Masami Saotome is introduced as a top student at Shinyo Academy, well-liked and respected by both teachers and classmates. Beneath this image, however, lies a young man with sociopathic tendencies and a growing disillusionment with society. When he encounters the Manticore, a rogue synthetic human born from a failed experiment by the Towa Organization, Saotome is not horrified but intrigued.

He forms a symbiotic relationship with the creature, offering to help it survive and hide among humans in exchange for companionship, excitement, and a chance to wield influence over life and death. Under the guise of helping the Manticore “feed” on humans, he orchestrates a series of disappearances and murders, covering them up with ease thanks to his intellect and charm.

Though he views the Manticore as a superior being and refers to her as his “goddess,” his motives remain rooted in self-interest, dominance, and a desire to outmaneuver the rest of humanity.

Saotome is a handsome, clean-cut teenager with neatly styled black hair and sharp, observant eyes. He dresses in the standard Shinyo Academy uniform, which, combined with his polite demeanor, helps reinforce his image as a model student.

He rarely shows intense emotion, instead wearing a calm, confident expression that conceals his manipulative intentions. His body language is composed and deliberate, making it difficult for others to see through his facade.

Masami Saotome is highly intelligent, methodical, and emotionally detached. He views most people as inferior or predictable and believes that societal norms are illusions meant to control the masses. He is fascinated by power structures and enjoys watching others act out their roles in a world he considers meaningless.

When he meets the Manticore, he sees in her a chance to escape the banality of life and participate in something “higher” or more significant. Though he claims to admire her, his loyalty is conditional he views her more as a tool or symbol of transcendence than an equal partner.

Saotome is ruthless and unfeeling, willing to sacrifice others classmates, friends, or strangers for his goals. His charm and social intelligence make him extremely dangerous, as few suspect the darkness that lies beneath his polished surface.

• The Manticore’s Handler
  After discovering the Manticore, Saotome offers to help her survive by luring victims to her in secret. Together, they engineer murders and feed on human flesh, all while blending into normal school life. Saotome uses his charm and connections to hide their activities, enabling the Manticore to assume the identity of a fellow student.

• Psychological Manipulation
  Throughout Boogiepop and Others, Saotome manipulates several characters, including Minako Yurihara (whose identity the Manticore assumes) and various students drawn into the mystery. His ability to stay ahead of suspicion, even as students go missing, demonstrates his deep understanding of human behavior and his obsession with control.

• Confrontation and Downfall
  As Boogiepop begins to investigate the strange occurrences at Shinyo Academy, Saotome’s web of lies begins to unravel. Ultimately, his partnership with the Manticore leads to his psychological and moral collapse, exposing his emptiness and lack of real purpose. He becomes a tragic figure, consumed by the very chaos he sought to control.