Gariben 

The gariben (ガリ勉) is Japan's answer to the classic “nerd” stereotype. Originally written as 我利勉 (lit. "self-interested endeavorer"). But nowadays, it is commonly spelled with katakana as a pun on garigari (ガリガリ), an onomatopoeia for scraping or crunching, which can also mean "toiling" or "grinding" away at one's work.

While “nerd” has become synonymous with “geek” in the Anglosphere, with both terms now associated with niche hobbies like comic books and video games, gariben are focused obsessively on academics, often to the detriment of their physical health and social lives. The term also can be used derisively towards someone who's overly intellectual or preoccupied with their studies, as one might call someone an "egghead" in Anglophone cultures.

Gariben are best recognized not only by their piles of textbooks and flash card rings, but a concentration-filled expression. They may also wear thick glasses and a hachimaki band while they study, and can be found regularly attending cram school or gifted student programs. They may or may not have been raised by a kyouiku mama.

Yukimitsu is a model example of a gariben, raised by his mother to study constantly and shun any activities that aren't directly tied to his academic performance. One spectator even calls him a gariben as he makes his debut during the Shinryuuji Nagas game.

This way of life has taken a noticeable toll on Yukimitsu's long-term physical development, leaving him with a frail body that has very limited strength and endurance. Even after joining the Devil Bats, his efforts to self-improve mirror unhealthy gariben habits, such as exercizing for long hours and memorizing books full of plays late into the night.

Yukimitsu also demonstrates more general nerd traits, such as wearing reading glasses and having a flashcard ring in hand. His book bag is stuffed with textbooks, dictionaries, and study guides that he lends out to classmates. He occasionally wears a hachimaki while studying next to tall piles of books.