Kaede Kinoshita

**Kaede Kinoshita** (木之下 楓, *Kinoshita Kaede*) is one of the characters in *Loving Yamada at Lv999!* series, written and illustrated by Mashiro. She is the eldest daughter of Sumire Kinoshita, the older sister of Akane Kinoshita and Kotaro Kinoshita and the girlfriend of Daichi Takahashi.

## Appearance

Kaede is a character with a small and delicate physique, characterized by her long hair that cascades down her back. Interestingly, she shares many physical similarities with her younger sister Akane Kinoshita, despite her being the oldest of the three siblings. Despite their age gap, Kaede and Akane are almost identical in height and appearance. The author has made it clear that they intentionally created these two sisters to resemble each other like twins, despite their age difference. This adds an interesting dynamic to their relationship as siblings and creates a unique visual aspect to their characters within the story.

## Personality

Kaede is a warm and welcoming individual, much like her younger sister Akane Kinoshita. Her positive attitude and easy-going nature make her a joy to be around as she effortlessly puts those around her at ease. However, when their mother Sumire Kinoshita was hospitalized, Kaede found herself struggling to cope with the emotional turmoil that came with such a difficult situation. The trauma of seeing her mother in such a vulnerable state left Kaede feeling overwhelmed and unable to process her emotions effectively. Thankfully, Akane was there for her during this challenging time, providing comfort and support when it was needed most. With the help of her sister's unwavering love and care, Kaede was able to find some solace amidst the chaos of their mother's hospitalization.

## Chronology

### Post-Time Skip Arc

 ***Main Article: Post-Time Skip Arc***
Akane Kinoshita arrived at Takasaki Station and was greeted by her younger brother Kotaro Kinoshita and her older sister Kaede. While Kaede was excited to see her, Kotaro remained silent. They went home to their parents, had dinner and Akane helped clean the house with her siblings. She tried to start a conversation with Kotaro while they were out buying soy sauce, but he was reserved.

Akane asked him about the game he played called GOS:E which Kaede and her boyfriend also played. She suggested that Kotaro should call Kaede's boyfriend Daichi Takahashi so they could play together since Akito Yamada was also good at the game. They talked on the phone and Kotaro was excited about playing with Yamada. He also asked about his sister's stay with them and Akane replied that she planned to stay for a while.

### Satsuki Arc

 ***Main Article: Satsuki Arc***
Akane Kinoshita wakes up next to Akito Yamada, who is still sleeping and prepares some food while reflecting on their conversation from the previous evening. She feels comforted by his presence and their connection. Later, she goes to her family home, but is surprised to find her sister Kaede there. Kaede tells Akane to call her when she gets to the station, but Akane takes the bus instead. During their conversation, Akane notices that Kaede is hiding some paperwork that their mother Sumire Kinoshita had prepared in case of another medical emergency. Akane is sad that her mother never told her about her previous collapse, but Kaede explains that they didn't want to worry her. Kaede also reveals that she wished Akane had been there when their mother collapsed, and the sisters embrace.

Akane wakes up early, prepares some food, and thinks about her conversation with Yamada from the previous evening. She feels comforted by his presence and touch. Later, she heads to her family home and finds Kaede with her boyfriend Daichi Takahashi. They discuss their mother's collapse, and Akane decides to stay longer to support her sister. However, their mother worries about her frequent visits and possible exhaustion.

## Relationships

### Familial

#### Akane Kinoshita

The hospitalization of their mother, Sumire, was an incredibly difficult time for the Kinoshita family. Kaede, in particular, found it challenging to cope with the emotional turmoil that came with seeing her mother in such a vulnerable state. The trauma of the situation left her feeling overwhelmed and unable to process her emotions effectively.

However, thanks to the unwavering support and comfort provided by her younger sister Akane during those trying days, Kaede was able to find some solace amidst the chaos. Akane's presence and love helped ease Kaede's pain and allowed her to begin processing her emotions in a healthier way. It is a testament to their strong bond as sisters that Akane knew exactly what Kaede needed during this difficult time and was able to provide it without hesitation. Together they were able to navigate this challenging period as a family unit and come out stronger on the other side.

#### Kotaro Kinoshita

Kotaro is the youngest of the three siblings in the Kinoshita family, being both Kaede and Akane's younger brother.

### Non-familial

#### Daichi Takahashi

Daichi and Kaede have been in a committed relationship for an impressive four years, which has allowed Daichi to become an integral part of the Kinoshita family. With such a significant amount of time invested in their partnership, it's no wonder that Daichi has become almost like family himself.

## Gallery

The Kinoshita FamilyKotaro during Elementary 3 with his older sistersKaede hugging AkaneAkane trying to spend time with KaedeKinoshita siblings bondingKaede and Kotaro welcome AkaneKaede and Akane
## Etymology

Kaede's name is broken into three syllables *"KA-E-DE"*, but only one kanji character: 楓.
**KAEDE (楓):** means maple tree.
While Kaede's surname is broken into four syllables, *"KI-NO-SHI-TA,"* but only three kanji characters - 木之下 (きのした) .
 **木 (KI):** means tree, wood;
 **之 (NO):** means of, this;
 **下 (SHITA):** means below, down, descend, give, low, inferior.
## References

*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapter 60 (Page 7).
*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapter 78 (Pages 13-14).
*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapter 60. — Author's Phostcard.
*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapters 79-78 (Pages 10-14 (Chapter 78) & 1-6 (Chapter 79)).
*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapter 60 (Page 7).
*My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999* Manga: Chapter 79 (Pages 1-2). — Daichi talking to Akane and Sumire, Akane's mother, casually.