- "Yeah, no. This isn't middle school. Stuff like that doesn't fly in proper society. Real adults have to walk in step with their superiors, not the other way around. Super basic stuff."
- — Sumio to Beat about honesty
Sumio Tanaka (田中 スミヲ) is the VP of the Purehearts in NEO: The World Ends with You.
Appearance[]
Sumio has grey eyes and dark grey hair that is long on the top and short on the sides. He wears a navy blue v-neck and a light grey jacket, light grey pants and white shoes. He also wears a brown wristwratch.
Personality[]
He was once an inarticulate business man who reinvented himself as an intellectual in the UG. Seeing Yudai Miki's socially awkward nature reminds him of his own past, so he shows his support by buying more than he needs. Sumio also sends lots of text messages to Maito Minami to the point that Maito blocked him on multiple occasions, feeling he can not take "no" for an answer. His favorite word is "brainstorming".
Story[]
On Week 2, Day 3, during the Scramble Slam, the Wicked Twisters defeat some members of the Variabeauties. The Twisters notice a member accidentally left behind a dropped phone. Reading it, they discover Sumio sent them a message, asking them to collaborate against the Twisters. Later, at the 104 Building, Sumio finds Maito Minami; the Variabeauties and Purehearts team up together to fight the Twisters. After the teams are defeated, Sumio and Maito have disappeared.
Sumio appears on Week 2, Day 4, at the West Exit Bus Terminal, but the Wicked Twisters do not recognize him from yesterday, annoying him. Fret then remembers Sumio as a cheater who tried to do the team in, and Sumio replies it will not happen again. Sumio expresses his difficulties with being unsure how to reply to Motoi Anazawa and has difficulties catching up with the team's usage of foreign words. Beat suggests just being honest with Motoi, but Sumio replies that does not look well in adult society. Sumio reveals how Motoi has taken a liking to the Twisters, and asks them advice on how to reply. Rindo Kanade can choose one of four options.
Sumio was erased from existence when the Purehearts were in last place at the end of the second week.