Kayashima

Warning: unmarked spoilers? Also, much of this is speculation, so do not take it as fact.

Kayashima Taiki is a character from the Japanese drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. He is not a main character, but a frequent side character with unique traits that make him stand out from the rest of the side characters. He is the only character in the series that has "special powers", those being the ability to see and speak with ghosts, and to read a person's aura. These special abilities earn him the unique seat of helping the main characters out when something supernatural happens.

Kayashima is the best friend of Nakatsu Shuichi and the acquaintance of Ashiya Mizuki. In the first episode, Ashiya is scared of Kayashima because she thinks that he is a ghost. Also, in this episode, Kayashima speaks to Nakatsu in place of Nakatsu's recently deceased grandmother, putting his friend's mind at ease. In episode seven, Kayashima attempts to lend Nakatsu emotional support by means of mentioning their past together. Through this loosely defined sentence, we learn that Kayashima had been bullied when he and Nakatsu were younger, bullied because of his special abilities, and that Nakatsu was the only one that stuck up for him, "protected" him (protected is the word used in the subtitles). This also makes it clear that Nakatsu and Kayashima share such a bond that they wil help each other out and lend each other support.

Many of the scenes where Nakatsu attempts to come to terms with his sexuality, Kayashima is there for support. Although these scenes are generally ridiculous and not at all an attempt at seriousness, they show the friendship between the two. Kayashima is clearly accepting of Nakatsu regardless of sexual preferences, possibly because he knows what it is like to be "different" from everybody else.

Kayashima is aware of how much Ashiya means to Nakatsu, so when he notices something amiss relating to her, he immediately informs Nakatsu. Of all the characters, Kayashima appears to be the only one that is aware of all sides, surely because he can read each person's aura, and because he takes note of even the smallest details.

Kayashima is quiet and sometimes timid in appearance, often appearing aloof and with an air of "creepiness" around him. Although he appears to be a space case, he is probably the most aware of all of the characters. it takes him a long time to warm up to people, maybe because he was bullied a lot and closed himself off when he was younger. He is not given the gift of words, and when they are needed to comfort Nakatsu, his attempts are sometimes awkward, but they cheer Nakatsu up regardless because he knows that Kayashima is trying and is worried.

Although Kayashima is not a main character, Nakatsu would be nowhere without him. It would be near impossible for Nakatsu's character to develop if there had not been Kayashima there to support him.