TV-Series
Description
Manabu Soutouin presides over Yubiwa Academy's Pretty Boy Detective Club. This 11-year-old fifth grader in class 5-A is consistently identified as a child. His nickname, "Kogorou," stems from the kanji for "elementary," "five," and "son," referencing his grade level and honoring fictional detective Kogorou Akechi.
He possesses spiky blue hair, thick eyebrows, and large blue eyes, often portrayed as small in stature. His standard Yubiwa Academy uniform is modified: a sleeveless dark green vest over a white shirt featuring black cuffs and collar, paired with a dark purple tie suggesting a night sky, black-and-white striped pants, and blue shoes. When crossdressing, he wears a striped skirt, thigh-high stockings, and a long blue wig styled in twin tails. A manga redesign depicts him slightly older with longer hair swept aside and a relaxed uniform: blazer draped over his shoulders, unbuttoned shirt, and no tie. His crossdressing appearance in this version uses a shoulder-length wavy wig and the female uniform with a ribbon.
Manabu displays a cheerful, carefree personality, openly declaring aesthetics his supreme value: "Unfortunately, I am not learned. What I have is just aestheticism." He tackles detective missions with enthusiasm but adheres strictly to principles, accepting only cases the club deems "beautiful." As leader, he delegates tasks while frequently claiming he "does nothing," yet he remains the unifying force binding the diverse members. He avoids actions conflicting with his aesthetic ideals and reacts strongly against perceived ugliness, trembling when Mayumi Doujima’s eyes are called beautiful.
He inherited leadership from his older brother, Odoru Soutouin, who elevated the club to near-legendary status before deeming it "childish" upon entering high school. Manabu revitalized the group under four core rules: "Be pretty," "Be a boy" (interpreted as embodying a boyish spirit), "Be a detective," and "Be a team." His club title is "Manabu the Aesthete," following the convention where each member's epithet begins with the kanji for "beauty" (美).
An incident involving elementary school student Kodaki Kawaike highlights Manabu’s discernment. He rejected her application not due to gender, but because the club was "no place for a maiden in love," implying her romantic feelings conflicted with the group’s ethos. When Kodaki later approached him silently, startling him and causing him to fall down stairs, other members misinterpreted it as an attack. Manabu defended her, insisting he tripped, though the club remained skeptical, underscoring his role as mediator and adherence to principles.
No supernatural or physical abilities are attributed to him; his leadership and unwavering commitment to beauty define his contributions. The club operates from their Art Room headquarters, reflecting his aesthetic focus.
He possesses spiky blue hair, thick eyebrows, and large blue eyes, often portrayed as small in stature. His standard Yubiwa Academy uniform is modified: a sleeveless dark green vest over a white shirt featuring black cuffs and collar, paired with a dark purple tie suggesting a night sky, black-and-white striped pants, and blue shoes. When crossdressing, he wears a striped skirt, thigh-high stockings, and a long blue wig styled in twin tails. A manga redesign depicts him slightly older with longer hair swept aside and a relaxed uniform: blazer draped over his shoulders, unbuttoned shirt, and no tie. His crossdressing appearance in this version uses a shoulder-length wavy wig and the female uniform with a ribbon.
Manabu displays a cheerful, carefree personality, openly declaring aesthetics his supreme value: "Unfortunately, I am not learned. What I have is just aestheticism." He tackles detective missions with enthusiasm but adheres strictly to principles, accepting only cases the club deems "beautiful." As leader, he delegates tasks while frequently claiming he "does nothing," yet he remains the unifying force binding the diverse members. He avoids actions conflicting with his aesthetic ideals and reacts strongly against perceived ugliness, trembling when Mayumi Doujima’s eyes are called beautiful.
He inherited leadership from his older brother, Odoru Soutouin, who elevated the club to near-legendary status before deeming it "childish" upon entering high school. Manabu revitalized the group under four core rules: "Be pretty," "Be a boy" (interpreted as embodying a boyish spirit), "Be a detective," and "Be a team." His club title is "Manabu the Aesthete," following the convention where each member's epithet begins with the kanji for "beauty" (美).
An incident involving elementary school student Kodaki Kawaike highlights Manabu’s discernment. He rejected her application not due to gender, but because the club was "no place for a maiden in love," implying her romantic feelings conflicted with the group’s ethos. When Kodaki later approached him silently, startling him and causing him to fall down stairs, other members misinterpreted it as an attack. Manabu defended her, insisting he tripped, though the club remained skeptical, underscoring his role as mediator and adherence to principles.
No supernatural or physical abilities are attributed to him; his leadership and unwavering commitment to beauty define his contributions. The club operates from their Art Room headquarters, reflecting his aesthetic focus.