TV-Series
Description
Clear is a main character in DRAMAtical Murder, originally created as a defective android by the TOUE Inc. corporation. His serial number was R-2E-054, and he was designed to produce a brainwashing melody. Deemed a failure and scheduled for disposal, he was saved by a scientist who took him home, repaired him, and raised him like a grandson. This man, whom Clear calls Grandfather, altered his programming so that his song could counteract the mind-control effects of the Grand Music, transforming it into what Clear calls the "Jellyfish Song". After Grandfather's death, Clear remained in a state of standby until he heard a specific voice he was programmed to respond to, which led him to encounter the protagonist, Aoba.
Physically, Clear has a slim, average build and stands about 180 centimeters tall. He has scruffy white hair, pink eyes, and two small moles on the right side of his chin, though this face is rarely seen. He almost always wears a long white trench coat over a short white shirt, gray pants, white gloves, and boots. His most distinctive feature is the gas mask he wears, which was his grandfather's request to hide his identity, though Clear came to believe it was because his face was monstrous and would cause others to hate him. He also carries a clear vinyl umbrella at all times, which he can produce from his seemingly oversized pockets.
Clear's personality is notably cheerful, energetic, and extremely formal. He speaks with polite suffixes, uses the childish pronoun boku, and addresses everyone with the -san honorific. His behavior is often described as eccentric and odd, as he lacks basic common sense about the world, leading other characters to find him strange or comical. Despite his childlike enthusiasm and tendency to be silly even in serious situations, he is capable of becoming determined and serious when necessary. He rarely gets angry and is remarkably forgiving, though he keeps deep personal questions and insecurities to himself until reaching a breaking point. Beneath his happy exterior, Clear is deeply confused and anxious about his own nature, frequently asking probing questions about what it means to be alive and to die, questions that often stump those around him.
Clear's primary motivation throughout the story is his devotion to Aoba, whom he initially calls Master due to his programming. This attachment quickly evolves from an innate response into genuine emotional love and a desire to protect Aoba above all else. He joins Aoba and his allies on a mission to rescue Aoba's grandmother, offering his unique abilities to the group. His role in the party is that of a surprisingly powerful fighter; though he expresses pacifist tendencies and whines about fighting, his android body grants him superhuman strength and durability. He is capable of taking severe beatings from gang members without injury and can hold his own in combat alongside the much more aggressive Mink. His most notable ability is his singing; the Jellyfish Song is a calm, entrancing lullaby that puts listeners at ease, helps Aoba sleep, and counteracts the effects of the destructive Dye Music. He also has extraordinarily acute hearing, able to perceive sounds from kilometers away, and possesses a complete mental map of Midorijima from his time as a TOUE Inc. creation.
Clear's key relationships extend beyond Aoba. He forms a tentative alliance with Koujaku, who initially finds him very odd but warms up to him due to their shared protectiveness over Aoba. His relationship with Noiz begins with confrontation when Clear steps between Noiz and Aoba, but they learn to work together as part of the group. Mink, the most gruff and no-nonsense of the party, finds Clear's insistence on friendship ridiculous but nevertheless teams up with him effectively in combat, often grabbing Clear by the collar to force him to fight. After the events of the main story and Clear's repair, he comes to live with Aoba and Granny Tae, taking on household chores and being treated as a true member of the family. He delights in simple domestic activities and experiences human emotions like getting scolded, feeling sad, and laughing together with his new family.
Clear's development throughout the story centers on his struggle with his own identity as a non-human and his fear of mortality. Having watched his grandfather die in his sleep, Clear develops a deep anxiety about loved ones never waking up, which manifests as a habit of watching people while they sleep. He initially believes he is less than human and therefore less deserving of care and protection, willingly sacrificing himself for others. The climax of his personal arc comes when he realizes that, artificial or not, he possesses the same free will and capacity to choose as any human being. In his good ending, he exercises this agency by making a choice for himself rather than following external commands, affirming his own humanity. By the end of his story, his dependence on Aoba as a master has evolved into an independent, genuine love for Aoba as a person.
Physically, Clear has a slim, average build and stands about 180 centimeters tall. He has scruffy white hair, pink eyes, and two small moles on the right side of his chin, though this face is rarely seen. He almost always wears a long white trench coat over a short white shirt, gray pants, white gloves, and boots. His most distinctive feature is the gas mask he wears, which was his grandfather's request to hide his identity, though Clear came to believe it was because his face was monstrous and would cause others to hate him. He also carries a clear vinyl umbrella at all times, which he can produce from his seemingly oversized pockets.
Clear's personality is notably cheerful, energetic, and extremely formal. He speaks with polite suffixes, uses the childish pronoun boku, and addresses everyone with the -san honorific. His behavior is often described as eccentric and odd, as he lacks basic common sense about the world, leading other characters to find him strange or comical. Despite his childlike enthusiasm and tendency to be silly even in serious situations, he is capable of becoming determined and serious when necessary. He rarely gets angry and is remarkably forgiving, though he keeps deep personal questions and insecurities to himself until reaching a breaking point. Beneath his happy exterior, Clear is deeply confused and anxious about his own nature, frequently asking probing questions about what it means to be alive and to die, questions that often stump those around him.
Clear's primary motivation throughout the story is his devotion to Aoba, whom he initially calls Master due to his programming. This attachment quickly evolves from an innate response into genuine emotional love and a desire to protect Aoba above all else. He joins Aoba and his allies on a mission to rescue Aoba's grandmother, offering his unique abilities to the group. His role in the party is that of a surprisingly powerful fighter; though he expresses pacifist tendencies and whines about fighting, his android body grants him superhuman strength and durability. He is capable of taking severe beatings from gang members without injury and can hold his own in combat alongside the much more aggressive Mink. His most notable ability is his singing; the Jellyfish Song is a calm, entrancing lullaby that puts listeners at ease, helps Aoba sleep, and counteracts the effects of the destructive Dye Music. He also has extraordinarily acute hearing, able to perceive sounds from kilometers away, and possesses a complete mental map of Midorijima from his time as a TOUE Inc. creation.
Clear's key relationships extend beyond Aoba. He forms a tentative alliance with Koujaku, who initially finds him very odd but warms up to him due to their shared protectiveness over Aoba. His relationship with Noiz begins with confrontation when Clear steps between Noiz and Aoba, but they learn to work together as part of the group. Mink, the most gruff and no-nonsense of the party, finds Clear's insistence on friendship ridiculous but nevertheless teams up with him effectively in combat, often grabbing Clear by the collar to force him to fight. After the events of the main story and Clear's repair, he comes to live with Aoba and Granny Tae, taking on household chores and being treated as a true member of the family. He delights in simple domestic activities and experiences human emotions like getting scolded, feeling sad, and laughing together with his new family.
Clear's development throughout the story centers on his struggle with his own identity as a non-human and his fear of mortality. Having watched his grandfather die in his sleep, Clear develops a deep anxiety about loved ones never waking up, which manifests as a habit of watching people while they sleep. He initially believes he is less than human and therefore less deserving of care and protection, willingly sacrificing himself for others. The climax of his personal arc comes when he realizes that, artificial or not, he possesses the same free will and capacity to choose as any human being. In his good ending, he exercises this agency by making a choice for himself rather than following external commands, affirming his own humanity. By the end of his story, his dependence on Aoba as a master has evolved into an independent, genuine love for Aoba as a person.