TV-Series
Description
Youji Kudou is a former private detective who co-ran an agency with his partner and romantic interest, Asuka Murase. Their investigation into the Liott club's prostitution ring ended with Asuka shot and killed, an event that fundamentally shaped his path. This trauma drove him to join the assassin group Weiß (Knight Hunters) under the codename "Balinese," dedicating himself to protecting women as atonement for failing to save Asuka. Consequently, he only accepts missions involving adult women.
Outwardly, Youji presents as laid-back, charismatic, and carefree, adopting the persona of a quintessential ladies' man who jokes frequently and uses charm to gather intelligence. This masks deeper emotional scars, as he frequently sees echoes of Asuka in the women he encounters on missions. Despite his playful exterior, he demonstrates unwavering seriousness and loyalty during operations, providing reliable cover for his teammates without hesitation. Professionally, he maintains a daytime cover as a florist at the Koneko no Sumu Ie (Cat's Living Room) flower shop, where the cattleya orchid serves as his personal floral motif.
In combat, Youji specializes in using a strong, durable wire concealed within a wristwatch to immobilize or strangle adversaries. He is also proficient in hand-to-hand combat and firearms. A recurring pattern termed the "Cartwright Curse" defines much of his personal tragedy, as multiple women he becomes involved with meet untimely deaths, extending beyond mission targets to include casual acquaintances. This curse exacerbates his underlying trauma, particularly after encountering Neu, a woman resembling Asuka; her fate triggers a severe psychological decline.
During the Glühen storyline, this deterioration manifests in disturbing impulses, including urges to strangle women. His mental state fragments, leading to extended conversations with Asuka's ghost. This culminates in a near betrayal of Weiß when the leader of a secret lab offers to erase his memories and reprogram him. Ultimately, he undergoes memory alteration, resulting in complete amnesia. Following this, he marries a nurse who cared for him during recovery, though his loyalty to Weiß remains a pivotal conflict resolved by his teammate Ran Fujimiya before missions resume.
Within Weiß, Youji engages in playful teasing of teammates like Ken and Omi, though consistently supports them during operations. He shares a significant, albeit strained, bond with Ran Fujimiya (Aya), who intervenes during his mental health crisis in Glühen. Physically, he has ochre hair (blond in later adaptations), green eyes, stands 182 cm tall, and was born on March 3rd (Pisces). He drives a green Lotus 7 and has a noted tendency for heavy smoking.
Outwardly, Youji presents as laid-back, charismatic, and carefree, adopting the persona of a quintessential ladies' man who jokes frequently and uses charm to gather intelligence. This masks deeper emotional scars, as he frequently sees echoes of Asuka in the women he encounters on missions. Despite his playful exterior, he demonstrates unwavering seriousness and loyalty during operations, providing reliable cover for his teammates without hesitation. Professionally, he maintains a daytime cover as a florist at the Koneko no Sumu Ie (Cat's Living Room) flower shop, where the cattleya orchid serves as his personal floral motif.
In combat, Youji specializes in using a strong, durable wire concealed within a wristwatch to immobilize or strangle adversaries. He is also proficient in hand-to-hand combat and firearms. A recurring pattern termed the "Cartwright Curse" defines much of his personal tragedy, as multiple women he becomes involved with meet untimely deaths, extending beyond mission targets to include casual acquaintances. This curse exacerbates his underlying trauma, particularly after encountering Neu, a woman resembling Asuka; her fate triggers a severe psychological decline.
During the Glühen storyline, this deterioration manifests in disturbing impulses, including urges to strangle women. His mental state fragments, leading to extended conversations with Asuka's ghost. This culminates in a near betrayal of Weiß when the leader of a secret lab offers to erase his memories and reprogram him. Ultimately, he undergoes memory alteration, resulting in complete amnesia. Following this, he marries a nurse who cared for him during recovery, though his loyalty to Weiß remains a pivotal conflict resolved by his teammate Ran Fujimiya before missions resume.
Within Weiß, Youji engages in playful teasing of teammates like Ken and Omi, though consistently supports them during operations. He shares a significant, albeit strained, bond with Ran Fujimiya (Aya), who intervenes during his mental health crisis in Glühen. Physically, he has ochre hair (blond in later adaptations), green eyes, stands 182 cm tall, and was born on March 3rd (Pisces). He drives a green Lotus 7 and has a noted tendency for heavy smoking.