Kuko Harai/Relationships

### Jyushi Aimono

They are teammates as part of Bad Ass Temple. Kuko first met Jyushi when Hitoya Amaguni brought him to Kuugen Temple in order to help him gain better emotional strength. Jyushi was intimidated by Kuko at first, but accepted him to be his mentor. After testing Jyushi's ability to withstand hypnosis mic attacks, he was impressed by his strength and durability and invited Jyushi to join Bad Ass Temple and enter the DRB with him.

They often have a playful slapstick relationship where Kuko will often yell at or hit Jyushi with a keisaku during meditation. Despite this, Jyushi has genuine respect and admiration for Kuko, and Kuko in turn acknowledges the mental strength and perseverance Jyushi possesses, as well as his ability to keep striving forward.

### Hitoya Amaguni

They are teammates as part of Bad Ass Temple. During middle school, Kuko was involved in an incident where he ended up causing a bully to commit suicide, and was due to face legal charges because of it. At that time, Kuko's father, Shakku Harai, contacted Hitoya Amaguni to be his lawyer. Despite Kuko showing hostility and being uncooperative with Hitoya at first, when Hitoya was successfully able to drop all his charges, Kuko showed gratitude and they parted ways on a good note.

A few years later, when Hitoya brought Jyushi to Kuugen Temple, Kuko recruited both he and Jyushi to join Bad Ass Temple with him at the same time. Hitoya agreed because of the opportunity it would give him to settle a score with Jinguji Jakurai.

The two of them still bicker often and Kuko still rarely addresses Hitoya with respect, but they both acknowledge each others' strengths and qualities, and trust each other as teammates.

### Ichiro Yamada

Ichiro and Kuko used to be teammates as part of Naughty Busters, as well as best friends. They parted ways when Kuko picked a fight with Ichiro under Ramuda's mindhacking. Ichiro was deeply affected to such an extent when this happened that he cried in front of Samatoki.

In present day, Kuko only mentions Ichiro in a dispirited tone, though does not seem to harbour feelings of anger or hatred for him. Despite the way they split up, Kuko still mentions Ichiro as being a "friend", but one that he "cannot contact right now".

### Sasara Nurude

They were teammates as part of Mad Comic Dialogue. Although their time together was short, Sasara and Kuko enjoyed hanging out, and Kuko would comment on Sasara's lame jokes, though laugh at them.

### Samatoki Aohitsugi

They were teammates as part of Mad Comic Dialogue.

### Hifumi Izanami

As Hifumi is part of Matenrou, they were opponents for Round 1 of the 2nd DRB. Before the battle took place, Kuko once went to Shinjuku along with Jyushi and stormed Hifumi's host club to pick a fight with him there, where they took part in a brief rap battle against him and Doppo.

### Doppo Kannonzaka

As Doppo is also a part of Matenrou, they were opponents for Round 1 of the 2nd DRB. Before the battle took place, Kuko once went to Shinjuku along with Jyushi and stormed Hifumi's host club to pick a fight with Hifumi, resulting in Doppo accompanying and taking part in a brief rap battle against the other two alongside Hifumi.

## Others

### Shakku Harai

Shakku is Kuko's father. Being the head monk of the temple, Shakku is rather strict and often scolds his son over his behaviour and actions, and Kuko will respond back with disrespect and insolence, complaining about his many rules and lectures. However, though they may appear to conflict with each other often, their relationship is ultimately a positive one. On one occasion, Shakku Harai borrowed Hitoya Amaguni's hypnosis mic in order to guide his son through rap battling with him, because he was concerned for how Kuko was handling being the leader of Bad Ass Temple.

### Ren

Ren was a student who attended the same middle school as Kuko and was also a victim of severe bullying. When Kuko caught on to this, he first stopped Ren from attempting suicide and gave him some words of wisdom. Later, he came to his aid to beat up those who were bullying him, sending one of the students to the hospital. This would lead to his encounter with Hitoya Amaguni.

Ren showed gratitude to Kuko when speaking with Hitoya.

### Unami Kureya

Unami and Kuko were childhood friends from elementary school, though she had to move schools during her time there. Unami always had a habit of lying and pretending that she was fine, which Kuko always caught onto. Kuko reunited with Unami when he discovered that she anhigh school amada attended the same high school and were part of the same class. However, when he learned that Unami was part of a troubling situation, he was angered to hear of it and came to her aid, beating up the men who were threatening her. Unami thanked Kuko for his help.

### Mozuku Shito

Kuko worked as the debt collector for Stairway to Heaven, under Mozuku's management. Kuko distrusted him and would constantly insult him to Ichiro, only working under him to stay at Ichiro's side. Eventually, Mozuku betrayed Ichiro and Kuko, throwing them into the fight with Mad Comic Dialogue to win the turf war, which prompted Ichiro, and in turn Kuko, to turn against him.