Ayumi Shinji

Ayumi Shinji (進士 あゆみ Shinji Ayumi) is a classmate of Ryuuka Shimizudani, Toki Onjouji as well as Youko Nogami (Ayumi's friend).

Appearance
Ayumi has short blonde hair except for the front part of her hair which she wears in a braid fixed on the left side of her head and green eyes.

Personality
Ayumi is a quiet but headstrong, blunt, and observant girl. Whenever something is amiss, Ayumi is normally the one to point it out and put the facts together. When Izumi lured the 4 of them to a mahjong parlour for a mahjong match, Ayumi quickly saw through Izumi's plan and questioned her about the real reason they were there. However, because of this, sometimes Ayumi says things that would dampen the mood or depress the others; she is trying to avoid more situations like these in the future by keeping some of her observations to herself.

Introduction Arc (Toki Manga)
The day after Ryuuka Shimizudani's declines Youko Nogami's invitation, Ayumi confronts Toki Onjouji about spending so much time with her. However she is stopped by Youko who tell her not to use violence. She is then in the background as Youko takes over the conversation. After Toki, Youko, and Ryuuka decide to have a mahjong match to settle who is friends with who, Ayumi joins the game and says that she at least knows the rules. She is later seen training with Ayumi in the mahjong club room.

Showdown Arc
Later, everyone sits down for the game and the match begins. Throughout the match Youko Nogami was in control and it wasn't until Toki Onjouji hit with a baiman did she take the lead. However, she encouraged Ryuuka Shimizudani to win and she ended up winning the match. Youko and Ayumi told her that playing mahjong was fun and the president even invited them to the club to play. Toki even tried calling Ayumi a cute name but she didn't like it.

After Youko convinces Toki to go see Ryuuka after school, she walks home with Ayumi. She tells Toki of the situation with Youko and Ryuuka. She then grabs Toki's butt and wishes her luck. The next day she sees that Toki and Ryuuka made up and joins with them. She then tells Youko that Toki is a weird girl and that Youko looked really cool playing mahjong.

Izumi Challenge Arc
Ayumi joins with the mahjong club with Toki, Ryuuka and Youko. Their schedual of activities works with her other club the basketball club. After a few conversations and activities, the girls split into groups and play three player mahjong. After a few games and having fun, she leaves with her friends.

In class, Ryuuka asks about club activities and Ayumi says baskeball was canceled for the day and she'd like some exercise. Ryuuka then invites the girls to her place. Ryuuka has a pool and the girls get changed to go swimming. They all play together in the pool.

Walking home with her friends Ryuuka is suddenly shot with a water gun. A young girl appears and appologizes then takes the girls to her "friends" place. The girl introduces herself as Izumi Nijou and the place is a mahjong parlor. Toki is excited but Ayumi informs everyone that Izumi did all this on purpose to get them there. Izumi locks the door and challenges them to a game. Ayumi tells her that all she had to say was i want to play. Izumi ignores her and calls her a liar. While they begin to play, Izumi makes fun of Ayumi and calls her the weakest. Ayumi comments throughout the match. She leaves with the other girls after the match.

Practice Game Arc
During Open Class day, Ayumi says that her parents went to her little brothers. When Toki points out her mom, Ayumi says maybe she will inherit her height.

Back at Ryuuka's place, Ayumi gets mad at Toki for peeling too much. They all make sweet curry. Ayumi says she hates sweet curry but this one is really good.

The mahjong club take a hike up a mountain for special training. During this trip, Ryuuka mentions her mother being care free. Ayumi notices a pattern with Ryuuka and her mother but stops herself from saying more. She quickly apologizes. They get to a waterfall and Yayoi informs the girls they will have a practice game. Yayoi tells them that they will be playing against the Malefic Star. On the way home, the girls talk about their opponent. Ayumi questions Yayoi and begins to suspect something but plays it off.

During the practice game Ayumi is seated with Youko, Izumi, and Chie/Tae. She then asks if she could hand her seat off so she can observe the other table but is quickly stopped by Izumi and Youko. Ayumi says she was being careful but Ryuuka is there so it should be fine. When noticing Yayoi struggle, Ayumi asks if Izumi knows her but Chie quickly interrupts. After the matches, they thank each other for the game and Yayoi explains everything she did to set up the match and apologizes. Ayumi is frustrated at the way things were done and says that if they explained everything from the beginning, they would've helped her. She is then embarrassed when Toki calls her kind.

Confrontation Arc
Toki tells the girls about her bath water being on the fritz and splashing herself with cold water. Ayumi tells her not to make a fuss and be glad it wasn't winter. She then says you can usually tell if the water is hot or not.

After school, everyone gathers at the mahjong club after school at Toki's request. Toki decides to play a game with Ryuuka to sort out their emotions. Toki says the rules of the game are the same as the first time they all played. Toki wins the first hand off of Youko. She then says that if Ryuuka didn't get what she meant, she'd be forced to say "If you lose this match, we aren't friends!" Ayumi thinks this is just like the first game they played with Toki. Ryuuka is frustrated and doesn't understand. Ayumi then thinks to herself that she's figured it out. She says that's what makes Toki special and that she will play normally. Youko wins the next hand off of Ryuuka causing the girl to use her ability. On the next hand Toki, Youko, and Ayumi riichi. Ryuuka then hits with a tsumo yakuman. Toki gets up excited and congratulates Ryuuka but the girl slaps her hand away and tells her get back to her seat. She then says she will finish this game in the next round. This makes Ayumi angry and think Ryuuka is looking down on her,but gets quiet when Ryuuka looks at her. She thinks things are hopeless and that Ryuuka is too different from them. Ayumi and the others don't give up and she even gets a good hand. Toki wins the next hand with a tsumo victory. Toki tells her that she doesn't need to hold back and that she underestimated her if she thinks she'd hate Ryuuka if she had won. Ryuuka gets up crying and apologizes to everyone.

Outdoor Class Arc
As Ryuuka leaves class, Ayumi asks if she is going to Toki's house. When the girl says she is, Ayumi tags along and says she has something for her. Ayumi carries a bag and tells Ryuuka that it's a letter from Youko and things from the art exhibit. Ryuuka and Ayumi have a nice conversation about Toki ranging from her health and how strong she is. Ayumi later leaves Ryuuka with her things to take to Toki and heads out, saying she doesn't want to interrupt their alone time.

Ayumi and the girls are seen making their way up a mountain during the class. The class then stops for lunch. They go to the temple after lunch. They then go to the aquarium and then the hotel. Toki says she's tired and takes a small nap. When she wakes up and stares at the ceiling she comments that the stain there looks like a human hand. This freaks Ayumi out. Youko then plays along with Toki on scaring Ayumi. When they leave their room, Ayumi is seen still scared and holding Youko's hand.

In the flash forward, Ayumi is present in the photo album. Starting middle school, she and Youko are not in the same class as Toki and Ryuuka.

Etymology

 * Ayumi's surname Shinji means "advance, make progress" (進) (shin) and "samurai, warrior" (士) (ji).