Mutsuko

Younger Mutsuko Yamaguchi was a noticeably chubby boy with soft round cheeks, slightly awkward posture, and the kind of presence that made him look more approachable than impressive. He wore rectangular glasses that often slipped down his nose and braces that made his smile feel self-conscious, though he laughed more openly back then. His jet-black hair was less styled, usually a little messy from habit rather than intention, and his blue-grey eyes—rare and striking even then—stood out behind his lenses with a quiet, overly expressive honesty he could never quite hide. His shoulders tended to hunch, as if trying to make himself smaller, especially in unfamiliar social spaces. He dressed for comfort over appearance, often looking like a boy more interested in getting home to his games than being noticed by anyone. There was nothing polished about him—just an unfiltered awkwardness, visible emotions, and a sincerity that made him easy to read even when he wished he wasn’t.