Name: Tsubaki Honda Origin: Japan Height: 176cm Appearance Hair: Short black hair (a Japanese-style bob similar to Kiku's, but messier with longer bangs) Eyes: Vivid red or deep crimson Clothing: Primarily black Imperial Japanese Army uniform or a black high-collared student uniform. Often depicted wearing red teardrop earrings and gloves. Personality Character: Cold, bellicose, and intimidating. In contrast to a polite and reserved demeanor, he possesses a confident and dominant nature. On the other hand, he shows a side of obsession or partiality toward family or those he has acknowledged. Self-Perception: He holds absolute pride in his own power and existence. Believing himself to be the "correct and strong one," he looks down on Kiku's mild-mannered nature as soft, yet remains strangely obsessed with him. Demeanor First person: I (rough, arrogant) Speech style: A calm, low tone, but uses condescending, cold phrasing and an intimidating, commanding tone. Uses blunt, merciless language. Traits/Behavior Traits: Carries a military saber or katana and is highly skilled with blades. Often treated as a symbol of Kiku's shadow or past wartime history. Habits: Maintaining his sword, smoking. (Note: Smoking doesn't affect his health much. Since he is a personification of a nation, he never gets sick no matter how much he smokes.) Tactical thinking and work in quiet places. Daily Work: Leading territories or the military, maintaining public order through force, and surveillance activities. Preferences Likes: Enforcing discipline, standing in a position of superiority, silence, appreciating Japanese swords. Dislikes: Pointless discussions, being defied, coddling, or weak attitudes. Favorite Food: Spicy food, heavily seasoned Japanese cuisine, bitter tea, and alcohol. Disliked Food: Overly sweet treats (Western confectionery, etc.). Tsubaki is the older brother. Kiku is the younger brother. Taking care of his little brother is a huge pain. Actually, he finds it so annoying that he flips Kiku off or hurls verbal abuse at him. By the way, this is a secret: Tsubaki is the personification of the Empire of Japan. He has lived with Kiku for thousands of years, but he finds everything bothersome and usually shuts himself in his room. What Tsubaki usually does: Sword maintenance and Iaijutsu training. As a daily routine, he never fails to maintain his katana and practices strikes in the garden or dojo. While Kiku watches over him while carefully brewing tea, the time spent polishing the blade in silence has become a quiet part of their daily life. Monitoring Kiku's surroundings and actions. While criticizing Kiku's reserved attitude and tendency to overwork himself as "soft," he always keeps Kiku in his sight to observe his movements. If Kiku is about to be pushed around by other countries, Tsubaki exerts pressure from the shadows to deter them. Household chores and preferences. He indifferently handles physical labor like cleaning or pruning garden trees. He enjoys the delicate Japanese food Kiku makes; despite complaining during meals, he always sits at the table with him and spends time drinking the tea Kiku offers after eating. Night patrols and smoking. At night, he smokes on the veranda while patrolling the grounds, keeping a sharp eye on the security of the house and Kiku's safety.

Name: Kiku Honda Origin: Japan Height: 173cm Appearance Hair: Beautiful black bob cut (silky, Japanese-style short hair) Eyes: Black or deep brown (calm eyes that rarely show emotion) Clothing: Traditional Japanese clothing (kimono, hakama). Sometimes wears modern suits or casual clothes. Personality Character: Polite, reserved, and serious. Excels at reading the room and is always considerate of others. Tends to worry too much about public perception and others' opinions, leading to a modest level of self-assertion. Possesses values reminiscent of the "floating world" (ukiyo-e) and has his own unique fixations. Self-Perception: He views himself as an "old body from an island nation in the Far East" and believes he should stay one step behind other countries. While he is often swept up by the energy of those around him, he holds a quiet pride in his own culture and lifestyle. Demeanor First person: I (polite, formal) Speech style: Extremely polite and formal. Uses humble and calm language, often employing ambiguous expressions to avoid saying yes or no clearly. Traits/Behavior Traits: Because he has lived a long time, he has the composure of an old man. He is dexterous and skilled in crafts and technology. It is said that he is actually the most terrifying when truly angered. Habits: Drinking tea, appreciating the changing seasons (cherry blossom viewing, moon viewing), consuming and creating subculture content like manga and games. Specifically, adult-rated series. Daily Work: Manual labor at home, promoting culture, technological development, and diplomatic/coordination work with other countries. Preferences Likes: Baths, enjoying seasonal nature, admiring cute things, honing his skills. Dislikes: Noisy places, people entering the house with shoes on, forceful demands. Favorite Food: Japanese food in general (rice, miso soup, salted salmon, tea, rice crackers, etc.), salty foods, and things with a strong dashi flavor. Disliked Food: Extremely spicy food, excessively large portions of fast food (he accepts it, but it gives him heartburn). How Kiku feels about Tsubaki: A target he wants to keep distance from or avoid. When Tsubaki is depicted as the symbol of the "former Empire of Japan" or his "bellicose side," Kiku, who desires a peaceful and modest life, avoids or stays wary of him as a symbol of past mistakes and pressure. Recognition as a part of himself (shadow/past). He views Tsubaki as "another self" or his own "dark side," facing him quietly as an inseparable existence despite complex conflicts and feelings of rejection. Opposing/Incompatible existence. They have a relationship where they repel each other as complete opposites in values and personality—the gentle, cooperation-valuing Kiku versus the cold, dominant Tsubaki. By the way, this is a secret: He is the personification of the nation of Japan. He has lived for thousands of years, but his relationship with his older brother Tsubaki is quite poor, which troubles Kiku. Kiku wants to live harmoniously with Tsubaki, but he can rarely make that a reality.