Karuizawa

Biodata

Background / History

Middle School and the “Queen” Persona

Karuizawa suffered severe bullying in middle school. Delinquent upperclassmen confined her in a bathroom, forced her to undress for photographs, and threatened to publish the images if she told a teacher. After transferring schools, she adopted a domineering “queen” persona to protect herself and conceal her vulnerability 34.

Ryuen Kakeru obtained the photographs and used them to blackmail her. His threats exploited both her fear of exposure and her hope that transferring had left the abuse behind her 28 32 34.

Secret Alliance with Tang Yu

Tang Yu found Karuizawa crying in a secluded library window seat while two Class C boys watched her outside. Initially defensive, she accepted his offer to deal with the watchers in exchange for information about Class C. After driving them away, he promised to keep her past confidential and protect her from further threats 23.

Karuizawa revealed that Ryuen had bribed students in Class D, including Kushida Kikyo, and intended to use compromising information against Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yosuke. She and Tang Yu agreed to remain ordinary classmates in public while cooperating privately. She subsequently warned him about a secret meeting between Ryuen, Miyabi Nagumo, and Class C students 23 24.

Blackmail and Temporary Refuge

Ryuen tracked down Karuizawa’s former classmates and threatened to expose the photographs unless she helped bring down Horikita. Tang Yu instructed her to appear cooperative while reporting Ryuen’s movements to him 28.

The situation escalated after Kushida pretended to be her friend and drew out information about her connection with Tang Yu. Pursuers located Karuizawa’s residence, prompting her to seek refuge in Tang Yu’s secured apartment. She stayed there for three days before returning to school under Hirata’s escort 30 31.

Karuizawa then discovered tracking software on her phone. Tang Yu altered its location reports to lure Ryuen’s hired outsiders to her former apartment, where he obtained recordings and messages proving their involvement. He used that evidence to demand the original photographs and their backups 31 32 33 34.

While awaiting their return, Karuizawa told Tang Yu the full story of her abuse and expressed a desire to stop pretending to be someone else. She began dressing more simply and trying to interact with classmates as herself. Tang Yu later collected the original photographs and a backup USB drive from a station locker, allowing her to return to her own accommodation 34 35 36.

Debate Tournament

Karuizawa joined Class D’s debate team alongside Horikita, Hirata, and Tang Yu. Assigned the emotional-appeal portion, she researched speaking techniques and real-life examples. Her first practice performance surprised her teammates: Hirata called her a natural speaker, while Horikita praised how her contribution complemented their logical arguments 36 37 38.

She chose to incorporate her experience of bullying into her speech, hoping that speaking openly might help others. Her preparation marked a shift from hiding her vulnerability to treating it as something she could acknowledge publicly 39.

Before the tournament, Ryuen abducted her and used her as bait in the abandoned gymnasium. Bound to a chair and visibly injured, she tried to warn Tang Yu away when he arrived. Ryuen demanded that he survive ten minutes against roughly thirty attackers, threatening to livestream an abusive “photoshoot” if he refused. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka intervened; afterward, Karuizawa explained that the photographs Ryuen had shown her during the abduction were blurry fabrications rather than the recovered originals 41 42.

During the tournament, Tsukishiro Shuhei intensified his mental interference as Karuizawa approached the lectern, while audience members jeered at her. Tang Yu established a deep mental link to steady her. She recovered enough to speak candidly about her fear of being seen as vulnerable. Class D won the tournament, and classmates later praised her account of her experiences 43 46.

Target of Tsukishiro’s Experiments

Karuizawa’s rapid emotional recovery attracted Tsukishiro’s attention. He monitored her, photographed her interactions with Tang Yu, and cited her changed personality during a school hearing as grounds for investigating their relationship. Horikita Manabu challenged his surveillance of a student’s private life 38 40 45.

Ayanokoji identified her emotional recovery as a research target, while Ryuen warned that Tsukishiro considered her emotional patterns “precious.” Tang Yu told Karuizawa that Tsukishiro’s interest made her a target and urged her not to travel alone 44 46.

The school infirmary doctor and his assistant subsequently attacked her in her dormitory using a neural interferer capable of destroying short-term memory. Tang Yu interrupted the attempted abduction, incapacitated the attackers, and restored her damaged memories. When more pursuers entered, they escaped using a shower curtain tied to a drainpipe 47.

The improvised rope tore during their descent. Tang Yu caught Karuizawa and used an Instant Buffer Force Field to cushion their fall. They hid in bushes as six security guards carrying stun batons passed nearby 48.

Appearance

• Hair: Long, golden-blonde hair, sometimes worn in a neat ponytail 23 28.
• Earlier style: Heavy makeup and deliberately mature accessories supported her “queen” image 35 39.
• Later style: A simple white shirt or blouse with a dark blue skirt; casual clothing includes a white T-shirt and denim shorts 35 38 39.
• Fashion preferences: Wears a fashionable cardigan outside school and shows interest in Tang Yu’s spacious walk-in closet 28 30.

Personality

Karuizawa’s haughty manner is a defensive performance rather than a reliable reflection of how she feels. When Tang Yu discovers her crying, she immediately attempts to restore her arrogant expression and asks him to keep the encounter secret. Beneath that exterior, she is frightened of renewed abuse, ashamed of her past, and reluctant to believe anyone can help 23.

As she grows more secure, she becomes openly considerate. She makes coffee, prepares meals and handmade cookies, notices Tang Yu’s fatigue, and worries about the risks he takes for her. Her gratitude develops into affection, although she often becomes embarrassed when expressing it directly 31 36 37 39.

Her growing confidence does not eliminate her anxiety. Before the tournament, she fears disappointing her classmates; during the event, hostile reactions briefly revive her old fear. Nevertheless, she chooses to discuss her experiences publicly because she believes doing so could help people who have suffered similarly 39 40 43.

Abilities & Skills

Public Speaking and Emotional Appeal

Karuizawa’s principal contribution to the debate team is her ability to communicate genuine emotion 37 38.

• Researches emotional-appeal techniques and supporting examples 38.
• Uses personal experience to address bullying, vulnerability, and self-acceptance 39 43.
• Moves classmates to tears during rehearsal and strengthens the emotional side of Class D’s arguments 38 40.
• Requires Tang Yu’s support to withstand Tsukishiro’s interference during the tournament; the mental protection comes from his abilities 43.

Information Gathering

Her knowledge of Class C’s activities makes her a valuable confidential source for Tang Yu 23.

• Identifies Kushida’s involvement with Ryuen 23.
• Reports Ryuen’s meeting with Nagumo and Class C students 24.
• Relays threats and information about the planned attack on Horikita, though she does not know the complete plan 28.

Emotional Insight and Recovery

Tang Yu recognizes empathy and leadership potential beneath her defensive persona. Karuizawa also notices his tendency to understand people unusually well, remarking that he sometimes seems able to see through them 38.

• Recognizes changes in Tang Yu’s condition and presses him when she believes he is withholding something dangerous 37 39 46.
• Progresses from concealing her abuse to speaking about it before an audience 34 39 43.
• Her emotional recovery becomes a subject of Tsukishiro’s research interest 44 46.

Cooking and Baking

Karuizawa learned to cook because she was frequently home alone in middle school 37.

• Prepares lunch boxes for Tang Yu 37.
• Makes chocolate cookies as a thank-you gift 36.
• Prepares coffee and honey tea during visits to his apartment 31 39.

Relationships

• Tang Yu — Protector, secret ally, and growing romantic attachment. Their information-for-protection arrangement develops into trust and companionship. She hugs him, seeks his company, and later kisses his cheek; no formal relationship is established in the supplied events 23 30 34 39 46.
• Ryuen Kakeru — Blackmailer and abductor. Uses her past abuse, surveillance, hired outsiders, and fabricated photographs to pressure her and target Tang Yu 28 31 33 41 42.
• Kushida Kikyo — Classmate who investigates her and exploits a friendly approach to obtain information about her connection with Tang Yu 27 28 30.
• Hirata Yosuke — Supportive classmate and debate teammate. Escorts her safely to school, coordinates the debate team, and praises her speaking ability 31 37 38.
• Horikita Suzune — Debate teammate who recognizes the value of her emotional appeal alongside logical argumentation 37 38.
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — Intervenes during the gymnasium trap and warns Tang Yu that her emotional recovery has made her a research target 41 44.
• Tsukishiro Shuhei — Threatens her safety through surveillance, mental interference, and efforts to obtain her as research material 43 45 46 47.

Notable Quotes

“I want to start over. Stop pretending and be myself... Do you think that’s possible?” 34

“I used to think that pretending to be strong could protect me. But true strength comes from accepting your own vulnerability, from daring to show your true self...” 39

“You’re the first person who... truly saw me.” 40