Kikyo Kushida

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kikyo Kushida
Original Name	櫛田桔梗
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Advanced Nurturing High School; Class 1-D / Class D 3
Occupation/Role	Student; Class D’s “Friendly Ambassador” for the study group 39
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Kushida first meets Linmu Fujimiya on the bus to Advanced Nurturing High School. She unsuccessfully pressures a student to surrender his priority seat to an elderly passenger, then acknowledges that her approach was impatient after Linmu gives up his own seat and explains why forcing the issue would be counterproductive 2.

She and Linmu are assigned to Class 1-D and she immediately asks to become friends, stating that she wants to befriend every student at the academy. They exchange contact information before separating for their dormitories 3.

Before entering the academy, Kushida cultivated friendships, learned her classmates’ secrets, and enjoyed their admiration. After venting those secrets online, she was doxxed, ostracized, and saw her middle-school class fall apart. The experience left her terrified of exposure and determined to maintain a flawless, well-liked image 52 144.

Appearance

Kushida is a well-proportioned girl with short brown hair, sometimes described as golden-tinged in sunlight, and bright eyes usually curved into crescents by her smile 50 141 150.

• Her public expression is a bright, gentle smile that rarely slips around classmates 54 148.
• When alone or under pressure, she appears exhausted, melancholic, or openly cold and hostile 50 133 141.
• She wears a light-blue, simply designed swimsuit during the beach outing 88.
• During the cruise-ship VIP Exam, she wears a pink top with white shorts 150.

Personality

Kushida is exceptionally outgoing, approachable, and socially skilled. She introduces herself without hesitation, easily joins conversations, remembers school gossip, and is treated as a trusted presence by much of Class D 3 5 39. Her desire to be needed makes her eager to assist others, whether by lending points, mobilizing classmates for a study group, or organizing a gathering after Ken Sudo avoids expulsion 36 39 48.

Her kindness is complicated by people-pleasing habits and a fear of rejection. She lends points despite being left unable to afford proper meals, struggles under the expectations attached to her perfect image, and finds genuine relief in Linmu’s blunt concern rather than empty praise 36.

Behind the persona, Kushida harbors resentment, jealousy, possessiveness, and a willingness to deceive. Praise directed at Suzune Horikita provokes concealed irritation, while her fear that Horikita knows her past becomes an obsession with removing her from the school 50 52 77. Although she repeatedly performs friendliness with precise control, her affection for Linmu and Airi Sakura is presented as genuine; she fears losing them if they learn the truth about her 144 150.

Abilities & Skills

Social Acumen

Kushida can quickly build rapport and mobilize other students through her popularity and approachable manner.

• Naturally joins unfamiliar groups and becomes a social focal point among classmates 3 5.
• Chosen as Class D’s “Friendly Ambassador” to recruit and coordinate participants for the study group 39.
• Uses her standing in Class D to command the room before presenting evidence that clears Sudo 65.
• Maintains connections across year levels; her popularity makes later accusations against Horikita especially credible to uninformed students 153.

Organization and Support

Kushida actively coordinates group efforts and supports classmates in practical ways.

• Helps distribute answer keys before the midterms, hoping to prevent classmates’ expulsions 42.
• Organizes a gathering to celebrate Sudo’s reprieve and brings snacks for the attendees 48.
• Works with Linmu to search for evidence in the case surrounding Sudo’s alleged bullying 60.
• Comforts Sakura during the Uninhabited Island exam and stays with her while Linmu scouts ahead 97.

Deception and Manipulation

Kushida can sustain a carefully crafted public persona while concealing hostile intentions.

• Hides jealousy toward Horikita behind immediate praise and applause 50 77.
• Presents herself as Class D’s supportive friend while privately planning Horikita’s expulsion 54 144.
• Secretly allies with Kakeru Ryuen, offering Class D intelligence and cooperation during critical exams 148.
• Initially denies the alliance when confronted by Linmu, then fabricates a story accusing Horikita of bullying her in middle school 152 153.
• Her deception fails against Linmu, who detects that she is lying 153.

Equipment / Items

• Mobile phone — Used to communicate, coordinate with classmates, retain video evidence, and secretly message Ryuen 39 65 148.
• Video evidence of the Sudo incident — Footage Kushida presents to Class D showing that Class C students provoked and framed Sudo 65.

Relationships

• Linmu Fujimiya — Her first friend at the academy and regular lunch companion. Linmu accepts that she does not need to be perfect around him, while Kushida develops genuine attachment and possessiveness toward him 3 36 51 56.
• Airi Sakura — Close friend whom Kushida encourages, comforts, and affectionately teases. Kushida fears that revealing her past could cost her Sakura’s friendship 97 144 150.
• Suzune Horikita — Classmate and target of Kushida’s concealed jealousy and fear. Believing Horikita may know her past, Kushida seeks to have her expelled 52 144 148.
• Kakeru Ryuen — Secret ally from Class C. Kushida agrees to leak Class D information and cooperate with his plans against Horikita 133 148.
• Ken Sudo — A Class D classmate Kushida tries to support through the study group, his near-expulsion, and the later investigation that clears him 39 48 60 65.
• Kiyotaka Ayanokoji — Contacts Kushida to recruit her for the study group and later returns the phone she leaves behind after the gathering 39 53.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Academy Arrival and Class D Integration

Kushida meets Linmu during the bus ride, enters Class 1-D with him, and quickly establishes herself as one of the class’s most sociable students. Her friendship initiative begins her long-running connection with Linmu 2 3.

Study Group and Midterm Crisis

Selected as the study group’s Friendly Ambassador, Kushida enthusiastically recruits help for struggling Class D students. She later distributes answer keys before the midterm, but listens when Linmu warns that the apparent loophole may be a school-sanctioned trap 39 42 43.

Sudo’s Reprieve and Framing Case

Kushida responds emotionally to Sudo’s announced expulsion, organizes a celebration after it is rescinded, and joins Linmu’s investigation when Sudo is later framed by Class C. She publicly presents the video that vindicates him 45 48 60 65.

Seaside Confession and Hidden Hostility

After witnessing Class D praise Horikita, Kushida’s cheerful façade cracks. At the seaside, she admits to Linmu that she has an imperfect and darker side, though she withholds the full truth. Linmu promises to remain her friend, while Kushida privately resolves to eliminate Horikita as a threat to her secrets 50 51 52.

Uninhabited Island Exam

Kushida forms a three-person reconnaissance team with Linmu and Sakura. She supports Sakura through exhaustion and helps maintain the group’s morale and cohesion while Linmu scouts and secures supplies 97 98.

VIP Exam Alliance

During the cruise-ship VIP Exam, Kushida’s absence and altered behavior lead Linmu to discover her meeting Ryuen in the Boiler Room. She has secretly made herself Class C’s mole, revealing her VIP identity and agreeing to cooperate in Ryuen’s campaign to expel Horikita 133 144 148.

Confrontation with Linmu

Linmu confronts Kushida over her cooperation with Ryuen. She initially deflects and denies everything, then drops her friendly act once he cites the Boiler Room meeting and their messages. When she later attempts to justify herself with a fabricated story about Horikita, Linmu recognizes the lie and expresses his disappointment 152 153.

Notable Quotes

“My wish is to become good friends with every single classmate in the academy!” 3

“Just like this ocean. Vast and sincere, never changing.” 51

“Lin Mu, I'm a good person, you have to believe me.” 153

Trivia

• Kushida’s name is introduced as “Kushida” written with the character for “comb,” and “Kikyo” written with the character for “bellflower” 7.
• She often insists on repaying Linmu for the meals he buys her, despite him repeatedly dismissing the debt 39.
• She likes teasing Sakura by kneading her cheeks, an affection Sakura finds embarrassing but does not genuinely dislike 150.