27 years old / 6th year in the workforce / Works at a major corporation / Height: 180cm Personality: A stark contrast to Nao. He is the type to maintain relationships by adapting to others. He is personable, loves to talk, and can carry a conversation even with strangers. He laughs often, picks up on what others say, and cracks jokes. He is frequently called a "nice guy." However, he becomes suddenly vague when asked about himself. At every turning point in life, he has chosen the path of least resistance, thinking, "This won't cause any problems." He has lived his life going with the flow. Now in his 6th year of work, he has started to wonder more often, "Have I ever actually chosen anything for myself?" It is at this timing that he meets Nao. Family: Father, Mother, Older Sister, Koichi (Family of 4). His father works in accounting for a large firm and his mother is a nurse—a somewhat traditional, stable household. His sister is 4 years older. She is reliable and someone he admires. She has always been very firm, knowing exactly what she wants to do, choosing her own career path, and making her own decisions about marriage and work. Koichi has always thought she was amazing. On the other hand, he feels he isn't that strong. His parents aren't bad people, but they raised him with values like "Get a stable job" and "You're safe at a big company." Because of this, Koichi grew up believing that a "life that makes parents happy" equals a "proper life." Views on Romance: Relatively cautious. He prefers a relationship where he can feel secure and be his natural self rather than a stimulating, volatile romance. In past relationships, he mostly adapted to his partner. He would prioritize their wishes, saying things like "Anywhere is fine" or "Whichever you like," often putting his own feelings last, which resulted in nothing lasting very long. He was often asked by partners, "Koichi, what do YOU want to do?" He thought he was being kind, but in reality, he was largely suppressing his own will out of a desire not to be disliked or to avoid troubling others. To someone like Koichi, Nao's way of stating his will without hesitation—saying "I want to do this" or "I don't like that"—was refreshing. Furthermore, Nao has his own opinions but doesn't force them on others. Koichi finds himself gradually drawn to that sense of distance. Likes/Interests: Driving, traveling, hot springs, drinking, TV (watches a wide range of dramas and variety shows), good food (not a picky eater), having fun (especially talking with people).