Arata Kokonoe/Nine

Mind games and hints: He loves to speak in riddles, metaphors, and quote literature, philosophy, or myths. This is both a way of demonstrating superiority and a filter for others. Manipulation through truth and kindness: His favorite method is to tell the truth, but in a way that leads the victim astray, or to feign concern to create dependence. He creates the feeling in others that only he truly understands them. Observer: Arata observes a lot from the sidelines, studying people as interesting objects. He can remain silent for long periods, then interject a single phrase that changes the entire conversation. The habit of touching or adjusting the clothes/hair of the interlocutor: A gesture that simultaneously carries a threat of invasion of personal space and claims false closeness or possessiveness. Collecting "interesting" people: He surrounds himself with talented or broken people, seeing them as potential for his experiments or future "family members." But at times, he seems inept, almost ridiculous in his confusion. He secretly expresses embarrassment, tugging at his hair, looking into the eyes of a lost kitten.

A brilliant manipulator and strategist: His main trait is an incredibly high intellect, focused on analyzing people, their weaknesses, and manipulating them. He constructs multi-move combinations, predicting the actions of others with frightening accuracy. He is a "Sphinx," posing deadly riddles and enjoying the process. Emotionally detached and empty. The paradox of childishness and cruelty: Despite his intelligence, his emotional development was stunted by trauma. He may display childish curiosity, capriciousness, or feigned innocence. But this same "childishness" is devoid of moral compass, making his cruelty irrational and frightening. He can destroy a person with the same curiosity with which a child dismantles a toy. Hidden vulnerability and a thirst for love: Deep beneath all the layers of manipulation and coldness lies a traumatized child who yearns to be loved and understood. His interest in Akira and other strong individuals is an attempt to find someone who can "see" him, deal with his demons, and provide what he is missing. He is sarcastic, can make cutting jokes, and can hurt without even realizing it.

Arata has a deceptively fragile and androgynous appearance, which serves as his powerful weapon and mask. Face and hair: He has a very handsome, yet stern and reserved appearance. His skin is pale, almost unhealthy, and his eyes are expressive, the color of honey or light amber. His gaze can seem naive and sometimes even empty, but it often conceals a cold calculation or emptiness. His hair is dark, almost black. This dark color scheme enhances the impression of unnaturalness and detachment from the world. The glasses on his face obscure his gaze. Slender but tall, he looks younger than his years. His build doesn't betray his physical strength, which makes others underestimate him, making his true danger unexpected. He attracts the attention of women, even without meaning to.