boys and feels that her presence makes life worth living for them. Her arrogance knows no bounds, and if that's not terrible enough already, Aira is willing to engage in character assassination if anyone tries to put her in her place.

In Chapter 10 of the manga, Aira accidentally runs into Okarun in the school hallway. She puts on her facade and apologizes profusely for not being thorough enough. Since Aira loves to wrap people around her finger, she seizes the opportunity and tries to charm Okarun. The interaction is brief as Ken is embarrassed and walks away red-faced. Momo, who had been looking for him until now, notices Aira mocking Okarun moments later in front of her friends. It turns out she gets a kick out of making socially withdrawn students feel shy and overwhelmed by acting innocent and stupid. Then she makes fun of people for just being confused, even going so far as to assume they'll be thinking about her for the rest of their lives.

Momo is not amused by Okarun's taunt and uses her psychic powers to drop a wash basin on Aira's head. When Shiratori realizes that Momo is responsible for the assault, she then fires back by secretly spreading horrible rumors about Ayase at school. Up until this moment in her life, Aira has lived recklessly, too preoccupied with petty teenage drama and her popularity at school. But unbeknownst to her, an incident in her childhood and a series of unforeseen events will soon change her life forever.

Many years ago, when Aira was just a young girl, she was walking down the street with her father when she accidentally bumped into a strange woman in red. Her mother had probably died sometime in the past, and for some reason little Aira felt that the woman was her mother. As she tugged at the woman's dress and called her mother, her father rushed to take her back into his arms. Aira soon forgot about the incident, but unknown to her, she had met a yokai named Acrobatic Silky that day. Interestingly, Acrobatic Silky lived a tragic life as a human, killing herself after being separated from her daughter. The brief interaction with Aira ignited her motherly instincts, and she followed her ever since, hoping that Shiratori would be able to see her again.

Usually, civilians without psychic powers cannot see yokai. But just days before crossing paths with Okarun in the school hallway, Aira accidentally found his missing kintama. Since anyone who touches it can see supernatural phenomena, Shiratori suddenly gains the power to see yokai. Aira, being Aira, assumes that her newfound powers are a sign that she has been chosen to protect the world. When Momo uses her psychic powers to drop the sink on her head, Shiratori even notices the psychokinesis used in the process. She assumes that Ayase is a demon and that she, being a savior of the world, needs to defeat her.

To confront Momo, Aira takes her to a secluded place where, with the help of her friends, she manages to restrain her. Shiratori then proceeds to try to defeat Momo, believing her to be a demon. Just as Momo and Okarun are about to take control, Acrobatic Silky arrives on the scene and takes Aira into her possession. She is desperate to hear her call her mother again, not realizing that Aira has no memory of her at all. When Aira calls her a monster instead, Acrobatic Silky eats her alive. Moments after, she also ingests Okarun and Momo, only for the latter to free everyone in a cunning move.

When Acrobatic Silky tries to fight back, Momo and Okarun defeat the yokai. But the brutal battle unfortunately leads to Aira's untimely death. As Momo and Okarun are shocked, Acrobatic Silky gathers her powers and approaches them. She offers to revive Aira by replenishing her aura and even removes her jaw to assure the two friends that she is no longer dangerous. In dramatic fashion, Acrobatic Silky sacrifices herself to give Aira a new life. Realizing that the yokai has many regrets for not being a good mother, Shiratori tries to make amends in a way. She hugs Acrobatic Silky's remaining aura and assures her that she will remember her forever.

Unbeknownst to Aira at the time, she had not only been revived but had also gained the powers of Acrobatic Silky. In the months following the incident, Aira becomes close friends with Momo and Okarun. She experiences a dramatic change in her personality and comes to regret some of her past choices. Shiratori even publicly admits that she was the one who spread the rumors about Momo. On top of all this, Aira also becomes an indispensable member of Okarun and Momo's group. She uses her powers to fight evil spirits and aliens alongside her new friends. Although Aira may have been a cruel and narcissistic teenager at one point in her life, she eventually makes amends and transforms herself into a better person.