Kaede

* Mary Skelter 2
* Finale

**Kaede** is a supporting character from *Mary Skelter 2*, where she operates the General Store in the place of Clara in the New Liberated District. She's a main character in Hikari no Arika, the side novel to *Mary Skelter: Nightmares.*

## Appearance

Kaede has pale skin, straight, auburn hair, and gray eyes. Judging from her dialogue and her artwork, she is a sturdy individual capable of handling more physically demanding tasks.

She wears a long blue coat rolled up to her shoulders over a short black and white stripe shirt, reminiscent of a prison uniform. The shirt itself reaches just passed her crotch and she doesn't appear to be wearing any pants. She also has calf-high combat boots, a black bag that hangs from her shoulder, and several silver pins to keep her hair out of her face.

## Personality

Kaede is an optimistic individual who prides herself on looking after everyone. She is a practitioner of tough love and has a quick temper, often encouraging others by being somewhat demeaning, but meaning well all the same. Additionally, she is loyal to the cause and to the people she cares about, most notably Itsuki, who she has been looking after ever since they were kids.

## Plot Role

### *Mary Skelter 2*

Prior to her capture by the Marchens, Kaede used to live and work in or around the Liberated District and had grown up alongside Itsuki. It is unknown when or where she was captured, but she was held in the City Streets along with the rest of the humans.

Kaede first appears after Jack, Little Mermaid, and Otsuu fall into the Underground Cavern and the Blood Youth's transformation into a Nightmare. She had met up with Mamoru, Hikari, Itsuki, and Takumi, other humans who had fallen into the whole that Blood Skelter Alice had created, and formed a group with them to try to find their way out. While the appearance of Nightmare Jack made them hesitant to join the group, the humans join the two Blood Maidens for protection as they search for an exit.

They soon come upon Hameln, who challenges them to a deadly game of tag. During the chase, Itsuki begins to fall behind, unused to this level of physical activity, and Kaede scolds him before offering to help him. Eventually, they all begin to tire, and Mamoru decides to try to sacrifice himself to keep the others safe, much to the chagrin of everyone else. However, Hameln is touched by the act of friendship, and decides to join the group as a hero and a friend.

They make it to the Liberated District, only to find it in shambles, destroyed by the Mysterious Nightmare. The humans convince Otsuu and Little Mermaid to leave, saying that they can probably still find the Blood Maidens somewhere in the Jail.

Once they reach the New Liberated District, Kaede sets up the General Store and makes sure that everyone in the New Liberated District has the food and supplies they need to stay healthy and happy.

### *Mary Skelter: Nightmares*

#### Chapter 8

Kaede does not appear in the main story of the game, but her presence is referenced in it. She is one of the corpses found in the Tower Base, having been killed by the Tower Base Nightmare. The party decides to bury her and the rest of the humans with some of the gear from the old Dawn investigation team that had died 15 years prior to the story. Before long, the Jail resurrects the corpses with the memories of the Dawn team. Kaede merges with the Mother, who had supervised food production and shelter for the Liberated District and the Dawn.

#### Good Ending

None of the resurrected humans make an appearance in this ending, as Hikari, now the Angelic Girl, states that she has put them somewhere safe. The reason for this decision is never explicitly stated, but an out of game explanation could be that the designs for the other resurrected humans hadn't been created at the time.

#### True Ending

With the newly transformed Otsuu and resurrected Little Mermaid, the group of humans meet with the two Blood Maidens. While the group have no memories of the previous timeline, they all hit it off, saying that it is like talking to old friends.

When prompted to go to the surface, the resurrected humans are reluctant at first, as they now live similarly to Marchens, needing a core to stay near in order to survive. Despite this, they remain optimistic, and agree to join everyone on their journey to the surface.

### *Mary Skelter: Finale*

After the attack from Massacre Pink, she manages to join Clara's group, along with Gretel, Hameln, and Sukui. She worries about Itsuki, since they were separated after being together since childhood.

### *Love Prison Tower Mary Skelter: True End*

Whilst farming together, Mamoru suddenly proposes to Hikari as he couldn't bear another day without her by his side. Hikari is shocked since they weren't dating though ends up accepting anyway. Mamoru then sets up the wedding immediately and asks Jack to officiate. As he had had no time to invite anyone with such little notice, he only ends up inviting Kaede, Itsuki, and Takumi. Kaede ran into Otsuu, Little Mermaid, and Hameln on the way, and brings them with her. Kaede and Itsuki revealed they too had gotten engaged, and decide to turn it into a double wedding. This gives Jack the courage to confess to the girl he has feelings for, which eventually leads to Jack getting married as well.

## Trivia

* Kaede's name in kanji (楓) translates to "maple," as in a maple tree. The maple tree often symbolizes balance and practicality in Japan.
* In *Mary Skelter 2,* Kaede gives nicknames to Thumbelina (Sister Leader), Snow White (Noise Beauty), and Sleeping Beauty (Strawberry Princess). These are references to their Japanese voice actresses, whose position in their band, Earphones, match the sisters' nicknames.

1. ↑ *Love Prison Tower Mary Skelter: True End*