Youji Sakiyama

Youji Sakiyama (崎山洋司 *Sakiyama Youji*) is the main protagonist of sweet pool. He is the brother of Erika Serizawa. He lives in a house alone, which he once lived with his mother, father and sister until his parent's death and sister moved out. He attends Komanami Private Academy, a catholic school.

## Appearance

Youji is usually seen wearing his school uniform. He has a pale complexion, mainly because of his frequent sickness. He has black hair and black, slightly greyish eyes. He has a scar in the middle of his chest, which he later learns is from the car accident he survived.

## Personality

Youji is often described as a quiet, somewhat stoic person. He is more of a listener than a talker, often listening to his only friend Makoto's long tangents.

## History

Youji Sakiyama was born as the second child to the Sakiyama family. He had a relatively normal childhood along with his sister. In a terrible turn of events, him, his father and mother get in a car accident, killing his parents. When he is awoken in the hospital, previously presumed dead, he has forgotten the incident entirely. He does not know of the car accident until it is revealed to him by his sister years later.

Years later, Youji has his life turned upside down once he returns to school after being in and out of the hospital. Because he has missed so much school, he has to repeat a year, which he feels slightly embarrassed about. Shortly after returning to school he goes through a series of strange events, including hallucinations of blood, excreting meat from his anus, and alarming increased libido. Going on to have more frequent encounters with Tetsuo and Zenya, he discovers his condition may not just be his head.

## Relationships

Makoto Mita - Makoto is Youji's only friend. They usually talk whenever the two arrive at school, and sometimes go to eat food together, despite Youji usually only ordering something small. Despite being a non-talkative person, Youji listens to whatever joke or rumor Makoto has to tell him every time they talk. They usually talk at school.

Tetsuo Shironuma - At first, Youji is very intimidated by Tetsuo, with their only interactions being uncomfortable stares. Youji's view on him changes as him and Tetsuo interact more, with Tetsuo being awkwardly touchy and movements erratic, doing unpredicted things to Youji. Towards the end, they discover they are more similar than initally thought.

Zenya Okinaga - Youji dislikes Zenya, as do many others in the school. He thinks he is very weird and loud, often making a scene in public for the fun of it. He later is interrogated by Zenya, who calls him "not-human" and hints at knowing about Youji's recent problems. Wanting to know more about his condition, he reluctantly interacts with him more than he'd like to.

Erika Serizawa - Erika Serizawa is Youji's older sister. Being his only remaining family alive, the two of them are very close. Youji sees Erika like a parent to him since their parent's death, as she took care of him until moving out to live with her husband. Despite moving out, she still pays his school tuition, for the house he lives alone in, and medical bills. Youji usually only calls and emails her, but tries to refrain from doing so in fear of bothering her in her new married life.

## Gallery

Youji on the sweet pool cover, from the artbookYouji and TetsuoYouji and TetsuoYouji having one of his hallucinations.Youji's first appearance.nobodyunderstandsme.jpg