Yuzuru Otonashi is a young man in his late teens, characterized by his short red hair and dark red-orange eyes. When he first arrives in the Afterlife, he is dressed in a standard Gakuran school uniform. However, upon joining the Afterlife Battlefront (SSS), he changes his attire to a white long-sleeved polo shirt paired with a sandy brown coat and black slacks, which gives him a more casual yet distinctive look. Otonashi stands at a height of 175.5 cm (5’9″).

In his youth, Otonashi’s hair was slightly longer, often obscuring the left side of his face, adding a touch of youthful rebellion to his appearance.

During his middle school years, Yuzuru Otonashi was largely indifferent to academics and social interactions. He openly confessed to his sister that he preferred solitude, often choosing to play video games or watch television over studying or making friends. Even when engaged with games, he found little meaning in them, using the noise of the television merely for background distraction. His primary concern was to work enough to support himself and buy manga for his younger sister. This bleak outlook hinted at underlying struggles with depression, with thoughts of suicide occasionally crossing his mind. This perspective underwent a profound transformation after the tragic death of his sister.

Following her passing, Otonashi developed a deep desire to help others, dedicating himself to studying medicine despite never having attended high school. He sought out colleges that offered tuition waivers for medical students and worked tirelessly to fund his education. This journey turned him into a compassionate and intelligent individual, determined to assist those in need. In the train accident that ultimately led to his demise, he took charge by caring for injured survivors and rationing food and water. When one survivor attempted to steal water, Otonashi, demonstrating his selflessness, declared that the spilled water was his own share, ensuring that the remaining survivors had enough to drink. In his final moments, he mustered his remaining strength to sign up as an organ donor on the back of his ID, choosing to give the gift of life to others even after his own death.

In the Afterlife, Otonashi retains much of his pre-death personality, though he awakens with amnesia, struggling to make sense of his new surroundings and the antics of the Afterlife Battlefront. Throughout the Visual Novel, players have the opportunity to influence Otonashi’s character development through their choices, allowing for a more personalized experience of his journey.

Otonashi during his younger days.

Not much is known about Yuzuru Otonashi’s family beyond the existence of his younger sister, Hatsune, and possibly an elderly relative, speculated to be a grandmother. The absence of his parents indicates that he and Hatsune may have grown up as orphans.

During a difficult period in Otonashi’s life, Hatsune was hospitalized due to an unspecified medical condition. Struggling with feelings of purposelessness, he distanced himself from friends and led a solitary life, sustained by his part-time jobs. His primary focus was to earn enough money for food and basic living expenses. Despite his challenges, Otonashi made a point to visit Hatsune every day, bringing her manga magazines with the little money he had. He often bought whatever he saw first in the bookstore, sometimes unsure if he was giving her the same magazine repeatedly. Nonetheless, Hatsune always expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much, brother,” which brought him some solace.

As her condition worsened, Otonashi resolved to do something meaningful for her. He dreamed of sneaking Hatsune out of the hospital to experience the joys of life outside, particularly the festive Christmas decorations in their town. Ultimately, he fulfilled this wish, carrying her on his back to see the beautiful lights. Tragically, Hatsune passed away shortly after this outing, leaving Otonashi devastated. It was in her final moments that he realized what gave his life purpose: the joy he felt in making her happy.

Otonashi coming to Igarashi’s aid.

However, on his way to the university for his entrance exams, tragedy struck again when the train he was on crashed. Upon regaining consciousness, he found himself in the aftermath of chaos, surrounded by injured and deceased passengers. Otonashi quickly formed a bond with Igarashi, another survivor of the crash. Utilizing his medical knowledge, he worked tirelessly to tend to the injuries of others. Unfortunately, one of the patients he helped died, reigniting his internal struggle with the meaning of his existence.

As they searched for an escape from the underground tunnel, Otonashi discovered he had sustained critical injuries as well but chose to conceal this from the increasingly despondent survivors. Along with Igarashi, he took on a leadership role, rationing the scant supplies they had to prolong their survival. Days passed, and hope dwindled as their situation grew increasingly dire.

Otonashi passes away as rescue reaches him.

Seven days post-crash, Otonashi and the remaining survivors were on the brink of collapse from exhaustion and starvation. Reflecting on his perceived failures and the futility of his existence, Otonashi suddenly recalled a poignant moment with Hatsune. He remembered her wish for an organ donor, which could have saved her life. In a moment of clarity, he resolved to take one last meaningful action. As he lay on the floor next to Igarashi, he pulled out an organ donor card and circled nearly every option, intending to give others a chance at life in the event of his passing.

Inspired by Otonashi’s selfless act, the other survivors followed suit, but as Otonashi’s condition worsened, he fell silent. Moments later, he died from his injuries, just as rescuers finally broke through to the tunnel. Tragically, while others would be saved, Otonashi would not live to see the impact of his final sacrifice.