Kushida

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田桔梗)
Alias(es)	“Little Kushida” (used by Konoe) 26 33
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class 1-D, High-Spec School
Occupation/Role	Student; social connector and information-gatherer for Class D
First Appearance	Chapter 1 (as the orange-haired girl on the bus); named in Chapter 2 1 2

Appearance

Kushida is presented as an attractive, girlish student whose approachable appearance supports her popular public image. Her hair is described as orange during the bus incident, then as shoulder-length, straight brown hair in later narration. 1 5

• Shoulder-length straight brown hair 5
• Often wears a very short skirt 5
• Has a cute, expressive manner and deliberately charming poses 13 26
• Possesses far greater physical strength and speed than Konoe expects. 23

Personality

Public persona

Kushida introduces herself with the stated goal of becoming friends with everyone in her class and making memories with them. Her energy and enthusiasm give Class D an immediately favorable impression. 2

She is socially adept, considerate of quieter classmates, and able to keep groups engaged in shared conversations. During Class D’s outing, she makes sure neither Konoe nor Ayanokoji is excluded. 15 She also repeatedly acts as a mediator, including intervening when Sudo becomes aggressive toward Horikita. 17 22

Kushida insists that leaving even one person outside her circle of friends would mean failing her goal. This drives her persistent attempts to befriend Horikita despite repeated rejection. 13

Hidden nature

Kushida privately harbors intense hatred toward Horikita. After being confronted, she openly confirms that she hates Horikita “the most.” 23 35 When alone, she drops her cheerful facade, curses Horikita, and expresses violent wishes toward her. 23 39

Her relationship with Konoe reveals a possessive and manipulative side. She pressures him to stay away from Horikita, reacts angrily when he praises Horikita, and uses emotionally loaded reminders of their shared secret to deter betrayal. 33 39

Despite her volatility, Kushida can show vulnerability around Konoe. She later explains that venting in his room had made her feel relaxed, and she becomes emotional when he rejects her request to date. 50

Abilities & Skills

Social networking

Kushida is exceptionally effective at forming connections across groups and classes.

• Has numerous friends, including students outside Class D. 13 15
• Is considered well-suited to approaching upperclassmen and obtaining information. 6
• Uses her charm and communication skills to draw people into cooperative situations. 15 27
• Helped notify Class D after learning that the midterm examination scope had changed. 34

Information gathering

Kushida assists Class D’s efforts to secure examination materials.

• Konoe assigns her and Ayanokoji to approach second-year Class D for potential exam questions. 27
• Obtains papers later used as Class D’s mock examinations. 33 34
• Initially presents the papers as practice materials, then admits after the midterm that they were past exam papers. 34

Physical ability

Kushida demonstrates unexpected physical prowess when Konoe discovers her secret.

• Rapidly catches Konoe as he attempts to flee. 23
• Overpowers him with a hold despite his attempts to escape. 23
• Her 50-meter swimming time is stated to be thirty-one seconds. 23

History

Kushida first appears on the bus to High-Spec School, where she unsuccessfully tries to persuade Kogenji to yield a priority seat to an elderly woman. Her concern for others contrasts with Kogenji’s refusal and leaves an impression on Konoe. 1

In Class D, she introduces herself as someone who wants to befriend everyone. She soon exchanges contact information with Konoe and Ayanokoji, explaining that she wants their help reaching the isolated Horikita. 2 5

Kushida joins Konoe and Ayanokoji’s effort to connect with Horikita at Palette Cafe. Although Horikita rejects friendship, Kushida obtains her contact information and remains determined to become close to her. 13

During the midterm crisis, Kushida supports the study group, intervenes in disputes, and accepts Konoe’s request to investigate possible exam questions. The papers she provides become the basis for Class D’s mock tests, helping the class prepare for the actual midterm. 22 27 33 34

Konoe later follows Kushida after she leaves the study group upset. On the school rooftop, he discovers her concealed hatred of Horikita; when she realizes he overheard her, she physically restrains him. Their secret remains unspoken afterward. 23 25

Kushida’s hostility becomes explicit after the midterm, when Horikita confronts her directly and Kushida admits her hatred. She continues to seek Konoe’s attention while warning him not to side with Horikita. 33 35 39

Later, Kushida enters Konoe’s dormitory using his room card and falls asleep in his bed. When confronted, she asks to date him; Konoe refuses, though he acknowledges that he finds her cute and is physically affected by her closeness. Kushida vows to make him fall for her. 49 50

Relationships

• Konoe Hirakawa — Classmate, confidant, and the only known witness to her hidden personality. Their relationship shifts from friendly cooperation to secrecy, possessiveness, and Kushida’s direct romantic pursuit. 5 23 39 50
• Horikita Suzune — Classmate and target of Kushida’s intense hatred. Kushida repeatedly attempts to befriend her publicly while privately wishing her harm. 13 23 35
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — Classmate who assists her in gathering examination materials and joins attempts to socialize with Horikita. Kushida seeks his opinions about girls and appears interested in his view of her. 5 27 38
• Hirata Yosuke — Classmate whose concern for Horikita’s isolation overlaps with Kushida’s stated goal of befriending Horikita. 13
• Sudo Ken — Classmate whom she attempts to restrain and mediate during his conflict with Horikita. 22
• Class 1-D — Kushida presents herself as a friend to all classmates and works to prevent expulsions during the midterm crisis. 2 27

Story Role / Major Arcs

Friendship campaign

Kushida establishes herself as one of Class D’s most sociable students, exchanges contacts with Konoe and Ayanokoji, and repeatedly tries to bring Horikita into the class’s social circle. 5 13

Midterm examination

She joins the study-group effort, helps obtain past exam papers, and distributes mock examinations that prove identical to the midterm questions. Her concealment of the papers’ origin causes her to apologize after the tests. 27 33 34

Rooftop revelation

Konoe overhears Kushida’s private hatred for Horikita and is attacked after being discovered. This exposes the divide between Kushida’s public friendliness and her concealed hostility. 23

Conflict over Konoe

Kushida becomes increasingly jealous of Konoe’s interactions with Horikita, demands that he stay away from her, and confronts him in his dormitory. 33 39

Confession

After entering Konoe’s room and sleeping beside him, Kushida asks him to try dating her. Konoe refuses because he does not like her enough to date her, prompting her to vow that she will make him fall for her. 49 50

Notable Quotes

“My goal is to become friends with everyone here. I want to make all sorts of memories with you all.” 2

“Yes, I hate you the most.” 35

“Since we're friends, you should stay away from Horikita from now on.” 33

“I’ll make Konoe fall for me.” 50