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Ai Hayasaka

Yu Ishigami (石上 優, Ishigami Yū) is one of the main protagonists in the Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai series. He is a second-year student at Shuchi’in Academy and serves as the Treasurer of both the 67th and 68th Student Councils. Yu is also a former member of the Cheer Club and Culture Festival Committee, and later becomes the Vice President of the 69th Student Council.

“
If you don’t put on an act, you won’t be loved.
 ”
— Ai Hayasaka

Origin

Ai Hayasaka is inspired by Tsuki no Iwakasa (つきの岩笠), a servant from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. In the story, she is commanded by the Emperor to burn the Elixir of Immortality on Mount Fuji. This connection highlights Ai’s role as a devoted servant, reflecting the themes of loyalty and sacrifice present in her character.

Appearance

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Ai’s full appearance.

Ai Hayasaka is an attractive young woman with blonde hair, typically styled in a ponytail on the left side of her head and complemented by striking blue eyes. She frequently changes her appearance and clothing to adapt to various roles in her life, particularly in her duties as Kaguya’s maid.

When serving in the Shinomiya household, Ai dons a traditional maid outfit. As a student at Shuchi’in Academy, she wears a modified high school uniform that embraces kogal fashion, often paired with a sweater tied around her waist. In her persona as Haysaca-chan, she sports a sailor uniform from Firis Girls’ High, with her hair down and a small braid on the right side. Conversely, when she adopts the role of Haysaca-kun, she wears a butler uniform and a short black wig.

When serving in the Shinomiya household, Ai dons a traditional maid outfit. As a student at Shuchi’in Academy, she wears a modified high school uniform that embraces kogal fashion, often paired with a sweater tied around her waist. In her persona as Haysaca-chan, she sports a sailor uniform from Firis Girls’ High, with her hair down and a small braid on the right side. Conversely, when she adopts the role of Haysaca-kun, she wears a butler uniform and a short black wig.

Personality

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Ai smiling.

Despite her youth, Ai Hayasaka possesses the remarkable ability to adapt her personality to fit various situations, showcasing four distinct personas, each with its own unique background and purpose.

As a maid, Ai is level-headed and executes her duties with precision. While she occasionally teases her mistress, Kaguya, about her outlandish requests, her deep affection for her is evident. In her school persona, she embodies a fashion-conscious student with a flair for rule-breaking, characterized by her lively and spirited nature.

The Haysaca-chan persona is a flirtatious, doe-eyed “maneater” who frequents Roppongi and Azabu, adeptly leading men on. In contrast, Haysaca-kun is designed to counterbalance the unpredictable Chika Fujiwara; his backstory portrays him as an Irish orphan who graduated from Harvard, ultimately becoming a butler prone to tears when reminiscing about his past.

At her core, Ai is a kind-hearted individual who considers Kaguya as a sister and is willing to defy the Shinomiya household for her sake, even going so far as to sneak Kaguya out to enjoy summer fireworks.

Ai is sensitive about her lack of romantic experience, often feeling insecure regarding her relationships with boys. Following the Kyoto class trip, she seems to have shed her gyaru persona around her friends, leading them to perceive her as distant and harsh, interpreting this change as a sign of heartbreak.

History

The Hayasaka family was once a prominent line, but after losing a conflict to the Shinomiya family, they were absorbed into it, noted for their prestigious bloodline. Ai was born in the main house of the Shinomiya family as a thoroughbred servant and received specialized education. While she grew up in a world similar to Kaguya Shinomiya’s, her upbringing was less sheltered.

Ai’s father is Kaguya’s godfather, and her mother served as Kaguya’s wet nurse. The two girls were raised together for a brief period after their births. However, Kaguya was moved to the Shinomiya main house on her second birthday, and they did not reunite until they were both seven years old, at which point their status as master and servant was formally established. Despite this hierarchy, their bond resembles that of inseparable sisters. Kaguya once gave Ai a scrunchie while asking to be her friend; although Ai initially refused, she has since adopted the hair tie as her signature accessory.

After Ai’s disloyalty to Kaguya’s older brother was exposed, Kaguya attempted to forgive her for the first time, encouraged by the positive influence of the Student Council and their closeness. Their servant-master relationship was ultimately severed when Ai forcefully resigned from her position, granting her freedom.

In the omake chapter epilogue, it is revealed that after graduating from high school, Ai embraced a NEET lifestyle, becoming a freeloader at Chika Fujiwara’s house. Initially, she had intended to stay temporarily at Kaguya’s house but was asked to leave after three days due to her laziness. Now, she spends her days watching short videos and lamenting her lack of motivation to seek employment. The chapter implies that Ai is simply experiencing a prolonged adolescence, having missed the opportunity to enjoy her teenage years like her friends.

Relationships

Family

  • Nao Hayasaka
    Nao is Ai’s mother. They share a close bond, although Ai often feels upset by her mother’s job, which limits their time together.

  • Masato Hayasaka
    Masato is Ai’s father.

Employers

  • Kaguya Shinomiya
    Kaguya is Ai’s former master, and their relationship transcends the typical master-servant dynamic. Having grown up together, they understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, treating one another as sisters. As Kaguya’s close confidante, Ai frequently offers advice and sometimes takes action to help Kaguya in her relationship with Miyuki Shirogane.

    Despite her loyalty, Ai has felt jealousy towards Kaguya, believing her efforts often go unappreciated. This tension culminates when Ai pretends to seduce Shirogane at a mixer to tease Kaguya, ultimately using the opportunity to express her feelings about her own situation. This leads to Shirogane encouraging Ai to be vulnerable, resulting in her openly discussing her frustrations with Kaguya. Kaguya responds by lightening Ai’s workload, and their friendship remains strong.

    It is later revealed that Ai was initially assigned to work under Kaguya by Oko Shinomiya to spy on her. Though Ai has managed to deceive her superiors, she carries the guilt of this betrayal. As of Chapter 187, Ai has officially retired from her position, allowing her and Kaguya to relate to one another as friends.

  • Oko Shinomiya
    Oko is Ai’s true employer, having assigned her to monitor Kaguya. Their relationship is limited to this capacity, and it remains unclear what has become of their connection since Ai’s retirement.

Friends

  • Miyuki Shirogane
    Ai and Miyuki became texting buddies after meeting at a mixer, where she revealed her employment with the Shinomiya family. They share differing philosophies about whether people can be loved for their true, flawed selves rather than the “masks” they wear. In an effort to prove his point about vulnerability, Shirogane attempts to rap, which leaves Ai traumatized. However, he later calls her to rap again, admitting he struggles with his public persona. This exchange deeply impacts Ai, allowing her to finally express her true feelings to Kaguya through rap.

    Ai is one of the few who calls Shirogane by his first name, and while their relationship remains strictly platonic, she enjoys teasing him both as herself and her alter ego. Their friendship blossoms, and she gives him chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

    After discussing his eyesight, Ai playfully teases Shirogane about Kaguya’s supposed eyeball-licking fetish, demonstrating her comfort with him. Un’yo Shinomiya recognizes Shirogane’s importance to Ai, assigning her as his bodyguard to protect him from the Shinomiya family.

  • Chika Fujiwara
    Due to Chika’s close relationship with Kaguya, she frequently interacts with Ai, who views Chika as a “natural disaster”—unpredictable and capable of causing chaos simply by being present. Chika has thwarted many of Ai’s plans, earning her the designation of Subject F.

    In her ‘Gal Mode,’ Ai appears friendly and casual with Chika, but this persona becomes exhausting over time. At home, Ai cross-dresses as a male butler, “Haysaca-kun,” to maintain her cover. Chika finds him attractive, leading to humorous misunderstandings about their relationship.

    Despite their antics, they become good friends and work together to help Kaguya avoid her family’s plans. Chika, impressed by Ai’s confidence, even jokingly states she wouldn’t mind a kiss from “Hayasaka,” reflecting their growing bond.

    In the epilogue, Ai is depicted as a freeloader in Chika’s household, spending her days lazily watching videos. While this annoys Chika at times, the situation highlights Ai’s delayed teenage experience, evoking sympathy from her friends.

  • Yu Ishigami
    Ai first meets Ishigami through Maki and Shirogane while hanging out at a batting cage. They bond over a mutual interest in technology, with Ai advising him on studying without distractions. Their friendship has grown over the years, and they are now on a first-name basis.

  • Mirin Hinokuchi & Subaru Suruga
    Ai regularly interacts with Mirin and Subaru during school but sees them infrequently outside of that context due to her duties as Kaguya’s valet. They consider her a close friend and refuse to spread rumors about her.

  • Karen Kino & Erika Kose
    Karen and Erika are Kaguya fangirls that Ai befriends, joining their unofficial club to keep an eye on them. They mistakenly believe she is also a Kaguya fangirl. After retiring as Kaguya’s maid, she leaves the club but maintains her friendship with them.

Others

  • Maki Shijo
    As a member of the Shinomiya family, Maki is one of the few at Shuchi’in Academy who knew about Ai’s position as Kaguya’s valet before her retirement. While they are not very close, they show mutual respect for each other, often interacting through shared connections.

Etymology

The name Ai (愛) translates to “love” or “affection.” Her surname Hayasaka (早坂) is composed of two kanji: 早 (haya), meaning “already,” “now,” “fast,” or “early,” and 坂 (saka), meaning “slope” or “hill.”

Trivia

    • Ai puts a deck chair in the bath when soaking.
    • She possesses a wide array of technical knowledge, including the ability to build her own computer and stay updated with the latest smartphone specifications. Additionally, she can incorporate devices into her beret and other clothing.
    • Ai enjoys watching “hydraulic press” videos.
    • She is the second person to compare Miyuki’s singing to “a sea cucumber’s intestines.”
    • Ai is the daughter of a manager within the Shinomiya Group.
    • In Chapter 102, Ai is listed on Miyuki’s phone as “Haysaca,” and she texts him “OK, good night.” Their friendly relationship deepens after she is rejected under an alias, and she admires his kindness and trust, though many classmates speculate that their relationship is more than just friendship.
    • Known for her sharp wit, Ai is considered the snarkiest member of the main cast, though this often works against her.
    • Ai appears to have a mother complex.
    • Technically, Ai is the wealthiest among the main cast, with a disposable income of up to 40 million yen due to her decade-long employment as Kaguya’s valet.
    • She is one-quarter (25%) Irish.
    • Ai wears corrective contact lenses.
    • She maintains a notebook full of fantasies.
    • Ai shares her first name with Ai Hoshino fromOshi no Ko, a series also written by Aka Akasaka.