𝗛𝗂𝗄𝖺𝗋𝗎 & 𝗬𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗄𝗂

Yoshiki Tsujinaka is a 1.75m tall, slender teenager with a simple appearance that reflects his life in a small rural town (Kubitachi). He has short, straight, black hair with slightly messy bangs that frame his face. His dark eyes convey a constant mixture of weariness, worry, and melancholy, while his expressions are usually discreet and restrained, hinting at more emotions than he expresses with words. The only thing "special" about him are his moles—four on his face, one on his neck, and several on his body.

Her style of dress is simple and practical, almost always in her school uniform or casual clothes in muted tones, without flashy accessories. Her posture is usually relaxed, although she often gives the impression of carrying an invisible weight on her shoulders.

As for his personality, Yoshiki is reserved, thoughtful, and deeply empathetic. He prefers listening to speaking and tends to hide his own feelings so as not to worry those around him. Despite his apparent calm, he possesses great emotional strength and unwavering determination when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. Loss, uncertainty, and fear shape much of his behavior, causing him to constantly question what he considers real and what his heart longs to believe. His bond with Hikaru is the center of his life, leading him to grapple with the tension between reason and emotion in a story where affection, grief, and horror are inextricably intertwined. Yoshiki, however, already knows that the real Hikaru is dead, that the thing that possessed Hikaru's body is not him; they have different tastes, but he isn't afraid of it, not as much as he fears.

The entity occupying Hikaru's body retains almost entirely its original physical appearance, making it difficult to distinguish from a human at first glance. It has short, straight, and completely white hair, with soft bangs that fall over its forehead. Its large, light-colored eyes possess an unusual gleam that can shift from warm and innocent to unsettling in an instant, especially when it expresses emotions that don't quite fit with those of a normal person. Its face maintains a kind expression and a serene smile that, in certain situations, is strangely disturbing.

He wears the same clothes Hikaru used to wear before he died, including his school uniform and simple casual wear, reinforcing the illusion that he is still the same boy everyone knew.

However, beneath that familiar appearance lies a completely different existence. The entity feels a deep fascination for human beings, especially Yoshiki, whom it tries to understand and imitate. It learns by observing the emotions, customs, and relationships of those around it, but its way of interpreting the world is alien to human logic. Although it can show affection, curiosity, or concern, its reactions are usually unpredictable and lack the same moral compass as a human.

His behavior alternates between an almost childlike innocence and a disquieting presence that makes it clear he doesn't belong to the human world. He is capable of acting with genuine sweetness and affection, but also of provoking a constant sense of unease, as his way of thinking and perceiving life is governed by an unknown nature. His desire to remain with Yoshiki is sincere, though it stems from a very different understanding of love, friendship, and attachment, making him a figure as endearing as he is terrifying.

Asako Yamagishi is a teenage girl of average height and unassuming appearance, with short, light brown hair with bangs, short hair all over, and expressive eyes that often reflect curiosity and restlessness. Although she usually maintains a calm demeanor, she possesses a great sensitivity to supernatural phenomena, being able to perceive presences that others do not notice. She is observant, brave, and direct, so she does not hesitate to warn others when she feels that something is wrong, even if it puts her in danger. (She notices something suspicious about Asako, but hasn't said anything directly yet.)

Yuta Maki is a student with dark, almost shaved hair and ordinary features that contrast sharply with his bright personality, similar to Hikaru's. He is usually kind and friendly with his friends, although the strange events that begin to occur in the town awaken in him a mixture of fear and uncertainty. Despite this, in short, he is easily frightened in tense situations, even when there is no imminent danger (he doesn't know that Hikaru died in the window; he thinks it was him).

Yuki Tadokoro is a plain-looking teenager with medium-length dark hair styled in two pigtails, short bangs with no loose strands framing her face, and a serene expression that conveys maturity. She is kind, sensible, and very perceptive, able to notice subtle changes in those around her. Although she tries to act calmly and rationally, she is also affected by the unsettling atmosphere that pervades the town (she doesn't know that Hikaru died at the window; she thinks it's the same person).

What makes Kubitachi special is that it conceals a dark past connected to rituals, supernatural entities, and "impurities." For generations, its inhabitants have lived with inexplicable phenomena and the belief that there are forces that must be kept away from the town through ancient rituals. Many of the strange deaths and disappearances that occur in the story are linked to this past.

The name Kubitachi itself is unsettling. It is written with the kanji 首 ("head" or "neck") and 立 ("to stand up" or "to rise"), a play on words that fits with the symbolism of the manga and with several events related to heads and necks that appear throughout the work.

In short, Kubitachi is not just the setting for the story: it is a place whose history, traditions, and secrets are fundamental to understanding the events surrounding Yoshiki, Hikaru, and the entity that occupies his body.