Kaede

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tennoji Kaede (枫)
Alias(es)	Maple; “Ishizaki Daichi” (disguise); “Legendary Fortune Teller”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Advanced Nurturing High School; initially First-Year Class C; Tennoji Group
Occupation/Role	Student; strategist; part-time fortune-teller
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Haiya Karma System activated	1	Activates upon Kaede entering the school’s “plot,” allowing him to place Causality Marks and receive effects from marked individuals’ attention and reactions.
Initial effect from Kōenji Rokusuke	1	Gains Personality Charm +5 and Eyesight +5 after attracting Kōenji’s recognition; a normal person’s base stat is stated to be 10.
Kushida Kikyo marked	1	Her gratitude and attraction grant Charisma +21, Deception +51, and Memory +1.
Horikita Suzune marked	2	Receives Charisma +1 and Arrogant Heart +10 from Horikita’s hostile interest.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka marked	2	Gains Combat Mastery +100, Memory Ability +100, Logical Thinking +100, Encyclopedia Knowledge +100, and Common Sense +1 after Ayanokōji identifies him as someone who cannot be ignored.
Shiina Hiyori marked	2	Gains Charisma +3, Memory Ability +3, and Quantum Speed Reading +5 after Hiyori takes an interest in him.
Kaneda Satoru marked	6	Gains Charisma +5, Encyclopedic Knowledge +5, and Cunning & Strategy +5 when Kaneda seeks his favor.
Kamuro Sumire marked	8	Gains Charisma +5, Transfer Skills +20, and Legal Code +100 after discovering her shoplifting.
Ibuki Mio marked	21	Gains Charisma +5, Leg Development +5, and Causality Lock Door +30 while trapped alone with her.
Sakura Airi marked	36	Gains Charisma +5, Disguise +10, and Makeup Artistry +20 after learning of her hidden online identity.
Ayanokōji’s renewed attention	57	Gains Charisma +5, Breath Concealment +30, Logical Thinking +30, and Combat Mastery +30 after Ayanokōji witnesses Kaede’s dealings with Katsuragi.
Hasebe Haruka marked	84	Gains Charisma +5 and Perception +5 after passing her personal test of character.
Yukimura Teruhiko marked	133	Gains Charisma +5, Encyclopedia Knowledge +10, and Scheming +3 after Yukimura learns of Kaede’s academic and athletic reputation.

Background

Kaede arrives at Advanced Nurturing High School already aware of the expected course of events and the major students involved. Upon boarding the school bus, his Haiya Karma System activates; he immediately begins cultivating Causality Marks by drawing the attention of Kōenji Rokusuke and helping Kushida Kikyo during the seat dispute 1.

Assigned to Class C, Kaede gains overwhelming physical and intellectual improvements after marking Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. He recognizes Ryuen Kakeru’s tyrannical control of the class but initially allows classmates to mistake him for Ryuen’s subordinate, while Hiyori and Ibuki suspect that he has not genuinely submitted 2 11.

Personality

Kaede is confident, theatrical, and highly calculating. He prefers indirect control: feeding others selected truths, staging situations to expose opponents, and letting targets reach conclusions that benefit his plans. He describes his own approach plainly: he does not lie, but “occasionally” tells half-truths 27.

Despite this manipulative streak, Kaede repeatedly refuses to exploit vulnerable people. He protects Kushida rather than using her secret against her, helps Sakura escape Ryuen’s intimidation and a stalker’s harassment, and urges Karuizawa to stop depending on a false relationship for security 24 36 43 95.

His long-term goal is unusually broad for the school’s competitive structure: he wants multiple classes to graduate with Class A status. Shiina Hiyori is the only person stated to know his complete strategy 104 117.

Abilities & Skills

Haiya / Haigoku Karma System

Kaede’s system identifies notable students, places Causality Marks on them, and converts their attention, interest, fear, gratitude, or fixation into “Effects” that raise specific abilities.

• A mark can be placed through even a brief interaction, such as an introduction or greeting 1.
• Effects range from social traits and academic knowledge to combat ability, perception, memory, and specialized skills 1 2 57.
• The system can reveal the emotional “Cause” behind a target’s reaction, giving Kaede unusually direct insight into their motives 1 36.
• It provides less personal information on people who become close partners to Kaede, which he considers preferable to treating friends as data 117.
• The system rejects knowingly breaking the law, even when a marked target’s reaction could provide an opportunity for exploitation 8.

Martial Arts and Physical Ability

Kaede possesses combat ability far above ordinary students, supported by the Haigoku Supreme Body Technique and his accumulated Combat Mastery.

• Defeats Ryuen in a direct fight while claiming to have held back 5.
• Pins Ryuen during a karate-dojo sparring session; Ryuen compares Kaede’s technique to an “art of killing” 145.
• Reacts to and pursues an observer through the rainforest after sensing their gaze 57.
• Uses force against Yamauchi and Manabe when intervening in assaults and harassment, while avoiding what he considers needless violence 23 94 95.

Strategy and Rule Analysis

Kaede excels at identifying hidden rules, manipulating incentives, and designing outcomes across classes.

• Identifies the school’s surveillance and point-system implications early in the first semester 5.
• Warns Ryuen that the uninhabited-island Leader replacement rule can be exploited by other classes 47.
• Coordinates a coded plan during the Special Favor Exam to secure Class D’s maximum benefit in Room B 31.
• Explains the VIP Exam through a Werewolf-game analogy and anticipates how VIPs are selected 71.
• Keeps his ultimate multi-class graduation plan concealed even from most allies 104 117.

Memory, Deduction, and Senses

The system-enhanced attributes gained from Ayanokōji and other marked students make Kaede a formidable analyst.

• Uses enhanced memory and deduction to challenge Sakayanagi Arisu in chess and force repeated draws before ultimately losing 105 107.
• Displays sharp hearing when identifying the number and approach of people in the cruise ship’s hold 94.
• Detects surveillance through intuition sharpened by his accumulated enhancements 57.

Disguise and Deception

Kaede combines system-granted deception and disguise skills with staged performances.

• Intervenes against Yamauchi under a pseudonym and disguise before revealing himself to Kushida 23.
• Poses as “Ishizaki Daichi” during the operation that exposes Kamiki Ansei’s predatory behavior 42.
• Works as a disguised fortune-teller, using the system to make predictions that turn him into a schoolwide attraction 101.

Equipment / Items

• Student terminal — used for coded communication, point transfers, and arranging covert meetings 27 36 93.
• Recording pens and voice recorders — used to gather and preserve evidence against Yamauchi and Kamiki 24 42 43.
• Disguises and costume props — used in operations against Yamauchi and Kamiki 23 42.
• Chess set — used during his strategic matches with Sakayanagi in the library 105.

Relationships

• Shiina Hiyori — Kaede’s closest confidante and romantic interest. They spend time reading and dating together; she alone knows his complete long-term strategy 66 67 104 117.
• Ryuen Kakeru — Initially Kaede’s Class C partner and rival. Kaede defeats him, advises his strategies, and later reveals that he has been manipulating him; their relationship deteriorates into open conflict 5 47 145 151 157.
• Kushida Kikyo — Kaede’s first major Causality Mark. He saves her from Yamauchi, learns her true nature, refuses to exploit her, and helps her seek a new start through the Student Council and a transfer arrangement 1 24 27 109.
• Ibuki Mio — Classmate and frequent partner in Kaede’s plans. She doubts his submission to Ryuen, challenges his motives, and serves as bait during the Kamiki operation 11 21 42.
• Sakura Airi — A protected friend and Tennoji Group member. Kaede safeguards her secret identity, helps her confront her stalker, and supports her decision to embrace life as Sakura Airi 36 43.
• Ayanokōji Kiyotaka — A marked target, strategic foil, and one of the people Kaede manipulates toward his wider goals. Ayanokōji recognizes Kaede’s physical ability and anti-surveillance awareness 2 57 157.
• Horikita Manabu — A trusted Student Council contact. Kaede declines his invitation to join the council, but later works with him on school matters and secretly meets him amid the struggle against Nagumo 27 103 167.
• Sakayanagi Arisu — A Class A strategist who becomes interested in Kaede’s abilities. Their chess matches develop into a tense but respectful rivalry 87 105 107.
• Katsuragi Kōhei — A Class A leader who entrusts Kaede with a personal matter. Kaede handles it without accepting payment 107 109.
• Karuizawa Kei — A potential transfer candidate whom Kaede helps against Manabe’s group. He presses her to abandon dependence on Hirata and become self-reliant 94 95.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Entry into Advanced Nurturing High School

Kaede enters the school, activates the Haiya Karma System, and begins marking influential students. His interactions with Kōenji, Kushida, Horikita, Ayanokōji, and Hiyori rapidly establish the stat base that separates him from ordinary students 1 2.

Class C and Ryuen

After being assigned to Class C, Kaede defeats Ryuen and proposes cooperation rather than simple domination. He remains publicly associated with Ryuen while subtly influencing Class C’s direction and restricting Ryuen’s most reckless attacks 5 11 27.

Kushida and the Yamauchi Incident

Kaede intercepts Yamauchi’s blackmail and attempted assault on Kushida. When Kushida reveals her ruthless true self and offers anything to preserve her secret, Kaede instead offers trust and forces her to reconsider her understanding of friendship 23 24 25.

Tennoji Group and Sakura’s Rescue

Kaede protects Sakura after Ryuen catches her eavesdropping, learns she is the internet personality “Shizuku,” and brings Hiyori and Ibuki into a plan to support her. The group later exposes Kamiki’s stalking and enables Sakura to accept her identity openly 36 38 42 43.

Cross-Class Strategy

Kaede becomes active across Classes A, B, C, and D through the uninhabited-island and VIP exams. He uses coded cooperation, rule analysis, and social ties to influence results without openly revealing his overarching objective 31 47 71 87.

Conflict with Ryuen

Ryuen’s increasing suspicion eventually turns their relationship hostile. Kaede avoids Ryuen’s surveillance, reveals that Ryuen has been part of his manipulation, and orders him to transfer classes as part of his plan 151 157.

Notable Quotes

“What about the most basic trust between people?” 24

“I never lie, I just occasionally tell half-truths.” 27

“Fake relationships are unreliable. It would be best to end it sooner rather than later.” 95

Trivia

• Kaede initially declines Horikita Manabu’s invitation to join the Student Council, citing the Sanda Club; his actual reason is his refusal to serve under Nagumo Masa after Manabu graduates 27.
• His fortune-telling work becomes popular enough for his reputation as a “Legendary Fortune Teller” to spread throughout the school 101.
• In the non-main IF Route, Kaede is transported to another world, becomes a [Healer], receives the title [King of Sacred Healing], defeats the Demon King, and rescues his classmates 197.