Kushida Kikyo

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田桔梗)
Alias(es)	“Kikyo-chan,” used by Makoto Nishikado 24
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class D; later compelled to join Horikita Suzune’s camp 2 32
Occupation/Role	Class D student; highly popular social figure and key organizer within her class 31
Status	Active student
First Appearance	Chapter 2, “A Big Baby with a Broad Mind” 2

Background / History

Before entering Advanced Nurturing High School, Kushida attended the same middle school as Horikita Suzune, though they were in different classes. Kushida remembers faces exceptionally well and recognized Horikita despite their limited prior contact. During middle school, she caused her class to collapse; reports state that none of its students graduated normally and that its homeroom teacher suffered a mental breakdown. The school subsequently sealed information about the incident. 30 31 33

At high school, Kushida sought to begin again by cultivating the image of a gentle, helpful “angel.” Her social skill quickly won Class D’s trust, made her a central figure among its students, and gave her a large social circle. Maintaining this persona, however, placed her under intense psychological pressure. 2 31 33

Her first encounter with Makoto Nishikado on the school bus destabilized this fresh start. Although she outwardly thanked him and agreed to exchange contact information, his apparent knowledge of her hidden nature left her fearful and furious. She initially planned to gain his trust, uncover his secrets, expose him, and drive him to the bottom of the school hierarchy. 2

Appearance

Kushida is consistently described as beautiful, with a bright, sweet smile that reinforces her approachable public image. Her carefully controlled expression often conceals intense anger, fear, or resentment. 2 31

• Fair hands; she waves enthusiastically when greeting others. 17
• A radiant, flower-like smile used as part of her friendly public persona. 2
• Her expression can visibly break under pressure, including flushed cheeks, disheveled hair, and cold eyes beneath her smile. 31 32

Personality

Kushida presents herself as warm, considerate, sociable, and eager to help others. She wants to be trusted and relied upon, taking particular satisfaction in becoming an irreplaceable “angel” within Class D. Her popularity is not effortless: she actively works to accommodate classmates, including difficult people, and strongly protects the image she has built. 31 36

Behind that facade, she is calculating, insecure, and capable of extreme hostility toward anyone who threatens her secrets or status. Her resentment toward Horikita originates in their shared middle-school past, and she initially resolves that one of them must be expelled. When her composure fails, she becomes impulsive, verbally abusive, and prone to destructive outbursts. 30 31 33

Kushida is highly responsive to praise and flattery, especially when it acknowledges her social value. She also struggles to trust others because of her past experiences of betrayal. Makoto’s acceptance of her real self leaves her conflicted between suspicion and a desire to believe him. 31 36 52

Abilities & Skills

Two-Faced

A system-classified ability reflecting Kushida’s dual nature: a benevolent public face and a concealed, malicious side. 2

• Maintains a sweet, friendly demeanor even while internally experiencing severe anger or panic. 2
• Conceals threats and hostility behind polite speech and smiles. 30 31
• Becomes less effective when her past or true intentions are directly exposed. 30 31

Fake Affinity

A system-classified social ability that lets Kushida unite and attract others while accumulating psychological pressure. 2

• Builds broad social connections and earned the trust of most of Class D. 17 33
• Is regarded as one of the first-year students’ most popular girls, alongside Honami Ichinose. 31
• Can influence both male and female classmates; Horikita considers her essential to unifying Class D. 24 52
• Sustaining her universally kind image causes her negative emotions to build until she needs private outlets. 33 36

Facial Memory

Kushida claims to never forget a face she has seen. 33

• Recognized Horikita as a former schoolmate despite only limited previous encounters. 24 30
• Her inability to remember Makoto from before high school intensified her suspicion of how he knew her past. 33

Social Manipulation

Kushida can leverage her popularity, emotional intelligence, and carefully crafted reputation to influence classmates and protect herself. 31 33

• Planned to befriend Makoto solely to uncover and weaponize his secrets. 2
• Considered infiltrating another class as a spy while preserving her public image. 31
• Attempted to create leverage over Makoto by forcibly pressing his hand against her chest to leave a handprint. 33 35
• Her schemes are limited by Makoto’s recording of her threats, which he uses to compel her cooperation. 31 32

Relationships

• Makoto Nishikado / Ximen Cheng — Initially a target for manipulation and revenge after he unsettles her with knowledge of her past. He later blackmails her into supporting Horikita, but also expresses acceptance of her true self and a desire for mutual trust. Kushida develops conflicted feelings for him. 2 32 36 53
• Horikita Suzune — Former schoolmate and primary target of Kushida’s grudge. Kushida wants Horikita expelled, while Horikita considers Kushida’s social talent indispensable to leading Class D. 30 31
• Honami Ichinose — A fellow social butterfly whom Kushida befriended on the first day of school. Kushida sees Honami as a genuinely kind counterpart to her own constructed “angel” persona. 17 36
• Yuki Himeno — Witness to Kushida’s exposed nature and threats. Kushida includes Yuki among the people she initially wants driven out alongside Horikita and Makoto. 31
• Karuizawa Kei — A perceived romantic rival for Makoto’s attention. Kushida is irritated by Kei’s confession to him and by her subsequent alignment with Horikita’s side. 52
• Ike Kanji — One of Kushida’s admirers in Class D. His familiarity and objectifying comments irritate her, though she suppresses her anger to preserve her image. 26

Story Role / Major Arcs

Contact with Makoto

Kushida meets Makoto at the beginning of the school year and publicly forms a friendship with him, while privately deciding to investigate and destroy him. Her emotional reactions to his remarks make clear that he has immediately threatened the security of her new identity. 2

Conflict with Horikita

When Horikita seeks her help to unite Class D, Kushida’s concealed hostility is exposed. She admits that she and Horikita cannot coexist and insists that one of them must drop out. 30

Coerced Cooperation

Makoto records Kushida’s threats and uses the recording to force her into Horikita’s camp. Although she agrees to assist with taking control of Class D, she does so unwillingly and continues looking for ways to regain leverage. 31 32

Attempted Reversal

On the Artificial Island, Kushida tries to secure blackmail material against Makoto through a staged handprint incident. Makoto remains unmoved, arguing that his existing recording means they have become mutual accomplices rather than reversing their power dynamic. 33 35

Trust and Romantic Ambiguity

Makoto later acknowledges the strain caused by Kushida’s facade and praises the effort behind her social persona. His offer of mutual trust and insistence that he will not allow her to drop out leave her emotionally conflicted. By Chapter 53, her feelings for him are openly recognized, though Makoto describes their relationship as stalled at “75%” progress. 36 53

Managing Class D

Kushida continues working alongside Horikita despite frequent resentment and verbal outbursts. Horikita learns that praise is an effective way to manage her, while also recognizing that Kushida’s goal is to remain an admired “idol” of Class D—an ambition that makes an open romance incompatible with her public image. 52 54

Notable Quotes

“Now, one of us must drop out.” 30

“I have no way to trust you; you’re not a good person at all, Ximen.” 36

“Scumbag, playing with a girl’s innocent heart!” 36