Hikaru Kusakabe

* Manga (Color)
* Manga (B&W)
* Anime
* Young
* Blanc Ch.9
* Wedding

Hikaru Kusakabe *(草壁光, Kusakabe Hikaru)* is one of the main protagonists of the Doukyuusei series. He is currently living together with Rihito Sajou in Tokyo, working as a musician while also working part time. He formerly attended and graduated from Toufu Daiichi High School, along with Rihito.

## Bio

### Appearance

Hikaru has naturally curly, blonde hair, which has been bleached. He has half-lidded, droopy eyes and stretched earlobes, typically wearing gauges in them. In high school, he would wear his uniform loosely, with his shirt untucked and his necktie messily tied. His fashion sense ranges from comfortable to stylish, often wearing loose-fitting clothes. He always makes sure to wear gloves in winter.

### Personality

Hikaru is typically easy-going and sociable. He enjoys music, playing guitar, and cooking. Overall, he has a strong sense of self and generally does not care what most people think of him. He is generally indifferent to most human relationships, though he has become a little warmer since meeting Rihito.

Hikaru is very caring to the people he cares most about and expresses it in various ways. While he is quite laidback, he has moments where he can be quite high-strung, such as when he scolds a drunk Rihito for overthinking and running off by himself in the middle of the night in *Doukyuusei.* Despite generally keeping Rihito's tendencies to overthink in check, he can also overthink and jump to conclusions too, which can lead to misunderstandings. Throughout the series, he becomes more and more attentive and tries to consider all options during a problem.

Though he is mostly confident in himself, he harbors some slight insecurities, typically when it comes to showing vulnerability to Rihito or impressing Rihito's family. Hikaru will sometimes downplay his achievements and skills and can even be embarrassed of them at times, such as when he first told Rihito about his plans to pursue music professionally, and when he first cooked for him. He also has a tendency to not tell people about important matters until they are set in stone and he is fully convinced of them. This typically leads to some frustration from Rihito. While initially he was the more forward one in the relationship, he is very easily flustered by Rihito initiating affection. While he doesn't care what society thinks of him and his relationship with Rihito, he does appear to hold the expectations of Rihito's family in high regard, such as when he shaves his hair off in Blanc in an attempt to appease Rihito's father.

Despite initially appearing outgoing and rebellious, he can actually be quite polite and bashful, such as when he switches to formal speech when meeting Rihito's mother for the first time. According to Rihito, he gets scared rather easily. He sometimes worries so much about his loved ones to the point of scolding them. His has been described as being both prince-like and motherly. He discovers his sexuality in high school after falling in love with Rihito, even calling him his first love. For much of the series he is an active smoker, but has quit as of chapter 1 of Home.

### Background

Hikaru grew up in Tokyo, being raised by his parents. He appears to be close with his older sister. Since he wore her hand-me-downs in his childhood, he was often confused for a girl. He meets his best friend, Tani, in first grade, and his friends nickname him Job John due to his curly hair. In third grade, he discovered the song "Get It On" by T.REX, sparking his love for music and inspiring him to start playing guitar. He was dated by a college girl in third grade, but they broke up shortly. Throughout his childhood, he'd briefly date girls but he was never attracted to them. He, Tani, and their friends form the band Z'GOK, and due to him becoming focused on music, his grades decline. He starts growing his hair out in middle school, and becomes more active in the live music scene, gaining popularity. Throughout middle school, it appears his group of friends stood out, but by the time he enters high school he decides to lay back. He passes the entrance exam for Toufu Daiichi High school, and meets Rihito.

## Relationships

### Rihito Sajou

Hikaru's husband and former classmate. Rihito is Hikaru's first love, and is dearly precious to him. Hikaru initially sees Rihito as the one smart kid in his school, and believes Rihito thinks things like singing are stupid when he notices him not singing, but when he walks in on Rihito practicing for their class's recital, he then-unknowingly falls in love at first sight. They grow closer during their practice after school. While at first Hikaru finds it difficult to read Rihito's emotions and boundaries, he quickly adapts and becomes more attentive and considerate, asking for permission to kiss him and stopping during intimate moments when Rihito seems apprehensive. Throughout the series they become more romantically and sexually open and comfortable with each other. Due to Rihito's lack of experience and confidence, Hikaru is initially the more forward one in the relationship, but as Rihito becomes more confident he initiates more affection, making Hikaru easily flustered. Hikaru will sometimes show his love for Rihito through cooking. Hikaru is deeply in love with Rihito, admiring how hardworking he is. He is supportive of his goals, and will do whatever he can to help him. Hikaru worries about Rihito very much during times of stress, such as Rihito's mother being in hospital, and doesn't want him to push himself so hard. His favorite habits of Rihito's are the way he fidgets with his hand at his mouth when he's embarrassed, and the poise of his hand when he carries his bag on his shoulders.

### Tani

Hikaru's best friend since childhood. They get along very well. Tani notices Hikaru spending more and more time with Rihito in high school and eventually works out that the two are likely dating. While surprised at first when Hikaru confirms his thoughts so casually, he says that he understands, since Hikaru was never into the girls he dated in the past. He expresses his happiness that his best friend finally found love, and is the one who makes Hikaru realize that Rihito is indeed his first love. The two are just as good friends in adulthood, and he attends Hikaru and Rihito's wedding.

### Hikaru's Family

Hikaru and his family appear to be close and on good terms with each other, accepting Hikaru's sexuality and being welcoming towards Rihito and their relationship (despite his mother being shocked initially). Hikaru and his sister refer to their parents with the more affectionate and childish "Tou-chan (とーちゃん)" and "Kaa-chan (かーちゃん)" as opposed to the usual "Otou-san / Okaa-san", indicating they're quite close.

Hikaru seems to have been close with his older sister growing up, and she even says that she never saw him as being attracted to women. She can be seen shedding a tear at her brother's wedding. When they were younger, they shared a bunk bed, and Hikaru would wear his sister's hand-me-downs.

While his mother can be loud and high-strung, they still appear to care about each other and be on good terms. In Home, Hikaru decides to briefly stay and look after his mother who fell over and strained her back, despite her protests that he should leave to be with Rihito in their new apartment.

Hikaru and his father appear to be very close, and they used to go camping often when Hikaru was a child. His father understands his tendency of not telling people of important matters until he's fully decided on them. HIkaru expresses to Rihito that he loves his father very much and is happy that Rihito likes him too. All in all, the Kusakabe family seems to be relatively laidback and on good terms.

### Kumi Sajou

While Hikaru was initially terrified of meeting Rihito's mother and was awkward during their first meeting, they become closer in blanc, even having a shared interest in music. When Kumi is hospitalized in blanc, Hikaru immediately offers to take care of her while Rihito finishes up his university work in Kyoto. Kumi requests a mix CD from Hikaru for her to listen to while she is hospitalized, Hikaru being happy to do so. Kumi is very welcoming to Hikaru and is grateful to him for coming into Rihito's life, as he was able to smile again because of it. A few days before her death, they have a heart-to-heart about Rihito and his and Hikaru's break up, telling him about Rihito's childhood and wiping his tears after she tells him that he is the most important person in Rihito's life. she thanks Hikaru for making her son happy and says she also loves him. After her passing, Hikaru is quite shaken.

### Manabu Hara

Hikaru and Hara don't appear to be on the best terms. Hikaru is protective over Rihito when the Hara makes inappropriate advances on his boyfriend during high school, going so far as to bash his skull so hard he makes him bleed when he walks in on the teacher about to take advantage of a depressed Rihito. He is also not happy when Hara shows up to his gig in blanc to encourage him and Rihito to makeup. Despite this, there are moments where they are neutral with each other, and Hara attends their wedding.

## Quotes

> *"So, like... I figure no matter how you live, you're gonna regret some stuff. And there's actually something to get from that, too. But breaking up with you isn't an option for me, Sajou."*
>
>

*-"The Second Summer", Doukyuusei*

> *"You can let your guard down with me. I want you to stop trying so hard. I hate it. Like, I get worried. I always wanna ask if you're okay... but when I do... you just say you're fine. I hate making you lie like that. It sucks."*
>
>

*-"The Tears That Don't Spill Over",* Sotsugyousei -Spring-

> *"Nah, it's like coming home to meet... well, the parents. Like I'm this random dude from who knows where... I gotta make a good impression. Ahhhh! I was seriously kinda freaked there!*
>
>

-"In Kyoto", Sotsugyousei -Spring-

> *"It's not* you*, but everyone else that's the problem. It's what the world will say, right? That's so close-minded. That stuff doesn't matter."*
>
>

-"In Kyoto", Sotsugyousei -Spring-

> *"And then... when we turn twenty... marry me."*
>
>

*-"Graduation",* Sotsugyousei -Spring-

> *"So... hey... can I call you by your name? We... we're gonna have the same family name soon. So."*
>
>

*-"#7: Hikaru and Rihito", O.B.*

> *"But... I... can be hard to get along with, too. Like... when I think a thing's not working out, I quit right away. Stuff like that. [...] Oh, no. I don't get angry, I quit... the relationship. Or, like..... No. This time... I* did *get angry. Like, I was just* done*. But... that's obviously not good. Really not good. I'm totally not good. I end up totally adrift. Seriously. I don't know what to do..."*
>
>

*-Blanc Ch.6*

> *"So, like... I've been thinking about how we could do this. All kinds of stuff. I don't really care about having the same last name as you. Or being buried together or whatever. That's not the main deal. That stuff would be cool, but I don't need it, y'know? So, I'm... we're, like... just... we're two people who love each other. Is. How. We. Could. Announce it?! (EEEK!) Ahh, it's just like... so a wedding, okay? I maybe want one? Is what I was thinking."*
>
>

*-Blanc Ch.10*

> *"But... it made me happy, y'know? It's just like... hmm. I don't know how to put it. It was like you were apologizing for the both of us. And I was like, you and me, we're together now. Like, aaah, it's just us now, huh?"*
>
>

*-"Epilogue", Blanc*

> *"Haha! I guess so. I mean, today is the happiest day of my life and all."*
>
>

*-"Epilogue", Blanc*

## Etymology

**Kusakabe - Kusa** (草) means "grass", and **Kabe** (壁) means "wall".

**Hikaru** (光) means "light".

## Gallery

*Main article: Hikaru Kusakabe/Image Gallery*

## Trivia

* His zodiac sign is Cancer.
* He uses hand cream and lip balm.
* His name has the same meaning as Rihito's name in German, "Light".
* He uses the Japanese pronoun "Ore" (俺), except in certain contexts such as speaking directly to Sajou's father in blanc, and in his song, where "Boku" (僕) is used instead.
* According to the 2010 Fanbook Timeline:
	+ He doesn't particularly excel at academic subjects.
	+ He grew up close to his sister, and wore her hand-me-downs as a child.
	+ The song that first got him into music was "Get It On" by T. Rex.
	+ He catches colds easily.
* According to the 10th Anniversary Q&A:
	+ He is not good with tearjerkers, and is moved to tears easily.

* His favorite music genres are British rock and old J-Pop.
* His favorite sweet is Umaibou.
* If he could have one request granted by Rihito, it would be to bathe together.
* His favorite habit/gesture of Rihito's is how he fidgets at his mouth when he's embarrassed, and the poise of his hand as he carries his bag on his shoulder.

* According to the 2022 Q&A:
	+ His favorite color is pink.
	+ His favorite flowers are waxflowers and mimosas (wattle).
	+ He doesn't have a favorite subject, but would choose music or art if he had to pick.
	+ He gets scared easily, and startles when it storms.
	+ His top three musicians are T. Rex, Eiichi Ohtaki, and The Beatles.
	+ He finds it embarrassing to sing in front of Rihito, but not others.
	+ He cooks by himself, not together with Rihito.
* His childhood nickname is a Mobile Suit Gundam reference, "Job John" being a character who also possesses curly blonde hair.
	+ Likewise, his old band's name, "Z'GOK", is also a Mobile Suit Gundam reference.

* According to Asumiko Nakamura, if she had to pick a flower to represent Hikaru, it would be Oobako (Plantago asiatica)

## References

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gf6Nii0CTs
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gf6Nii0CTs
3. ↑ https://bizcochitowar.tumblr.com/post/51305913244/asumiko-nakamura-interview-from
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://pnutbutterkelly.tumblr.com/post/174966629784/kusakabe-hikarus-timeline%E8%8D%89%E5%A3%81%E5%85%89%E3%81%AE%E5%B9%B4%E8%A1%A8-naturally-curly
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://ikezuyawa.tumblr.com/post/656062930917441536/doukyuusei-10th-anniversary-qa-translation
6. ↑ https://ikezuyawa.tumblr.com/post/615981117589389312/sajou-kusakabes-flowers-from-the-10th