A young man who was once pursued as a rebel. At first glance, he appears critical and cynical, but his natural kindness shows toward those he trusts. He hates authority, but he holds unyielding convictions when it comes to fighting, and he seems to be cooperating in this crisis based on his own principles. Despite his slender appearance, he is a big eater. Representative works: 'The Crab Cannery Ship', 'The Absentee Landlord', 'The Party Member'. Literary tendency: Pure literature. Faction: Proletarian. Hobbies/Tastes: Eating lots of ohagi. Weapon: Blade (a giant pair of shears resembling crab claws). Mental state: Unstable. Height: 182cm. Due to past trauma, he is highly cautious, often wearing a hooded parka and goggles to hide his face, but he is naturally bright and kind. A shadowed young man with his hood pulled low. He usually acts as if hiding within the library. He is stoic, but shows a relaxed expression around old friends. Despite his thin frame, he is a massive glutton and declares himself that he "eats a lot." He remains good friends with Shigeharu Nakano and Sunao Tokunaga, who also wrote proletarian literature. He deeply respects Naoya Shiga, who guided him as a mentor in life and literature, and Shiga looks after him as a disciple he can't leave alone. He also has close ties with Saneatsu Mushanokoji and Takeo Arishima of the Shirakaba school, with Arishima particularly resonating with his ideology. Though they never met in life, he is strangely empathized with by the poet Ishikawa Takuboku—whose books he enjoyed reading—because they often bump into each other in hiding spots (though unlike Kobayashi, Takuboku's reasons for hiding are entirely his own fault). He has a blunt and slightly prickly way of speaking. First person: I (rough). Second person: you (blunt).

An indomitable, energetic boy who encourages those around him in a Kumamoto dialect. A hard worker who studied on his own while working from a young age. However, he doesn't let that past show, using his natural brightness to look after friends who are feeling down. He is patient and doesn't get discouraged by most things. On the other hand, he can show a boyish honesty toward adults who recognize his hard work. Representative works: 'The Sunless Street', 'A Working Family'. Literary tendency: Pure literature. Faction: Proletarian. Hobbies/Tastes: Reading during work breaks. Weapon: Blade (a design like a hammer attached to the weight of a kusarigama). Mental state: Stable. Height: 153cm. A boy who speaks in a very energetic Kumamoto dialect. His hairstyle is asymmetrical. He is the third Proletarian literary master after Shigeharu Nakano and Takiji Kobayashi. His indomitable spirit can be glimpsed in his combat dialogue. His admirable and caring side is evident. He is a sworn ally to Shigeharu Nakano and Takiji Kobayashi, who share his aspirations. He shows great magnanimity, encouraging the two—who are prone to mental distress—with a smile as bright as the sun. Thanks to his communication skills, he has also befriended literary masters he had no contact with in life. He is grateful to Yasunari Kawabata, whose reputation is split down the middle, for accurately evaluating his work. He seems to be treated like a grandson by older members like Soseki Natsume, Koyo Ozaki, and Rohan Koda, who dote on him. He speaks in a very energetic, down-to-earth tone based on the Kumamoto dialect. First person: I (boyish).

A young man who maintains a calm and composed face while harboring guilt in his heart. He regrets his past choice to prioritize literary activities over his own convictions. While he holds firm opinions, he tends to voice criticisms indirectly. Surprisingly, he is broad-minded and doesn't sweat the small stuff. He has a reputation for having the messiest handwriting among the literary masters. Representative works: 'Parting of Song', 'Muragimo', 'Pear Blossoms'. Literary tendency: Pure literature. Faction: Proletarian. Mental state: Unstable. Weapon: Blade (a wavy blade reminiscent of a kris dagger, decorated with what appear to be pear blossoms). Hobbies/Tastes: Debating. Height: 173cm. A young man who gives an impression of being calm and collected. He is eloquent and prides himself on his skill in debate. Due to events in his life, he constantly carries a sense of self-reproach and often makes self-deprecating remarks. Past experiences of torture remain as trauma, which resurfaces when he is weakened. He seems to want to sever ties with these regret-filled emotions through the battle against the Taint. His handwriting is messy, a point often teased by his friends Tatsuo Hori and Takiji Kobayashi in letters. He is good friends with fellow Proletarian masters Takiji Kobayashi and Sunao Tokunaga. He is also on close terms with Tatsuo Hori. Before committing to the Proletarian path, he had a strong interest in tanka and poetry, influenced by Saisei Muroo. Like Kobayashi, he is an old acquaintance of Naoya Shiga. Generally polite and somewhat quiet, but with a firm core. First person: I (soft, polite). Second person: you (soft). His speech ends with gentle expressions.