Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-90.176.7.225-20140520182401/@comment-73.14.21.142-20161206233810

Otonashi was the programmer mentioned in the scene with Yuri and all the computers. He died on earth, came to the afterlife and was waiting for his love, the one who physically has his heart, Kanade. Otonashi got tired of waiting, got angry, and programmed the NPC's to not allow love in this universe. He made himself an NPC, and as mentioned in the anime, people can come out of NPC state. When he subconsciously felt his heart alive in the afterlife, he came out with no memories, and eventually found Tachibana and love prevailed