Not implying people in their 40s "look old", but they have more than just eyebags. I do not think they drew 40 year olds "perfectly", considering other authors add in slight crows feet or folds around the mouth to add distinction. The MC barely looked that much older than the "youngsters" he talked about, just more tired
You can do that, there are 40 year olds who have those. I'm saying it's also normal to not have those, especially in your early 40s. And they're not just eyebags they're also wrinkles, I have those.
I love crows feet so I don't disagree with you in principle, I just don't believe they needed to have more wrinkles to realistically pass for 41 or something

It makes me laugh a little when people call these characters "old guys" because the artist does not draw them that old looking! They look like tired 20-somethings