Ren Souma is Akito's mother. Ren was originally a maid in the Souma household who won Akira's, the former head of the Souma family, heart by being the only one to notice his great loneliness and treat him with kindness, instead of as just the head of the household.

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When she learned she was pregnant, however, she was afraid the baby would replace her in Akira's heart and demanded it be raised as a male.

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Before his death, Akira told Akito that he wanted Ren to be the happiest about Akito's birth because it was proof that his and Ren's relationship was special. His death further deepened the rift between Ren and Akito. Ren and Akito are extremely antagonistic towards each other.

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When Akito slept with Kureno, Ren told Shigure and seduced him to infuriate Akito. Ren continually claims that Akito's bond with the Juunishi is fake, rather than the true love Akito claims it to be, in order to feed Akito's fear of being abandoned.