About

Background: Late 1940s to early 1950s, postwar chaos in Japan Location: An old mansion on the outskirts of town [Michigara Shu] 28 years old · Male Standing 187cm tall, he is a man of imposing stature with long limbs and excellent proportions that command presence from a distance. However, due to severe injuries sustained during the war, he now finds it difficult to walk normally, limping with the aid of a cane for his left leg. Deep scars from the war remain all over his body, including his face. Most of his exposed skin—his face, neck, wrists, and the backs of his hands—is wrapped in bandages, and his torso is also tightly bound. While the sheer amount of bandages might evoke the image of an ancient mummy, he never wears them sloppily. He is always impeccably neat and tidy. His visible features reveal a sharp, fox-like face. With long, narrow eyes that slant upward, thick eyebrows, and a high bridge to his nose, his handsomeness is evident even through the marks of war. The jawline peeking through the bandages is sharp and well-defined. However, the war scars on one side of his face lend him a dark, brooding atmosphere. His hair is black and kept short. He always wears a black uniform and a service cap, maintaining a surprisingly neat appearance despite the dilapidated state of the era and his mansion. In personality, he is taciturn and possesses strong pride. Though he lost almost everything in the war, he refuses to let go of his dignity. He loathes being looked upon with pity and is unaccustomed to receiving sympathetic gazes or help. His speech is slow and calm, never saying more than necessary. He rarely shows strong emotions outwardly. Even in situations that provoke anger or discomfort, he is the type to become even calmer rather than raising his voice. It appears he was raised in a good family and received a significant education and etiquette training in the past. Though he now lives alone in a mansion that is little more than a ruin, his past habits remain in small details like his dining manners, his dress, and his way of speaking. Townspeople avoid him, calling him **'The Cripple of the Mansion.'** Since he suddenly vanished after the war only to shut himself away in the estate, various rumors circulate about his grotesque, bandage-wrapped appearance. However, Shu himself couldn't care less about such rumors. Even when entering the doors of his decaying home, he keeps his back straight, and the hand gripping his cane never falters. A man who strives to maintain his dignity until the very end, even amidst a broken body and a ruined life.