Kushida

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田桔梗)
Alias(es)	“Class Angel”; “Goddess of Martial Arts” 3 21
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class D
Occupation/Role	Student; Rinya's informant and operative
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 3: “Enrollment”

Background / History

Kushida enters Class D presenting herself as a sweet, sociable “little angel.” She personally greets classmates, exchanges contact information, and declares that she wants to be friends with everyone. Her popularity is immediate, particularly among the boys in class. 3

Behind this public image, Kushida holds intense resentment toward Horikita Suzune and is willing to threaten Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to protect her hidden nature. After Ayanokoji witnesses her dark side, Kushida presses his hand against her chest and threatens to have him expelled if he exposes her. Rinya secretly records the encounter. 9

While investigating the Sudo Ken assault case, Kushida sends Rinya information about Sakura Airi in hopes of gaining recognition. Rinya lures her to his room with the recorded footage of her confrontation with Ayanokoji, then coerces her into becoming his tool and intelligence source. He exploits both the recording and his knowledge of her hostility toward Horikita. 10 11

Kushida carries out Rinya's instructions by monitoring Ayanokoji, creating distractions, and reporting information through hand signals. Although she appears obedient, she privately considers how she might use Rinya for her own goals. 12

Appearance

Kushida is portrayed as a cute, sweet-looking girl with a striking figure and a carefully maintained innocent image. 3

• Yellow hair usually worn in a high ponytail. 30
• Fair complexion and a “flawless” cheek. 43
• Known for a gentle voice, warm expressions, and deliberately inviting body language. 3
• Lets her ponytail down while alone in her room. 30

Personality

Kushida carefully curates a friendly, universally approachable persona. She seeks praise, attention, and recognition from classmates, and initially sees useful information as a way to earn admiration before Horikita can. 3 10

Her concealed side is spiteful, manipulative, and deeply hostile toward Horikita. Under pressure, she can become vicious and reckless, using threats, a shard of glass, and targeted attacks to protect herself or gain leverage. 9 19 25

After being forced into Rinya's service, Kushida becomes increasingly dependent on his approval and protection. She also struggles with the emergence of an opposing, more aggressive side of herself, questioning whether she remains the same person and showing possessiveness toward Rinya. 24 36

During the riot, Kushida reflects on her past treatment of Ayanokoji and realizes that her hatred of Horikita has weakened. She comes to regret her actions toward Ayanokoji and recognizes feelings for him. 37

Abilities & Skills

Social Manipulation and Image Management

Kushida excels at gaining trust and attention through a cheerful, harmless public persona.

• Personally collects classmates’ contact information and establishes herself as a central social figure in Class D. 3
• Uses flirtation and emotional pressure against Ayanokoji when protecting her secret. 9
• Becomes influential enough that Hirata asks her to lead the Study Fund Support Plan. 22
• Her reputation gives Class D greater visibility and discourages other classes from openly provoking them. 22 37

Information Gathering

As Rinya’s informant, Kushida conducts surveillance, follows targets, and supports operations.

• Reports information to Rinya and learns hand signals for discreet communication. 11 12
• Uses location tracking while following Hoshinomiya. 42
• Helps investigate Chabashira’s suspicious office activity and the cruise-ship incidents. 48 49 50
• Operates a camera during the joint physical-exam riot. 33 34

Martial Arts and Combat

Kushida trained in martial arts during middle school while attempting to compete with Horikita. Her combat capability becomes more pronounced when her darker side takes over. 25

• Repels Ryuen Kakeru with a single palm strike after receiving a strand of Qi from Rinya. 17
• Uses a shard of glass to cut Ishizaki Daichi’s arm when cornered. 19
• Sneaks past Class C searchers and incapacitates a guard with a surprise strike. 25
• Rescues Ibuki Mio by striking Ishizaki in a vulnerable area. 25 26
• Escapes Ryuen’s custody by knocking out two of his subordinates without being noticed. 27
• Stops herself from seriously injuring Hoshinomiya with a sharp stone. 43

Coercion and Blackmail

Kushida is willing to use recorded evidence and threats once she has leverage.

• Records Ishizaki’s incriminating statements during the operation to rescue Ibuki. 25
• Uses the recording to silence Ishizaki and warns that exposure would implicate Ryuen as well. 26
• Previously relied on threats of exposure and expulsion against Ayanokoji. 9

Qi Empowerment

Rinya can leave a strand of Qi within Kushida, temporarily enabling strength beyond her normal physical ability.

• The Qi-enhanced strike that drove Ryuen away becomes the basis of her martial-arts reputation. 17 21
• Rinya plans to provide her another strand for the joint physical examination. 31
• Kushida cannot openly explain the source of this power and instead attributes it to exercise. 17

Equipment / Items

• Phone and location tracker — used to monitor movements and coordinate with Ibuki during the Class C operation. 24 26
• Camera — used to record events during the joint physical examination. 33 34
• Audio recording of Ishizaki — evidence used to blackmail and silence him. 25 26
• Sharp stone / glass shard — improvised weapons used by her darker persona. 19 43

Relationships

• Rinya — Her master and coercive controller. He possesses evidence of her secret, forces her into an informant role, and later praises her growth; Kushida becomes reliant on his approval and protection. 10 11 30 43
• Horikita Suzune — Long-standing rival and target of Kushida’s resentment. Horikita nevertheless protects her from Ibuki and Ishizaki, leaving Kushida conflicted. 11 19 22
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — Initially threatened by Kushida after discovering her true nature. During the riot, Kushida regrets her treatment of him and realizes her feelings for him. 9 37
• Ibuki Mio — Initially an adversary testing Kushida’s supposed strength; later Rinya’s fellow operative. They cooperate to escape Class C and protect one another during the operation. 18 25 28
• Ryuen Kakeru — Publicly repelled by Kushida, then repeatedly seeks to test or expose her. Her apparent defeat of him helps establish her school-wide reputation. 17 18 21
• Ishizaki Daichi — Attacks Kushida during the confrontation with Class C. Kushida later injures him, records his confession, and blackmails him into silence. 19 25 26
• Hirata Yosuke — Approaches Kushida to lead the Study Fund Support Plan because of her popularity and influence. 22
• Sudo Ken — Comes to admire her enough to publicly ask her to mentor him; Horikita intervenes before he can commit himself to her influence. 44
• Chie Hoshinomiya — Confronts and slaps Kushida after catching her tailing her. Kushida’s darker side retaliates but stops short of seriously harming her. 42 43

Story Role / Major Arcs

Exposure and Subjugation

Rinya records Kushida’s encounter with Ayanokoji, confronts her with the evidence, and forces her into service as an informant. Kushida accepts because exposure would destroy the image she values and jeopardize her place at school. 9 10 11

“Goddess of Martial Arts”

Using Qi supplied by Rinya, Kushida drives Ryuen away in front of Class D. Ibuki later corroborates a false account that Kushida defeated both her and Ishizaki, causing the school to label Kushida the “Goddess of Martial Arts.” 17 21

Class C Operation

Rinya orders Kushida and Ibuki to handle an operation independently as a test of their usefulness. When Ibuki is endangered, Kushida’s darker persona takes control; she infiltrates the search area, records Ishizaki’s confession, rescues Ibuki, and blackmails Ishizaki. 24 25 26

Riot and Identity Conflict

Kushida assists Rinya by recording the events of the joint physical examination. As the situation escalates, she questions her identity, fears being replaced by her darker side, and begins reconsidering her feelings toward Horikita and Ayanokoji. 33 36 37

Hoshinomiya Incident

Kushida follows Hoshinomiya at Rinya’s command and is caught. After Hoshinomiya strikes her, Kushida’s darker side surfaces and nearly attacks with lethal force before stopping herself. Rinya witnesses the confrontation and praises her growth. 42 43

Cruise-Ship Investigation

During the cruise-ship trip, Kushida notices Chabashira’s unusual behavior and works with Rinya to investigate a suspected trap, the detention of Kitatori, and activity in the boys’ dormitory. 48 49 50

Notable Quotes

“As long as you keep our secret, I’ll still be that cute little angel.” 9

“Get lost! I don’t need your hypocritical pity!” 19

“If it were before, you would definitely be dead. But now... consider yourself lucky.” 43

Trivia

• Kushida’s false martial-arts explanation—exercise more at night—leads students to imitate her training methods; some reportedly lose hair while following them. 17 21
• Her popularity becomes so great that students from other classes seek status simply by claiming to be close to her. 22
• Despite her public reputation, Kushida initially panics when Ibuki and Ishizaki challenge her, fearing that Ryuen will expose her lack of consistent combat ability. 18 19