Houjou

**Houjou** (北条, *Hōjō*) is a female side character in the series *Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san*. She is currently a second-year student at Tonoshō Municipal Tonoshō Junior High School, attending the same class with other characters such as Nishikata and Takagi. Her classmates have described her as "the prettiest girl in school", which has led her to adopt a more mature personality. She is also well known for her interest in guys who are mature, but despite this, Hamaguchi remains her primary love interest.

## Appearance

Houjou is a light-skinned girl who has a similar height as Nishikata and Takagi. She has light brown eyes and has a mole under her right eye. Her shoulder-length wavy hair is blonde in the manga, but dark brown in the anime. She puts on a hair braid on the left side and has hair clips on the right side of her hair.

Houjou is most commonly seen wearing her serafuku, but she has also worn other outfits. She can be seen wearing a yukata during the Summer Festival in Season 2, Episode 12. When at home, she ties her hair with a small side ponytail, wears classes, and puts on a baggy sweater as seen in Chapter 146.

## Personality

Houjou adopts a mature persona whenever she's around her classmates. Her mature personality features several traits, such as not being easily perturbed by things she perceives as childish and refining her physical appearance. As part of her self-image, Houjou also retains her composure on matters of romance. She also claims she is drawn to mature guys and that only they would interest her in any capacity.

Houjou's true self, however, is far more softer than she portrays. Hamaguchi is her primary love interest. She is easily flustered around Hamaguchi, especially whenever he acts clumsily or anxiously around her. Despite her claims that she likes mature people, she retains an air of jealousy when Hamaguchi doesn't spend time with her. At her second-year Culture Festival (Season 3, Episode 6), she expresses her ire at not being invited by Hamaguchi to his class's maid café. Although she tries on many occasions, she also cannot cook given her tendency to ruin any recipe she tries. Altogether, she keeps her gentler of herself as hidden as possible because she doesn't want her classmates to know.

## Relationships

### Hamaguchi

*Main article: Hamaguchi*
Houjou has been close friends with Hamaguchi since they were little. During middle school, she and Hamaguchi became neighbors. The many years they knew each other have left Houjou comfortable to show her more casual side. While she finds her more unkempt self more embarrassing to express, she remains comfortable enough around Hamaguchi to not have to hide that side of herself. While she may deny it, she also goes out of her way to spend time with Hamaguchi when she can. On top of the Culture Festival, Houjou has also thought about joining the cheer team to root for Hamaguchi while he plays for the school's soccer club. She has also been thoughtful towards Hamaguchi. She approaches his friend Nishikata about what he would like most for his birthday (Chapter 118). She may be aware of Hamaguchi's feelings for her (Chapter 108), appreciative that he harbours them in the first place. Unbeknownst to Hamaguchi, however, Houjou also grew feelings for Hamaguchi and went out to the Summer Festival with him (Chapter 177, Season 2 Episode 10).

## Etymology

* The surname **Houjou** means "north" (北) (**hou**) and "article" (条) (**jou**).