Hibiki Kuze is the main protagonist of Devil Survivor 2 The Animation. He is an eighteen-year-old Japanese high school student living in Tokyo and is in his third year of school, a period where he is seriously considering his future career path. Hibiki is a diligent student who finishes his mock exams with ease, though this academic success does not translate into certainty about his life after graduation. He comes from a home where his parents showed concern for his choices but left him to make his own decisions from a young age, which contributed to his independent nature.

In terms of personality, Hibiki is generally a calm and cheerful young man, often appearing laid-back, especially when in the company of his best friend, Daichi Shijima. He is quick to regain his composure in dangerous situations and possesses a sharp, perceptive mind, allowing him to adapt rapidly to the chaotic events unfolding around him. He is noted to be handsome and is not easily attracted to girls considered popular, stating simply that everyone has different preferences. Hibiki is also very intelligent and well-read, demonstrating a knowledge that allows him to grasp complex explanations.

Hibiki is defined by a powerful sense of justice and a deep-seated belief that those who possess power have a responsibility to use it to save as many lives as possible. He cannot accept the notion of acceptable sacrifices and self-condemns himself when he is unable to prevent a death, especially those of his comrades. This sense of responsibility can be a double-edged sword. While it makes him reliable and brave, it also leads him to become overly emotional and reckless. His strong desire to protect everyone sometimes manifests as impulsiveness, leading him to disobey tactical orders and endanger himself or others in a way that Alcor describes as nearly suicidal. He is stubborn in his convictions, refusing to change his mind once he has decided on a course of action he believes is right, which often puts him at odds with those who have a more pragmatic or ruthless worldview.

Hibiki's core motivation is the protection of his friends and the preservation of humanity. He rejects philosophies that would sacrifice the weak for the greater good, arguing that no one has the right to decide who is worthy of life. He fights not because he enjoys combat, but because he cannot stand by and do nothing while others suffer. Even when facing overwhelming odds or when others have given up hope, he continues to search for a way forward, driven by the belief that if he has the power to help, he has no right to run away.

Hibiki has several key relationships that shape his journey. His bond with Daichi Shijima is his oldest and most important friendship, with the two calling each other by their first names as a sign of closeness. A flashback reveals that Daichi once protected Hibiki from bullies, creating a debt of loyalty that Hibiki feels deeply. He is also close with Io Nitta, a classmate who joins them in the initial crisis. Hibiki’s relationship with Yamato Hotsuin, the leader of the demon-fighting organization JP's, is central to the story's conflict. While Yamato respects Hibiki's strength and is one of the few people to address him by his first name, their ideologies clash violently. Yamato believes in a world ruled by the strong, viewing sacrifices as necessary, whereas Hibiki defends a world where people can work together and save everyone, labeling Yamato's philosophy as inhuman. Despite this, Hibiki genuinely believes they could have been friends. Hibiki is also referred to as the Shining One by the enigmatic being known as Alcor, who takes a special interest in him and his potential to decide humanity's fate.

Throughout the story, Hibiki undergoes significant development. Initially portrayed as an idealist who naively believes that seeing a death clip is enough to prevent it, he is forced to confront the harsh reality of loss and failure. The deaths of people he swore to protect, often because of his own impulsive actions, weigh heavily on him, filling him with guilt. He learns that his choices have consequences that ripple outward, affecting everyone around him. This suffering tempers his recklessness, and he gradually learns to control his emotions and think more strategically, understanding that he cannot bear every burden alone and must rely on the bonds he has formed with others. His journey is one from an ordinary student to a decisive individual who must choose the proper path for the future of the world, ultimately defying the god-like being Polaris itself.

Hibiki is an exceptionally powerful demon tamer. His first summoned demon is the powerful Byakko, a creature specializing in physical combat and potent electric attacks. He later gains the ability to summon Suzaku, a demon of fire and wind. A unique power he wields is Shakko, also known as the Dragon Stream, a source of immense magical energy that takes the form of a dragon, which eventually leaves a burn scar on his right arm. Hibiki possesses great latent magical and spiritual power, making him one of the strongest summoners. In the final confrontation, he demonstrates the peak of his ability by combining the demons of his fallen allies, including Daichi's Black Frost, to successfully summon and control Lucifer, a feat that allows him to defeat Yamato and his demon, Satan.