Kei Karuizawa

Kei Karuizawa is one of the heroines featured in the light novel series Classroom of the Elite, created by writer-illustrator duo Shougo Kinugasa and Tomoseshunsaku. She is a student of Class 1-D who looks and behaves much like a popular girl, and has her own friend clique that makes her stand out in the class. Kei is also the boyfriend of Yosuke Hirata, the male class leader.

Although Karuizawa's role and screentime are minor in the anime adaptation, in the light novel she becomes an important character as her backstory is revealed, which explores the events that led to her current behavior in high school. Kei later becomes the main love interest of the protagonist Kiyotaka Ayanokouji; their relationship started in the novel's fourth volume, which takes place just after the events of the anime's first season. Combined with the series' popularity, these events resulted in Kei becoming one of the most popular light novel waifus in recent years. For instance, she placed 1st in the Female Characters list of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2020 and 2021 editions.

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ISML
Kei is one of only two Youjitsu heroines to appear in the International Saimoe League main tournament, the other being 2017 summer seasonal winner Suzune Horikita. Fitting for a character who calls herself a "parasite", Karuizawa made her presence in the contest by feeding off of Kiyotaka's powerhouse status, but is otherwise a weak contestant on her own and is mostly dismissed as an automatic win to other regular contestants. Debuting in ISML 2019, Kei managed only a single win in that year's first period, and was eliminated dead last in the next period's wildcard round.

The student returned in the revamped ISML 2020 regular season with expectations of a slightly better finish. She immediately fulfilled it by scoring three wins in Split 1. However, her 3rd place spot was still under threat by the 2-win Sora Kasugano coming into the final round, but it was neutralized after Alice Zuberg defeated the sister by 2 votes, guaranteeing her advancement. In Split 2, Kei's fortunes ran out as she finished with a dismal 1-14 record in her group, eliminating her from the tournament. Her lone win against Mikasa Ackerman only served to avoid a last-place finish.

Karuizawa was successfully nominated again for ISML 2021, but failed to qualify for the main tournament because the regular season was reduced to 72 contestants. A few weeks after the tournament however, new Youjitsu anime sequels were announced, with season 2 due to air in July 2022. As the season will focus on Kei's backstory and her first real encounter with Kiyotaka, she will be exposed to more anime-only watchers; thus, she is expected to return to ISML 2022's main tournament.

Main Tournament
Overall record
 * 5 wins, 21 losses