Rei Kashino

"'I want to be popular, I want to get laid, and I just want to party.'"Rei Kashino (樫野 零) is the main protagonist of Mars and Mars: Horse With No Name. Rei is the husband of Kira Aso, the twin brother of Sei Kashino, and the son of Takayuki Kashino and Shoko Kashino. At the beginning of the series and in Mars: Horse With No Name, Rei is a reckless playboy with violent tendencies. At the end of the series however, he is much more kind, calm and loyal to Kira. Rei enjoys racing motorcycles, and plans to be a professional motorcycle racer for Honda. Rei was popular in school, but did not get good grades despite being fairly smart. While Rei was in school, his brother Sei committed suicide, and Rei blamed himself for it. Rei met Kira in the park the day before school resumed from spring break in sophomore year, and Kira helped him get over his trauma.

Biography
Rei was born to Akihiko Kashino and Shoko Kashino, alongside his twin brother Sei. Shoko was married to Akihiko's older brother Takayuki, yet Takayuki raised both boys as his own. Akihiko died in a motorbike accident when Rei and Sei were children, which caused Shoko to have a mental breakdown. Shoko was sent to trauma center for this, but she never got better. Rei and Sei regularly visited Shoko while she was there, but did not think much of it. Shoko once poked Rei's finger with a needle to say that when he hurts, she hurts too. Shoko also tells Rei and Sei that Takayuki does not care about them. Shoko ended up trying to murder Rei and Sei, then kill herself, but was stopped before she could. Shoko hanged herself in the family house, which both Rei and Sei saw and were confused by.

After the death of Shoko, Takayuki sent Rei and Sei to Los Angeles to live with their aunt and uncle. In Los Angeles, Rei became fluent in English, and became interested in motorcycles. They were also bullied by other students for being Japanese. During this period, Rei would learn that Takayuki was not his real father. After eight years, Rei and Sei returned to Japan to live with with their father again. Rei and Sei were popular in school, with Rei being more popular. Sei would regularly get bullied, meaning Rei would have to help save him, usually violently. Sei would begin to purposefully play up himself being weak so he could see Rei violently beat people he felt were inferior. Rei would get annoyed about having to save him all the time, and told Sei the truth about their father. Rei and Sei were friends with Takemura Shuichi and Shiori Sakurazawa, with Shiori being Sei's girlfriend. Rei ended up stealing Shiori from Sei. A few years prior to the events of the manga, Sei, wanting to get revenge for Rei telling him the truth about their father and cause him to commit suicide too, jumps off the school building in front of Rei. After this, Rei becomes more violent, and breaks down when he hears sirens or someone jump from a building. Rei is sent to a trauma center and is eventually discharged, but he did not feel he got better. Sometime after this, Rei goes to live on his own, where he meets Kenny and Violet. Sometime after Rei leaves home, he saves Masao Kirishima from some bullies, but does not think much of it. Rei also begins to sleep with a lot of women, including Harumi Sugihara. In his freshman year of high school, Rei meets Tatsuya Kida. At first, Tatsuya doesn't like Rei, but after Tatsuya and Rei try to save the bracelet Rei was given in Los Angeles and after Rei saved Tatsuya from a group of bikers, the two become friends. Rei also first encounters Kira, fishing her key out of a gutter.

The day before spring break ends during sophomore year, Rei asks Kira Aso for directions to the hospital in the park. Kira does not talk to him, simply drawing the map on the back of an old sketch and handing it to him. Rei goes to the hospital, where his friend Akitaka Katayama is. Akitaka gives Rei his Ducati Monster motorcycle, as he can no longer race after getting in an accident. Also at the hospital, Rei looks at the sketch on the back of the map and really likes it. The two begin talking in school, and after saving Kira from being sexually assaulted by Mr. Yoshioka, Rei started to protect Kira in exchange for her being able to paint him. After seeing him kiss a statue of Mars, Kira fell in love with Rei. Eventually the two start dating, and Kira begins to soften Rei, helping him deal with his violent tendencies. After dating for a little while, Rei goes to participate in the Suzuka 8-hour endurance race, where despite coming in first, is disqualified for not trading places with his partner Kyoko due to her breaking her finger. When Rei returns, he participates in a school charity auction by being one of the prizes (namely, a date with him). Shiori ends up winning the auction, and Kira temporarily allows Rei to date her so Shiori can get over her feelings. Shiori does not get over her feelings however, and tries to commit suicide when he rejects her. Rei eventually tells Shiori not to come back, and he and Kira get back together.

Shortly after he and Kira get back together, a new student, Masao comes to the school. Masao has a crush on both Rei and Kira, but due to his sociopath tendencies, Rei does not like him. Masao tries to kill both Kira and Rei repeatedly throughout the manga, and cause Rei to revert to his more violent ways. After he causes a lot of people to get hurt, Masao is sent to a trauma center. Rei attempts to make love to Kira while they are living together, but she freaks out. Rei finds out that Kira was molested by her stepfather when she was in middle school. Kira's stepfather Mr. Aso eventually returns, claiming to have changed. Kira does not believe him and goes to live with Rei. After it is revealed he has not changed, Rei tries to attack Mr. Aso, which makes Mr. Aso leave. Eventually, Rei is forced to live with his father for financial reasons, there he finds out many of the things his mother told him about his father aren't true. Takayuki attempts to get Rei to become his successor in his company, but is unsuccessful and eventually approves of Rei's choice to pursue motorcycle racing. When he and Kira turn 18, they get married. The day before they are married however, Rei is confronted by Masao in an alley and stabbed and left to die. He ends up recovering, and he and Kira begin their new life together.

Kira Aso
Rei and Kira, being husband and wife, are extremely close. Rei feels the need to protect Kira when she is in trouble, and has said that she is the first girl he's actually cared for.

Masao Kirishima
Rei does not like Masao. Masao has tried to kill Rei, and make him do things he knows he shouldn't do.

Tatsuya Kida
Rei and Tatsuya are best friends. Rei and Tatsuya sometimes have squabbles, especially early on when Tatsuya fears what Rei's intentions with Kira are, but Rei feels he can rely on Tatsuya when he needs to. Rei, much like he does with Kira, will come to Tatsuya's aid if he is in danger. .

Harumi Sugihara
Rei and Harumi are friends. Rei once slept with Harumi a few years prior to the manga, which at the time Rei saw as no big deal. Harumi however had a crush on Rei, and tried to attack Kira when she felt she was getting too close to Rei. After telling Harumi off, Harumi became friends with Kira and eventually began dating Rei's best friend Tatsuya.

Takayuki Kashino
At first, Rei hates his father, mainly due to the lies he was told by Shoko. Once they meet up later, they make up, and Rei begins to respect his father, but does not wish to follow him as the head of his company.

Akitaka and Kyoko Katayama
Rei sees the Katayamas as mentors.

Kurosawa
Rei views Kurosawa as both a poor artist and a "no-talent hack". After seeing his paintings, Rei said they lack soul, which greatly offended Kurosawa. After Kurosawa stole Kira's sketch, Rei slapped him.

Kenny
Kenny is Rei's friend while he lives in the apartment complex. It is unknown if they are still friends.

Gallery
For more images, see Rei Kashino/Gallery.