Karuizawa

Biodata

Background / History

Karuizawa suffered bullying in middle school that left her with deep psychological scars. At her new school, she adopted a tough gyaru persona to protect herself and established a position among Class D’s girls. Despite that success, she feared that exposing her vulnerability would make her a target again 44.

She initially considered asking Yosuke Hirata to pretend to be her boyfriend, but worried that his kindness toward everyone would prevent him from firmly taking her side in a conflict. After watching Yang Cheng defend Suzune Horikita against the class, she decided that his assertiveness made him a better potential protector and invited him to meet her 37 44.

Appearance

• Hair: Long, honey-colored hair worn in a high ponytail 44.
• Style: Dresses like a gyaru, reinforcing an image of someone who should not be antagonized 44.
• Public demeanor: Usually carries herself with a bratty, tough attitude that conceals her insecurity 44.

Personality

Karuizawa’s outward confidence is largely defensive. When Yang Cheng suggested that he could expose her bullying history, she trembled uncontrollably and grew pale, revealing how strongly the prospect of renewed bullying affected her. Once he promised secrecy and protection, she relaxed enough to stop maintaining her tough act around him 45.

She is grateful for kindness and conscious of becoming a burden. After discovering that she could not afford their pastry-shop bill, she repeatedly apologized and offered to find a part-time job to repay Yang Cheng. Her embarrassment was heightened by recognizing that he had paid while preserving her dignity in front of the staff 45.

Her attachment to Yang Cheng gradually becomes genuine. Months of his care, both publicly and privately, give her the security she had been seeking. Although she reminds herself that their relationship is only pretend, she begins wondering whether she could become his real girlfriend 49.

Abilities & Skills

Social Influence

Karuizawa holds an established leadership position among Class D’s girls, which becomes more influential after the midterms 44 48.

• Distributes Yang Cheng’s exam questions to classmates who need help passing 47.
• Gains enough goodwill after the exams for her popularity to surpass Hirata’s and Kikyo Kushida’s 48.
• Uses that standing to help persuade the class to support Yang Cheng’s island-survival proposals 49.

Practical Judgment

She recognizes how a classmate’s reputation can affect both personal protection and exam strategy 44 50.

• Chooses Yang Cheng over Hirata because she values decisive support over indiscriminate kindness 44.
• Recommends Yang Cheng as the island-exam leader because Hirata and Horikita would be more obvious choices for rival classes to guess 50.
• Her academic ability is limited: she struggles to achieve passing grades and welcomes the previous year’s exam questions as a way to prepare 46.

Equipment / Items

• Midterm-question notebook — Given to her by Yang Cheng; contains the previous year’s midterm questions. He encourages her to use it herself and share the questions to improve her standing in Class D 45 46.

Relationships

• Nanju Yang Cheng — Pretend boyfriend and protector. He promises to keep her bullying history secret, while their public relationship also gives him a shield against Kushida’s interference. Karuizawa later develops genuine feelings for him 45 46 49.
• Yosuke Hirata — Classmate and her original candidate for a protective boyfriend arrangement. She trusts his kindness but doubts whether he would unequivocally defend her when caught between opposing sides 44 45.
• Suzune Horikita — Classmate whom Karuizawa initially believes Yang Cheng is pursuing. She repeatedly offers to explain the pretend relationship to avoid hurting Horikita, before learning that the supposed romance is a misunderstanding 44 45.
• Kiyotaka Ayanokoji — Recipient of her exam questions. He identifies Yang Cheng as the organizer behind her distribution effort and suggests that their relationship is an exchange of benefits 47.
• Kikyo Kushida — Classmate who resents Karuizawa’s rising popularity. Kushida recognizes the relationship as an act and considers reporting the exam-question distribution, but abandons the idea because of Yang Cheng’s leverage and the likely backlash from Class D 48.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Pretend Relationship

• At the campus pastry shop, Karuizawa reveals her bullying history and asks Yang Cheng to pose as her boyfriend, offering to accept his conditions in return for protection 44.
• He accepts and promises confidentiality; she proposes acting like a couple only around classmates while keeping her distance in private 45.
• She spreads the dating news by telling a talkative friend. Within half an hour, Class D knows, and Yang Cheng publicly confirms the relationship 46.
• Over the following month, they become known as Class D’s model couple, unsettling Horikita 47.

Midterm Exams

• Karuizawa initially worries that using old exam questions constitutes cheating. Yang Cheng explains that he obtained them from second-year students and frames their use as predicting likely questions 46.
• She distributes questions to struggling classmates, while capable students such as Horikita, Hirata, and Koenji do not receive them 47.
• Every Class D student passes. Karuizawa receives the class’s gratitude and a substantial boost in popularity 48.

Uninhabited-Island Exam

• Leads the girls in demanding a portable toilet, opposing the boys’ insistence that they can relieve themselves outdoors 48.
• Supports Yang Cheng’s proposal to make facilities rather than spend exam points on them. After witnessing his swordsmanship and improvised construction, she excitedly embraces him 49.
• Proposes Yang Cheng as Class D’s leader and Key Card holder; Hirata and the other key members unanimously approve 50.

Notable Quotes

“Don't worry. We only need to act like a couple in front of our classmates. I'll keep my distance in private.” 45

“In that case, there shouldn't be anything wrong with becoming his real girlfriend, should there?” — Her thoughts as the pretend relationship develops into genuine affection 49