Kaito Taira

Manga

Drama

Kaito Taira
Japanese	平 海斗
Romanized	Taira Kaito
Characteristics
Gender	Male
Age	17
Born	April 23
Personal information
Occupation	Student
Romance	Airi Maya (crush)
Education	Eitoku Academy
Affiliation	Correct 5

"You may be thinking that being found out by Haruto is a big problem. It's the same for Haruto. No, since he's shouldering the responsibility of rebuilding Eitoku, he's under more pressure. He's afraid you're going to reveal his secret."

—Kaito defends Haruto to Oto Edogawa

Kaito Taira (平 海斗 (たいら かいと) , Taira Kaito) was a member of the Correct 5. He attended Eitoku Academy with his friends, Haruto Kaguragi, Sugimaru Eibi, Issa Narumiya, and Airi Maya. He was tech savvy and created an app with data on every student at the school.

Biography

Early life

In elementary school, Kaito met Haruto Kaguragi, Sugimaru Eibi, Issa Narumiya, and Airi Maya. He began computer programming as a child.

High school

Kaito started attending Eitoku Senior High, after joining Haruto Kaguragi's Correct 5. He acted as Haruto's right-hand man during their "peasant hunts". Kaito handed out the withdrawal notices to the poor students, who no longer paid donations.

Meeting Oto

Kaito realizes that Airi outed Oto as a commoner

"Haruto. We're not the F4. We don't have to become them either. As long as we protect Eitoku Academy in our own way, isn't that enough?"

—Kaito Taira to Haruto Kaguragi

The Correct 5 first met Oto Edogawa, after she ran in front of their car. Later that day, Kaito advised him to stop buying mail-order items. He waited in the car, while Haruto went in a convenience store to get his items. Haruto returned in shock, revealing that he was seen by Oto. The next day, the school was "in an uproar", after Haruto protected a student. Haruto asked his friends for advise on how to deal with Oto. Later, Kaito researched Oto, revealing that she was actually poor. He told Haruto to "just kick her out", but he refused since Oto had embarrassed him earlier that day. Kaito accompanied Haruto, while he was spying on Oto. Haruto saved her from her co-worker, but accidentally told her that he had been following her. Kaito confronted her and told her not to get "the wrong idea" about Haruto.

At school, Airi, who had seen Oto at Haruto's house, asked Kaito if he knew her. Kaito did not reveal anything, but promised to do "some research" into her identity. A few days later, Airi revealed to him that she learned Oto's name and about her fiance, Tenma Hase. Kaito went over to Haruto's to tell him about Tenma, which caused Haruto to fall sick. Kaito suspected that Haruto was in love with Oto, though he denied it. He, Issa, and Sugimaru later discovered fliers, denouncing Oto as a "peasant". Kaito immediately guessed correctly that Airi was behind them. She asked about when they were going to make her leave, declaring that "there should be no exceptions." Despite recognizing Airi's actions as "horrid", Kaito told Haruto that they had to expel Oto.

Haruto went along with it at first, but ended up hesitating. Airi then attempted to expel Oto herself, but Tenma paid her donation. Airi called the money "tainted", though Kaito replied, "money is money." Several days later, Airi went missing. Kaito went to Oto's home to ask her if she knew of Airi's whereabouts. Not knowing anything, the two of them proceeded to go to Haruto's. Kaito quickly became frustrated with Haruto, who refused to help at all. He yelled at Haruto to "try to remember" his conversation with Airi, before leaving to search at Sugimaru's and Issa's homes. Kaito was later "glad [that] Airi was found safe and sound". At Issa's flower arranging demonstration, Kaito was shocked to find out that Haruto had no idea how Airi felt. An hour later, Kaito told Oto that he hoped that she could forgive Airi for the ordeal.

Enter Megumi

Kaito tells Haruto about "Eitoku hunting"

Kaito: "What's going on with you and Megumi Nishidome?"

Haruto: "Nothing..."

Kaito: "Okay, use her to your advantage. Nishidome's got the pull to level up your presence. If you don't like the idea of using her, then just fall in love with her for real."

— Kaito's advice to Haruto

The next day, Haruto was approached by the popular model, Megumi Nishidome, who returned his wallet. Kaito, like the Issa, Sugimaru, and Airi, found it hard to believe that he just accidentally met her at the resort's bath. Megumi was brought to the Correct 5's "Salon", after the shock wore off. Airi was angered by Megumi's presence and Kaito was forced to hold her back. Several days later, Megumi transferred to Eitoku. Kaito reported that the school had a twenty percent increase in transfer applicants that day. Meanwhile, a new trend called "Eitoku hunting" spiked. The Correct 5 were concerned about the trend since several students had been targeted. Kaito advised Haruto to use Megumi "to level up [his] presence."

A few days later, the school's gates were vandalized. Kaito looked at Haruto and told him that "[they] have to do something." That night, the Correct 5, except Airi, and Megumi were at Haruto's house. When Issa brought up Oto, Kaito quickly told him not to discuss that in front of Haruto. Some days later, Kaito informed Oto that Haruto and Megumi were "over". He asked her if something had happened between her and Haruto, before telling her about his advice to Haruto to "raise his status" with Megumi. Kaito then sighed, saying "I guess Haruto really prefers you". Haruto returned to school to inform the others that a Momonozono student was involved in the Eitoku attacks. The revelation prompted them to predict "a battle between [Eitoku] and Momonozono."

Physical appearance

Kaito was not conventionally good-looking like Issa. He had shoulder-length hair that framed his oval-shaped face. Kaito was never seen without wire-rimmed glasses. At school, he wore the special Correct 5 uniform.

Personality and traits

Overall, Kaito was an extremely smart and organized person. He was particularly talented at computer programming. Kaito created an app that had data on every student at Eitoku. He was also adept at research. Despite being described as neurotic, he was closer to being obsessive-compulsive. He could not stand objects being out-of-place.

He could come off as callous, but he genuinely cared for his friends. Kaito showed a great amount of loyalty to Haruto and Airi during tough times in their life. Oto remarked that he had "his hands full" dealing with "all [the] different personalities" of the Correct 5.

Behind the scenes

• Kaito Taira first appears in chapter one of Boys Over Flowers Season 2.
• He is played by Tatsuomi Hamada in Hana Nochi Hare: Hanadan Next Season (2018).

Appearances

Other

Hana Nochi Hare (novel)