While other girls have a variety of scenes in the common route that allow the reader to see different sides of them, Kud’s scenes are focused on very few points. Her events mostly revolve around moving in and finding a roommate. That’s because the most important things for Kud are to find a place to belong and to make connections. Think back at what we’ve learned about Kud’s situation. She failed at becoming an astronaut and gave up, distancing herself from her mother, whom she thought she had disappointed. She doesn’t have a real “home”, since she was constantly on the move throughout most of her childhood. Her grandpa is traveling the world. Kud truly is all alone in Japan, save for the dogs. Kud is always upbeat and lively, so you don’t actually notice on first glance, but the isolation she must be feeling is immense. And now that I think about it, it ties really well with who her potential roommates are:
- Mio, who (minor Mio route spoilers) is also seeking meaningful connections.
- Haruka, who (Haruka route spoilers) is also isolated and needs a sister.
- Kanata, who (Haruka route spoilers) definitely needs a little sister.
Both sides truly have a lot to gain.
What a meaningful relationship it is, being roommates! It’s on a whole different level from standard friendship, sharing your living space with someone else. Imagine the hell it could develop into if things go bad, especially for a foreigner who’s all alone? But Kud wants those connections and she doesn’t slack off.
I know that feel. I know it couldn’t have posibly been easy for her.
So, concerning roommates. Let’s take Kanata as an example. With her, Kud’s roommate dreams definitely come true. Kanata is kind to her, but also strict, which shows that she definitely cares. She always offerst help if asked for it. She keeps an eye on Riki, acting as a chaperone. She would lecture Kud, but keep her out of trouble with the other prefects, even turning a blind eye sometimes - which is an unbelievable thing for Kanata to do normally. I was quite surprised with Kanata’s reaction to Kick the Can, but I realized that’s how she acts around Kud.
The other major connection she makes is more obvioius: her relationship with Riki.
I actually expected way more people to adress what I believe is one of the, if not the smoothest confession in all of Key.
At the end of their date, spendig so much time with Kud made Riki light-headed, so he stepped out to calm down a bit. Kud not only becomes unexpectedly bold here, but also employs clever tactics, as @EisenKoubu pointed out. Like a huntress, not letting her prey escape and recover, she uses the opening to trick Riki into looking down, then kisses him and confesses. I was really blown away by how smooth and sweet it all was. And personally, having her confess in one of my native languages also added to the impact.
Incidentally, I found the way Kud and Riki expressed their feelings throughout the route to be very sweet. I didn’t find Kud’s boldness out of place. Reading a route with this level of intimacy on a regular basis was a pretty new experience to me, compared to the other Key routes I had read so far. It fits with Kud’s desire to hold onto the people she loves and to show just how precious they are to her.
Soon after becoming a couple, Kud solidifies the connection with her lover with the body painting ritual. Both of them engrave a part of themselves upon their partner and it really pays out! The symbols connect the two lovers when they are continents apart, allowing Riki to support Kud and help her overcome her self-deprecation and encourage her to live on and return to his side.