Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Kikyo Kushida (栉田) 2 |
| Gender | Female 2 |
| Affiliation | First-year Class D, Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School 2 |
| Occupation/Role | Student; helps organize Class D’s study and witness-search efforts 25 40 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 2 2 |
Background / History
Kushida meets An Xiao at the school gate on their first day. She helps him with the time and asks to be introduced to his Class B friends. They meet again during Class D’s exam preparation, when she stops Yamauchi’s inappropriate remarks about Honami Ichinose and thanks An Xiao and Ichinose for helping keep Sudo at the study session 2 25.
After Horikita Suzune withdraws from Class D’s study group, Kushida is left dealing with its disruptions. An Xiao overhears her privately cursing her classmates and Horikita. Afraid he will reveal what he heard, Kushida threatens to accuse him of harassment; Shiina Hiyori records the encounter, preventing Kushida from using that threat. An Xiao later offers to listen when she needs to talk 26 27 28.
Kushida subsequently works with Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to obtain past exam papers from An Xiao. During the dispute over Sudo’s fight with Class C students, she helps search for a witness and tries to persuade An Xiao to assist. She and Horikita later approach him together because they want to apologize to Sakura Airi for what happened at a hearing 32 39 40 45.
Appearance
Kushida has brown hair and a toned physique 27 44.
- Often presents herself with a gentle smile and wide-eyed, innocent expression 25 27.
- Her expression and tone turn cold when she drops that public manner 27.
Personality
Kushida deliberately maintains a friendly image, even around people she dislikes. She says that smiling at others in public is her way of dealing with people. The effort strains her, particularly when she has to manage Class D’s repeated problems 26 40 45.
In private, she speaks harshly about classmates who burden or objectify her, and she openly hates Horikita. She can also be calculating: when An Xiao discovers her outburst, she attempts to secure his silence with a false-harassment threat. Around him later, she uses their conversations to vent without maintaining her usual smile 26 27 33 40.
Abilities & Skills
Social persuasion
- Interrupts Yamauchi’s remarks and redirects his attention to studying 25.
- Encourages classmates to continue searching for a witness in Sudo’s case; the prospect of a reward motivates Yamauchi and another student 40.
- Appeals to An Xiao on behalf of Class D when seeking exam papers and help with Sudo’s case, though he refuses to help with the latter for free 32 39.
Relationships
- An Xiao — A Class B student who learns about her private outbursts. Despite her initial threat, he offers to listen to her frustrations, and she comes to his room to vent about Horikita 27 28 33 40.
- Horikita Suzune — Class D classmate whom Kushida openly hates. They argue in An Xiao’s room but later cooperate in trying to apologize to Sakura 33 44 45.
- Shiina Hiyori — Records Kushida threatening An Xiao and refuses to delete the video because it protects him 27.
- Kiyotaka Ayanokoji — Accompanies Kushida when they seek past exam papers from An Xiao and joins the effort to find a witness in Sudo’s case 32 40.
- Sakura Airi — Kushida and Horikita seek a way to apologize to her after a hearing leaves Sakura distressed 45.
Notable Quotes
“No matter how much I dislike the other person, I will smile at them and maintain my principles for dealing with people in public. That is my way of survival!” 45
“Every time, I’m the one who has to clean up the mess. If it weren’t for maintaining my persona...” 40