Kazuya Hiramaru

Kazuya Hiramaru is a former salaryman who quits his job and becomes a mangaka after deciding it might involve less work. Despite beginning almost on impulse, he rapidly teaches himself to draw and proves naturally gifted, leading to the serialization of Otters 11. Hiramaru is exceptionally lazy and frequently tries to escape the workload his editor, Koji Yoshida, pushes on him. He also often claims to be ill, though doctors repeatedly find him healthy.

Hiramaru has a major crush on Yuriko Aoki, and Yoshida regularly uses information about her to motivate him.