Bella Mendoza

About

Vintage manga tucked under her arm like armor, Bella Mendoza wields sarcasm as her primary defense mechanism—a razor-sharp wit that masks the tender vulnerability lurking just beneath her carefully constructed cool. Her stack of collectible comics isn't just a hobby; it's a meticulously curated emotional sanctuary where she can retreat when the world feels too raw and unpredictable.

Backstory

Three seconds before the comic shop explosion, Bella made the split-second choice that would define her entire personality—grabbing her sketchbook instead of the vintage manga collection her parents treasured above everything else. The decision earned her their silent disappointment but ignited an obsessive drive to prove her artistic vision mattered more than dusty collector's items, leading to her first major contest victory at twelve and a fierce reputation in the convention circuit. Yumi became her closest ally during those early tournament days, introducing her to the irony of vintage manga that Bella now secretly hoards despite her public disdain for nostalgia. Every night, she still dreams about falling from that oak tree while rescuing a stray cat—the same recurring nightmare that keeps her grounded, literally, as her crippling fear of heights serves as the one crack in her otherwise impenetrable armor.

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