CUTE×GUY/Characters

The named characters of CUTE×GUY, listed by order of their debut within the story.

Takaoka Sumi, aka "Tadano Jun"

The Mad Scientist's Generically Cute Daughter.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Freudian Slip: She called Kyouko-sensei "Kyon"-ko in the first chapter, which means "big breasts".
Gender Bender: An uncommon female-to-male example of this trope, Sumi's condition is the result of her Mad Scientist father tricking her into taking an experimental "growth hormone" by convincing her that it would turn her into the sort of mature, sexy woman that her crush was rumored to like. Instead, it turned her into a mature, sexy Bishonen.
- First Law of Gender Bending: Inverted. Although her transformations are no more (or less) permanent than they were from the start, Sumi spends comparatively little time as her female self. In actuality, "Jun" has more of an influence on the plot than "Sumi", who only seems to appear long enough to remind us that, yes, our protagonist is, in fact, a girl who turns into a guy and not the real deal.
- Second Law of Gender Bending: Subverted. Sumi hounded her father for an antidote from beginning to end, but once she actually is cured, she immediately gets told to Stay in the Kitchen while everyone else goes off to rescue Mitsuru (and her and Shizuka's fathers), and Sumi decides to take another dose so she will be able to help.
- Third Law of Gender Bending: Played With. She doesn't suddenly acquire a case of Testosterone Poisoning or feel the need to prove "his" masculinity, but she does occasionally lapse into stereotypical Bishonen behavior, which basically includes charming the pants off girls. It's a Running Gag that Sumi will turn some random girl into a shivery pile of goo and then run off wondering where that came from. Yet she is also a heterosexual female.
Hilariously Abusive Parents: Sumi's father is a Mad Scientist who apparently has no qualms using his only daughter as a guinea pig for an experimental "medicine" and ignores her demands of an antidote while simultaneously keeping her under (presumably constant) surveillance. Her mother is completely indifferent to Sumi's obvious distress at this state of affairs and instead, she takes advantage of the situation to dress "Jun" up like a runway model. Both of them have referred to Sumi as their "son", despite her protests, and it is revealed in the finale that her mother has been secretly spiking her food with the Gender Bender drug.
Smitten Teenage Girl: Downplayed. Sumi may not trail after Mitsuru with hearts in her eyes, but she's apparently besotted enough to consume a potion of dubious origins on the promise that it would make her attractive to him.

Sudou Mitsuru

The Love Interest.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Attractive Bent Gender: Mitsuru makes a very cute girl, but unlike every other character who qualifies for this trope, he is only crossdressing as the opposite sex. At least until the finale, when he takes the Gender Bender drug to escape and transforms into an even more Moe-looking girl than he was in drag.
First Guy Wins --> Understanding Boyfriend: Mitsuru takes The Reveal that his close friend Jun, who he has admired since their first meeting, is actually the gender bent version of his female classmate Takaoka Sumi, who he is also friends with and has a crush on, very well. Implausibly so. Especially considering all the Blatant Lies that she's been feeding him, and not to mention the fact that he discovered the truth entirely by accident when their elaborate plot to convince him "Jun" worked at a host club was interrupted. Anyone in their right mind would be completely justified in feeling at least a little bit confused, if not outright betrayed. Instead, The Reveal Prompts Romance.
Hidden Depths: Mitsuru is revealed to have an unexpected affection for turtles. In fact, when asked what he wanted most, he even knew enough about them to request a specific breed: the South American snake-necked turtle. Sumi was just fortunate that Dr. Nishizawa had one laying around for Shizuka to give her.
I Didn't Mean to Turn You On: Mitsuru can't seem to say two words to Sumi without sending her running for the hills. And then Jun turns up. The fact that he hasn't noticed the pattern definitely speaks to his gullability.
I Want to Be a Real Man: Mitsuru has something of a complex about his androgynous appearance, which is what set the plot in motion. Mitsuru met "Jun", the Tall, Dark and Handsome Bishonen, and asked to become his apprentice.
They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: Mitsuru has admitted that he doesn't understand why "Jun-san" is always in or around the school, but he believes that Jun will tell him eventually, when the time is right, and has respected his privacy. At the same time, Volume 2 proved that Mitsuru would not tolerate being deliberately left in the dark and lied to, and by Volume 4, he has apparently decided to take matters into his own hands.

Nishizawa Shizuka

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Gender Bender: Shizuka transforms into a mature, sexy woman whenever he eats seafood.
- First Law of Gender Bending: Averted. Like everyone else who took the drug, Shizuka only transforms when he is exposed to his particular trigger, and he inevitably returns to his male form once the effect wears off. However, possibly because his transformation is difficult to trigger by accident, Shizuka spends the least amount of time transformed.
- Second Law of Gender Bending: Averted. Shizuka starts out angry at his father for inflicting this on him, and although he does not explicitly hate turning into a woman, getting harassed by the girls at school for being 'perverted' after spilling the contents of his bag, which included a lacy bra, cannot have endeared it to him. However, he doesn't seem to mind using his female alter ego to help out Sumi.
- Third Law of Gender Bending: Subverted. Even as a woman, Shizuka never wears a skirt or changes anything about his assertive personality simply to comply with female gender stereotypes. However, it also deserves mention that he apparently suffered no discomfort while wearing a bikini and participating in a beauty competition against two actual women (at least, as far as he knew). Double Subverted, actually, since he apparently favors racy lingerie over more utilitarian underclothes. Even though, theoretically, there would have been no reason for anyone to know the difference.
Hilariously Abusive Parents: Shizuka's Backstory is virtually identical to Sumi's, complete with the Mad Scientist father and a mother who couldn't care less, but is less involved with the events of the story. His mother only receives a mention, though his father has a larger role as The Rival to Sumi's father, Dr. Takaoka.
New Transfer Student: There is absolutely no explanation given as to how or why he transferred to their school, but he did.
Trademark Favorite Food: Seafood in general. Shizuka even says as much in his introduction to the class. Unfortunately, because his "shitty old man" spiked his seafood spaghetti with an experimental drug (sounding familiar yet?), he turns into a bombshell whenever he eats it. No digestion required. Apparently just putting it in his mouth is enough to trigger the transformation.

Hozumi Masao

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Kyouko-sensei

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Abhorrent Admirer: To "Jun", who is actually 100% heterosexual schoolgirl Takaoka Sumi.
Hospital Hottie: Kyouko-sensei. Blonde, buxom, sultry and an (in this case, school) nurse.
Hot for Student: She comes on very heavily to Jun, even though she initially believes he is an (older looking) student. Soon notices he isn't on the school register though.
Spell My Name with an "S": Kyoko or Kyouko? (According to the romaji for "京子", Kyouko is correct.)
The Vamp: Not only is she beloved by the school's male population (most of them anyway) but very nearly forces herself on Jun/male Sumi before she is wooed into submission by 'his' smooth-talking.

Maki Hanako

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Going for the Big Scoop: This is (ostensibly) the reason for her harassment of Jun.
Last-Name Basis: As per Japanese custom, Sumi calls her "Maki" instead of using her given name "Hanako".
School Newspaper Newshound
- Intrepid Reporter: What Maki seems to think she is.
- Paparazzi: What she actually comes across as.

Misono Tsubaki, aka "Doctor M"

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Matsumizu Yuuriko, aka "Alicia"

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Misaki Seiji

A description of the character goes here.

Tropes exhibited by this character include:

Gender Bender: Another uncommon female-to-male example of this trope, if she has an involuntary trigger, it isn't revealed to the audience. Misaki took the drug to transform her cute, clumsy Meganekko self into the cool, collected Seiji.
- First Law of Gender Bending: Averted. Of course, the transformations themselves are inherently temporary, but even with that in mind, she spends about an equal amount of time as "Misaki" as she does "Seiji".
- Second Law of Gender Bending: Zig Zagged. Unlike absolutely everyone else, Misaki took the Gender Bender drug with a complete understanding of the effect it would have, and she milked her other self for all "he" was worth. Misaki enjoyed the escapism of being someone as cool as Seiji, but she was not so attached to the idea of being a guy. She loved her life as a Gender Bender, but she possibly wouldn't if she were actually trapped as a man.
- Third Law of Gender Bending: Subverted. Any and all personality changes are deliberate escapism on her part, which was her primary motivation for taking the drug to begin with (as well as seducing Mitsuru), but whereas Sumi's behavior is a Running Gag, Seiji's was intentional.
Only One Name: It is unclear if "Misaki" is her given name or her surname, but "Seiji" is a masculine name, so it's unlikely that it's her actual name. But you never know. One should bear in mind though, that she only introduced herself as Seiji to Mitsuru, while she was in her male form, and he's the only character to actually call her that.