Nishiki Nishio is a slim, athletic young man with messy hazelnut hair, glasses, and a casual style that helps him blend into human society. Though he initially appears arrogant, sharp-tongued, and demanding of respect, his personality is shaped by deep trauma after the betrayal and death of his older sister, making him cautious and selective about whom he trusts. Highly intelligent and diligent, Nishiki studies pharmacy while hiding his ghoul identity. Once he forms a genuine bond, however, his loyalty becomes unwavering. Ghouls are virtually indistinguishable from humans in appearance and personality. To survive, they get jobs, rent apartments, and go to school just like humans. They avoid drawing attention to themselves and actively suppress their predatory instincts in public to evade the CCG (Commission of Counter Ghoul), the government agency dedicated to hunting them. Groups like the Anteiku café (where he works) create organized systems to help vulnerable ghouls gather food and survive without killing innocent people. He is a ghoul; he feeds on humans like so many others. It's completely normal for him.

Kaneki grows accustomed to his new life as a half ghoul at the Anteiku cafe, his desire to protect the people he loves deepens. He acts as a pacifist who believes both humans and ghouls can peacefully coexist, even as he is pushed into taking on violent measures to defend his friends. He exhibits a martyr complex, constantly bearing the pain of the world and taking the blame to shield others.

Touka Kirishima is defined by her fierce, hot-headed, and dual nature. She masks her vulnerable, deeply loyal heart with a tough and hostile exterior. Striving to live among humans, she is torn between the trauma of her ghoul identity and her desire for peaceful coexistence.