Rei Kogami

*For the story arc, see Rei Kogami Arc.*

**Rei Kogami** (鴻 (こう) 上 (がみ) 麗 (れい) , *Kōgami Rei*?) is a fictional character featured in the The Student Council President is the No. 1 Host series. In the live-action adaptation of the manga, Rei Kogami is portrayed by a popular actress named MICO.

## Appearance

Rei Kogami is a young, beautiful, tall, slender, high school girl. As herself, she wears a typical  at school. She has short, black hair with bangs that are parted in the middle.

Due to her androgynous beauty, when she becomes "Ray", her male alter ego, she is still considered good looking. As "Ray," she wears a blonde wig that is styled with a wolf cut mullet. During the famous "Bento Scene," her attire is a white suit jacket with a black lapel, a white vest with black buttons, a black button shirt with a royal design, white pants, black shoes, a rainbow rose in her chest pocket, and a white tie.

## Personality

Rei Kogami is a popular student council president at an all-girls high school. She is well-respected as she is beautiful, smart, athletic, and has a great personality. Because of these qualities, she is everyone's idol, and she even has her own fan club at school. She is described to be dignified and as radiant as her name. She does not hesitate to express gratitude to those who help her.

As "Ray," she is nice to everybody. Although Koyomi, one of her patrons, thinks that "Ray" is doing it because it's her job, but after spending some more time together, Ray is proven to be genuine.

According to Marin, Rei's popularity as a host stems from the sensitivity and tact she puts into entertaining her clients. She gets assertive once in a while, but she is never rough. In fact, while hosting, she never pushes anyone to buy champagne. As a host, all her patrons actually know that she is a woman, but they still come to see her anyway because she doesn't lie about this fact, but still is able to show them a beautiful fantasy which makes gender seem meaningless.

According to Wakana, Rei doesn't try to stand out, although she does because of her looks. She is quite reserved, as well. She is not proactive and only became the student council president and a host because someone either volunteered for her or asked her.

## Plot

*Note: Rei Kogami will be referred to as "Ray" when she is dressed as her male alter ego. She will be referred to as "Rei" when she is presented as herself.*

Some time ago, Rei's parents passed away leaving her older brother to work as a host to support the both of them. One day, he forgot something at home, so Rei took it to him at the club he was working at. The club was shorthanded, so Rei started to work part-time there, too. She created her male host alter-ego, "Ray."

One day, Koyomi finds Ray sitting on a bench looking troubled. Ray explains that she was so busy entertaining clients that she didn't get to eat and now, she feels a little sick. Worried, Koyomi hands her a bento box.

Later that day, Rei calls Koyomi to the student council room. Rei returns the bento box Koyomi gave her that morning and thanks her for helping her. Rei proceeds to explain how she got into working as a host and asks Koyomi to keep it a secret.

As a host, Ray is faced with a lot of adversary. The other hosts become hostile towards her for stealing their clients as she has become popular among the patrons. When the other hosts find out that she's a girl, they try using Koyomi just to hurt Ray.

Ultimately, all of Ray's customers know that she is in fact a girl and yet, they still come to see her anyway because of the dream Ray shows them. She shows them a fantasy so beautiful that it makes gender seem meaningless.

### Bento Scene

Every now and then from their first encounter, Koyomi would bring Ray a bento. Ray thanks her and tells her that every bento she makes is the best. Ray explains that Koyomi's bento boxes look just like the ones her mom used to make when she was little. They always helped her unwind. Ray is always tense in school and at work, but the moments she and Koyomi spend together at the end of the day are the most relaxing ones.

Ray being a host was what brought her and Koyomi together, but it is also the reason why Koyomi won't believe Ray's words or her feelings. This is because Koyomi finds it hard to believe that her simple bento could compare to the fancy restaurants that Ray's patrons would take her to.

## Relationships

### Koyomi Mishima

Koyomi is the newly transferred student who gives Ray a bento when she saw her looking tired one day. Their relationship starts to grow from there and Koyomi ends up bringing Ray a bento every day. They also spend a lot of time at the end of each day which, according to Ray, are the moments that are the most relaxing.

### Tokiko Tsumugi

Tokiko is Ray's ace, a customer who spends the most on her. She defends Ray from the other hosts when they find out that Ray is a girl. She declares that she will always be Ray's ace so that she can keep watching over her while being at her side.

## Etymology

* The name **Rei** means **"beautiful, lovely"** (麗 (れい) ) (rei).
* Rei's surname **Kogami** means **"large bird, wild goose, large, great, powerful, prosperous"** (鴻 (こう) ) (kō) and **"above, up"** (上 (がみ) ) (gami / kami).

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *My Dress-Up Darling* Manga — Vol. 7 Chapter 52.