Kushida

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Kushida Kikyo (Kushida; 栉田) 1
Species/Race	Human 1
Gender	Female 1
Affiliation	Class D, Advanced Nurturing High School 1 30
Occupation/Role	Student; socially influential Class D member 2 30
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Appearance

Kushida is a blonde student whose sweet smile and approachable manner make her appear friendly and harmless to her classmates. Yi Chen describes her as cute and attractive. 1 2 6

• Blonde hair. 1
• Frequently wears a beaming, gentle, or shy expression around others. 1 2 6
• Uses physical closeness and an affectionate demeanor as part of her social presentation. 5 30

History

Kushida first appears on the bus to Advanced Nurturing High School, where she helps an elderly woman find a seat. She later approaches Yi Chen to exchange contact information and invites him for coffee, quickly establishing herself as an outgoing classmate. 1 2

She joins Yi Chen, Horikita Suzune, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's midterm study alliance. During the exam period, she distributes answer keys to Class D, earning gratitude from the class. However, her private thoughts reveal resentment when Yi Chen receives attention for preventing Yamauchi Haruki's expulsion. 3 4 5

After Yi Chen witnesses her secret encounter with Ayanokoji, Kushida probes him over meals and attempts to determine whether he saw her. Though she briefly cares for Yi Chen while he is ill—bringing medicine, notes, and porridge—she becomes cold toward him after he begins dating Ichinose. 5 7 8 9

Kushida's hostility becomes explicit during the rooftop incident involving Airi Sakura, Ryuen, and Class C. She denounces Yi Chen for surpassing her popularity, attacks him with a kick, and declares that his earlier kindness toward Yamauchi and Sudo was only further proof that he was stealing attention from her. Yi Chen ends their relationship, while Kushida accepts 100,000 private points in return for keeping the incident quiet. 13 14

During the Uninhabited Island Exam, Kushida recommends Yi Chen as Class D's green-card holder, then turns the class against him when he openly states that he does not trust her. Her public display of hurt isolates Yi Chen from much of the class, while her internal thoughts confirm that she intends to force him out of school. She later performs an apology when he returns to the group. 30 31 34

On the cruise ship, Class C's Zhenguo Zhibao exploits knowledge of Kushida's connection to Ryuen to pressure her into luring Karuizawa Kei to a secluded storage room. Kushida agrees to contact Karuizawa in her own name, enabling the ambush by Zhenguo's group. 43 45

Personality

Kushida carefully cultivates a warm, sociable image. She readily offers help, joins group efforts, remembers others' needs, and presents herself as someone who wants harmony among classmates. This persona allows her to gain support during conflicts, including the Class D dispute on the uninhabited island. 3 7 8 30

Privately, she is intensely jealous of anyone who draws more attention than she does. Yi Chen's popularity particularly provokes her, because she believes that she has worked harder than him to earn Class D's affection. 5 13

She is manipulative and vindictive when her image or influence is threatened. She uses tears, feigned vulnerability, social pressure, threats, and outside collaborators to control situations while preserving her public facade. 13 14 30 31 43

Abilities & Skills

Social Manipulation

Kushida is adept at appearing trustworthy and using Class D's goodwill to shape group opinion.

• Recruits classmates through a friendly, attentive demeanor, including Yi Chen, Horikita, and the study alliance. 2 3
• Frames Yi Chen's distrust of her as an attack on class unity, prompting classmates to criticize him during the island exam. 30
• Maintains her friendly facade even immediately after threatening Yi Chen and Airi. 14
• Limit: Yi Chen and Airi have witnessed her hostile behavior, and Airi records the rooftop confrontation. 13 14

Scheming and Coercion

Kushida pursues her objectives through secrecy, intimidation, and cooperation with hostile parties.

• Pressures Yi Chen to remain compliant after suspecting that he may know about her encounter with Ayanokoji. 5
• Cooperates with Ryuen's group during the rooftop trap involving Airi. 13
• Intends to use her social standing to isolate Yi Chen and force him to drop out. 31
• Agrees to lure Karuizawa to Class C's planned ambush after Zhenguo threatens her with information about her relationship with Ryuen. 43 45

Relationships

• Yi Chen — Initially approaches him as a friendly classmate and repeatedly invites him out; later becomes resentful of his popularity and openly hostile after he learns of her true nature. 2 5 13 14
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — Shares a secret encounter with him that Yi Chen witnesses; Kushida later threatens him after realizing someone may have seen them. 5
• Airi Sakura — Uses Airi's situation to draw Yi Chen to the rooftop, where Airi witnesses Kushida's hostility and records the confrontation. 13 14
• Ryuen — Associated with Ryuen and his group in schemes against Yi Chen; Class C later uses this connection to pressure her into helping target Karuizawa. 13 29 43
• Karuizawa Kei — Lures her to the cruise ship's fifth deck under the pretense of a meeting, enabling Zhenguo's group to corner and assault her. 43 45
• Class D — Maintains broad popularity within the class and leverages its trust during the green-card dispute. 30 31

Notable Quotes

“How is it that a loser like you can be more popular than me?” 13

“I will make you drop out, Angela. Yi Chen.” 31