Kyo Ijuuin (伊集院響, Ijuuin Kyō) is a supporting character in Junjou Romantica and minor character in Sekaiichi Hatsukoi. He is the mangaka of the extremely popular Za☆Kan manga published in Marukawa's Japun magazine. He is also the protagonist of the series' latest couple named Junjou Sentiment with lover Yanase Yuu, originally from Sekaiichi Hatsukoi's Yoshino Chiaki no baai.
Ijuuin-sensei is first introduced because of Misaki Takahashi being a big fan of The☆Kan to the point of calling it his 'bible'. Misaki first meets him when he brings Akihiko's manuscript that the novelist had forgotten at their house. Being a fan of Ijuuin's, he motivates the mangaka through a particularly tough block. According to Ijuuin-sensei himself, those words were sincere and prompted him to fall in love with Misaki on the spot.
Therefore, he becomes an antagonist to Junjou Romantica's main couple, seeking Misaki's attention as his romantic interest.
Appearance
Ijuuin Kyo is 183cm tall. He has jet-black hair with signature two strands on the top of his head that make him easily recognizable. He often wears casual, comfortable clothing instead of formal apparel, unless the situation demands for formality. He also has a defined figure, abs, back and chest that Yanase Yuu has described as 'beautiful physique'.
Relationships
Ijuuin meets Misaki while going through a particularly bad writer's block. He finds himself working at Marukawa where Misaki was delivering Akihiko Usami's manuscript. Given that Misaki is a devoted fan of his work, he motivates Ijuuin and tells him how much he is looking forward to the new chapter. Seeing such an open love for his work, Ijuuin-sensei gathers himself together and is able to finish his work. Next time he meets Misaki is during an autograph sign event. Ijuuin, now much recovered, meets Misaki and remembers the words of encouragement he had provided and how they were key into him continuing his work. Later on, Ijuuin would reveal that it was the sincerity and honesty in Misaki's eyes that made him fall in love with him on the spot. It is then that Ijuuin begins a pursue of Misaki's affections.
Misaki, however, shows himself indifferent to Ijuuin's romantic advances, as he only sees him as an author he deeply admires. However, Ijuuin is insistent on his quest and even gets close enough to kiss Misaki on the cheek. When Ijuuin finds out that Misaki and Usami-sensei are lovers, this does nothing to stop him from continuing looking for Misaki, much to Usami's displeasure. It is not until Ijuuin finds himself cornered by Kaoruko Usami, Mizuki Shiiba and Usami Akihiko himself that he ultimately decides to give up. During that encounter, Misaki had been shopping along with Kaoruko-san and Mizuki-kun when he runs into Ijuuin-sensei at a mall. Knowing a bit of the background on the story, Kaoruko-san decides to invite Ijuuin for tea so they can have a talk.
As always, Ijuuin has no problems revealing that he is in love with Misaki to which Kaoruko-san reacts poorly, even scolding Misaki for not having completely turned down Ijuuin already. It is then that Mizuki-kun intervenes by saying that he understands where Ijuuin is coming from, since he says he is in love with Misaki. However, he points out that by continuing his pursue, he is blatantly ignoring Misaki's own feelings. Mizuki makes a point of telling Ijuuin that if the person he loves is with someone else, then he must respect that and wish for their happiness unless he wishes for that person to come to hate him. Ijuuin has no defense to that argument and it is in that moment that Usami himself shows up, requesting once again for Ijuuin to give up already since Misaki has rejected him multiple times, and he is now risking losing someone who respects him.
Having been cornered and without a defense to their arguments, Ijuuin asks Misaki if he still likes his manga and upon receiving a positive answer, he smiles. He then ruffles Misaki's hair while wearing a sad expression that Misaki explains, had never seen on him before. It is then that Ijuuin finally decides to stop pursuing Misaki and let him be the lover of the man he's chosen.
Ijuuin-sensei is one of the very few people who have managed to make Usami insecure on his relationship. Given that Usami is aware of the deep admiration Misaki feels for the Mangaka, he fears that such admiration could indeed morph into romantic feelings. In fact, he considers Ijuuin his biggest rival at getting Misaki's attention, which only amps his fear of losing him. At a point, Usami begs Misaki not to leave him to which Misaki replies he doesn't have even the smallest intention on doing so. Still, Usami does not let his vulnarability be known to Ijuuin-sensei, often facing him head on without fear and constantly reminding him that Misaki belongs to him and he has no intention of handing him over to anybody.
After the encounter with Kaoruko-san and Mizuki-kun that finally prompts Ijuuin-sensei to give up on pursuing Misaki, he has one final conversation with Usami and lets him know that while he won't continue his current quest, he is still not giving up on Misaki and will be ready to make his move if Misaki is ever unhappy with him. Usami confidently tells him that will never be the case. He agrees with Ijuuin on the fact that as writers, they are both quite lonely but warns him once again that Misaki is his and while Ijuuin tries to make it into a time matter, by implying that things would be different had him and Misaki met earlier, Usami explains that timing has nothing to do about it, describing his relationship with Misaki as destiny.
Later on, Usami reveals to Misaki that he is uncomfortable with Ijuuin's understanding of Misaki. Nevertheless, he is pleased over the fact that Ijuuin has finally given up.
Yuu has been a fan of Ijuuin-sensei's manga Za☆Kan since he was around 12 or 13 years old, a liking that he shares with best friend, Yoshino Chiaki. This is the reason why he jumps at the opportunity to work with Ijuuin Kyo when it arises even though he is well aware of Ijuuin's assistants often quitting. On the day that Misaki ultimately rejects Ijuuin, Yuu drops by to Ijuuin's home to work as his assistant. This also marks Yanase's first official appearance in the Junjou Romantica manga.
On this occassion, Ijuuin thanks to Yuu for having accepted the offer on a short notice and apologizes for not giving him any time off. Ijuuin seems intrigued over the fact that despite many of his assistants quitting, Yuu has been working with him for quite a long time, implying they have known each other for a while before Yanase's official introduction into the Junjou Romantica story. At that point, their relationship seems to be strictly professional with not much being said between them.
As time goes by, their relationship seems to progress into a friendlier one. On a day in which Ijuuin was feeling nostalgic over his failure with Misaki, he goes home to find Yanase waiting in the lobby of his building. He appears surprised at first, but then realizes they had scheduled for Yuu to begin working with him on that same day. By that time, Kyo seems to be rather interested in Yuu as he openly offers him a key to his apartment. Despite Yanase showing himself reluctant to Ijuuin's suggestion, he becomes instantly blushed when Ijuuin explains that he is only making the offer because it is to Yuu himself. Seeing his reaction, Ijuuin goes a step further by saying it is a big relief to have someone as responsible as Yuu around him. Although blushed from the compliment, Yanase still tells him how flattery won't get him anywhere.
When Yanase accidentally reveals he is a fan of Ijuuin's work, this prompts the Mangaka to become increasingly teasing driving Yuu to admit this was the reason why he accepted working for him the moment the opportunity arose. Yanase, seemingly embarrassed, tries to change the topic for them to focus on their work. However, it is then that Kyo describes Yuu as a new light in his life. He then proceeds to tell Yanase that despite him often struggling with his work, he is happy with his job. Because if he didn't have that job, then Yuu wouldn't be his assistant.
Yanase, naturally, visits Ijuuin’s apartment often to work. It is during one of his frequent visits that he arrives just at the moment that Kaoruko Usami and Mizuki Shiiba are leaving the Mangaka’s home after having discussed the details of a trip Ijuuin is planning to France. After they leave, Kyo apologizes to Yuu for making him wait, to which Yanase replies by mentioning it was strange to see a female guest at his home. When Kyo mentions that he is planning a trip to France with her, Yuu has an unexpected reaction that prompts Ijuuin to openly ask his assistant if that bothers him. Although Yuu tries to cover it by saying that is the mangaka’s private life and none of his business, his jealousy does not go unnoticed by Kyo who proceeds to explain that his relationship with Kaoruko-san is purely platonic.
By this point, Kyo has clearly developed feelings for Yanase and describes himself standing on the line between two different kinds of feelings: ‘love’ and ‘like’. He openly asks Yanase if he’s got a girlfriend and upon receiving a negative answer, he compliments Yuu by telling him that since he is really handsome, he expected him to be popular. To this, Yanase explains that the person he likes is already interested in someone else. Although Ijuuin asks if Yanase had tried to win that person over, he appears rather disappointed when Yuu tells him that despite his failure, he still has feelings for them.
The pair then bond over their liking for under-seasoned food. Kyo openly flirts with Yuu by calling himself one of ‘his firsts’ when Yanase tells him he’s never met someone with the same palate before. Ijuuin seems to be even more attracted to Yanase then, wondering if he could cross over the line from ‘like’ to ‘love’ and describing that step to be a little scary but also exciting.
The line does get crossed on a later chapter when Yuu finds himself working for Ijuuin during a particularly tough session. Narrated from Yanase’s point of view, he describes his understanding over the constant change of assistants given Ijuuin's complete disconnection to everyone and everything around him. He does remark, however, that the mangaka does not seem to be ignoring them but rather extremely focused on his work. He also mentions Ijuuin being a bit extreme given that he hasn't eaten since the prior day. Yuu is used to working with several authors, so he is not scandalized though it does surprise him that Ijuuin is unable to even pick up his own phone calls.
Upon finishing work, all the assistants leave but Yanase remains behind and tells Ijuuin he would leave after organizing his work, to which the mangaka barely even reacts. Such treatment disappoints Yuu and makes him reflect on how it is true that a fan should never enter the scene as Ijuuin is nothing like he'd imagined he would be. Right then, he hears a loud sound and finds Ijuuin fully collapsed in the shower.
Ijuuin apologizes to Yuu over what he'd just witnessed and given that Yuu has prepared him dinner, he offers him a drink. Having downed a few cups, their conversation grows far past professional matters. Exhausted as they are, Yuu reveals that he's recently been rejected to which Ijuuin reacts by letting him know that is a big coincidence since he is also nurturing a broken heart. Ijuuin listens as Yuu tells the story of his failure with Chiaki offering some advice and words of understanding given that they are seemingly going through similar heartbreaks. Although Yanase does not reveal any names, he does mention that he's been rejected by a man which immediately peaks Ijuuin's interest. When Yuu is ready to wash the dishes, Ijuuin comments on how their circumstances are really similar and reveals the person who rejected him is also a man.
Given a slight opening due to Yuu's surprise at the declaration, Ijuuin takes the opportunity to kiss him briefly. It is then that Yanase reveals that was his first time kissing a man, which was also the case for Ijuuin himself. From then, they kiss more passionately and end up on the mangaka's bed. Kyo doesn't hesitate to take the lead, kissing and undressing Yuu. Though upon noticing Yuu feeling overwhelmed, he asks if they could go further and reassures him that if not, that's fine too. Yuu accepts and they continue until Kyo proposes to go all the way, which Yuu refuses. Ijuuin, who had been treating Yuu quite gently through the act, does not push. He apologizes and offers an alternative solution by instructing Yuu to close his legs; they end up having intercrural sex.
The next morning and upon waking up together in bed, Kyo offers to drive Yuu to his next job. It is while they are getting ready to leave that he formally asks Yuu to date him. Initially Yuu does not accept which prompts Ijuuin to add a tiny bit of manipulation into his request. Yuu, however, doesn't fall for the trap and even scolds the mangaka for it. Ijuuin then becomes more sincere and explains that if they were in a relationship, they would be able to understand each other and finally move on. Yuu doesn't refuse then, but does mention that dating for that reason would only be to lick each other's wounds. Ijuuin agrees that would be the case if looked at negatively. However, he then explains that he thinks they would be a good couple because on top of their bodies being compatible, they can understand each other's feelings and would be comfortable while allowing themselves to become more optimistic.
Noticing that Yanase is still doubtful, he also mentions that if the person Yuu likes changes his mind, he would back off. Yuu replies that is impossible which seems to relieve Kyo who smiles brightly while saying it is also impossible in his case. Once again, he asks Yuu if he would date him, finally receiving an 'okay'. Hence they become an official couple and the ninth one to be introduced in the Junjou Romantica-Sekaiichi Hatsukoi universe, though they are the first couple with characters originally introduced within the two different stories.
Trivia
- In the English publication of the first Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi volume, Ijuuin's given name Kyou is written as Hibiki, which is an alternative reading of the kanji for his name.
- Contrary to Ijuuin's appearance as a young man, he may be a lot older than he appears. In episode 4 of Sekaiichi Hatsukoi 2, there is a flashback where two characters (Yoshino Chiaki and Yanase Yuu) are seen reading Ijuuin's work, The☆Kan in there first year of middle school at the age of 12-13 years old. If they were reading that book 15-16 years ago, Ijuuin had to have been at the very least of high school age in order to successfully publish a manga story. Therefore, Ijuuin might possibly be in his late 30's at least. Or Junjou Romantica could be in some kind of a time paradox.
| Junjou Romantica characters | |||
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| Main characters | |||
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| Supporting characters | |||
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Eri Aikawa • Ryuuichiro Isaka • Kaoru Asahina • Kyo Ijuuin • Ryou Shizukuishi • Haruhiko Usami • Kaoruko Usami • Fuyuhiko Usami • Mizuki Shiiba • Tanaka • Takahiro Takahashi • Keiichi Sumi • Shinosuke Todo • Risako Takatsuki • Tsumori |