Rie

Rie was one of Taeko Okajima's classmates in Only Yesterday.

History
Rie was one of Taeko's classmates in elementary school. She started her period when she was in fourth grade and her mother ordered her to skip gym class whenever she had her period.

When she was in fifth grade, Rie made the mistake of telling a boy named Nakayama, whom Rie had a crush on, because he asked about it and she asked him to keep it a secret but he still told all the boys about it, resulting in them thinking that all the girls had their periods and, not knowing what a menstrual cycle was, they constantly bullied the girls by doing things like calling them names, flipping up their skirts to see their "special undergarments", while the girls rataliated by hitting them with brooms, and treating Rei as if she had some sort of desease. Rie was scolded and blamed by the girls for what she did. Taeko was horrified upon finding out that if a girl skipped gym class the boys could assume she has her period and therefore said girl could be bullied and to make matters worse Taeko was forced to skip gym class later on after she catched a cold and was forced to sit alongside Rie and watch the other kids play. At one point Rie saw a ball rolling to her side and tried to grab it but one of the boys yelled at her to not touch it as she could make him "catch her period" but she just laughed it off.

After gym class was over, Taeko and Rie were doing chores when a boy called them the "menstrual duo", which made Taeko angry but Rie again laughed at the silly name before the girls walked away, leaving the boy confused at Rie's reaction.

Taeko commented to Rie about how she was so calm about the subject and Rie told her it was because her mother told her that a period was nothing to be ashamed off.

Rie makes a brief cameo as one of the kids who represent a grown up Taeko's childhood memories/conscience who helps persuade Taeko to return to the farm she spent the summer in.

Appearance
As a child, Rie has short, chin lenght black hair with bangs and wears a white blue with a pink neckline under a blue jumper, beige shoes and pink socks. She usually has a bored/sad expression on her face.

Personality
She seems to be shy and introverted but is still able to handle her male classmates' bullying by laughing off their attempts at making fun of her.

Family

 * Unnamed mother.

Trivia

 * The name Rie has many meanings, among them is "logic", which fits her due to the wise way she handles the boys' bullying.

Rie おもひでぽろぽろ