Kushida Kikyo

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kushida Kikyo (栉田桔梗)
Alias(es)	“Little Angel of Class D” 21
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class D during her first year; Class 2-C during her second year 21 233
Occupation/Role	Student; initially Shiraishi Makoto's coerced informant within Class D 22
First Appearance	Chapter 7 (mentioned); Chapter 21 (first described appearance) 7 21

Background / History

During middle school, Kushida cultivated the same friendly, lively image she later displayed at Advanced Nurturing High School. She made friends across her class and other classes, taking pride in being close to everyone. However, maintaining relationships with classmates she disliked caused her resentment to build. She vented anonymously online, criticizing classmates and posting secrets that had been entrusted to her. 134

In her third year of middle school, classmates discovered the account and denounced her as two-faced. In retaliation, Kushida exposed every secret she knew, turning classmates against one another. The resulting crisis led to widespread absences and transfers, leaving her with lasting guilt and fear that her past would be exposed again. 134 135

At the start of high school, Kushida rapidly built a broad social network and became known as Class D's approachable “little angel.” Her desire to be everyone's friend was genuine, but she continued to conceal the resentment and harsh opinions beneath that persona. 7 21 22

Shiraishi Makoto obtained footage of Kushida dropping her façade on the rooftop—kicking a railing and viciously insulting classmates including Horikita Suzune and Sudo Ken. He used the video to force her cooperation as an inside agent in Class D, promising not to release it as long as she worked with him. 21 22

Kushida assisted Shiraishi's plans around the midterm exam, including steering vulnerable classmates toward Archived Exam Questions while preserving an image of reluctant concern. She later contributed personal points to help save classmates facing expulsion, leaving herself in debt and angry at having been maneuvered into the situation. 22 23 27 30

Appearance

Kushida is a petite girl with short, light-brown hair and a carefully maintained sweet smile. Her public presentation emphasizes warmth and harmlessness, reinforcing her “little angel” reputation. 21 136

• Short, light-brown hair. 21
• Petite, “adorable” build. 136
• Usually wears a bright, approachable smile in public. 21
• Her expression and voice become cold and hostile when her façade is dropped. 21

Personality

Kushida's defining trait is the divide between her public image and private emotions. Outwardly, she is friendly, energetic, helpful, and eager to connect people. Privately, she can be spiteful, calculating, jealous, and openly contemptuous of people she dislikes. 21 22

Her friendliness is not entirely false: she genuinely values relationships and works hard to maintain them, even lending personal points to classmates despite expecting some would never repay her. She is also capable of practical care, such as helping Sakura Airi establish friendships in Class D. 22 23 37

Kushida is deeply afraid of being exposed as the person responsible for her middle-school class's collapse. Her hostility toward Horikita Suzune stems partly from that fear, but also from jealousy: Kushida sees Horikita's blunt honesty as a reminder of her own hypocrisy. 135

Around Shiraishi, Kushida gradually becomes more candid. He knows her worst side yet does not reject her, allowing her to speak without maintaining her “little angel” mask. This acceptance becomes central to her feelings for him. 30 136

Abilities & Skills

Social Networking

Kushida quickly forms connections across classes and uses her reputation to influence how others perceive events.

• Made numerous friends both inside and outside Class D within her first month at school. 21
• Can mobilize classmates for class-oriented efforts, including searching for witnesses in Sudo Ken's assault case. 49
• Uses her reputation to protect herself from criticism; classmates defended her after the Archived Exam Questions incident. 25
• Maintained contacts with enough classmates to arrange social support for Sakura Airi. 37 38

Academic Ability

Kushida is a strong student who can support weaker classmates academically.

• Was regarded by classmates as having excellent grades. 25
• Ranked within the top five students of Class D academically. 147
• Helped tutor Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei alongside Shiraishi Makoto. 147

Deception and Social Manipulation

Kushida is adept at protecting her image, managing rumors, and influencing social dynamics without appearing openly hostile.

• Planned to perform sorrow and reluctance so expelled classmates would not blame her for the midterm scheme. 23
• Helped create circumstances that would replace Yamauchi Haruki's rumor about her with rumors linking her to Shiraishi. 36 38
• Deliberately displayed her familiarity with Shiraishi's room, key, slippers, and belongings to establish herself as the “old-timer” among his partners. 147
• Uses flirtation and calculated intimacy to provoke perceived romantic rivals, including Sakura Airi and Karuizawa Kei. 72 95

Relationships

• Shiraishi Makoto — Initially blackmailed her with footage of her true personality and used her as an informant against Class D. Their relationship gradually became one of trust, friendship, and romance; Kushida confessed to him, and he reciprocated. They later made their relationship public. 21 22 136 137
• Horikita Suzune — Former middle-school schoolmate and the focus of Kushida's deepest fear and resentment. Kushida views Horikita as a threat to her secret and envies her straightforward nature; Shiraishi refused Kushida's request to help expel her. 135
• Sakura Airi — Kushida was tasked with helping Airi make friends and introduced her to Shinohara Satsuki. Their early interactions were complicated by Kushida's curiosity about Airi's connection to Shiraishi and mutual romantic tension. 36 37 72
• Karuizawa Kei — Initially a romantic rival for Shiraishi's attention. Kushida interrupted Kei's date with him and questioned her intentions, but later accepted Kei as part of Shiraishi's relationship group. 90 95 177
• Ichinose Honami — A fellow socially gifted student with whom Kushida has good rapport. Kushida later welcomed Ichinose into Shiraishi's group of partners. 167 177
• Hirata Yosuke — A trusted Class D classmate who publicly warned others not to believe rumors about Kushida's middle-school past. 233
• Yamauchi Haruki — Spread rumors that Kushida liked him after she helped cover the cost of Archived Exam Questions. Kushida strongly resented his behavior and sought Shiraishi's help to counter it. 36

Story Role / Major Arcs

Class D Informant Arc

After Shiraishi gains video evidence of her unmasked behavior, Kushida becomes his coerced contact within Class D. She assists his midterm strategy while concealing her involvement from Horikita and the rest of the class. 21 22 23

Midterm Debt Arc

Kushida's efforts around the Archived Exam Questions and the subsequent effort to save three students leave her owing personal points. She confronts Shiraishi over the debt and learns that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been manipulating the broader situation. 27 30

Sakura Airi and Rumor Arc

At Shiraishi's request, Kushida helps socially isolate Sakura Airi make friends. At the same time, she works with Shiraishi to bury Yamauchi's rumor by encouraging speculation that she and Shiraishi are close. 36 37 38 39

Confession Arc

The resurfacing of social-media conflict among the second-years reminds Kushida of her middle-school trauma. She reveals her past to Shiraishi, admits her hatred of Horikita, and realizes that what she wants most is to remain with him. She confesses her love and asks to spend the next three years together. 134 135 136

Public Relationship Arc

After Shiraishi accepts her confession, Kushida openly acknowledges their relationship. She is aware that he has feelings for other girls and explicitly accepts a non-exclusive relationship, while asserting her status as his earliest partner among the group. 136 137 147

Past Exposure Arc

Rumors about Kushida's middle-school actions spread throughout the school during her second year. Hirata urges classmates not to believe them, while other students obtain information that suggests the rumors are true. Her history later becomes common knowledge at the school. 233 234 244

Notable Quotes

“I love you. I want to spend the next three years with you.” 136

“Because you are my best choice, and also my only choice.” 136

Trivia

• Kushida first entered Shiraishi's room in May, originally intending to find evidence she could use against him. 136 147
• She possesses a spare key to Shiraishi's room and keeps personal items there. 147
• She began saving personal points to support Shiraishi's goal of eventually bringing his desired classmates together in Class A. 151
• Her middle-school history is considered serious enough that some students fear she could cause Class C to collapse from within. 233