Kiko Kayanuma
Kiko Kayanuma |
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| Statistics | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Human |
| Affiliation | Kurusawa Detective Agency |
| Occupation | Assistant to Gai Kurusawa |
| Partner | Gai Kurusawa |
| Debut | |
| Anime | Season 1, Episode 7 |
| Actors | |
| Japanese | Katou Emiri (加藤 英美里, Emiri Katō) |
| English | Brittney Karbowski |
Kiko Kayanuma (茅沼 キコ, Kayanuma Kiko) is a recurring character in Darker than Black. She works as an assistant to private detective Gai Kurusawa. Though not officially trained, Kiko often finds herself involved in various investigations and unusual cases alongside Gai. Energetic and eccentric, she brings a lively presence to the series, often contrasting with the darker themes surrounding Contractors and espionage. Despite her quirky behavior, she occasionally provides useful insights during investigations and serves as comic relief throughout the series.
Personality
Kiko with her playful attitude
Kiko is a cheerful and eccentric young woman with a strong passion for anime, manga, and cosplay. Her otaku tendencies influence many of her decisions, including her employment at Gai Kurusawa’s detective agency, where she agreed to work only on the condition that she be allowed to watch anime during work hours. Though not fond of the job itself, she frequently finds ways to delegate tasks such as convincing children to do her work for her while still remaining a central figure in the agency’s operations.
She often teases and irritates Gai, frequently threatening to sue him for sexual harassment whenever he makes a jab at her flat chest, which is a running gag between them. Despite her playful attitude and apparent laziness, Kiko can be pragmatic and assertive when necessary, pushing Gai to accept cases to keep the agency financially afloat. Additionally, she harbors a crush on Hei, adding another layer to her quirky personality.
Appearance
Kiko has long, vibrant pink hair styled in twin pigtails and brown eyes that reflect her energetic personality. Her typical outfit consists of a white blouse layered under a distinctive white top with red shoulders and a black collar trimmed in gold, paired with a red skirt. True to her love for anime and manga, she is also frequently seen wearing a variety of cosplay outfits inspired by her favorite characters, showcasing her passion for otaku culture.
Part in the Story
Kiko works as an assistant at Gai Kurusawa’s private detective agency, often pushing him to take on jobs he would rather avoid, especially when the agency’s finances are low. Though she has little enthusiasm for the detective work itself, her insistence on being allowed to watch anime at work reveals where her true interests lie. Despite her playful and lazy demeanor, Kiko contributes in unexpected ways, such as delegating minor tasks or providing moral support during investigations.
She is featured in several side cases throughout Darker than Black, where her interactions with Gai bring comic relief to the series. One notable episode involves her leading a group of children to search for a missing cat—work she was originally hired to do herself. Kiko also expresses a romantic interest in Hei, often blushing or acting flustered around him, which adds a humorous element to her otherwise lighthearted presence in the story.
Etymology
Kiko’s surname Kayanuma (茅沼) is composed of two kanji: 茅 (kaya), meaning “miscanthus reed” or “silvergrass,” and 沼 (numa), meaning “swamp,” “pond,” or “bog.” Miscanthus is a tall grass native to parts of Africa, Eurasia, and the Pacific Islands, commonly associated with autumn in Japanese literature and symbolism. While her given name “Kiko” (キコ) is written in katakana and thus has no inherent meaning, it contributes to her playful and energetic personality, which contrasts with the more grounded and nature-evoking surname.