Karuizawa Kei

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Karuizawa Kei (轻井泽惠)
Alias(es)	Kei; “Guardian Cat” 193
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class 1-B; Drama Club 199 570
Occupation/Role	Class 1-B class representative; Drama Club vice president; professional stage actor 208 570 630
Status	Active; internationally recognized actress 630
First Appearance	Chapter 6 6

Background / History

Kei endured bullying from elementary school onward. By fifth grade, she had concluded that apologizing for harm she did not cause only encouraged further victimization; after being physically hurt, she stopped seeking help from her parents. Kitagawa Ryo, her childhood friend from another elementary school, responded to her situation by transferring to her school. 36

At middle school, rumors inflated Ryo from Kei’s childhood friend into her supposed boyfriend. The attention made Kei the center of her class’s girls’ group, but her social standing rested on a fragile persona, embellished stories about her background, and constant concern with appearance. 36 37 Emi Eura recognized Kei’s fear beneath this façade and eventually turned the class against her after the bullying of Wakata. 36 37 42

When Ryo returned from London, Kei’s fear of abandonment became overt. She repeatedly sought reassurance that he would not leave her and struggled to confront the possibility that their relationship might not have a future. 42 45 50 Ryo ultimately arranged for Emi to leave Kei’s life, but Kei’s trauma and dependence on him remained unresolved. 50 51

After retaining memories of prior simulations, Kei chose to change her role from someone protected by others into a protector herself. She began physical training, rejected both helplessness and an artificially tough façade, and adopted the ideal of a “Guardian Cat”: kind to allies, harsh toward enemies, and willing to protect others in danger. 193

In her later school life, Kei entered Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School as a Class 1-B student. Her foreknowledge of the school’s point systems, public acting reputation, and social influence allowed her to establish control in the class early; she was subsequently appointed class representative. 199 208 289

Appearance

Kei is a fair-skinned girl with azure eyes, long eyelashes, and honey-colored hair. Her appearance is closely tied to her changing self-image: clothing and cosmetics initially functioned as a protective shell, while later stage work gave her a more poised and confident presence. 36 39 167

• Honey-colored hair, often worn in a high ponytail with a ribbon; loosening it gives her a gentler appearance. 147 193
• Azure eyes and long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes. 36
• Favors distinctive dresses, including a pale-blue dress gifted by Ryo, a white sleeveless dress, and a long black dress. 36 41 53
• Wears a Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School uniform with pale-blue inner lining rather than the standard white. 77
• As an adult award recipient, wore an emerald satin gown with diamond hair accessories in a classical updo. 630

Personality

Kei initially craves safety, acceptance, and genuine affection. Her popularity-focused “queen” image masks intense anxiety, fear of being abandoned, and the belief that she cannot stand on her own. She can carefully test boundaries and act tough after rejection rather than openly showing hurt. 15 45 50

Her desire for affection is paired with pragmatic calculation. Ryo describes her as someone in whom fairy-tale longing and “cruel utilitarianism” coexist; she can be socially warm and accommodating while also using secrets, leverage, and negotiation to protect her position or goals. 79

After confronting her past, Kei becomes more deliberate about self-improvement. She remains emotionally attached to Ryo, but strives to be someone who can protect others, lead her class, and pursue an acting career through her own ability. 193 208 323 553

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Kei developed from an inexperienced co-star criticized for relying on Ryo into a leading actress capable of carrying productions herself. 173 190

• Performed major roles including Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. 173
• Her cross-dressed performance in King Lear became a major point of recognition among Drama Club students. 173
• Continued improving through intense effort to keep pace with Ryo’s talent. 173
• Won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress. 630

Leadership & Strategy

Kei uses social influence, foreknowledge, and careful planning to direct group efforts.

• Disclosed the school’s concealed Private Point and Class Point systems on the first day, helping establish her influence over Class 1-B. 289
• Was appointed Class 1-B’s class representative and instituted a first-month plan centered on avoiding conduct that could cost the class points. 208
• Obtained aptitude-assessment results, identified Sports Festival standouts, and recruited Koenji Rokusuke by offering him an opportunity to challenge Nagumo Miyabi. 132
• Served as Class 1-D’s Commander in a Sports Festival scenario, leading the challenge against Class 1-B. 143
• Analyzed multiple options and presented her reasoning impartially during class decision-making. 607

Negotiation & Information Gathering

Kei is willing to turn information into leverage when necessary.

• Negotiated with Class B over Shibata’s protection, securing a one-time payment of one million Private Points and monthly payments of 800,000 points. 78 79
• Planted a listening device on Ichinose Honami to obtain information about Nagumo Miyabi and the Student Council. 128
• Considered infiltrating a group connected to an anonymous forum post in order to identify its organizers and objectives. 419

Physical Ability

Kei’s school assessment places her above average in academics and fitness, supported by acting experience and subsequent training. 199

Attribute	Rating	Notes
Academic Ability	B-	Above-average academic performance. 199
Intelligence	B	Assessed at enrollment. 199
Judgment	B+	Assessed at enrollment. 199
Athletic Ability	B	Demonstrated through races, climbing, and Sports Festival events. 199 318 340
Coordination	C+	Assessed at enrollment. 199

• Won an item-fetching race by drawing the dress she had packed. 318
• Climbed a cliff to reach the G5 Grid while evading Class 1-A interference. 340
• Intentionally yielded an acupressure-mat sprint to Shiina Hiyori rather than prioritize victory over their friendship. 341
• Began structured fitness training with Ryo aboard a cruise ship. 383

Equipment / Items

• Portable mirror and cosmetics — Used to maintain her carefully constructed appearance. 68
• Photograph of Kei and Ryo — Kept by her bedside and used as emotional reassurance under pressure. 143 462
• Listening device — Planted on Ichinose Honami to gather information. 128
• Reinforcement Card — A special card that could allow her to join another group and shift elimination risk during the Uninhabited Island Special Exam. 365

Relationships

• Kitagawa Ryo — Childhood friend, protector, acting partner, and eventual fiancé. Ryo transferred schools because of Kei’s bullying, later encouraged her independence, and accepted her confession. 36 119 304 630
• Shiina Hiyori — Close friend and fellow Drama Club member. Kei chose to let Hiyori win a race, and both later acknowledged feelings shaped by their shared history with Ryo. 341 451
• Emi Eura — Former classmate and primary bully. Emi saw through Kei’s social façade, manipulated events around Wakata, and harbored violent resentment toward her. 36 37 50
• Horikita Suzune — Initially a threatening rival in Kei’s eyes because of Ryo; later became someone Kei guided in acting. 50 173
• Sakura Airi — Close friend whom Kei helped integrate socially; Kei remains supportive of Airi’s career. 78 170
• Ichinose Honami — Rival and frequent negotiating counterpart whose relationship with Kei is complicated by their connections to Ryo. 21 78 375
• Kanzaki Ryuji — Classmate and adviser in Class 1-B; he assists with information on threats against Kei and openly supports her relationship with Ryo. 329 462

Story Role / Major Arcs

Bullying and Social Facade

Kei’s early arc follows her transition from bullied child to the center of a middle-school social circle. Her status is built around exaggerated rumors about Ryo and ultimately collapses into renewed bullying and fear. 36 37 42

Dependence on Kitagawa Ryo

After Ryo returns, Kei seeks security in him while struggling with jealousy, abandonment fears, and the possibility of his engagement to another person. Ryo’s intervention removes Emi from her immediate life but does not instantly resolve Kei’s underlying dependence. 42 45 50 51

Rebirth and the Guardian Ideal

With memories of previous lives or simulations, Kei resolves to stop repeating her role as victim or dependent. She trains herself, seeks to protect others, and consciously embraces the “Guardian Cat” ideal. 192 193

Class 1-B Leadership

Kei becomes Class 1-B’s representative, leveraging school-system knowledge, public reputation, and negotiation skill to establish authority and protect her classmates’ interests. 208 289 365

Drama Career

Kei continues acting despite public scrutiny caused by her association with Ryo. She improves from a doubted co-star to a leading performer, mentors younger actors, and eventually earns international recognition with the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress. 173 190 630

Confession and Future

Kei confesses her feelings to Ryo beneath the stars, and he accepts. In adulthood, her award acceptance speech publicly hints at their engagement. 304 630

Notable Quotes

“I like characters who are kind to their companions, harsh toward their enemies, and can still step forward to protect others in the face of danger.” 193

“Yeah. If I get to choose, I like that black-and-white guardian cat from Cat.” 193

Trivia

• Kei’s entrance assessment improved dramatically from the ratings associated with her original timeline. 199
• Her name and Ryo’s are associated with the “K & K” symbol during the Uninhabited Island Special Exam. 95
• She began acting partly because of Ryo’s influence, then chose to continue the career both for personal interest and to earn recognition through her own achievements. 462 630