Sakayanagi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Sakayanagi Arisu (坂柳) 2
Alias(es)	Sakayanagi Mom; Mama Sakayanagi; Mom Sakayanagi—names used by Kiryu Yume 22 28 36
Gender	Female 2
Affiliation	Class A; leader of the Sakayanagi Faction 4
Occupation/Role	Student, faction strategist, and Kiryu Yume's tutor 16 17
Health	Has a heart condition and limited stamina; cannot participate in the cruise special exam 55 60
First Appearance	Chapter 2: “The Silent Front” 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Pet Cat Bond Lv. 2	60	Upgraded from Lv. 1. The bond further improves Kiryu Yume's physical coordination and reaction speed, while granting him greater awareness of subtle changes in his surroundings.

Appearance

Sakayanagi is a small, physically frail girl who nonetheless carries herself with exceptional poise. She walks with a white cane and maintains a perfectly straight posture even when her health is poor. 2 22 36

• Short silver-white hair, sometimes described with a pale blue or golden sheen in the light. 6 9 28
• Violet eyes. 6
• Pale complexion; faint blue veins are visible near her collarbones. 22 36
• Uses a slender white cane, which she keeps beside her while studying or seated. 2 16 36
• Often carries books, study notes, or black coffee. 3 19 28

Personality

Sakayanagi is composed, observant, and sparing with her words. Rather than openly recruiting supporters, she allows people to gather around her while Hashimoto communicates on her behalf. She treats class politics as a contest of preparation and judgment, preferring to preserve leverage rather than reveal it prematurely. 4 6 17

She can be manipulative when pursuing an objective, as shown when she uses a recording of Kiryu's mistake to force him into her faction. However, her control gradually becomes less coercive as she gives him room to adjust to his attendant role. 6 8

Despite her calculating nature, Sakayanagi is patient as a tutor and receptive to Kiryu's concern for her health. She teases him regularly, but becomes noticeably more open and affectionate as their bond develops. 16 22 36

Abilities & Skills

Strategic Analysis

Sakayanagi assesses people and classes through their overall structure rather than isolated details.

• Identifies Class B's unity as its main threat and Class C's methods as its defining danger. 17
• Focuses on Class D's lack of cohesion rather than the individual students Kiryu observes. 11
• Considers Ayanokoji Kiyotaka the only Class D student who truly requires attention. 46
• Regards Ryuen Kakeru's reliance on violence as a weakness that leaves exploitable evidence. 47
• Believes Ayanokoji's abilities were artificially cultivated and may be predictable outside the framework that shaped him. 46

Faction Leadership and Intelligence Planning

Sakayanagi leads through preparation, delegation, and the distribution of her judgment.

• Adds intelligence gathering to Class A's shared-fund budget. 17
• Uses Hashimoto Masayoshi as her principal spokesperson and contact with other classes. 4 17
• Wants her faction to retain her decision-making principles even if illness prevents her from being present. 17
• Assigns Kiryu to gather intelligence on Classes B, C, and D. 9 11 17
• Entrusts Kiryu with leading Class A during the cruise special exam, granting him freedom to cooperate, act independently, or oppose Katsuragi if necessary. 55

Tutoring

Sakayanagi tutors Kiryu and Kamuro in history with a structured, cause-and-effect approach.

• Breaks historical material into timelines, sequence drills, and repeated recitation. 16
• Uses Kiryu's errors to identify weaknesses in his historical foundations. 16 19
• Prepares notes and study materials outside formal sessions. 22 28
• Her tutoring helps Kiryu improve enough to pass all subjects in the midterm examination. 38

Pet Cat Bond

The Mom-Recognition System associates Sakayanagi with the “Pet Cat” bond, formed through Kiryu recognizing her as his “Mom.”

• The bond initially improves Kiryu's coordination, agility, senses, and reactions. 12
• At Lv. 2, it additionally improves his environmental awareness. 60
• Its documented effects apply to Kiryu rather than directly enhancing Sakayanagi herself. 60

Equipment / Items

• White cane — Used while walking and kept at her desk, table, or side when seated. 2 16 36
• Mobile phone — Holds the video she uses as leverage against Kiryu. 6
• History references and handwritten notes — Used in her tutoring sessions and given to Kiryu for independent study. 16 22 28
• Black coffee — Her usual drink, frequently brought to her by Kiryu. 3 19 25

Relationships

• Kiryu Yume — Initially coerces him into joining her faction with a video, then appoints him as her attendant. Their relationship develops into mutual trust, tutoring, playful affection, and her delegation of Class A's cruise-exam leadership to him. 6 8 36 55 60
• Kamuro Masumi — Trusted attendant and close aide. Sakayanagi considers Kamuro highly capable of executing tasks, though not of making strategic judgments independently. 8 17
• Katsuragi Kohei — Rival Class A faction leader. Though their groups compete for influence, they cooperate on the class-fund proposal and its intelligence budget. 2 17
• Hashimoto Masayoshi — Her spokesperson and early supporter; he nominates her for class leader and communicates with students on her behalf. 2 4
• Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — A Class D student Sakayanagi considers uniquely dangerous due to his timing, methods, and ability to influence events from the shadows. 46

Story Role / Major Arcs

Class A Faction Conflict

Hashimoto nominates Sakayanagi for class leader because she ranked first across the school on the entrance exam. She neither campaigns nor rejects the nomination, answering only, “Interesting.” As Class A divides, students naturally gather around her while Katsuragi forms the opposing faction. 2 4

Kiryu's Recruitment and Intelligence Work

After obtaining footage of Kiryu calling Kamuro “Mom,” Sakayanagi uses it to compel him into her faction. She makes him her attendant, places him at her left side during their morning walks, and assigns him to observe the other classes. 6 8 9 11

Class A's Strategic Preparation

Sakayanagi supports Katsuragi's class-fund framework but ensures intelligence gathering is included in its spending. Anticipating that her health may keep her from crucial decisions, she instructs Kiryu and her faction to internalize her judgment beforehand. 17

Cruise Special Exam

Unable to participate because of her health, Sakayanagi appoints Kiryu as Class A's leader for the cruise exam. She gives him broad authority over his approach and expects him to demonstrate what he can achieve without her direct presence. 55 60

Notable Quotes

“Even if I am not present, every member of the Sakayanagi Faction will carry my judgment in their minds.” 17

“After all, you're the one I chose. I should see what you're truly capable of accomplishing.” 55