Haruko Kiyohara

> **Haruko Kiyohara was a participant of the killing game that took place at Snowden Ski Resort & Chalet in the updated Neo World Program in Storm of Suspicion.**
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## Personality

Peppy and artistic! Condescending and egotistical. Has a flair for the dramatics and tends to romanticize life when it's in her favour. Fiercely loyal, but slow to forgive. Finds it difficult to be nice to people who annoy her (but she tries to default to kindness).

> *"Can capture emotion and experiences artistically in written word. Translating life into text. Haruko’s work often feels like she’s reflecting your own life back to you."*
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## Appearance

Slim/light build, pale skin. Natural hair colour is black but dies her bangs a strawberry blond. She has two unintentional curls that she can’t seem to keep straightened. Her eyes are naturally black but she wears red/pink coloured contacts. Enjoys dark or pink makeup! 5'4" but usually wears heels or platforms.

## Backstory

Haruko was an extremely anxious child who would barely say a word, growing up with her two mothers Yōko and Natsuo. Haruko was home schooled until junior high, where she began her writing career, charming all of those who read her work.

Haruko took to poetry as a method of processing her fears, finally finding the words she wanted to express herself with. She started memorizing poems, her vocabulary and confidence growing the more she consumed. Natsuo also encouraged Haruko to write her own words down, saying that turning her fears and torment into something beautiful was a way to let them go. Natsuo hoped these sentiments would help Haruko feel more resilient, and it did, but it also instilled something of a complex in Haruko.

At the beginning of high school, Natsuo fell ill. As Natsuo was dying, she asked Haruko to write a poem about her, to make her death something beautiful. To this day, Haruko has been unable to complete the poem.

Haruko now lives with her mother Yōko in Japan. She has published two poetry collections as well in works in every literary journal she can get her hands on.

## Biography

### Prologue

Haruko met Adrian, Kumoshi, and Jack on the patio, making a quick connection with Kumoshi and finding an even quicker distaste for Jack. Haruko also met Uuka, Kaolin, and Ethan in the living room, resigning herself to being surrounded with "weirdos" her whole trip. Haruko took up the Willow dorm room.

### Chapter 1

Haruko spent chapter one believing the suggested killing game was a joke or hazing of some kind, so she continued to seek ways to relax and meet people on this vacation. Her suspicions of Jack having ties to their captors began to grow. Adrian and Haruko met again on the patio, where one of Adrian's outbursts made her wary of him. After Adrian explained how Haruko and Jack weren't that different, Haruko stormed off.

Haruko helped Kumoshi with his relationship missions, always there to comfort and support. She continued this support during the party as well, but took a moment with Adrian to apologize for her reaction. Upon re-entering the living room with Adrian, they discovered the body.

### Chapter 2

Haruko began leaving her poems for the victims in the living room. Haruko met Khari by the ski lift and talked about their talents and life (Haruko pet Beau). Jack was briefly confronted by Haruko in the kitchen, but she suspended her suspicions for a moment to try to help Kumoshi with connecting with Jack. Haruko pulls the both of them into the living room where they become infected with the despair disease.

Haruko becomes friendly and quiet with the motive, finding herself drawn to Rowan who exhibits a similar personality change. They get along well and return to Haruko's room for a sleepover.

During the trial, Haruko is accused of being Rowan's accomplice by Kumoshi which fractures her relationship with Kumo. Haruko initially shows some solidarity with Rowan during the trial, but denies any true connection with them when they are revealed to be the killer. Haruko keeps the friendship bracelet from Rowan in her purse.

### Chapter 3

Haruko recruits Kaolin to clean her room of the leftover sleepover supplies in exchange for doing his makeup (having previously discovered a red dress in his closet). Haruko also takes advantage of Jack's absence and searches his room for evidence of conspiracy and his talent. Jack later confronts Haruko about this invasion, *rickrolls her*, and shows her what his ultimate talent is. Haruko meets Natonato and she helps Nato write some poetry, as well as offering space in Willow for Natonato to stay.

Haruko encounters a drunk Kumoshi in the kitchen, the first time they had seen one another since the trial. After some cruel words, Haruko eventually states that she can no longer be friends with Kumoshi, despite Kumo's wishes that they would remain friends after the game. Haruko is heartbroken by her choice to break things off, but believes it to be the best option for her.

Afterwards, Haruko is interrupted by Adrian in the kitchen and explains what happened between her and Kumoshi. Haruko admits to feeling like she must choose between friends and protecting herself, and Adrian responds by offering to protect her instead. Adrian and Haruko establish an arrangement based on honesty. Adrian confesses his true ultimate talent to Haruko.

Haruko and Adrian interrupt Azora's attack on Natonato, with Haruko taking Natonato back to Willow to care for her.

Haruko is the blackened of Case 3. Natonato's attack was the final push on Haruko's fears and moved her to action. She claims during the trial that she would not be one to wait to die, that she was better than everyone else, and that she would've honoured the memories of everyone if she won. She seemed particularly sensitive to Azora's provocation and Kumoshi's show of friendship. It was Adrian's call on her moment of honesty that made Haruko admit to the crime.

### Execution

*"DIY Epitaph*"

Haruko is locked to a desk on the platen of a giant typewriter, a smaller typewriter sitting in front of her. She urgently begins typing, needing no prompt from the Monotwins who are typing a work of their own by bouncing on the keys of the giant typewriter. Each time Haruko makes any progress on her poem, the page is ripped from her typewriter and begins flying in a whirlwind around her. The growing paper tornado slices Haruko's skin as the wind continues to pick up, but the lacerations do not stop her from typing. Her desperation heightens as she loses blood, but the Monotwins reach the end of their line first. With the chime of the typewriter, Haruko weakly looks up to see the work of the Monotwins before slumping forward and succumbing to her wounds.

***"KIYOHARA DIES UNKNOWN AND FORGOTTEN"***

## Relationships

### Adrian

While initially Haruko was put off by Adrian's outbursts, she formed a close bond with him after he offered to protect her during a conversation in the kitchen. Haruko admitted to strong feelings of fear, and learned of Adrian's true talent. Adrian is the only person that Haruko fully trusts in the game.

### Ethan

Haruko thinks Ethan is weird, but ultimately harmless.

### Jack

Haruko believed Jack to be a conspirator of the killing game, until she searched his room and confronted him about his ultimate talent. She still thinks he's a dick tho.

### Kaolin

Haruko thought of Kaolin as a friend, although she never expressed this and would often talk down to him. She enjoyed their common interests and did Kaolin's makeup.

### Kumoshi

Haruko and Kumoshi became friends quickly and shared a close bond at the beginning of the game. After Kumoshi accused Haruko and Rowan of being accomplices in trial 2, Haruko broke off the friendship. She regretted the choice.

### Natonato

At first, Haruko was cautious of Natonato, but agreed to teach Natonato how to write poetry. The lesson went well, and Haruko offered to have Nato share her room. After Natonato was stabbed, Haruko treated her wounds. She developed a small crush on Natonato, but ultimately felt curious and protective over the cult leader.

### Rowan

Haruko and Rowan met during the opposite personality motive. They had a sleepover where they made friendship bracelets. Haruko felt betrayed when Rowan was revealed to be the blackened of trial 2, and rejected any bond they shared during the motive.