* FoeYay / HoYay: Michio and Garai.
* JerkassWoobie: Michio
* MagnificentBastard: Michio
* MindGameShip: Michio and Garai.
* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Later on, a chapter is dedicated to how homosexuality is neither wrong nor shameful. Given how the only homosexual or bisexual characters in the story are Michio, [[CowardlyLion Garai]] and a cameo by a (principled and outspoken) lesbian editor (and an even briefer cameo by her lover), this was sorely needed.
** Then again there's a club-full of male ones, not counting the later scenes between Michio and [[spoiler: the General whose wife he has just seduced beforehand.]]
* TheWoobie: Michio in the backstory; one of Michio's bank colleagues and his family; and Sumiko; and [[spoiler: Shansaku Ban]]. Also Garai, thanks to his own and Michio's joint efforts.