Kiyomi Sakura

Kiyomi Sakura is a gentle, clear-hearted girl who stands out as one of the kindest and most grounded characters in Squid Girl.

She is also a glasses-wearing student and one of the few people outside the Aizawa household with whom Squid Girl truly opens her heart.

In the anime, she is voiced by Kokoro Kikuchi.

In the original manga, her name was initially written as Sakura Kiyomi, so that alternate rendering is sometimes seen.

She first appears in volume 7 of the manga and in episode 9 of the first anime season.

She also appears in that episode’s ending sequence, where she and Squid Girl look out at the sea at night.

Notably, she is the only human-side character to appear in the first season ending sequence.

Kiyomi meets Squid Girl after Squid Girl, inspired by Takeru Aizawa and Yuta Matsumoto, impulsively tries to play ding-dong ditch.

By pure coincidence, the house she targets happens to be Kiyomi’s home.

Afraid that Chizuru Aizawa will find out about the prank, Squid Girl asks Kiyomi to pretend to be her friend.

Kiyomi refuses to be a fake friend and instead becomes her real friend.

That moment defines her character very well.

She is honest, warm, and unwilling to build a relationship on a lie.

Kiyomi has a mild, pure, and good-natured personality.

Even when dealing with Squid Girl, she simply enjoys their friendship in a calm and sincere way.

She also has courage and a strong sense of justice.

When she feels that someone’s words or actions are wrong, she can speak up firmly and directly.

Among the many eccentric personalities in the series, Kiyomi often feels like the moral center.

Even Sanae Nagatsuki, who is usually wildly obsessive about Squid Girl, restrains her more extreme behavior in front of Kiyomi.

Kiyomi tries to become friends with Sanae as well.

When she sees Sanae’s huge collection of Squid Girl merchandise, she is moved by Sanae’s devotion rather than disturbed by it.

Kiyomi is especially important because she is Squid Girl’s first real friend.

Their bond begins through a silly prank, but it grows into one of the most sincere friendships in the story.

She calls Squid Girl “Ika-chan,” rendered in English as “Squiddy” or simply a cute nickname for Squid Girl.

The nickname reflects her gentle and affectionate way of speaking to her.

Unlike many characters who react to Squid Girl with fear, obsession, or exasperation, Kiyomi interacts with her naturally.

That easy warmth helps Squid Girl relax and be herself.

Kiyomi is a third-year middle school student at Hase Middle School.

At school, she serves as the captain of the girls’ baseball club in the anime version.

In the manga, she is instead the captain of the badminton club.

In either version, she is shown as responsible and respected by her juniors.

Although pitching is not her usual position, she once takes on both pitcher and first base when the team’s regular pitcher comes down with a fever and cannot play.

This shows her reliability and willingness to step up when needed.

In her private life, she is also the vice-captain of the “Invasion Club.”

This club only becomes active when all of its members are present.

Kiyomi has long dark hair, depicted as black in the manga and brown in the anime.

She wears it tied into two sections at the back.

She also wears glasses, which adds to her calm and studious look.

Her design gives her a soft, approachable presence.

Despite her composed personality, Kiyomi is self-conscious about having a small chest.

Because there are more busty girls around her, this sometimes develops into a real complex.

At a Tanabata wish-writing event, she publicly writes, “I hope everyone and I can go to the prefectural tournament through club activities.”

However, on the back of the strip, she secretly writes, “A bigger chest.”

When Squid Girl and Eiko Aizawa nearly discover that hidden wish, Kiyomi desperately scribbles it out.

It is a funny but very human detail that makes her even more endearing.