Kaede Fuyou is Rin Tsuchimi’s childhood friend and has lived with him since the deaths of their parents in a car accident that claimed the lives of Rin’s parents and Kaede’s mother, Momiji Fuyou. Following the tragedy, Kaede grew up alongside Rin in the same household, and their shared history became central to both their characters’ development.

Eight years before the events of Shuffle!, Kaede harbored deep resentment toward Rin, mistakenly believing he was responsible for her mother’s death. Her grief and misplaced anger led to years of emotional abuse toward him. In the anime adaptation, her hostility is portrayed more intensely, with one scene depicting her dropping a sharp object from a stairwell that injures Rin’s eye.

Kaede’s perspective changes when she learns the truth, that her mother and Rin’s parents had returned early from their trip because she had fallen ill, inadvertently causing the accident. Stricken by guilt and remorse, Kaede devotes herself to atoning for her actions. She joins the cooking club alongside Asa Shigure in middle school and dedicates herself to caring for Rin, handling most of the household chores and cooking. Her overprotectiveness often manifests emotionally, as she refuses Rin’s offers to help and becomes visibly distressed when he distances himself from her.

Kaede’s appearance and behavior make her one of the most admired students at school. She has an unofficial fan club, with roughly one-third of the male student body as members, earning her the nickname “Princess of the Human World,” a title paralleling Sia and Nerine, who are regarded as the princesses of the divine and demon worlds.

Despite her calm and gentle exterior, Kaede’s emotional instability resurfaces later in the anime when Rin begins spending more time with Asa. After witnessing Rin and Asa together, Kaede’s jealousy turns violent, culminating in her assaulting Asa during a confrontation that leads to Asa’s hospitalization.

Kaede’s feelings for Rin are deeply romantic, though she views herself as unworthy of his love due to her past actions. Rin, while not reciprocating her feelings romantically, continues to care for her deeply. By the conclusion of the series, Kaede comes to terms with her emotions, openly confessing her love for Rin while accepting his choice to be with someone else.

Kaede Fuyou is a young woman with shoulder-length bright orange hair, reminiscent of autumn leaves, and sky-blue eyes. She has a slender, petite build and delicate facial features that contribute to her gentle and graceful appearance. Her design conveys an image of warmth and fragility, thematically aligning with her soft-spoken personality and the emotional tone of the Shuffle! series.

Kaede is most frequently seen wearing the standard Koyo Academy female uniform, though she appears in various outfits throughout the series depending on the setting. Her fashion choices, often modest and coordinated in warm tones, emphasize her nurturing and traditional character traits.

Kaede Fuyou is portrayed as an attractive, soft-spoken, and modest young woman who displays politeness and composure in her daily life. She is highly skilled in domestic work, particularly cooking and cleaning, and often assumes a caretaker role within the household. Kaede’s defining trait is her deep devotion to Rin Tsuchimi, whom she prioritizes above herself, sometimes to the point of self-neglect. Her personality embodies both traditional femininity and emotional restraint, contributing to her popularity among classmates.

In the anime adaptation, Kaede’s character takes on a darker dimension, exhibiting traits commonly associated with the yandere archetype, a character whose affection becomes obsessive or unstable. During moments of extreme emotional distress, her demeanor shifts dramatically; her eyes lose focus, her expression hardens, and she exhibits violent or erratic behavior. These breakdowns are portrayed as the result of deep psychological trauma and unresolved guilt from her childhood, contrasting sharply with her otherwise gentle and nurturing personality.

Rin Tsuchimi
Rin Tsuchimi is Kaede’s childhood friend, classmate at Verbena Academy, and the primary focus of her affection. Having grown up together after the deaths of their parents, Kaede develops strong romantic feelings for him and dedicates herself to his care. Although Rin values Kaede deeply, his feelings toward her remain platonic, creating emotional tension throughout the series. Her devotion to Rin defines much of her personality, and her emotional instability surfaces whenever he grows closer to other girls.

Mikio Fuyou
Mikio Fuyou is Kaede’s father, who often travels for business and is seldom present at home. Despite his frequent absence, he serves as a stabilizing influence in Kaede’s life. In later events, he plays an important role in helping mend the strained relationship between Rin and Kaede.

Momiji Fuyou
Momiji Fuyou, Kaede’s mother, died in the same accident that claimed Rin’s parents. Kaede was deeply attached to her and never fully recovered from the loss. Her grief and confusion over the tragedy initially led her to direct misplaced anger toward Rin, whom she blamed for her mother’s death, before later learning the truth and seeking redemption.

Asa Shigure
Asa Shigure is Kaede’s senior and close friend, whom she first met in middle school after joining the cooking club to improve her skills for Rin’s sake. The two maintain a warm friendship, often walking to school together. However, in the anime adaptation, Kaede’s jealousy intensifies as Rin begins spending more time with Asa. In a fit of emotional distress, Kaede attacks Asa, causing her to be hospitalized. Overcome with guilt, Kaede later apologizes, and Asa forgives her, allowing their friendship to recover.

Primula
Primula lives with Kaede and Rin, and their relationship resembles that of siblings. Kaede cares deeply for her, providing her with clothing, meals, and companionship. Primula wears Kaede’s old middle school uniform upon her arrival in the human world. She is among the few who notice Kaede’s emotional decline as Rin’s attention shifts toward Asa.

Lisianthus
Lisianthus, also known as Sia, is one of Kaede’s friends. The two are generally on friendly terms, and in the ending credits of episode 25, they share an accidental kiss, a lighthearted moment that reflects the playful tone often found in Shuffle!’s epilogue scenes.

The given name Kaede (楓) means “maple,” a tree associated with autumn and symbolic of grace, change, and nostalgia in Japanese culture. This meaning aligns with her character design and personality, which embody warmth, gentleness, and melancholy.

Her surname Fuyou (芙蓉) translates to “hibiscus” or “lotus,” both flowers traditionally linked to purity and transient beauty. The combination of her name and surname evokes imagery of nature and seasonal transformation, themes that parallel Kaede’s emotional evolution throughout Shuffle!, from grief and guilt to acceptance and renewal.