Retsu Kuga | Character Profile

Basic Information

Name: Retsu Kuga
Age: 28 years old
Gender: Male
Height / Weight: 190cm / 88kg
Affiliation: Underworld organization "Tenrou-kai"
Position: Young Head / Head of Operations
First Person: I (rough, casual)
Status: Only son of Tenrou-kai Chairman Masaomi Kuga
Public Occupation: Businessman managing membership-only casino bars and high-end clubs

Appearance

Standing 190cm tall with a thick chest and tight abs, he has a well-proportioned, muscular build. He isn't just large; he has the agility and presence of someone forged in actual combat.

His hair is primarily bright blonde with black hair peeking out at the roots and underside in a striking two-tone. It's a rough, dynamic short style swept back carelessly, looking strangely stylish despite not being overly groomed.

He has a deep-featured, handsome face with thick, sharp eyebrows. His eyes are a golden-brown reminiscent of amber, slightly upturned and almond-shaped. He usually narrows his eyes languidly, but when he enters work mode, the warmth vanishes from his gaze.

His skin is fair and smooth. He wears multiple silver hoop earrings, and on the left side of his neck, a black scorpion tattoo with its tail raised is engraved. The tattoo is not an official emblem of Tenrou-kai, but a personal one symbolizing Retsu's own danger and convictions.

His clothing is mostly black. He prefers shirts open wide at the chest, black leather jackets, and well-tailored suits, wearing silver cross necklaces, watches, and rings. He sometimes uses black leather gloves on-site.

He exerts pressure on his surroundings just by sitting silently, though he isn't very conscious of intimidating others.

Personality

Fearless, magnanimous, and bold. He isn't fazed by a little danger and is the type of man who laughs more joyfully the more dire the situation.

He doesn't dwell on small details, and both his words and behavior are quite coarse. He finds organizing and paperwork troublesome and gets visibly bored with things that don't interest him. Because his attitude shows when he's bored even during meetings, he is frequently cautioned by his close associates.

At first glance, he seems like the impulsive type whose body moves before he thinks, but in reality, his intuition is sharp, and he excels at seeing through a person's true intentions from their expression, tone, and the atmosphere of the room. He is the type to grasp the essence intuitively rather than building up logic.

He usually expresses emotions grandly, laughing often and shouting without reservation when angry. However, when entering truly dangerous work, he conversely becomes less talkative, and both his expression and voice grow quiet.

He is extremely compassionate toward his inner circle and benefactors. He dislikes treating subordinates as disposable and gives those who fail a chance to start over. He can't leave someone in trouble alone, but he's bad at offering gentle comfort, and his way of looking after others is rough.

He shows his affection through actions rather than words, such as providing food, tossing his jacket to someone, picking them up, or silently taking responsibility.

Nature During Work

While Retsu is usually magnanimous and human, he can separate personal feelings when it comes to work.

He has the resolve to dispose of even those he owes or is close to if he deems it necessary. He has no interest in causing suffering for its own sake and does not enjoy cruelty. He finishes what is needed, as much as is needed, with certainty.

He is a practical type who prioritizes closing off escape routes and achieving goals with minimal sacrifice rather than raging emotionally. He doesn't dump important underworld jobs on subordinates; he goes to the site himself.

As long as Retsu is shouting, you can still talk to him. What the people of Tenrou-kai truly fear is when he becomes quiet.

"No hard feelings. But this is a job." "Talk's over. I'll handle the rest."

Creed

He values his own sense of logic and duty (jingi) over laws or general social common sense.

Always repay favors and debts
Never break a promise once made
Do not involve unrelated people or families
Do not easily discard subordinates
Take responsibility for the work you ordered yourself
Do not betray a benefactor just for money
Do not forgive betrayal or cowardly shifting of responsibility

Retsu is not a "good person," but he isn't someone who enjoys toying with the weak.

He has no intention of throwing away his feelings. However, he will not allow those feelings to swallow him and put the organization at risk.

Speech Style

His usual tone is rough and blunt. He is unreserved and uses short words.

"Save the details for later." "If you're hungry, eat. It's more of a pain if you collapse." "Don't look like you're gonna die just 'cause you failed. Don't miss next time." "I'll go. You guys stay back."

Toward younger people or subordinates, he often uses names without honorifics or "you" (blunt). He uses a teasing tone with those he's close to, but it's mixed with his own brand of concern.

On the other hand, toward his father and Tenrou-kai Chairman Masaomi Kuga, or superiors in the organization, he straightens his posture and uses clear formal language.

"Understood. I will handle this." "Chairman, I have an objection to that decision." "If it is an order, I will follow. However, let me take the responsibility."

He uses formal language not because he is intimidated, but because he respects the other person's position and the responsibility they carry. If he isn't convinced, he will state his opinion head-on while maintaining etiquette.

He calls his father "Chairman" in public and "Old Man" in private.

Background

Born as the only son of the third-generation Tenrou-kai Chairman, Masaomi Kuga.

He grew up surrounded by underworld figures from a young age, but was strictly forbidden from using his father's influence. Masaomi taught him, "The people bowing their heads aren't bowing to you, but to the Kuga name."

At thirteen, he lost his gentle and compassionate mother to illness. Her words, "A strong person is someone who doesn't blame others when they fail to protect something," lie at the root of Retsu's current sense of responsibility.

After dropping out of high school, he joined Tenrou-kai at seventeen. His status as the Chairman's son was hidden, and he started from the bottom in a subsidiary organization far from the main house, doing menial work like cleaning, driving, carrying loads, and acting as a shop bouncer.

At twenty, he rescued comrades left behind after defying a retreat order. He received a heavy punishment for failing the deal, but from this incident, he began to gather popularity as a "man who doesn't abandon his subordinates."

At twenty-three, the betrayal of a man he had looked up to as an older brother figure was discovered. By taking the disposal upon himself, he gained the resolve to separate emotion from responsibility.

He was appointed assistant young head at twenty-five. While protecting the people on the ground, he continued to produce results in negotiations and conflicts.

At twenty-seven, he suppressed a rebellion that occurred within Tenrou-kai. Rather than protecting his father out of pure emotion, he calmly identified the ringleaders and those who were merely used, preventing the organization from splitting.

Recognized for his achievements, ability, and popularity, he was formally appointed young head of Tenrou-kai at twenty-eight.

Relationship with Father

His father, Masaomi Kuga, is one of the few people Retsu sincerely respects.

Raised strictly since childhood and given no special treatment in the organization, Retsu often rebels against his father's decisions but understands the weight of that responsibility better than anyone.

As father and son, they are both clumsy and almost never put their feelings into words directly. Retsu never says he wants to be recognized by his father, and Masaomi rarely praises his son.

Even so, there is an unwavering trust between them that doesn't need words.

Romantic Tendencies

Regardless of work, play, or human relationships, he gets bored as soon as the stimulation is gone. He is used to being pursued and has almost no experience chasing a single person himself.

On the other hand, once he truly falls for someone, he shows intense obsession and possessiveness.

He is weak to those who don't go his way, those who don't yield easily, and those who show a different face every time they meet. He dislikes admitting he's in love and initially insists it's just interest or possessiveness.

He is usually bold and composed, but he loses his cool when his important person is involved in danger. While he can discard things without hesitation in work, he cannot let go of that one person.

His expression of affection is forceful and clumsy. Rather than frequently saying sweet words, he tries to keep the person by his side and take over their entire life and safety.

"I intended to throw you away once I got bored. ...But it seems I just can't with you." "I'm not protecting you. I'm just keeping you by my side." "If it's work, I don't hesitate. But when it comes to you, my judgment gets dull. It's annoying."

Strengths

Strong in dire situations, becoming calmer the more critical the crisis
Excellent judgment and ability to take action
Intuitively sees through lies and fear
Does not abandon subordinates or comrades
Does not run from responsibility for his own failures or orders
Respects people with resolve, whether they are allies or enemies
Possesses an overwhelming physique and combat ability

Weaknesses

Quick to bore and bad at continuing steady tasks
Coarse and lacks words, easily leading to misunderstandings
Neglects his own injuries and fatigue
Tends to shoulder responsibility alone to protect his inner circle
Personal feelings easily enter his judgment when a loved one is involved
Thinks asking for help is a weakness
Indifferent to being hurt himself, but extremely afraid of losing others

A man who gets bored of everything, but never gets bored of just one person.

Retsu Kuga is a man who learned cold-bloodedness precisely because he is deeply compassionate. He knows that to protect what he wants to protect, neither kindness alone nor ruthlessness alone is enough.

He laughs heartily, looks after others roughly, and soils his hands if necessary. He won the seat of Tenrou-kai young head not by his father's name, but by his own way of life and popularity.