Reisuke Houjou

Reisuke Houjou is the fifth Diary Owner and the youngest of the twelve Diary Holders. He is often accompanied with a pair of hand puppets, and owns the "Hyper Vision Diary".

== Appearance == Reisuke is a five-year-old child with green eyes, ginger hair, and a brown complexion. His cheeks are often rosy, which adds to his childlike appearance. He wears a green overall with a white shirt underneath, and a matching green cap that completes his outfit. His most distinguishing feature, however, are the two hand puppets he always carries—one representing a man and the other a woman. These puppets are a significant part of his character, serving as both a tool for communication and a symbol of the idealized parents he wished for. His innocent and approachable appearance contrasts sharply with the darker aspects of his personality, allowing him to deceive others into thinking he is just a typical child.

== Personality == Reisuke appears to be a typical innocent child, but beneath this facade lies a highly intelligent and sadistic individual. His childhood was marked by neglect and abuse from his parents, which led to his deep resentment and desire for revenge. His parents' deaths, likely caused by Yuno, push him further into a path of vengeance, with his hand puppets symbolizing the ideal family he never had.

Despite his cruel nature, Reisuke is not without moments of vulnerability. His emotional attachment to his parents becomes evident when he confronts their bodies, grieving their loss and revealing a fragile inner child who longed for affection. This emotional depth contrasts with his cold, calculating demeanor as he attempts to exact revenge and achieve a sense of power through the survival game.

Reisuke’s desire for superiority and control drives his sadistic actions, like poisoning or electrocuting his targets. However, he also displays kindness at times, such as when he spares Yuki's mother, Rea, enjoying the maternal connection he never had. His intelligence and elaborate plans help him stay ahead of his opponents, but his emotional conflict and attachment to his parents ultimately lead to his downfall.

In the end, Reisuke’s tragic journey culminates in a sense of peace, as he accepts the outcome of the game and supports Yuno's victory, realizing that only one can win. His arc reflects a mix of anger, grief, and yearning for family, making him a complex and conflicted character.

== Trivia ==

• Reisuke is named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. His surname 豊穣 (Hōjō) means 'rich harvest'. Whilst the mythical similarities can end there, Reisuke grieves for his dead parents, in a reversal of how Ceres mourns her daughter Prosperina, who spends half a year in the Underworld.
• Reisuke's character theme song is "Perfect Trap" by singer Annabel.
• According to the Official Guidebook, Reisuke’s parents are named Shinji and Yayoi.
• Reisuke’s ginger hair and green eyes create a stark contrast with his dark personality, making his innocent appearance all the more deceptive.
• The hand puppets he carries (one man and one woman) symbolize the idealized parents Reisuke never had. They are both a coping mechanism and a tool for manipulation.
• Despite being only five years old, Reisuke is highly intelligent and sadistic, using elaborate plans like poisoning and electrocution to achieve his goals.
• His emotional growth is evident as he grieves his parents' death, revealing a more vulnerable side to his character and a desire for the family he never had.
• In an alternate timeline, Reisuke is seen as a cheerful and kind child in the 3rd World, suggesting that his tragic upbringing shaped his darker persona in the main timeline.