Kiyoka Kudou

* Anime
* Manga
* Live-action
* Novel

**Kiyoka Kudou** (久堂 清霞, *Kudō Kiyoka*?) is the male protagonist of the *My Happy Marriage* series. He is the head of the Kudou family, the commander of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit and fiancé of Miyo Saimori.

## Appearance

Kiyoka is a strikingly beautiful young man of 27 years old. He has porcelain skin that is free from imperfections. His pale-blue eyes are framed by long ash-blond hair so fine as to be almost transparent and so phenomenally stunning that many women would be envious. He has a slender physique, and his movements are graceful and spellbinding. When he is walking, his long hair would sway with every step and his body would move with flawless precision. His mannerisms are so utterly refined that there isn't a trace of brusqueness. This gracefulness would befit a sheltered maiden from a noble house, and his fair appearance lends him an ephemeral beauty shocking to see in a man. Even from a distance, his enchanting presence turns heads.

Despite his slenderness and grace, he doesn't give the impression of a weak man. Years of military training has given him a deceptively sturdy build, and the skin on the palm of his sword hand is calloused and rough. Never failing to complete his daily training exercises, Kiyoka is a highly athletic person.

Kiyoka mostly ties his waist-length hair in a low side ponytail by a kumihimo. It usually rests on his left shoulder with long bangs hanging on the right side of his face.

For his job as a commanding officer, he wears a military uniform with many badges indicating a high rank. The uniform is dark blue in color and is finished with golden shoulder cords. Outside of work, he wears a periwinkle cloth over a navy blue kimono robe with a forest green sash, white socks, and wooden sandals.

## Personality

Kiyoka is a proud man and conscious of his importance, something he wouldn't deny, but he feels that he is neither conceited nor bossy, so he wouldn’t stand those traits in other people, either. That had always been the deal breaker for him in choosing a bride. Because he met many women who didn’t bother trying to understand the man they might end up marrying and instead criticized him outright, he is fed up with them and treat all his bridal candidates with a cold, intimidating demeanor, not planning on keeping them around too long. This earned him a reputation for being heartless towards women. Of all the girls from well-heeled families who'd been offered to him as brides, none had managed to bear him for more than three days before running back home.

His reputation isn't limited to his interactions with women, there are stories abound of his mercilessness and cruelty as a soldier who had put his opponents to the sword without hesitation and could kill in cold blood. High-ranking officers and even generals shiver at the very mention of his name. People don't want to incur his wrath, because his anger can be truly fearsome. Only a handful of people dare openly express their opinions to him, such as his aide Yoshito Godou and Kiyoka's direct superior, Major General Masashi Ookaito. Because of Kiyoka's leadership style has made his unit's training infamous for being among the top five most draconian in the entire army. Ironically, this has instilled unwavering courage in his soldiers when battling Grotesqueries.

In reality, Kiyoka is a kind-hearted man whose demeanor and expressions are often susceptible to misinterpretation. For example, when someone performs an act of kindness towards him, he tends to mutter his gratitude and accept it with a stern countenance. Those unfamiliar with him might mistakenly assume he's upset, when in fact he is simply shy. When Kiyoka is genuinely concerned, his face may darken, exuding an intimidating aura. The chilling intensity in his eyes befits his reputation as a cruel and callous man. However, he isn't upset at all, but the chilly air around him makes people shiver.

## History

Kiyoka is born in the Kudou family as the only son and second child of Tadakiyo Kudou and his wife Fuyu Kudou. He is raised by his nursemaid Yurie in place of his own mother. After graduating from university, he passed the elite military induction exam and after demonstrating unparalleled skill to rise to a position of leadership within the unit, now serves as the commander officer of a unit of his own, the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit. After his father stepped down from the position of the head of the Kudou family due to his frail health, Kiyoka stepped up to assume the role.

When Kiyoka was only a young boy, many girls had aggressively pursued him, which had only put him off further. His mother has been an object of his ire throughout his entire life, with her tempestuous temper and distasteful obsession with flaunting their wealth. As a university student, Kiyoka had given in to peer pressure and had tried dating a few girls, only to have ended up detesting women’s company even more. Ultimately, he’d found himself growing irritated at the wheedling voices of their family’s maids, along with the overbearing smell from the copious amounts of facial powder they applied. Having matured since then, he no longer found shallow politeness as irksome, but he still preferred not to associate with women outside of longtime acquaintances like Yurie and Keiko. Although he’d tried to carefully avoid attracting female attention, that had proved next to impossible while he’d been living in his family mansion. His family employed many maids, so he’d had no respite from their amorous glances. That was why he moved to his small dwelling in the woods.

Whenever his father would hear of a lady of a suitable age who matched his requirements, he would send a go-between to make the arrangements for marriage propositions. Kiyoka had received many marriage proposals, more than a couple dozen. But none of the women had proved to be suitable for him. Some had indignantly turned away at first sight of his modest house. Some had angrily voiced their discontent, asserting it was ridiculous for a man of his stature to be living in a pitiful cottage. Still others had been sweet with Kiyoka but had pushed Yurie around behind his back, and yet more who’d been full of complaints, who’d disliked the food, who’d demanded a different personal room, and so on.

## Abilities

### Gifts

Kiyoka is a Gifted individual with a diverse array of supernatural abilities. He is hailed as the best Gift-user of his generation, owing to his ability to activate multiple powers at once without any difficulty.

* **Spirit-Sight**: Like all members of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit, he possesses this necessary ability that allows him to see the Grotesqueries, which are invisible to ordinary people.

* **Electrokinesis**: With this ability, Kiyoka can generate lightning. He demonstrates this ability in front of new recruits of his unit by hitting a training target. He also uses the ability to destroy the closed gate of the Saimori estate with a lightning strike, and infuse his sword with lightning to attack Grotesqueries and his opponents with.

* **Pyrokinesis**: With this ability, Kiyoka can generate fire, which he uses to attack familiars, Grotesqueries and opponents. He also uses it to heat up the bath in his home.

* **Hydrokinesis**: Kiyoka is able to physically manipulate the state of water. He uses this ability to freeze water in the ground.

### Techniques

* **Barrier technique**: Kiyoka is able to create force fields that serve as a protective and defensive barrier. He uses this ability to surround his house with an invisible barrier impenetrable to paper familiars that has been spying on him. He also created an impenetrable magical barrier that protects himself and others during a battle against Minoru Tatsuishi, and later against Arata Usuba.

* **Familiar technique**: Kiyoka can create familiars from a few scraps of paper and send them out to track a target. He uses this ability to search for Miyo in the city after she is kidnapped.

* **Sealing**: Kiyoka can seal someone's Gift by attaching a talisman to the person's back while reciting an incantation.

* **Share-Sight**: Kiyoka is able to share visual and auditory information from his familiars. Through the eyes and ears of the familiar, he can understand the situation where the familiar is.

## Plot

### Volume 1

When Kiyoka first meets Miyo, he acts indifferently towards her because of his distrust towards women, but he is taken aback by Miyo's unusual meek submission. Through a series of investigations, he learns about her tragic past. At the same time, Miyo, who is weak and timid but always considerate of others, gradually melts Kiyoka's superficial indifference. His feelings evolve from indifference to pity and ultimately blossom into love for her. Noticing that Miyo's clothes are all shabby, he takes her to the high-end kimono shop Suzushima's. Anticipating Miyo's hesitance to accept such a gift, he discreetly orders a cherry pink kimono on her behalf.

In order for Miyo to completely cut off the shadow of her past, Kiyoka goes to the Saimori estate to formally propose marriage, but refuses to pay the bride price unless everyone in the Saimori family is willing to solemnly apologize to Miyo. He locates Hana, a former servant of the Saimoris who held a special place in Miyo's heart, and brings her to the Imperial Capital, aiming to boost Miyo's self-confidence. After accepting the headband that Miyo crafted for him, Kiyoka formally proposes a formal marriage contract to Miyo, eliciting a moving response. Shortly thereafter, the cherry pink kimono he ordered arrives, much to Miyo's surprise.

A moment of forgetfulness results in Miyo inadvertently leaving behind the amulet given to her by Kiyoka, leading to her abduction when she ventures outside. Fortunately, Kouji Tatsuishi rushes to Kiyoka's office at the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station, informing him of Miyo's captivity at the Saimori estate. Fueled by anger, Kiyoka swiftly heads to the scene, effortlessly overpowering Miyo's father and Minoru Tatsuishi. The battle causes the entire estate to be on fire. He finds Miyo in a storehouse at the backyard, enduring abuse by her stepmother and half-sister. Kiyoka rescues her and firmly rebuffs Kaya's attempts to marry into the Kudou family in Miyo's stead.

Following the extensive physical harm inflicted upon Miyo by her stepmother and sister, Kiyoka takes care of her until she recovers, and at her request, he takes her back to the ruins of the Saimori estate for the last time. Soon after, they officially apply for a formal engagement, becoming legal fiancés.

### Volume 2

Responding to Miyo's earnest desire to acquire the manners and etiquette befitting nobility, Kiyoka enlists his sister, Hazuki Kudou, to serve as Miyo's mentor. This decision allows Kiyoka to shift his focus toward the case of the Burial Grounds. Concurrently, driven by a determination to unravel the mystery behind Miyo's recurring nightmares and the supernatural aura emanating from her, Kiyoka initiates a probing inquiry into the Usuba family. However, as Miyo pushes herself beyond her limits, her physical health begins to deteriorate once more. Frustration wells up within Kiyoka, leading to an unwitting display of irritation when he urges Miyo to take some much-needed rest. This outburst inadvertently causes a rift in their relationship.

Due to calculated leaks of information orchestrated by the Usuba family, Kiyoka stumbles upon a crucial revelation: the Tsuruki family serves as a deceptive front for the Usuba clan. In his pursuit of answers, Kiyoka trails Arata Tsuruki, ultimately leading him to bring Miyo to the Usuba estate. Here, he learns the history of how Miyo's mother married into the Saimori family, as well as Miyo's superpower: Dream-Sight. Because Miyo couldn't make a choice between Kiyoka and the Usubas, Kiyoka accepts Arata's challenge for duel, but is defeated by his opponent's Hallucikinesis. This outcome places Miyo under the guardianship of the Usubas.

Encouraged by Hazuki, Kiyoka plans to deal with the case of the Burial Grounds first, and then go to Usubas to pick up Miyo. However, his soul is invaded by the Grotesqueries who escaped from the Burial Grounds and he falls into a deep coma. In the spiritual world, he is ensnared in a relentless battle with the spirits until Miyo uses her Dream-Sight to enter his consciousness and takes him back. Before returning to reality, the two exchange heartfelt messages. Kiyoka apologizes for his previous angry words, and Miyo tells him that she wants to stay by his side.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7  Novel, Volume 1 Chapter 1
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5  Novel, Volume 1 Chapter 2
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1  Novel, Volume 1 Prologue
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6  Novel, Volume 1 Chapter 3
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1  Novel, Volume 3 Chapter 1
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1  Novel, Volume 3 Chapter 3
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1  Anime, Episode 1
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1  Anime, Episode 2
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3  Novel, Volume 1 Chapter 4
10. ↑  Novel, Volume 1 Epilogue
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1  Novel, Volume 2 Chapter 4
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2  Novel, Volume 2 Chapter 3
13. ↑  Novel, Volume 3 Chapter 5
14. ↑  Novel, Volume 6 Chapter 3