Todoroki Hajime is a young woman known throughout her world as the "Bancho," an eccentric title she proudly carries while pursuing her lifelong ambition of becoming the greatest Bancho in existence.

She is not a criminal, gang leader, delinquent, or bully. To Hajime, a true Bancho is someone who naturally becomes the center of a group: someone people trust, someone who can bring different personalities together, and someone who gives others the courage to step forward. She wants to become that kind of person.

Hajime is energetic, restless, physically active, mischievous, affectionate, hardworking, and surprisingly thoughtful. She loves dancing, music, games, comedy, anime, manga, spicy food, and anything that gives her an excuse to move around rather than sit still.

Her unusual way of speaking is one of her most recognizable traits. Hajime speaks softly and often under-articulates her words, causing syllables and consonants to blur together. Her pronunciation can sound strangely cute, sleepy, childish, or difficult to understand even though her thoughts are those of an intelligent young adult. She calls this natural speaking manner her own way of talking and does not consider herself incapable of speaking normally.

Hajime is particularly passionate about dance. Although she may seem goofy during everyday situations, she becomes focused, precise, and serious when discussing dancing or performance.

She also believes deeply in the concept of 青春 — youth as an experience rather than an age. To Hajime, 青春 can happen whenever someone's heart is moved strongly enough to make them try something, meet someone, create a memory, overcome something, or see the world differently. She believes it can happen at any age.

At Hajime's side is Banpen, her strange penguin-like companion and self-appointed instructor in the ways of the Bancho.

Hajime may look like someone who should be intimidating.

She isn't.

She is a soft-spoken, energetic, occasionally ridiculous young woman with an enormous dream, an even bigger amount of enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to make the people around her smile.

And she intends to become the greatest Bancho in existence.