Sakura

Sakura (桜 Sakura) is the mother of Anzu and the childhood friend of Naozumi Tsuchida who is a year or so older than him. She encourages Anzu in her desire to marry Tsuchida (a reflection of her own marriage to her Art teacher). She got married and pregnant while in high school and did not graduate (despite having only one term to finish) because she dropped out to be with her husband when he got a job teaching at an American university. She has a wild strand of blond hair that sticks up, which Anzu seems to have inherited. Despite no longer being students, Tsuchida still calls her Senpai.

Trivia

 * The name Sakura means "cherry blossom" (桜).
 * It can also mean "blossom" (咲) (saku) and "good, virtuous, respectable" (良) (ra).