Gouji Ashibashi

Gouji Ashibashi (足橋 剛治) is a professional manga artist who comes to Hokuto Kaga's café and is encouraged to work again after Nagi Sanzenin serves him a cup of coffee.

Appearance
Gouji has black hair and his eyes are closed.

He is usually seen wearing a black sweater.

Introduction
Gouji first appeared when Nagi Sanzenin decided to work part-time at Café Donguri. In the café, he was seen depressed over his latest work but was cheered up by Nagi through the coffee service she gave and the encouragement she provided. Later, he saw a disguised Maria and immediately asked her to marry him, which greatly surprised Ayumu Nishizawa, Nagi and Hayate Ayasaki. Hayate decided to stop Ashibashi to save Maria but he lashes at him, forcing Hayate to think of an alternative plan. Hayate then told the mangaka that Maria was a boy for it is impossible that a girl could be that beautiful, and this argument made him stop at once. He then thanks Hayate for saving him by that realization.

He comes back in the recent chapters when he agrees to take a look at Nagi's manga. But after seeing his manuscript, Nagi realizes the big gap between pros and amateurs, which makes her depressed for a long time.

He later appears in Chapter 305 when Yukiji Katsura saves him from a gang of thugs who assaulted him on the streets.

In Chapter 394, Ayumu brought him to the Dark Rainbow Village to help Nagi with her manuscripts so that she can beat Ruka Suirenji in the upcoming doujinshi competition. He seems to prefer calling Ayumu with the nickname 'Ayuyu' but the reason is still unknown as of now.

Etymology

 * The name Gouji means "sturdy, strength" (剛) (gou) and "cure" (治) (chi/ji).
 * Gouji's surname Ashibashi means "leg, foot/footstep/footpace, paw, stick/stickiness, limb, shank, pace, step, pes, tread, skirt, clutch, spiculum, pediment, adhesiveness, clamminess" (足) (ashi) and "bridge" (橋) (hashi/bashi).