Kushida Kikyo

Biodata

Background / History

Kikyo begins her school life on the bus to Advanced Nurturing High School. When an elderly passenger needs a seat, she confronts Kōenji Rokusuke and supports the call for someone to help. After Kamigami Haruo gives up his own seat despite his limp, she immediately takes his arm, guides the elderly woman through the bus, and thanks Haruo warmly. 3 4

In Class D, Kikyo contributes to the successful completion of the class’s self-introductions with reassurance. Her cheerful manner, willingness to help, and approachable demeanor quickly make her popular among her classmates. 5

After the club orientation, Kikyo invites Haruo to dinner to thank him for his help. They exchange contact information, begin addressing one another by given name, and she asks him for advice on becoming friends with Horikita Suzune, who had rejected her request for contact information. 10 She later lends Haruo 50,000 points in exchange for his agreement to ask Horikita out. 11

Kikyo remains a regular presence in Class D’s social gatherings, including outings with Haruo, Wang Meiyu, and Inogashira Kokoro. She also helps care for the intoxicated Ichinose Honami and Shiranami Chihiro after a shared meal. 23 38

Her relentlessly friendly image is undermined when Haruo and Horikita encounter her venting alone by the sea, exposing her frustration toward Horikita and suggesting jealousy and insecurity beneath her public persona. 39

Appearance

Kikyo is presented as an attractive, youthful student whose warm expression and polished social presentation draw attention from classmates. Her smile is central to her public image, though it can become strained when she is uncomfortable. 4 17 38

• Her eyes curve into crescents when she smiles. 4
• She is widely regarded as Class D’s most eye-catching girl and a “dream girl” among many of its male students. 20 35
• She is attentive to her presentation and participates enthusiastically in shopping and trying on outfits. 17

Personality

Kikyo presents herself as kind, helpful, and eager to befriend everyone. She makes an effort to greet people, gather classmates’ contact information, defend Haruo when others disparage him, and speak positively about classmates even when discussing their faults. 10 14 17

She enjoys being admired and praised, and her popularity is important to her. Haruo recognizes that she likes social approval and deliberately responds to her with compliments and consideration. 20 25 27

Behind this outwardly angelic persona, Kikyo can take quiet satisfaction in others’ flaws or misfortunes. She suppresses these reactions in public, maintaining a smile even when frustrated or displeased. 14 38 48 Her hostility toward Horikita is particularly difficult for her to conceal when she is alone. 39

Skills

Social Influence

• Maintains a broad social circle; students frequently greet her during outings, and she returns every greeting. 17
• Draws classmates into group activities, including bringing Haruo to a large class gathering. 23
• Uses a sweet, approachable manner to make others feel comfortable and to preserve her public image. 4 10 38

Mediation

• Helped reassure Class D during its initial self-introductions. 5
• Intervened when Ken Sudō and Yukimura Teruhiko’s conflict escalated after the quiz results. 43
• Attempted to stop the confrontation between Yamauchi Haruki and Horikita. 48

Relationships

• Kamigami Haruo — Classmate and frequent companion. She assists him on the bus, treats him to dinner, seeks his advice about Horikita, and later helps him look after drunk friends. Their interactions are playful, familiar, and often mutually performative. 4 10 23 38
• Horikita Suzune — A classmate Kikyo wants to befriend, but Horikita repeatedly keeps her at a distance. Kikyo’s private frustration with Horikita eventually surfaces during her outburst by the sea. 10 17 39
• Ichinose Honami — An acquaintance from Class B. Kikyo helps introduce Ichinose to her own companions and assists in taking care of her when she becomes drunk. 24 38
• Shiranami Chihiro — An acquaintance within Haruo’s extended friend group; Kikyo helps return her safely to her room after she becomes drunk. 38
• Hirata Yosuke — Fellow Class D student. Kikyo and Hirata both step in to mediate conflicts among classmates. 43 48
• Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Ken Sudō — The trio are intensely fixated on Kikyo, with Ike and Yamauchi treating her as an object of rivalry and seeking her out at Haruo’s room. 35 38 50

Trivia

• Kikyo sits directly in front of Haruo in Class D. 4
• She and Haruo part ways on the fourth floor of the dormitory building. 10 39
• She volunteers to return Haruo’s uniform after Inogashira Kokoro repairs it, using the delivery as an opportunity to visit him. 37