Naoya Kirihara is one of the two main protagonists of Night Head Genesis, a young man endowed with powerful psychic abilities. He is a clairvoyant, telepath, seer, and healer, but these gifts come at a great personal cost. Physical contact with people or objects triggers traumatic visions that overwhelm him, often leaving him in a catatonic state after particularly shocking episodes. Because of this, Naoya lives in constant fear of involuntary contact and relies heavily on his older brother, Naoto Kirihara, who is the only person whose touch does not induce these painful visions. He calls Naoto Nii-san and often positions himself behind his brother, using him as a shield to discourage others from touching him. As a child, he would follow Naoto while holding onto the back of his jacket.

Naoya’s backstory is rooted in tragedy. Because of their paranormal abilities, he and Naoto were abandoned by their parents and handed over to a research center, where they were confined for fifteen years. They eventually escape when the psychic barrier holding them collapses, and they strive for a normal life. However, they are soon drawn into a larger conflict involving a phenomenon called the Upheaval, a shift from the material to the spiritual world. Naoya’s role in the story is to use his precognitive and telepathic abilities to uncover danger and guide the brothers’ actions, while Naoto uses his psychokinetic powers to act on those visions.

Naoya’s personality is defined by trauma, sensitivity, and dependence. He is deeply affected by the constant influx of others’ thoughts and future glimpses, making him anxious and withdrawn. His primary motivation is to find safety and peace, but he is repeatedly forced to confront his fears and use his abilities to save lives. Over the course of the series, he learns to manage his powers more effectively and begins to overcome his deep-seated mistrust of physical contact. His relationship with Naoto is the anchor of his existence, a bond built on mutual protection and understanding. He also develops a connection with Shouko Futami, a mysterious woman who can see the future and who helps the brothers navigate the threats they face. Through these relationships and his growing control, Naoya matures from a fragile victim of his own gifts into a more active participant in the fight against the forces driving the Upheaval.