MW/YMMV

• Complete Monster: Played with and, eventually subverted with Michio
• Jerkass Woobie: Michio
• Magnificent Bastard: Michio
• Mind Game Ship: Michio and Garai.
• Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped: Later on, an entire chapter is dedicated to how homosexuality is neither wrong nor shameful. Given how the only homosexual or bisexual characters in the story are Michio, Garai and a cameo by a (principled and outspoken) lesbian editor (and an even briefer cameo by her lover), this was sorely needed.
  • Then again there's a club-full of male ones, not counting the later scenes between Michio and the General whose wife he has just seduced beforehand.
• The Woobie: Michio in the backstory; one of Michio's bank colleagues and his entire family; and Sumiko; and Shansaku Ban. Also Garai, thanks to his own and Michio's joint efforts.