Kushida

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class D
Occupation/Role	Student; interpersonal coordinator and later an intelligence source for Class D
Status	Active; accepted as a full member of Class D after confessing her betrayal
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background & History

Kushida initially presents herself as an approachable, sweet-smiling classmate with a talent for connecting people. Hanyu Xiuyi identifies her as an “interpersonal relationship expert” and recruits her to help maintain Class D’s unity. She agrees only on the condition that she cannot be forced into anything against her will, establishing their relationship as mutually beneficial from the outset. 7

During the uninhabited-island Special Exam, she serves among Class D’s core members and helps keep anxious classmates together. She is notably distressed when Sakura Airi disappears during Class C’s ambush. 13 16

After the exam, Kushida is assigned internal class coordination alongside Hirata Yousuke. She is also asked to discreetly approach Yamauchi Haruki after Class C begins trying to divide Class D, using her rapport with him to make him feel supported. 20 22

Ayanokoji Kiyonaga later suspects Kushida of leaking Class D’s information to Ryuen Sho. The suspicion is confirmed when Hanyu finds her meeting a Class C student in the library resource room and confronts her on the rooftop. 28 29

Kushida admits that her kind and perfect public persona is a long-maintained act. She describes her true self as insecure, jealous, and terrified of rejection. Ryuen exploited this fear after discovering her hidden nature, first gaining her confidence and then coercing her into sharing Class D’s circumstances and list of students. 29

Rather than expose her immediately, Hanyu offers her a path back to Class D. Kushida resolves to atone by remaining in contact with Ryuen while secretly reporting his plans to Hanyu and the core members. 29 30

Ryuen later orders her to administer an alleged sleeping drug to Class D’s key players before the Sports Festival. Kushida brings the packet to Hanyu instead; Ayanokoji identifies it as a likely stimulant. She subsequently follows Class D’s counterplan by pretending to cooperate while substituting harmless vitamin pills. 31 32

At the Sports Festival, Kushida records Class C’s foul during the tug-of-war and presents the footage to the referee, causing Class C’s disqualification. The school rewards her with 300,000 personal points for reporting the violation. 34 35

Following the victory, she publicly confesses her betrayal and fears to Class D. Her classmates accept her efforts to change and recognize her as a genuine member of the class. 35

Ryuen later attempts to regain control over her by threatening to reveal more of her middle-school past. Kushida refuses him, declaring that she chooses trust and acceptance over the isolation and manipulation he represents. 39

Appearance

Kushida has shoulder-length short hair and is frequently described wearing hairpins. Her outwardly sweet smile is initially part of the idealized image she tries to maintain, but later becomes more natural and sincere. 7 29 35

• Often wears a hairpin tucked behind her ear. 20
• Wears a pale pink hairpin during the period when suspicions arise around her. 28
• Later wears a pale blue hairpin after returning to Class D. 30 34 36
• Her usual sweet smile fades when she is anxious, confronted, or no longer maintaining her public façade. 13 29 30

Personality

Kushida is highly conscious of how others perceive her. She spent years maintaining the image of an agreeable, accomplished, and universally liked girl because she feared that showing jealousy, selfishness, or vulnerability would leave her isolated. 29 30

This insecurity made her vulnerable to Ryuen, whose recognition of her hidden self initially felt liberating. However, she eventually realizes that his apparent understanding was only another form of control. 29 30

After being accepted by Class D, Kushida becomes more candid about her fears and more willing to make difficult choices. She remains frightened of Ryuen’s threats, but repeatedly chooses to protect Class D rather than return to his side. 31 33 39

Abilities & Skills

Interpersonal Coordination

Kushida is particularly skilled at building rapport, mediating among classmates, and making others feel included.

• Identified by Hanyu as proficient in fostering relationships within Class D. 7
• Assigned internal class coordination with Hirata after the Special Exam. 20
• Successfully approaches Yamauchi without exposing Class D’s suspicions, encouraging him through warmth and concern. 22
• Comforts Karuizawa during her crisis and helps her regain the resolve to continue facing Ryuen’s threats. 43 44

Intelligence Gathering and Deception

After returning to Class D, Kushida uses her continued access to Ryuen to provide intelligence on Class C’s plans.

• Reports Ryuen’s mission involving the suspicious drug packet. 31
• Pretends to comply with Ryuen’s Sports Festival scheme while following Class D’s counterplan. 32
• Relays Ibuki’s warning about Class C’s planned interference during the obstacle course. 34
• Continues monitoring Ryuen’s movements and notices his interest in a map-like diagram of the school. 37
• Limitation: Ryuen’s knowledge of her past repeatedly puts her under emotional pressure and makes maintaining her cover dangerous. 31 39

Evidence Collection

Kushida demonstrates quick thinking in securing proof of Class C’s misconduct.

• Records Class C’s tug-of-war foul on her phone and submits the footage to the referee. 34
• Receives a personal reward of 300,000 points for reporting the violation. 35

Academics

Kushida ranks among Class D’s stronger students academically.

• Places 9th in the grade following Class D’s midterm improvement. 46

Relationships

• Hanyu Xiuyi — Initially forms a conditional partnership with him over Class D’s unity; after he discovers her betrayal, he offers her a chance to return and later continues reaffirming his trust in her. 7 29 30 39
• Ryuen Sho — Former handler and manipulator who exploits her fear of exposure to make her inform on Class D; she later becomes a double agent against him and openly rejects his attempt to reclaim her loyalty. 29 31 39
• Karuizawa Kei — Classmate and friend who empathizes with Kushida’s fear of having her past exposed; Kushida later protects and comforts Karuizawa through a similar crisis. 30 42 44
• Hirata Yousuke — Fellow internal coordinator; his kindness toward Ike helps persuade Ike to abandon Class C’s scheme, while Kushida later cites Hirata’s belief that she is not fundamentally bad. 20 23 35
• Ayanokoji Kiyonaga — First raises suspicions about her activities and helps uncover her connection to Ryuen; he remains reserved but believes she can recover because she has found her true self. 28 29 30
• Ibuki Mio — Meets Kushida while both are operating around Ryuen; Ibuki reassures her that Class D’s allies will not abandon her. 31
• Class D — Initially betrayed by Kushida through leaked information, but ultimately forgives her after her Sports Festival actions and public confession. 29 34 35

Notable Quotes

“You chose loneliness; I choose trust. You choose to control others; I choose to be accepted by others.” 39

“I will become the true Kushida Kikyo, not the one who acted, but my real self.” 35

Trivia

• Kushida was one of the five Class D representatives selected for the teamwork challenge against Class C during the uninhabited-island Special Exam. 15
• She nearly falls from the single-plank bridge during that challenge before Ayanokoji steadies her. 15
• Chabashira Sae appears to notice Kushida’s behavioral change after her return to Class D, but does not intervene. 32