Kyōka Izumi is a Meiji-period playwright known for his skittish and temperamental nature. He suffers from mysophobia, harboring an intense aversion to germs, and exhibits pronounced fears of dogs and thunderstorms, which deeply affect his behavior and interactions. A constant companion perched on his shoulder is a white rabbit spirit, a tsukumogami mononoke born from treasured objects. This rabbit serves as a memento from his mother, lost when he was nine, offering him comfort and a connection to his past. Like Mei Ayazuki, Kyōka is a tamayori, possessing the ability to perceive and interact with spirits, forming a foundation for their relationship. His current literary focus is the play "Yasha ga Ike" (Demon Pond), left incomplete after the dragon spirit Shirayuki, a key entity from his manuscript, escaped into the physical world. Kyōka frequently visits a lake, singing nightly to coax Shirayuki back into his writings, though initially without success. While investigating spirit disturbances involving Mei, Kyōka reluctantly engages with her. A pivotal moment occurs when Shirayuki manifests as a woman at the lake. As Kyōka confronts the spirit, Mei intervenes, freeing a shard lodged in Shirayuki’s throat. This act resolves the conflict, allowing Shirayuki to return to the manuscript and restoring peace. Through this ordeal, Kyōka’s initial reluctance towards Mei transforms into trust and affection, culminating in a confession of his feelings. He urges Mei to stay in the Meiji era rather than return to her own time. Kyōka’s background connects him to other characters, notably Tōsuke Iwasaki, whom he recalls meeting in childhood. His rabbit spirit’s materialization is later revealed to involve Tōsuke’s guardian, adding complexity to their connection. Kyōka also aids in resolving incidents involving destructive kamaitachi spirits and fragmented shards disrupting the town. His actions help collect these shards, revealed in a post-credits scene to be part of a shattered mirror central to the time-travel narrative. The etymology of his name reflects his identity: "Kyōka" combines "mirror" (鏡) and "flower" (花), while "Izumi" means "spring" or "fountain" (泉).