Kushida Kikyo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kushida Kikyo (櫛田桔梗)
Alias(es)	“Little Kikyo” (used by Watanabe Hayabara) 16
Gender	Female
Affiliation	First-Year Class D
Occupation/Role	Student; Watanabe Hayabara’s exclusive social liaison 31
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Kushida first meets Watanabe Hayabara on the bus to school after he gives his seat to an elderly woman. She introduces herself with a bright smile, but internally suspects that Hayabara and Kouenji Rokusuke are acting together; Hayabara, meanwhile, immediately recognizes her smile as artificial and chooses to play along. The two later discover that they have both been assigned to Class D. 1

In Class D, Kushida cultivates a friendly, approachable image. She seeks Horikita Suzune’s contact information, invites Hayabara to lunch when he is alone, and introduces him to numerous classmates, helping him establish a social circle. 7

Her public persona conceals a hostile side. On the rooftop, Hayabara witnesses her anger toward Horikita and confronts her over her “true face.” He records the confrontation, using the recording and knowledge of her undisclosed past to blackmail her into compliance. 16

Before the midterm, Kushida distributes past exam papers obtained from a senior to help Class D study. The papers are later used as evidence against her, resulting in a deduction of 1,000,000 personal points and a two-week suspension. 25 27

After the midterm incident, Kushida reveals part of her past to Hayabara, including the existence of a blog, while unsuccessfully attempting to bargain for his help against Horikita. She ultimately accepts Hayabara’s offer of protection and post-graduation employment in exchange for becoming his exclusive social liaison. 30 31

Appearance

Kushida is a petite girl with chestnut hair and a carefully maintained, sweet expression. Her appearance and mannerisms support the warm, approachable image she presents to others. 1 32

• Chestnut-haired. 1
• Described as petite and exquisite. 32
• Usually wears the school uniform. 16
• Frequently presents a bright or sweet smile in public. 1 7

Personality

Kushida is socially adept, energetic, and attentive to others’ needs in public. She readily greets students, remembers social opportunities, and can rally classmates through calm reassurance. Her friendliness earns substantial trust within Class D. 7 37 49

Privately, she can be calculating, volatile, and deeply resentful toward Horikita Suzune. When her hidden nature is exposed, she responds with threats, anger, and attempts to regain leverage over Hayabara. 16 30 31

She is also pragmatic. Despite resisting Hayabara’s control, she recognizes the value of his protection and resources, accepts the liaison arrangement, and later uses her social influence to resolve class tensions and direct credit toward him. 31 32 49

Abilities & Skills

Social Networking

Kushida rapidly forms connections and uses her popularity to introduce, persuade, and coordinate other students.

• Introduced Hayabara to numerous classmates during their first lunch together. 7
• Maintains friendly relations with Ichinose Honami of Class B. 38
• Successfully explained Hayabara’s role in saving Ijuin Wataru to individual Class D students, easing the class controversy around him. 32
• Her statements carry enough credibility that Class D readily accepts her public praise of Hayabara’s role in Miyake’s case. 49

Public Image Management

Kushida consistently performs kindness, modesty, and concern in front of classmates, even when her private motives differ.

• Presents herself as eager to befriend everyone in Class D. 7
• Modestly frames her help in the Miyake case as insignificant despite taking an active role. 46
• Conceals her hostility and anger behind a pleasant persona. 1 16

Class Coordination

Kushida can take initiative during class crises and motivate others to cooperate.

• Distributed past exam papers and answers to help Class D prepare for the midterm. 25 26
• Took charge of the effort to clear Akito Miyake’s name after his altercation with Class C. 37
• Coordinated with Hayabara, Horikita, Ayanokoji, and Ichinose during the investigation. 37 38

Manipulation

Kushida uses charm, favors, and emotional presentation to obtain resources or influence.

• Requested a reward after resolving the class’s controversy around Hayabara. 32
• Asked Hayabara for 50,000 private points, though he ultimately transferred 500,000. 33
• Uses affectionate behavior and calculated vulnerability when negotiating with Hayabara. 32 33

Items

• Past exam papers and answers — Obtained from a senior and distributed to Class D before the midterm; their use led to her disciplinary punishment. 25 27
• Private points — Received 500,000 private points from Hayabara after requesting 50,000. 33
• Recording of the rooftop confrontation — A recording held by Hayabara and used as leverage against her. 16

Relationships

• Watanabe Hayabara — Classmate, blackmailer, and employer. He sees through her public façade, coerces her cooperation with recorded evidence, then makes her his exclusive social liaison; their interactions remain flirtatious but marked by unequal power and mutual calculation. 1 16 31 32
• Horikita Suzune — Classmate and target of Kushida’s private resentment. Kushida initially seeks her contact information, later vents hostility toward her, and offers Hayabara control over herself in exchange for Horikita’s destruction; publicly, she cooperates with and receives praise from Horikita. 7 16 26 30
• Ichinose Honami — Friendly acquaintance from Class B who assists Kushida and Hayabara’s investigation into Miyake’s case. 38 39
• Akito Miyake — Classmate whom Kushida publicly supports after his conflict with Class C, promising to clear his name. 37
• Yosuke Hirata — Classmate who defends her when Sudo blames her for the altered midterm exam. 27
• Sudo Ken — Classmate who angrily blames her after the past exam papers fail to match the actual midterm. 27

Story Role / Major Arcs

Class D Introduction

Kushida enters Class D alongside Hayabara after meeting him on the bus. She immediately establishes herself as warm and sociable while privately distrusting Hayabara’s behavior. 1

Rooftop Exposure

Kushida’s resentment toward Horikita and her hidden personality are exposed by Hayabara. His recording of their encounter leaves her vulnerable to blackmail and establishes his leverage over her. 16

Midterm Exam Incident

Kushida provides Class D with past exam papers, intending to help the class. When the test is changed, she becomes the focus of student anger and is punished after Hayabara submits evidence of her involvement. 25 27

Social Liaison Arrangement

Following further pressure from Hayabara, Kushida agrees to work as his exclusive social liaison in return for promised protection and future employment. 31

Miyake Assault Case

Kushida leads Class D’s initial response to Akito Miyake’s alleged assault, recruits Hayabara’s help, and investigates Class B and Class C for witnesses. After Miyake is vindicated, she publicly credits Hayabara for supplying the decisive evidence. 37 38 40 49

Notable Quotes

“I will help Akito Miyake clear his name.” 37

“Please trust me. I will uncover the truth, see that justice is served for Akito Miyake, and ensure the class doesn't suffer any unnecessary losses.” 37

Trivia

• Kushida’s first interaction with Hayabara is a handshake after he gives up his bus seat for an elderly woman. 1
• Hayabara identifies her smile as fake during their first meeting, though he outwardly cooperates with her performance. 1
• She openly stated that she would not have a boyfriend, making her concerned about rumors caused by appearing intimate with Hayabara. 33