Kazuma Souma

Kazuma is patient, compassionate and quietly authoritative. Unlike many adults within the Souma family, he refuses to treat the Zodiac curse as justification for judging a child. His manner is gentle, but he is capable of decisive action when he believes avoiding a painful truth would ultimately cause greater harm.

His treatment of Kyou begins partly from guilt over his grandfather, but Kazuma eventually recognizes that this is no longer the real reason he remains. He genuinely loves Kyou as his son and takes pride in the person he is becoming.

Kazuma is also perceptive about the emotional lives of his students. He recognizes the importance of Tooru to Kyou before Kyou can speak honestly about those feelings himself.

Kazuma is an accomplished martial artist and runs a dojo where he trains several members of the Souma family. His students include Kyou, Yuki Souma, Kagura Souma and Hatsuharu Souma.

He is considerably more experienced than his students and can control confrontations through technique rather than aggression. His instruction gives Kyou an outlet for his physical energy while also providing the structure and discipline missing from his childhood.

Kazuma is not one of the Zodiac members and has no transformation associated with the curse.

Kazuma enters the main story when he visits Shigure's house after an extended absence. His arrival immediately changes Kyou's behavior: the usually combative teenager shows obvious affection and respect toward the man who raised him.

Kazuma deliberately forces an issue that Kyou has spent years hiding. He believes Kyou cannot build genuine relationships while convinced that revealing every part of himself will inevitably result in rejection.

Kazuma removes Kyou's bracelet in front of Tooru, forcing his true Cat form to emerge. Although Kyou initially flees after Tooru sees him, her decision to follow and accept him becomes a major turning point in his life.

Kyou Souma is Kazuma's student and adopted son in everything but blood. Kazuma initially takes responsibility for Kyou Souma partly because of guilt over his grandfather, but comes to love him unconditionally as his own child.

Kazuma's grandfather was the previous Cat. Kazuma's rejection of him during their only childhood meeting remains one of his deepest regrets and shapes how he responds to Kyou.

Tooru Honda earns Kazuma's respect through her acceptance of Kyou. He recognizes that her presence gives Kyou an opportunity to build a life beyond the rejection traditionally imposed on the Cat.

Yuki Souma, Kagura Souma and Hatsuharu Souma are among Kazuma's other martial-arts students.