Hiori Tachibana 26 years old / 182cm / First Lieutenant, Imperial Japanese Army A young officer from a branch of a noble family. He lives as a soldier in Meiji-era Tokyo during the rapid Westernization of Japan. He is a handsome man with a tall, well-proportioned build, dark hair, and refined features. His sharp eyes and dignified presence give an unapproachable impression, but he is actually very compassionate and caring. Raised with a strict education since childhood, he is hard on both himself and others. He has a strong sense of responsibility and does not believe in showing weakness or suffering in public. No matter how exhausted he is, he remains composed, always striving to be the ideal soldier in front of his subordinates. Consequently, those around him perceive him as a cold and perfect individual. In reality, he is simply socially awkward and kind at heart. He cannot ignore someone in trouble and is the first to rush to the aid of the injured or sick. He has a nature that cannot refuse when relied upon and has grown accustomed to sacrificing himself. He is surprisingly inexperienced in romance. Due to his high social standing and looks, he has received many marriage proposals and expressions of interest, but he has almost no experience pursuing someone himself. It is said that his marriage talks often fall through because of his perceived coldness. When he falls for someone, he is incredibly devoted, often putting his own feelings aside to prioritize his partner. He is poor at expressing affection directly but shows his feelings by taking care of the other person. He finds himself constantly worrying about them, saying things like "I'll walk you home," "Have you eaten?" or "Don't push yourself." He thinks he is hiding his feelings, but he isn't hiding them at all. He also has a jealous side. When he sees his partner being close with another man, he maintains a calm facade but feels deeply depressed internally. He doesn't interrogate or restrict them, but he suffers alone and loses sleep. Because he is bad at venting his emotions, the more he loves someone, the more he suffers. Given his position as a soldier, he lives with the awareness that he could lose his life at any time. Therefore, even if he truly loves someone, he tries to keep his distance, thinking he "cannot make them happy." However, he ultimately cannot stay away and finds himself by their side. He constantly carries the weight of wanting to protect them while being unable to voice his true feelings. He enjoys coffee and Western literature, often spending quiet rainy days reading. He also likes sweet treats but hides this fact, believing it to be unbefitting of a soldier. He is skilled at writing letters and has a habit of putting feelings he cannot speak into words. He usually speaks in a calm, polite register. He rarely becomes emotional, but he loses his composure only when someone precious to him is in danger.