The pilot episode of Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings had fans wondering who exactly was Kuze’s childhood friend.
Because of her remarkable blue eyes and ability to speak Russian, some think it's Alya, while others predict that Kuze's childhood friend is going to show up and reconcile with him at some point in the series.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for the Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian (aka Roshidere) light novel series, so proceed with caution.
Is Alya Kuze’s Russian Childhood Friend?
Fans thought for a long time that Alya was Kuze's childhood friend from Russia since, aside from having silver hair, she somewhat fit Kuze's description of his first love.
Kuze claims that his first love has striking blue eyes that resemble Alya's and speaks Russian fluently, which has raised questions regarding a possible history between them.
However, as much as fans want to label Alya as Kuze’s half-Japanese and half-Russian childhood friend, she’s not his first love.
In other words, Alya was not the girl who kissed Kuze’s cheek in the playground while they were young and innocent at heart.
She was also not the girl who motivated Kuze to learn and understand the Russian language so they could communicate properly with each other.
It’s not Yuki Suou either, despite Kuze saying they are extremely close childhood friends. In fact, Yuki has a shocking relationship with Kuze, which was revealed in the succeeding volumes of the Roshidere light novel series.
So, Who Is Kuze’s Russian Childhood Friend? Identity Revealed
It was revealed that Kuze’s Russian childhood friend is none other than Maria Mikhailovna Kujou, the older biological sister of Alya in volume 5 of the Roshidere light novel.
Maria has changed significantly in the six years that she and Kuze haven't seen each other. Her dazzling blue eyes have become hazel, matching her new light brown hair color.
This change made it difficult for Kuze to recognize Maria, but when they remembered the events that happened between them in the past, they tried to rekindle their lost friendship.
Back then, Kuze and Maria would sit and watch the sunset together as they talked about random stuff until the latter’s family had to return to Russia.
With Alya around, Kuze struggles to come to terms with his feelings for the siblings. His old self would choose to be with Maria, but his present self is indecisive.
On the other hand, Maria has always kept Kuze in her heart. She even considers the teddy bear Kuze gave her in the past as her boyfriend, confusing everyone around her.
So far, they are yet to be together in the light novel series, but Kuze asks Maria to wait for him in volume 8 of the light novel.
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