Kushida Kikyo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田桔梗)
Alias(es)	Kikyo-chan; “little angel”
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class 1-D, Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School
Occupation/Role	Student; Class D social connector
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Appearance

Kushida maintains an intentionally approachable, cheerful presentation, usually paired with a polished smile and gentle body language. Her appearance is described with tea- or brown-colored hair and violet eyes. 1 7 20

• Tea-colored hair during her first appearance on the bus. 1
• Soft brown hair and delicate features when introducing herself to Amasawa Reigetsu. 7
• Violet eyes, usually presented with a ready smile but cold and hostile when her façade drops. 20
• Wore a pale pink cardigan and white pleated skirt for her café meeting with Amasawa. 16

Personality

Kushida projects herself as a considerate, sociable “little angel.” She readily assists strangers, actively seeks friendships, and makes classmates feel valued through an earnest tone, gentle smile, and carefully measured concern. 1 7 25

Behind that persona, she is calculating, image-conscious, and deeply contemptuous of people she sees as beneath her. Amasawa recognizes her friendliness as an act almost immediately; when his Induction briefly draws out her hidden thoughts, she calls both herself and him “fakes.” 7 Under pressure, her controlled persona can collapse into rage, paranoia, and violence. 20

After her confrontation with Amasawa and Ayanokoji Kiyoko, Kushida becomes fearful and dependent on Amasawa. She continues performing her public role effectively, but no longer values the class’s adoration for its own sake; she frames her actions as obedience to her “Master.” 21 25

Abilities & Skills

Social Manipulation

Kushida cultivates trust, popularity, and emotional leverage through a convincing friendly persona.

• Uses warmth, flattery, and invitations to quickly establish rapport with others. 7 16
• Exploits sympathy through calculated vulnerability, including claims that she exhausted her private points helping classmates. 17
• Redirects Class D’s anger toward Yamauchi Haruki while appearing forgiving and selfless. 25
• Maintains her public image even while privately holding hostility toward classmates and rivals. 20 25

Information Network

Kushida is regarded as highly connected within the school, making her a plausible source of information and assistance for Class D. 17 30

• Obtains and distributes past midterm papers and answer keys for Class D. 25
• Is asked by Horikita Suzune to investigate potential witnesses for the Class Trial. 30
• Deliberately gives Horikita false information instead of conducting the requested inquiry. 30

Resistance to Induction

When Amasawa Reigetsu uses Induction on Kushida, she briefly loses focus but rapidly recovers before a full suggestion can be implanted. 2 7

• Her expression and gaze become vacant for an instant during Induction. 2 7
• She quickly regains clarity, though a small portion of her concealed nature is exposed. 7

Equipment / Items

• Past midterm exam papers and answer keys — Obtained for Class D and delivered through Hirata Yosuke after her return from leave. 25
• Fruit knife — Used during her attempted attack on Amasawa Reigetsu; he disarms her before using Induction to render her unconscious. 20

Relationships

• Amasawa Reigetsu — Initially approaches him with a manufactured offer of friendship, then attempts to use charm and vulnerability to obtain exam materials. After the events of Chapters 20–21, she becomes submissive and follows his instructions. 7 17 21 25
• Ayanokoji Kiyoko — Classmate and source of intense fear. Kushida attacks her after being confronted over insulting Amasawa, but Kiyoko overpowers her; Kushida later visibly trembles under Kiyoko’s gaze. 20 25
• Horikita Suzune — Classmate whom Kushida privately despises. Horikita requests her help locating Class Trial witnesses, but Kushida intentionally provides a false negative report. 20 30
• Yamauchi Haruki — His self-serving comment about her motives allows Kushida to turn Class D’s opinion against him while publicly defending him. 25
• Class 1-D — Her classmates admire her concern and generosity, unaware that her benevolent persona conceals resentment and obedience to Amasawa’s orders. 25

Background / History

Kushida first appears on a bus supporting an elderly woman and politely asking another student to surrender a priority seat. Her sweet smile and concern immediately draw Amasawa Reigetsu’s attention. 1 When Amasawa attempts to use Induction on her, the attempt is interrupted before he can implant a suggestion. 2

After enrollment, Kushida introduces herself to Amasawa as a Class D student and enthusiastically asks to become friends. Amasawa’s Induction briefly disrupts her façade and provokes her hidden hostility, but she recovers quickly and continues pursuing contact with him. 7 She later invites him to a café, adopts the appearance of an affectionate girlfriend, and requests access to past exam papers for Class D. 16

When Amasawa initially refuses, Kushida escalates her appeal by claiming she spent all her points helping classmates and offering to do “anything” for the papers. Amasawa recognizes this as part of her usual manipulative repertoire and accepts her offer. 17

Kushida’s situation deteriorates after an encounter with Ayanokoji Kiyoko and Amasawa. In a furious outburst, she attacks Kiyoko, later confronts Amasawa with a fruit knife, and is subdued through Induction. Amasawa then subjects her to a psychological scenario while disguised as Kiyoko, leaving her convinced she has experienced a nightmare. 20 Upon awakening, Kushida apologizes profusely, calls Amasawa “Master,” and promises complete obedience before taking leave from school. 21

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early School Life

• Assists an elderly passenger on the bus while presenting her friendly public persona. 1
• Becomes a target of Amasawa’s attempted Induction and quickly recovers from its initial effect. 2
• Introduces herself to Amasawa, exchanges contact information, and conceals the brief exposure of her hostility. 7

Midterm Preparation

• Invites Amasawa to a café and attempts to charm him into supplying Class D with past examination materials. 16
• Offers escalating concessions in exchange for the papers after admitting she lacks the points to acquire them herself. 17

Nightmare and Submission

• Vents her hatred toward Horikita, Ayanokoji, and Amasawa at the artificial lake before confronting Ayanokoji Kiyoko. 20
• Attacks Kiyoko and later Amasawa, using a fruit knife in the latter confrontation. 20
• Breaks down following Amasawa’s psychological manipulation, begs his forgiveness, and becomes dependent on his approval. 21

Return to Class D

• Returns from leave with past exam papers and answer keys, restoring her “little angel” image among Class D. 25
• Uses Yamauchi’s inappropriate remarks to strengthen the class’s sympathy for her and isolate him socially. 25
• Gives Horikita false information during the search for Class Trial evidence, following Amasawa’s instruction rather than assisting her classmate. 30
• Attends the resumed Class Trial as part of Class D’s side. 31