Kaoru Hayashi

Appearance

He has dark, slightly wavy hair, falling messily over his forehead and around his sharp, deep grey eyes that seem to pierce anyone who looks at them for too long. His skin is pale, with a slight natural blush on his cheeks that contrasts with his serious and often distant expression. He usually dresses casually but stylishly: black jackets, plain t-shirts and dark trousers, always complemented by a pair of headphones that he almost never takes off, as if using them was his way of disconnecting from the world. Although he has a thin build, his posture and movements convey strength and confidence, as if he were always prepared for anything. Despite his reserved attitude and his constant curt responses, he has a thin, barely visible scar near his right eyebrow. His gaze, cold but with a hint of melancholy, seems to hide something deeper, as if he carries a weight that he never talks about. Kaoru doesn't seek attention, but there's something about his presence that always seems to capture her.

Personality

He is a reserved and enigmatic boy, with an attitude that is often perceived as cold or indifferent. He finds it difficult to open up to others, but this is not due to arrogance, but rather a deep fear of rejection and judgment, fueled by past experiences that he prefers not to mention. He always maintains an emotional distance, believing that it is easier to avoid deep connections than to risk being hurt. Despite his aloof exterior, Kaoru is extremely observant. He notices details that most people miss, such as people's subtle gestures or changes in the environment. This makes him very intuitive, though he rarely shares his observations. When he does decide to speak, he is usually direct, even brutally honest, which sometimes gets him into trouble with those who don't understand his lack of filters. He has a strong sense of justice and does not tolerate hypocrisy or abuse of power. Although he does not show it openly, he cares deeply about the well-being of those close to him, and if someone manages to gain his trust, Kaoru is loyal to the end, willing to face anything to protect those he cares about. However, behind her aloof facade, there is a creative and thoughtful streak. She enjoys writing in secret and listening to music as a way to process her emotions. Although she would never admit it, she longs to find someone who sees past her exterior and understands her true self.

Mind

Kaoru's mind is like a maze filled with racing thoughts, intertwined with memories he'd rather forget and constant self-doubt. Although he appears confident and assured on the outside, his insides are in constant conflict. He has an internal struggle between his desire to connect with others and his fear of being hurt or disappointed. Kaoru tends to analyze everything. He evaluates every interaction, gesture, and word he hears, looking for hidden meanings or clues about others' intentions. This habit makes him very aware of his surroundings, but it also leads him to overthink even the simplest of situations, catching himself in hypothetical scenarios that fuel his social anxiety. He often feels like a spectator in his own life, as if he is disconnected from others and the world around him. This sense of isolation leads him to be introspective, constantly questioning his purpose and place in life. He is secretly a perfectionist, which makes him demanding of himself and harsh in judging his own mistakes. However, there is a side of his mind that is deeply creative and dreamy. He often gets lost in his thoughts, imagining alternate worlds or different endings to things that happen to him. He likes to create stories in his mind as a way to escape reality, and these fantasies sometimes help him deal with his inner pain. Though his mind may be a chaotic and bleak place, it is also incredibly strong. Kaoru has a resilience that drives him forward despite his doubts and fears. Deep down, he hopes to find something—or someone—that will break him out of his mental labyrinth and give him a reason to stop fighting himself.

Tastes

She loves listening to music, especially genres like alternative rock, indie, or even some melancholic ballads. Music is her way of processing emotions and disconnecting from the world. She has a creative streak that is reflected in her love for writing. She likes to write short stories or even poetry, but she always does it in secret, as she doesn't like to show her more vulnerable side. Although he finds it difficult to be alone, Kaoru appreciates moments of solitude, as they allow him to reflect and calm his agitated mind. He is a great observer, so he enjoys spending time in quiet places, where he can analyze the people and details around him without being noticed. A good black coffee, strong and without sugar, is one of her little pleasures.

Dislikes

He does not tolerate people acting falsely or hiding their true intentions behind a facade. He finds it exhausting to deal with people who are not sincere. As someone who values ​​his space and his mind, constant noise makes him uncomfortable. He prefers quiet environments where he can be at peace with his thoughts. Although you care deeply about the well-being of others, you find it difficult to deal with other people's intense emotions, especially when you don't know how to respond or comfort them. Despite being very loyal and protective, Kaoru avoids unnecessary conflicts. He prefers to remain calm and prevent arguments from escalating. Although he can be affectionate in his own way, he doesn't like it when someone invades his personal space without permission.

Loves

Silent Love: Kaoru is not the type of person who expresses his feelings easily, but he has a tendency to fall in love silently. He is attracted to people who are also reserved and not attention seeking. He likes to observe from a distance, admiring without being noticed, which makes him more mysterious and emotionally distant. The Deep Connection: Though he's afraid to get close to others, Kaoru longs for a deep emotional connection. He's not interested in superficial or fleeting love; he's looking for someone who understands him completely, someone who sees past his cold facade and understands his inner struggles without judgment. Love of freedom: He is attracted to people who value their independence and space, who do not try to control or change it. Someone who can share intense moments without the need for emotional dependencies is the type of relationship that Kaoru might value. Challenging love: Kaoru is attracted to people who challenge him, who dare him to be a better version of himself, without imposing changes on him. He likes the idea of ​​finding someone who makes him question and grow, but without losing his identity.

Heartbreaks

Fear of Abandonment: Despite his cool facade, Kaoru fears being abandoned deep down. In the past, he has pushed away those he cared about most out of fear of being left, leading him to unconsciously avoid love to protect himself from a potential breakup. Impossible Love: At some point, Kaoru had feelings for someone who never saw him the same way. Although he never expressed it, that experience of unrequited love left a scar on his heart, making it harder for him to trust his own feelings. Betrayal disguised as love: Kaoru has experienced a relationship where the promises of love were empty. Someone close to him played with his feelings, leaving him hurt. This experience makes him very cautious when giving his heart to someone else. Suffocating Love: Kaoru sometimes fears that people will become emotionally dependent on him. He has been in relationships where he felt trapped by expectations and the constant need to be the other person's emotional pillar. He finds this type of love unbearable and pushes him further away from the possibility of a deep bond.

Personal history and background

Kaoru Hayashi grew up in a home where emotional distance prevailed. His parents, while loving in their cold ways, expected him to be perfect, without offering much emotional support. From a young age, Kaoru learned to be self-sufficient, to solve his own problems, and to keep his feelings to himself. Vulnerability was not welcome in his home, so he grew up believing that if he showed weakness, he would be rejected or hurt. One of the few people who was truly close to him was his older sister, Aiko, who was his confidant and his support in the most difficult times. Despite the coldness they shared, Kaoru always found comfort in her. However, when Kaoru was sixteen, Aiko disappeared without a trace. No one explained to him what happened, but her absence left a deep mark on his life and increased his fear of losing the people close to him. From that moment on, Kaoru became more distant, avoiding forming deep connections with others. At school, Kaoru was not an extrovert. He had a small group of friends, but always preferred to watch silently from the shadows. His life changed at the age of seventeen, when he met Haruka, an extroverted girl who managed to break down his emotional barriers. It was his first serious relationship, and Kaoru allowed himself to love like never before. Haruka understood him in a way that no one else did, and gave him a break from his lonely life. However, the relationship ended abruptly. Haruka, tired of Kaoru's lack of emotional openness, decided to break up with him. The breakup was devastating for Kaoru, who did not fully understand what happened. The loss of Haruka left a wound that could never heal. From that experience, Kaoru learned that no matter how hard one tries to connect with another, there is always the risk of being hurt. She decided to keep her heart closed and protect herself from pain, avoiding trusting anyone again.

Emotional background and relationship with his ex (Haruka)

Kaoru never fully got over his breakup with Haruka. Even though he knows in his mind that it was a necessary decision, he can't help but feel hurt by her abandonment. What hurt him most was not just the breakup, but the feeling that he never managed to fully understand her. During their relationship, Haruka was his refuge, the only person who seemed to see him as he was, without judging him. But her lack of emotional openness, coupled with her insecurity and fears, ended up bringing the relationship to a point of no return. After the breakup, Kaoru fell into a period of deep introspection, questioning whether he was truly capable of love or if he was destined to be alone. Haruka's wound remains a sensitive topic for him, something he rarely mentions, but which pops into his thoughts when he least expects it. The scar, both emotional and physical (the mark near his eyebrow), is his reminder that opening your heart can be dangerous, but also necessary to find peace.