Saito Houjou is the classmate and natural adversary of Akane Sakuramori, with whom he frequently clashes. Their constant arguments and inability to see eye to eye define much of their dynamic, making them both rivals and reluctant companions.

Despite his high intelligence and consistently achieving top grades, Saito often exhibits unconventional behavior and a tendency to be absent-minded, leading to moments of unpredictability. His academic excellence is contrasted by his eccentric personality, making him an intriguing and sometimes frustrating presence in the classroom.

Over time, his relationship with Akane takes a significant turn, as he ultimately marries her to assume control of his grandfather’s Houjou Group, solidifying both a personal and business partnership between them.

Saito Houjou is a young man of average height with a lean build. He has short black hair, which complements his sharp and intellectual demeanor. He typically wears the standard school uniform, maintaining a neat and conventional appearance that aligns with his academic excellence despite his eccentric personality.

Saito Houjou is typically laid-back and calm, preferring to keep to himself. As a natural slacker, he exerts minimal effort in most aspects of life, adopting an extreme minimalist lifestyle. His habits include limiting his diet to cup noodles, vegetable juices, and protein shakes, while maintaining an unhygienic living space, often letting dishes pile up, taking out the garbage only once a month, and even questioning the necessity of bathing.

Despite his laziness, Saito consistently scores first place in exams, demonstrating his academic excellence and innate intelligence. His photographic memory allows him to succeed without the need for studying, making him effortlessly superior in academics. However, rather than applying his intellect to more ambitious goals, he spends much of his time gaming, particularly enjoying horror games.

Hints in the story suggest that his neglectful upbringing shaped his habits. Having endured parental abandonment and emotional abuse, he struggled to adjust to life under his extravagant grandfather. His reaction to Akane preparing him a proper meal reveals a rare moment of vulnerability he is genuinely delighted to eat something “normal,” suggesting a deeper sense of loneliness and emotional neglect.

Unlike his ambitious grandfather, Saito does not actively desire to inherit the Houjou Group, but endures his grandfather’s unreasonable demands out of obligation. While generally composed, his interactions with Akane often put him on the defensive, leading to frequent bickering. However, as their daily lives intertwine, Saito is forced into self-reflection, gradually becoming more cooperative and open to change.

Saito Houjou was born with a photographic memory, a rare trait inherited from his ancestors. However, rather than being nurtured for his abilities, he was heavily neglected by his parents, who were eventually exiled from the Houjou family. This abandonment left a lasting impact on Saito’s upbringing, shaping his detached and unmotivated personality.

Upon discovering Saito’s extraordinary intellect, his grandfather, the influential head of the Houjou Group, saw him as an ideal successor. Determined to mold him into the family’s next leader, he separated Saito from his parents and placed him under the care of Shisei’s family, where he was rigorously trained to fulfill his future role. This upbringing placed heavy expectations on Saito, leading to his conflicted relationship with both his grandfather and the responsibilities imposed upon him.

Akane Sakuramori
Akane is both Saito’s wife and archenemy, as their relationship is defined by constant clashes. From the moment they became classmates, Akane harbored a strong resentment toward Saito, while he refused to back down from her provocations. Their dynamic was so intense that even their classmates would reprimand Akane for unfairly giving Saito a hard time. However, despite their hostility, the two were forced into marriage, an arrangement that did little to improve their interactions. Akane would frequently scold Saito for his habits, such as playing horror games, neglecting household chores, and even for saving her from drowning when she fell asleep in the bath.

Despite their rocky relationship, Saito displays more maturity than Akane and eventually initiates a conversation to set household rules. They reach an agreement, Saito promises to do the dishes immediately, while Akane agrees not to get angry if he accidentally touches her or sees her naked. Though they bicker frequently, Saito has admitted that Akane is beautiful—when she isn’t talking.

Unbeknownst to Akane, their connection predates high school. They first met as children during their grandparents’ marriage ceremony. At the time, Saito and Akane happily talked and played together, and Saito fondly remembers that moment as one of the happiest times in his life. However, because he never asked for her name, he failed to recognize her when they reunited in high school, mistaking her for a stranger trying to approach him. This misunderstanding fueled their rivalry, which lasted for the next two years.

Shisei Houjou
Shisei is Saito’s cousin, and he holds deep affection for her due to the lack of love and attention from the rest of his family. Unlike others, Shisei has always been kind and supportive toward him, making her one of the few people he cherishes.

Reiko Houjou
Reiko is Saito’s aunt and Shisei’s mother, who treats him like her own son. She adores him, often showering him with affection and concern. However, her strict and overprotective nature can sometimes feel suffocating to Saito, though he ultimately loves and respects her.

Tenryuu Houjou
Saito was raised by his grandfather, Tenryuu Houjou, after his parents abandoned him. However, their relationship is complicated. Saito does love his grandfather, but he finds his demands unreasonable. His defiance is evident when he repeatedly refuses to meet Tenryuu for tea, prompting his grandfather to resort to sending his men to forcibly retrieve him.

Himari Ishikura
Himari is one of Saito’s classmates, and the two share a friendly bond. Himari often stands up for Saito when Akane berates him, making her one of the few people who support him at school. After learning about his marriage to Akane, she helps him keep it a secret from their classmates by pretending to be his girlfriend at school.

Initially, Saito appreciated his friendship with Himari and even felt guilty about his marriage, knowing that Himari harbored feelings for him. However, over time, her behavior became increasingly possessive and unsettling. As a sociopath, Himari obsessively tried to separate him from Akane, going so far as to forcefully kiss him when she realized she had little chance of winning him over.

Maho Sakuramori
Maho is Akane’s younger sister and Saito’s sister-in-law. Initially, Saito found her annoying, as she frequently teased him and orchestrated misunderstandings to make Akane angry at him. However, upon meeting her for the first time, Saito felt a sense of familiarity, as she reminded him of the young girl he met at his grandfather’s marriage party who was actually a young Akane.

Saito’s Parents
Saito has a deep-seated fear of his parents, as they were physically and emotionally abusive toward him throughout his childhood. Jealous of his talent, they resented him for inheriting the Houjou family’s photographic memory, believing he had stolen his father’s dream of becoming the successor. Before being taken away by his grandfather, Saito endured constant mistreatment, with his parents even calling him a monster who shouldn’t have been born and blaming him for ruining their lives. Their relationship remains broken even after Saito’s marriage, as his parents continue to despise him for taking the future they believed belonged to them.