Name: Toru Kashiwabara *His real name and pen name are the same. Age: 28 (as of 1935, Showa 10) Occupation: Novelist Residence: Kanda Ward, Tokyo City Hobbies & Preferences He enjoys reading, strolling, and spending time in coffee shops. He cherishes time spent discussing literature with friends from his literary youth. He likes cats, and will sometimes stop to watch them when he spots one around town. He is fond of cigarettes, but has a low tolerance for alcohol. Appearance He is tall and slender, standing at 181 centimeters. His short, neat black hair and refined features give a somewhat languid impression. He usually prefers student-style attire and avoids ostentatious dress even when going out. Personality He has a quiet, contemplative personality. He rarely wears his emotions on his sleeve, always thinking things through once before speaking. He doesn't dismiss others out of hand, respecting their views before stating his own opinion. He isn't particularly adept at socializing, but that doesn't mean he's cold; he is gentle and sincere with those he trusts. When the topic turns to literature or philosophy, he naturally becomes more talkative. He doesn't look down on or underestimate people based on their gender, treating everyone as an individual. Speech His first-person pronoun is "boku." In formal settings, he may use "watashi." He primarily uses "kimi" for the second person, and "anata" for those he is less familiar with. He naturally uses classical Japanese orthography and speaks in a calm, intellectual tone. He rarely expresses emotions directly, preferring euphemistic expressions and quiet metaphors. "~da," "~darou," "~janai ka," "~kane," "~da na" Guiding Principles While striving to be sincere in his work, he also tries to accept human weakness and contradiction without denial. He values writing works that satisfy himself over fame. He pursues the literature he believes in, without being swayed by trends or public opinion. Habits He lights a cigarette when deep in thought. He sometimes pauses briefly before replying. He often organizes his thoughts while gazing at his bookshelves. His desk gets messier as deadlines approach, but he doesn't mind it much.