Satoshi Kanemaru is a mobian wolf who was born and raised in Nihon-shi (it’s basically like Tōkyō… if only it’s rather a city-state); he never left Nihon-shi once, so he became accustomed to city life and knows his way around town. He is also a robotics genius bit of an otaku when it comes to playing video games. He lives with his widowed mother, Hanako Kanemaru, at the Chao Café (Not to be confused, though… while the 1st floor serves as a normal every-day café, the 2nd and 3rd floors serve as the Kanemaru family home), due to his father’s death by a fiery explosion. To this day, he protects his beloved home, Nihon-shi, and its citizens as Spider-Wolf (part ninja, part Spider-Man).
However, it's worth noting that Satoshi wasn't always like this. In 2016 (he was 13 years old at the time), for example, he went to an illegal bot-fight to win easy money by pretending to be shy and unskilled, bluffing all along. Unfortunately, he challenges the gangster and bot-fight champion, Haruki “Big Man” Yama, first allowing Little Man (Big Man’s robot) to defeat Spider-Chan (Satoshi’s robot who would soon become Spider-Wolf’s sidekick) only so Big Man would stake more money for a second round, then Satoshi shows his real genius and effortlessly destroys Little Man with Spider-Chan, claiming victory.
Big Man quickly realizes he had been swindled and calls his thug to beat up Satoshi, though he is immediately rescued by his father, Yūji Kanemaru, who took him away with his bike. Despite their efforts to escape from Big Man, both parties along with everyone else involved with the event are caught, arrested and subsequently thrown in jail. Thanks to Hanako, Satoshi and Yūji are released that same night with her scolding them as they all return home. Satoshi was able to bypass punishment, but a frustrated Yūji scolds him for his bot-fighting obsession and insists he put his intelligence to better use, recommending Nihon-shi Science and Technology High School (Satoshi dropped out of a junior high school due to being harassed by bullies). Satoshi scoffs at the idea, jokingly noting the pointlessness of the effort and makes an attempt to join another bot fight as his ample winnings from his previous victory had been confiscated by the police. Yūji apparently gives up and asks if he can give him a ride, but ends up taking him to the school. Relenting to his father's wishes, Satoshi meets one of Yūji's best students: Kasumi Kawada (a chemistry expert and the most popular girl on campus who would soon become his girlfriend); he also made a few friends there too (which is good, because Satoshi was lonely in his entire life). Despite his reservations over what he had initially dubbed the "Nerd Lab", he suddenly finds himself amazed by the diverse projects and inventions made by students. Satoshi and Yūji then run into the school's principal, Heihachi Takoshima. With his help, Yūji finally manages to convince his son to enroll within the school, Takoshima claiming Nihon-shi Science and Technology High School is a place where the boundaries of robotics are pushed and young geniuses put their brains to the test in order to shape the future. Realizing that this is the very same Takoshima who invented the base technology comprising the robot that he uses for bot fighting, his words instantly strike Satoshi and after departing the school, he confesses his burning desire to join the school. Yūji explains to him that the school holds an annual convention every year where up-and-coming geniuses are meant to showcase new and innovative creations. Of course assuming that they haven't already applied, been accepted and enrolled, those who impress Takoshima will be immediately accepted into the school. He also advises his son to concoct a creation to do just that. Satoshi runs into a creator's block as he aspires to create something specifically brand new, jaw-dropping and ground-breaking. Comically over-exaggerating his unfortunate predicament, Satoshi takes a mental break of sorts to mull over his thoughts before his father reminds him to look for another angle, eventually leading to Satoshi's breakthrough a bit sooner than later. Noticing something about Spider-Chan, Satoshi instantly gets an idea and immediately gets to business. After a period of work and planning, Satoshi invents the Spider-Bots; miniature robots capable of forming anything that comes to one's mind via the use of a telepathic headband transmitter. Confident in his creation, Satoshi takes his invention and showcases them at the convention. Though nervous at first, Yūji silently helps ease his nerves (and also tells him that with great power, there must also come great responsibility), resulting in a fantastic showcase that thoroughly impressed both Takoshima and famous tech-guru, Shuntarō Onijō. Shuntarō offers Satoshi vast wealth in exchange for ownership over the Spider-Bots, an idea Satoshi seems visibly hesitant about considering. Takoshima interferes with the offer by accusing Onijō of using technology and science for selfish reasons, advising Satoshi to deny the offer, which he does. A frustrated Onijō leaves the scene while Takoshima congratulates Satoshi on his success by granting him admission into the school. In celebration, Yūji and Hanako offer to take Satoshi, Kasumi, and some of his new friends back to Chao Café for a free dinner. Before they leave, Yūji and Satoshi spend time talking about his recent success.Yūji congratulates his brother on his success, proud to see him use his genius for bigger things in life. But suddenly, the school's fire alarm goes off, prompting the two to investigate. Upon arrival, they find the Showcase Hall in flames. They run into a random student fleeing the blaze who tells the two that Takoshima is still inside. Yūji tries to go help get him out, but Satoshi stops him, frantically urging him to think about the situation. After a moment's consideration, Yūji insists, claiming that someone has to help. Not seconds after he rushes into the building, the fire reaches its peak and the facility violently explodes, killing his father, Yūji and the school's principal, Takoshima. A funeral and memorial service are held and Satoshi falls into depression at the loss of his beloved father… as such, he remains largely secluded in his bedroom, appreciative, but mostly unreceptive of his mother and friends' comforting video. Satoshi blames himself for not saving his father, but he learned from his father’s words…
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