TV-Series
Description
Keigo Saikawa serves as the secretary, butler, and personal chef to Youko Morinomiya, the wealthy and stern chairwoman of Morinomiya Academy. His exact job description remains intentionally vague, as he seems to handle whatever tasks are required to keep the household running smoothly. Saikawa has light brown hair parted to one side, dark eyes that are almost always shown closed behind his glasses, and is consistently dressed in a formal suit, giving him the unmistakable appearance of a professional butler. His expression is typically stern and poised, adding to his enigmatic presence.
In terms of personality, Saikawa is a man of contrasts. He is deeply serious and dedicated to his work, yet possesses a dry, subtle sense of humor that surfaces unexpectedly. He is a perfectionist who strives to excel at every task, from preparing elaborate meals to carrying out the chairwoman's daily orders. This dedication can lead him to take things to an extreme, such as deciding to embark on a journey to improve his cooking skills after the young Kotaro temporarily loses his appetite. Saikawa is unfailingly polite, addressing nearly everyone with the honorific sama, a habit that contributes to his formal and somewhat distant demeanor. Despite his cool exterior, he is profoundly kind and caring, particularly towards the Kashima brothers, Ryuuichi and Kotaro, whom he treats as his own family. He is a humble individual who feels unworthy of praise and is constantly seeking to better himself. Much of his behavior is also marked by a lovable eccentricity; he can act strangely at times, and on one occasion, a bar owner reportedly mistook him for a mannequin. His mysterious nature is a recurring theme, as very little is known about his past.
Saikawa's role in the story is multifaceted. Primarily, he ensures the smooth operation of the Morinomiya household, providing a stable environment for the chairwoman and the orphaned Kashima brothers. He also acts as an emotional interpreter, bridging the gap between the gruff and emotionally reserved chairwoman and the boys, gently explaining that her harshness masks a genuinely kind and shy nature. He frequently steps in to assist at the school's daycare club when the regular babysitters are unavailable, and his unique, formal approach to childcare proves surprisingly effective with the children.
His key relationships define much of his character. With the Chairwoman, Youko Morinomiya, Saikawa is a loyal and essential confidant who understands her better than anyone. He patiently endures her snapping and exasperation, knowing that her annoyance is often a cover for genuine care, and he is not afraid to gently call out her true feelings or advanced age. His relationship with the Kashima brothers is central to his character. He is incredibly supportive, celebrating their small victories and showing deep concern for their well-being. Ryuuichi has noted Saikawa has an almost supernatural ability to understand what the toddler Kotaro is trying to say, a testament to his attentiveness and bond with the child. His relationship with the daycare teacher, Usaida, is more understated; they have shared drinks, and Usaida trusts Saikawa to watch the children, but he remains largely clueless about Saikawa's personal life.
While Saikawa shows little dramatic change, his development is subtle. He begins as an almost perfectly competent but emotionally opaque figure, but over time, his profound care for the Kashima brothers becomes more evident. His occasional failures or perceived shortcomings, such as when Kotaro lost his appetite, drive him to intense self-reflection and improvement, revealing his deep-seated desire to be worthy of their presence in his life. He gradually becomes more integrated into the family unit, and even the children at the daycare grow to adore his formal yet devoted style of attention.
Saikawa possesses a range of notable abilities. He is a master of domestic tasks, including cooking a wide array of dishes and managing a large household. He seems to possess near-superhuman competence, capable of handling any task thrown his way. He is also a skilled singer; on one occasion, he performed a powerful operatic lullaby that mesmerized the active daycare children and successfully lulled them to sleep. His true background remains a mystery, though glimpses suggest he was a studious teenager who lived with his grandmother at some point.
In terms of personality, Saikawa is a man of contrasts. He is deeply serious and dedicated to his work, yet possesses a dry, subtle sense of humor that surfaces unexpectedly. He is a perfectionist who strives to excel at every task, from preparing elaborate meals to carrying out the chairwoman's daily orders. This dedication can lead him to take things to an extreme, such as deciding to embark on a journey to improve his cooking skills after the young Kotaro temporarily loses his appetite. Saikawa is unfailingly polite, addressing nearly everyone with the honorific sama, a habit that contributes to his formal and somewhat distant demeanor. Despite his cool exterior, he is profoundly kind and caring, particularly towards the Kashima brothers, Ryuuichi and Kotaro, whom he treats as his own family. He is a humble individual who feels unworthy of praise and is constantly seeking to better himself. Much of his behavior is also marked by a lovable eccentricity; he can act strangely at times, and on one occasion, a bar owner reportedly mistook him for a mannequin. His mysterious nature is a recurring theme, as very little is known about his past.
Saikawa's role in the story is multifaceted. Primarily, he ensures the smooth operation of the Morinomiya household, providing a stable environment for the chairwoman and the orphaned Kashima brothers. He also acts as an emotional interpreter, bridging the gap between the gruff and emotionally reserved chairwoman and the boys, gently explaining that her harshness masks a genuinely kind and shy nature. He frequently steps in to assist at the school's daycare club when the regular babysitters are unavailable, and his unique, formal approach to childcare proves surprisingly effective with the children.
His key relationships define much of his character. With the Chairwoman, Youko Morinomiya, Saikawa is a loyal and essential confidant who understands her better than anyone. He patiently endures her snapping and exasperation, knowing that her annoyance is often a cover for genuine care, and he is not afraid to gently call out her true feelings or advanced age. His relationship with the Kashima brothers is central to his character. He is incredibly supportive, celebrating their small victories and showing deep concern for their well-being. Ryuuichi has noted Saikawa has an almost supernatural ability to understand what the toddler Kotaro is trying to say, a testament to his attentiveness and bond with the child. His relationship with the daycare teacher, Usaida, is more understated; they have shared drinks, and Usaida trusts Saikawa to watch the children, but he remains largely clueless about Saikawa's personal life.
While Saikawa shows little dramatic change, his development is subtle. He begins as an almost perfectly competent but emotionally opaque figure, but over time, his profound care for the Kashima brothers becomes more evident. His occasional failures or perceived shortcomings, such as when Kotaro lost his appetite, drive him to intense self-reflection and improvement, revealing his deep-seated desire to be worthy of their presence in his life. He gradually becomes more integrated into the family unit, and even the children at the daycare grow to adore his formal yet devoted style of attention.
Saikawa possesses a range of notable abilities. He is a master of domestic tasks, including cooking a wide array of dishes and managing a large household. He seems to possess near-superhuman competence, capable of handling any task thrown his way. He is also a skilled singer; on one occasion, he performed a powerful operatic lullaby that mesmerized the active daycare children and successfully lulled them to sleep. His true background remains a mystery, though glimpses suggest he was a studious teenager who lived with his grandmother at some point.