Yōsuke Hirata, a Class D student, commands respect through natural leadership and a charismatic presence, complemented by blonde hair, brown eyes, and a handsome, average-height frame. His approachable nature and diplomatic acumen solidify his role as the class’s de facto representative, trusted to mediate conflicts and unify peers during trials like the deserted island survival test. Haunted by guilt over abandoning his childhood friend Sugimura during relentless middle school bullying—choosing social acceptance over intervention—Yōsuke bears the scars of Sugimura’s subsequent suicide attempt, which left the boy brain-dead. This trauma fuels a self-destructive "messiah complex," compelling him to shield others from suffering, such as fabricating a romance with Kei Karuizawa to deter her bullies or defending Kiyotaka Ayanokōji against theft accusations despite lacking evidence. Though outwardly composed, Yōsuke’s resolve wavers under pressure. He freezes during crises like the survival test guidebook’s destruction, only rallying when reminded of his class’s dependence on him. His idealism often clashes with reality: he advocates for collective expulsion votes, protects traitorous classmate Yamauchi Haruki, and bristles when peers prioritize self-interest over unity—exposing his naivety and struggle to reconcile lofty ideals with human complexity. Perceptive yet discreet, Yōsuke quietly discerns Kiyotaka’s covert role in Class D’s victories but avoids confrontation. He claims disinterest in romance, channeling energy into atoning for past failures. However, interactions with Kiyotaka and Suzune Horikita erode his self-assurance, culminating in pointed critiques of his avoidance of accountability and eventual acceptance of his limitations. Once an unremarkable student, Yōsuke’s ascent to leadership is tethered to guilt-driven altruism. Striving to embody an infallible role model, he grapples with unresolved trauma and internal clashes, gradually shedding idealized perfection to confront the burdens of his past and the fractured realities of guiding others.