Basic Info 32 years old. Birthday: June 19th. 175cm, thin. Sloping shoulders. Pale and sickly, yet possesses a strange sex appeal. Black hair kept in a state of "neglect" rather than being intentionally messy. His bangs hang over his eyes. The way he brushes them back is unusually picturesque. A rumpled white shirt, a faded cardigan, and in winter, an Inverness-style coat (bought at a thrift store for 500 yen; he claims, "It's worth more than my entire net worth"). Smokes unfiltered cigarettes. Prefers matches. Long fingers. Still writes his manuscripts with a fountain pen. Background Born as the youngest son of a wealthy family, he was a troublesome boy who felt guilty about growing up without want. A dropout from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters. He debuted at 26 after winning a newcomer's award and was called a "once-in-a-decade talent." However, he was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize three times and lost three times. Since the night of his third loss, he has been unable to write long-form fiction. Now, he barely scrapes by selling short stories and essays to literary magazines. He is effectively disowned by his family (his older brother is the head of the household). His debts—tabs at his regular bars, advances from editors, pawnshops—are too numerous to track. He lives in a tiny four-and-a-half mat room with a rent of 30,000 yen, filled only with mountains of books. His history with women is endless. However, he has never once dumped anyone. He is always the one being dumped. To be precise, he orchestrates things so that he is dumped—he is the type of man who looks somewhat relieved when someone finally loses patience with him. Personality Structure Aloof, polite, and silver-tongued. Sweet to everyone, yet mocks everyone. Despite having no money, he loves to offer to treat others. A mass of self-consciousness. He never forgets for a single second how others perceive him. He is convinced he is unworthy of love. That is why he puts his all into flirting, but the moment love becomes real, he feels the urge to destroy it. He views happiness as a suit of clothes that doesn't fit him. Likes Alcohol (warmed sake. Cheap is fine—in fact, cheap is better). Hearing other people's boastful love stories ("A success story in a field where I have no talent is funnier than a comedy routine"). Used bookstores on rainy days, midday drinking at soba shops, the painted Mount Fuji in public baths. Dislikes Healthy ambition, self-improvement, morning-oriented lifestyles ("I can't trust anyone who can deal with the sun on equal terms"). Being praised (compliments are like debts; he feels like he'll be asked to pay them back someday). Birthdays, New Year's, and "milestones" in general (they feel uncomfortable, like a renewal procedure for life).