Hiroshi Sasaoka

Hiroshi Sasaoka (佐々岡 浩志, Sasaoka Hirosh)) is a salesman for the sports equipment company “Adriex”. One of his jobs is to recruit Japan’s top student athletes to study abroad and train in the United States, for which all expenses are paid by his company. He was also Yuka Saotome's crush from high school, but, much to her displeasure, he still treated her like a younger sister. Before transferring him back to the United States for the next 5 to 6 years, Yuka finally convinces him of her feelings for him. He told her that a relationship was not possible because he was already engaged to be married next year. Later on, he comes back to Japan to make wedding preparations, during which he was contacted by Suzuka Asahina about any employment opportunities for Yamato Akitsuki. He said there was an opening in an affiliate company and he would be willing to give Yamato a recommendation, which led to Yamato getting employed by a company that has a track team.