Matsu

We are not twiddling our thumbs, I assure you.
	The information in this article comes from a work in progress or a work that has not yet been released in English. As a result, some names may be subject to change, and the article will require regular updates as more information becomes available. In addition, it may also require general cleanup. Please discuss this issue on the talk page.

Online
Character Profile
Name	Matsu
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Class	Adept Rogue
Guild	Moon Tree
Offline
Name	Shingo Kudou
Age	17
Gender	Male
Media Information
English Actor	Dave Wittenberg
Character Voice	Hiroshi Yanaka
First Appearance	.hack//G.U.: Rebirth

"Come on, just give me a reason to kick your ass!"

— Matsu —

Matsu (松) is a male Adept Rogue and the captain of Moon Tree's Seventh Division. He used to be a famous PK known as the "Flame Sword Demon" (赤鉄の鬼人), before renouncing his ways and joining with Zelkova and Sakaki.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Online

Appearance

Matsu's Job, Adept Rogue, is an uncommon class in which the player is allowed to choose multiple classes for their character. Matsu chose Steam Gunner and Edge Punisher. After hearing about Sakaki, Matsu decided to challenge him to a fight, only to lose both physically, and mentally. Since joining Moon Tree he has forbidden himself from using his Edge Punisher class, which he favored when he was a PK.

Personality

Though he is usually able to control it, Matsu is very hot tempered. He especially hates PKers, and does everything in his power to defend people from them, including going on regular patrols to find and stop PKers. His oath as a member of Moon Tree keeps him from attacking players except in self defense, but he has learned how to taunt PKers into making the first move, allowing him to defeat them without any repercussions. He is fiercely loyal to Zelkova and Sakaki and recently developed a rivalry with Haseo.

Offline

Basic Info

In the real world, Matsu is a 17-year-old high school student named Shingo Kudou (九藤真吾). He lives in Aichi Prefecture, and was formerly well-known for his delinquency. After suffering from a motorcycle accident when he was sixteen, Shingou was required to remain at home in order to recover. During his recovery, Shingou first began to play The World; since then his violent tendencies have mostly vanished. Although he is admired by women, he isn't very interested in a relationship.

Hobbies

Matsu's hobbies include vintage clothing and motorcycles. He's part of a motorcycle biking team in real life. He loves to eat meat, as he believes it's what real men eat. Matsu also prides himself as a decent fighter.

History

.hack//GnU

As the Captain of the Seventh Division, Matsu is the leader of most of the characters in GnU. He ordered Infini and Furufuru to revive Raid after he was PKed, saying that he was too busy to deal with it himself.

.hack//G.U. Games

After receiving a warning that Bordeaux was planning to PK Haseo, Atoli

Returner Matsu — Matsu in .hack//G.U. Returner

called Sakaki and Matsu to come save him. Though the rescue was successful Matsu found Haseo's ungratefulness very annoying. Matsu later entered the Demon Palace Arena Tournament with several of his subordinates. Haseo and his friends had also entered this tournament and fought against Matsu in the second round. Not wanting to lose to somebody like Haseo Matsu broke his promise to Zelkova and unlocked his Edge Punisher form. However even with the added power he still lost the match. After talking with Zelkova, Matsu gave Haseo his rare Flame Sword, a weapon he had used as a PKer, finally allowing him to distance himself from his past.

Later, Matsu encountered Haseo during a quest. He demanded that Haseo duel him, an offer Haseo accepted, but they were interrupted when Negimaru and several of his henchmen attacked. Though Haseo and Matsu easily defeated the PKers Matsu decided the mood had been ruined, and swore he'd fight Haseo another day.

Later, Matsu participated in Sakaki's takeover of Moon Tree's @HOME, he fought against Haseo, though he held back by not using his Broadsword. After being defeated he told Haseo that his loyalty to Sakaki was out of an obligation for being taken in by him. Like the other Sakaki loyalists, he temporarily became a Lost One but recovered after Haseo destroyed Sakaki's AIDA Server. In the fallout following Sakaki's attempted coup d'etat he sought out Haseo. Despite the fact that Moon Tree was now in shambles he told Haseo that he intended to keep playing The World. Handing over his Member Address he asked Haseo to play with him sometimes.

Even later, he participates in the PK tournament hoping to fight Haseo again. However, he's defeated by Antares before he gets the chance.

.hack//G.U. Returner

Matsu is briefly seen at Δ Hidden Forbidden Festival.

Trivia

His name means "Pine".
Matsu is 5'10" (178 cm) in height.
Matsu shares his English and Japanese voice actors with Sora.
Matsu told Melo Grunty a ghost story, which made the latter sad.
Mirroring his real world self Matsu is very good with motorcycles in "The World" and has the top record on all of the steam biker time trail courses.
Matsu's Demon Palace arena team is named "Wicked Party".
Matsu's starter Bayonet is called the Fire Bead, a Gun Bead which is customized with a Fire Mouse Skin.
However, the gun that is prominently shown on promotional images, as well as his status screen image and a Crimson VS card modeled after him is a common Gun Ocher (customizations notwithstanding). It's red color matches well with his overall red theme.
Matsu is the only Adept Rogue to join Haseo's Party.

Template:Haseo Party Members