Noel Niihashi

is a Witch working for Wing Bind in Reverse London and the partner of Ninny Spangcole.

Appearance
Noel is a tall, curvaceous teenage girl with blue eyes, waist-length black hair, long bangs, a perpetually solemn expression, and a small, white, horn-like extension on her left temple. As a student in London, she wears a South Braxton uniform, which consists of a black 3-button suit over a white undershirt and thin dark ribbon tie, a short black skirt, knee-length black leggings, and brown dress shoes. Her Witch attire consists of a green suit over a white undershirt with a thick red bow tie fastening a short, red-and-black plaid cape to her neck; a short green skirt with a holster for her Witch Kit on her right thigh; knee-length black leggings, with the left one featuring three horizontal white stripes near the top; and brown dress shoes.

During her days off, Noel wears a simple, light-colored sweater and no pants.

Personality
Noel is a fairly stoic young woman who reacts to most situations with a mixture of seriousness and deadpan observations. She likes wearing uniforms, as they tell others who she is without her needing to do so herself, and prefers that others call her by her first name. However, she also has a somewhat sillier and less aloof side; she is fond of Balgo Parks's pet dog, Osushi, carrying treats to feed him with, and is very fond of Japanese culture, to the point of taking Noel as her first name because it is a girl's first name in Japan and having the narration theme from the Dragon Ball anime as her cell phone ringtone. Notably, even when displaying this softer side of hers, Noel remains calm and serious; the only two times she has ever lost her composure have both stemmed from Osushi (having absorbed negative emotions from Balgo and gaining the ability to speak the human language as a Dark Dragon) asking to see her panties, which resulted in her furiously screaming for Balgo to show himself the first time and pursuing Balgo and Osushi with murderous intent the second time. When not on the job and relaxing at her home, Noel is more cheerful and openly kind, taking joy in watering her Planty Potties and reading the daily newspaper; however, she does not like having to look after Balgo and cordons off his room with a curtain that he is not allowed to pass through without permission.

Unlike Ninny, Noel is more interested in the money she is paid for performing her duties as a Piper than she is in proving herself and moving up the ranks of Wing Bind; this results in her performing reckless actions like attempting to capture a Bud Buck alone so she does not have to share the reward money and picking a flower from one of its antlers without permission in order to sell it later. She also has no desire to join the Sabres, and is content with simply pasturing and harvesting from Dragons.

Noel is the target of daily sexual harassment from Balgo, and rebuffs each of his attempts to see her panties with physical violence. However, despite how angry she got at him upon seeing Osushi demand to see her panties as well after absorbing his negative emotions, she expressed some concern that he might receive the death penalty for coming into contact with a Dragon and later complimented him as being "pretty impressive" after he defended Ninny from Shelby.

Plot
As Noel walks down the streets of London in her school uniform while musing on how uniforms tell others who she is, she comes across Osushi sitting on the ground and prepares to give him a dog treat, only to be accosted by Balgo, who wishes to see her panties as usual. Kicking Balgo away, Noel notes that he is now able to finish his sentences even after being kicked by her and throws a pipe at him, which he frantically dodges, before brushing off his claim that it could have hit someone by stating that if he could dodge it, even an elderly man could. Emboldened by her challenge of never being able to best her, Balgo tells her to not underestimate him, only to be swiftly incapacitated by a strike to the jaw. Noel enters a nearby phonebooth and deposits a coin emblazoned with the emblem of the Western Branch before saying that she is clocking into work to the receiver, causing the phonebooth to drop into the ground below, much to Balgo's bewilderment.

Noel arrives in Reverse London to find Ninny berating two repairmen for not reconstructing the gate to the Western Branch of Soul Society quickly enough. When Ninny demands to know why Noel is late again, Noel states she had to fight off Balgo at the entrance as usual, to Ninny's chagrin. As she and Ninny enter the Wing Bind headquarters, Noel points out that Ninny is the one who told the repairmen to prioritize the installation of the monitor, prompting Ninny to defend her actions by claiming everyone wants to see her advertisements. While the two of them discuss their preferred names and are ogled at by passing Wizards, Billy Banx Jr. walks up and notes that they seem to be having fun as usual before having them stamp their attendance sheets. Walking Noel and Ninny to their Broombuggy mounts, Billy reveals they will be going to Ninebrook Pastures to help harvest materials from a Dragon and claims that it is a fun place, though neither girl believes him. With Ninny growing increasingly frustrated with her boss's flippant and casual remarks about this, Noel observes that they should get going, and the two of them take off on their Broombuggies.

Later, in Ninebrook Pastures, Noel feeds her mount while Ninny complains about not being able to join the Sabre Squad and protect the streets of London, leading Noel to note that she is content where she is in the Conservation Rangers. Upon being approached by a farmhand, Noel introduces herself and Ninny, prompting the farmhand to request that they help him harvest a crop today. Shortly afterward, Noel and Ninny climb up the neck of an extremely large, camel-like Dragon to harvest grapes from its nose. Some time later, Noel receives a call from Billy, who asks her to finish up her harvest and perform an extermination for him. Leaving Ninebrook Pastures, as the two witches speed through the air on their mounts, Ninny notes that they do not have time to go back to the phone gate and has Noel use her coin to open the Coin Gate, which they go through.

In London, as Osushi is terrorizing Balgo and Shelby in his Dark Dragon form, Noel and Ninny burst out of the Coin Gate behind him, only to be stunned when Osushi demands to see Noel's panties. Immediately realizing Balgo is nearby, Noel demands that he come out. When Shelby tries to flee the scene, Ninny pursues him despite Noel's warning that there are two Dragons present, only for Shelby to suddenly unfurl his body and attack Ninny. As Shelby continues to attack Ninny, Noel rescues her, only for Shelby to suddenly appear next to them and attack, sending Ninny crashing into the city below as Noel cries out to her. After Balgo protects Ninny from Shelby's next attack, Noel kicks Shelby away from them and destroys him with Absolute Dragon Shatter, after which she and Ninny leave.

Later, Noel and Ninny learn that Billy has been promoted to the Sabre Squad due to his decision to send them in to handle the Dark Dragon, while they have been given Balgo to take care of after he became a Dragonclad due to being bitten by a Dark Dragon after living with one for 10 years. While Ninny hounds Billy, Osushi, now a dog again, asks to see Noel's panties, causing her to chase after him and Balgo, destroying the now-rebuilt Western Branch gate once again in the process.

A month later, Noel pursues a Bud Buck on her Broombuggy and prepares to incapacitate it with '''Magic #31. Blue Spark''', but ends up using it on a much larger Dragon when the latter attacks them. Sent flying alongside the Bud Buck by the gale generated by the larger Dragon's wings as it retreats, Noel is caught by Ninny's '''Magic #44. Flash Bumper and extracts a flower from one antler of the Bud Buck'''. Shortly afterward, the two return to Wing Bind headquarters to receive their rewards for this harvest, though Noel is disappointed by losing points for the clumsy extraction, and discuss their different reward preferences, with Noel desiring money.

Suddenly, an explosion rocks a tower in the distance, where Noel and Ninny see Balgo clinging to Osushi's leash as the latter flies through the air with a pair of large wings. Though initially apathetic toward helping Balgo, Noel and Ninny are convinced to help him when Billy reveals they will be paid overtime for doing so. Upon reaching the site of the disturbance, Noel and Ninny grab Osushi and Balgo, respectively, allowing Noel to calm Osushi down while Ninny berates Balgo for not putting the Fence Collar on him. However, Balgo reveals that Osushi transformed without warning and shrugged off the collar, leading Noel to realize this was the result of Osushi sensing danger nearby before a massive Dragon attacks them from behind.

Rolling out of the way with Balgo and Osushi, Ninny sets up Barrier Tape while Noel seemingly stuns the Dragon with '''Magic #4. Stunball'''. Suddenly, the Dragon quickly reveals itself to be a Dark Dragon in disguise and resumes its attack on Noel and Ninny, who are forced to call in an emergency blockade on the street. Noel and Ninny move to a rooftop behind the Dark Dragon, where Ninny prevents Noel from calling in the Sabres so they can instead take down the Dark Dragon themselves and prove how powerful they are, which could get them promoted to the Sabres. Though Noel is reluctant to do so, Ninny takes off on her Broombuggy and rockets toward the Dark Dragon, leaving Noel to prepare to assist her with '''Magic #75. Gatling Claw'''.

The Saturday after she defeats the Dark Dragon alongside Ninny, Noel cheerfully waters her plants and has the newspaper brought to her by Wordsworth, but is alerted upon seeing herself being hailed as the Wing Bind Headliner on the front page and hands her cell phone to Balgo when Ninny calls her to redirect the latter's anger over this toward him. Suddenly, Noel and Ninny are contacted by Billy, who calls them in despite it being their day off from work to respond to an anonymous tip about an illegally-reared Dragon being held in the west district of Reverse London and entices them with the promise of being paid five times more than usual, but with the caveat of having to bring Balgo with them.

Noel and Ninny fly to the west district with Balgo, where Noel gives Balgo a mantle and Pipe to match their outfits at Billy's insistence. Suddenly, an explosion rocks "The Realist's" office in the distance, leading Noel and Balgo to investigate the possibility of it being related to the Dragon as Ninny reluctantly follows. Upon reaching the crowd outside the building, Noel recognizes the company, leading Ninny to affirm that this is why she did not want to come here. When Ninny takes off on Marshall and enters through a blown-out window on the upper floors of the building, a concerned Noel follows her and instructs Balgo to stay behind.

After Ninny confronts Macy Baljure and is attacked by Cinderella, Noel intervenes by incapacitating Cinderella with a shot from her Witch Kit, but Macy is enraged upon seeing her interact with Ninny and jealously attacks her, forcing a confused Noel to move outside with Ninny, who formulates a plan involving her sneaking up on Macy from a different part of the building while Noel distracts her, though Noel is uncertain about this. However, when Ninny flies up to the roof of the building, Bruno Bangnyfe attacks her with a powerful Magic spell that incapacitates Ninny and sends her flying back, leaving Noel to catch her as she stares in shock at Bruno.

Though Bruno assumes that she recognizes him, Noel reveals that she does not and is informed of his identity by Ninny before watching in astonishment as Bruno orders his subordinates to detain Balgo, whom he frames for the terrorist attack on "The Realist's". Listening as Bruno explains how he set this up because Balgo has been marked for elimination, Noel enrages him with an insult about his hair and hurtles down to the ground below, where she rescues Balgo from the Inks, before flying back up to the rooftop, grabbing Ninny's Witch Kit in midair, and firing it at Bruno along with her own, creating two large explosions that allow her and Ninny to escape with Balgo and Macy.

Some time later, Noel and her friends find shelter on a radio tower, where she casts Cloth to shield them from the outside world. Listening solemnly as Macy recounts the events leading up to the attack with Cinderella and her desire to feel special, Noel is startled when Rickenbacker crashes through the barrier with Bruno on his back and stares intently while Bruno reveals that Balgo's designation as a Punitive Dragon has been finalized.

Noel formulates a plan with Ninny to split up and take Balgo and Macy in separate directions, though Bruno points out that there is nowhere safe in Reverse London for them to take Balgo. Suddenly, Cinderella attacks Bruno and uses Stealth Scale to evade him, shocking Noel and Ninny, who watch as Cinderella proceeds to molt under the moonlight and assume her true form. Noel and Bruno proceed to identify Cinderella as one of the Märchen before being startled when Cinderella's Star Ash detonates across and heavily damages dozens of buildings near her. After Bruno takes off on Rickenbacker to confront Cinderella, Noel and Ninny are forced to flee from the building with Balgo, Osushi, and Macy when some of Cinderella's Star Ash reaches their location as well.

When Bruno fails to harm Cinderella with Hunger Shadow, Noel and Ninny fly up to him, having left Balgo and Macy somewhere safe, to formulate a plan of attack, refusing transfers to the Inks should they win in the process. Noel and Ninny fly around Cinderella and simultaneously chant the incantation to cast '''Magic #68. Supernal Jail, restraining Cinderella with a dozen large rods of light that Bruno follows up on with Greedy Curtain''', but Cinderella destroys her restraints with a powerful energy blast that injures Noel, Ninny, and Bruno in addition to sending them flying, leaving Noel to affirm Bruno's observation that Cinderella is incredibly hard to damage.

Upon seeing Cinderella flying toward them, Noel and Ninny ready their Shields, only to be distracted when Macy pleads with them to subdue Cinderella non-lethally, allowing Cinderella to briefly incapacitate them with another energy blast. As Cinderella prepares to unleash more Star Ash despite Macy's pleas, Noel and Ninny appear between them and blast the Star Ash with their Witch Kits while Ninny berates Macy for believing she can still get through to Cinderella. However, before Noel and Ninny can resume the fight, Balgo, who had been instructed by Noel to clutch his Pipe, finds a sword blade comprised of energy sprouting from the end, stunning Noel and Ninny.

Incredulous at how illogical this development seems, Noel turns around and sees that Cinderella has stopped attacking right before Billy shoots her through the head with a Magic beam all the way from Wing Bind Headquarters, piercing her Crown-Shaped Horn and killing her. The next day, Noel and Ninny learn that they are only receiving five pounds and five points each due to how much of their pay was docked to cover the extensive property damage inflicted by their battle. Attempting to calm Ninny down over this and Macy being assigned to their care as another Dragonclad, Noel learns that Balgo has been released from his status as a Punitive Dragon, prompting her to run off and find Balgo, whom she embraces tenderly while informing him something good happened.

Equipment
Witch Kit: Noel wields a small, white Witch Kit as a Witch. It has a thin, elongated barrel ending in three teal discs, and a thick stock with several teal circles and patterns on it.


 * Aiming at her target with her Witch Kit in one hand and bracing her arm with the other, Noel fires a powerful shot that blows her target to pieces, killing them.

Mount
is Noel's Broombuggy mount. His body is light blue with a rounded head and a flower-like tail. Wordsworth wears a pleasant expression and is closely bonded to Noel.

Powers & Abilities
Enhanced Strength: Noel is a fairly strong young woman, sending Balgo skidding several feet away with a single roundhouse kick. When fighting Shelby, Noel sent the much larger Dragon flying several meters away, visibly damaging him in the process, with another powerful kick.

Magic Expert: Noel is highly proficient in the spells of Wing Bind, having briefly stunned a Dark Dragon with a low-level spell like '''Magic #4. Stunball and scared a massive Dragon into retreating with Magic #31. Blue Spark'''. She is adept enough to use a high-level spell like '''Magic #75. Gatling Claw''' without reciting its incantation. She can also create barriers like Cloth to shield herself and her allies from sight. In conjunction with Ninny Spangcole and with a full incantation, Noel cast a '''Magic #68. Supernal Jail powerful enough to temporarily restrain Cinderella, a Märchen''', in her fully-matured and molted form.

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Noel possesses considerable proficiency in self-defense, having fended off dozens of Balgo's advances with expertly-placed punches and kicks.

Appearances in Other Media

 * Noel appears in Bleach: Brave Souls as a playable character for the BURN THE WITCH tie-in. She is a ranged strong attack character with the "Shinigami Killer" and "No Affiliation Killer" abilities. Her unlockable skills include "Frenzy", "60% Berserker", and "Reduced Strong Attack Cooldown -12%"; she also has the "20% Increased Strong Attack Damage" Soul Trait, and all of her strong attacks have a wide area of effect. Noel can unlock "Nullify Ranged Resistance 100%", making her ranged attacks incredible potent. Her special move is, where she fires a blast from her Witch Kit that inflicts immense damage to any enemies it hits.

Trivia

 * Ninny Spangcole sometimes addresses her as.
 * Noel was born in London and has never been to Japan. Despite this, Noel has a strong admiration for Japan which prompts Ninny to call her a "Japanophile" and a "weeb".

Quotes

 * "I'm fond of uniforms. Wearing a uniforms means I don't have to prove who I am to anyone."


 * (To Balgo Parks after he protects Ninny Spangcole) "That was actually pretty impressive."


 * (To Ninny Spangcole) "I'll stop calling you Ninny if you start calling me Noel."


 * (To Ninny) "Our duty as Pipers is to take Dragons to pasture and harvest from them. We don't need to be powerful."


 * (To Balgo) "As you're saying that, have you considered that a drop from this height would be fatal?"

Etymology

 * Noel's surname Niihashi means "fresh, new" (新) (nii) and "bridge" (橋) (hashi).

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Noel Niihashi