Ryohei Arisu comes from a prestigious family; his father held a high-ranking education position. His mother died during his childhood, and his father constantly compared him unfavorably to his academically successful younger brother. This fostered deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, frustration, low self-esteem, and a sense of being undervalued. Arisu found primary solace in video games, where he displayed strong analytical abilities, though these failed to translate into academic success. His only meaningful personal connections were friends Daikichi Karube and Chōta Segawa, who provided crucial emotional support during his depression and familial conflict. Karube cemented their lifelong bond by defending Arisu from bullies in elementary school, while Chōta earned trust by taking blame for a broken window to shield Arisu from paternal anger. These friendships were his main source of happiness before entering the Borderlands. In his original world, Arisu was unemployed and directionless, having dropped out of university and avoiding job interviews. This aimlessness shifted dramatically when he and his friends were transported to an abandoned Tokyo, the Borderlands. Initially, Arisu saw the desolate environment as liberation from his dissatisfying life. This perspective changed rapidly upon encountering the deadly first game, "Three of Clubs," where he witnessed the survival stakes. His video game expertise proved unexpectedly vital, enabling him to analyze game mechanics and identify patterns. He showed early aptitude for Diamonds (♦️) games demanding logic and probability, like deducing spatial layouts in "Five of Spades." However, experiences in psychologically taxing Heart (♥️) games, especially the traumatic "Seven of Hearts" where Karube and Chōta sacrificed themselves for his survival, solidified Hearts as his specialty. This game forced him to confront Heart challenges' core nature: manipulating emotions and provoking betrayal. Losing his friends triggered profound grief and suicidal despondency. His resolve to survive stemmed from honoring their sacrifice. Arisu's development involved significant internal conflict. Early on, he displayed selfish tendencies, such as attempting to pair Yuzuha Usagi with her rapist to avoid discomfort or fixating on his desires while ignoring others' trauma. Niragi's brutal criticisms and Ginji Kyuma's philosophical challenges during the "King of Clubs" game starkly highlighted these flaws. Kyuma's assertion that survival required embracing life's struggles prompted Arisu to reevaluate his motivations. His partnership with Usagi became pivotal; her pragmatic survival instincts balanced his analytical approach, fostering mutual reliance and emotional vulnerability. He gradually shifted from self-preservation to protecting others, demonstrated by intervening to stop Niragi's assault on Usagi. His strategic thinking evolved to incorporate psychological insights, notably during the "Ten of Hearts" witch hunt at the Beach, where he deduced the "witch" was a victim framing others. This culminated in confronting Aguni, where Arisu exposed the latter's guilt over killing Beach leader Hatter, revealing a deeper grasp of human pain and redemption. After clearing all Borderland games, Arisu returned to the real world transformed. He committed to living purposefully, pursuing education and employment with newfound determination. His Borderland experiences fostered resilience and stronger self-worth, freeing him from his father's negative comparisons. His bond with Usagi endured; they married and started a family. In the sequel manga "Alice in Borderland: Retry," Arisu faced a brief return to the Borderland while hospitalized before their child's birth. This reinforced his commitment to survival and protecting his new family. Psychological scars, including survivor's guilt and trauma, persisted, but he channeled them into a drive to cherish existence and honor those lost, particularly Karube and Chōta.