the disastrous lives of saiki k (post-education edition)
okay but i’ve been thinking about this for WAY too long so here we are—
saiki k characters but post-grad, fully out in the real world, no more school structure, just capitalism, bad decisions, and whatever weird niche careers they accidentally fall into
and i don’t mean the cute, aesthetic, “they all have dream jobs and everything works out perfectly” version—i mean the this makes way too much sense for them and i hate it version
like: – what they’d actually study (if they even bothered) – what job they’d realistically end up in – how their personality completely screws them over or weirdly benefits them – and how much they’re making because some of them would be thriving and some of them would be on the brink of a breakdown
i’m gonna go character by character so feel free to argue with me, add your own takes, or write essays in the tags—i actively encourage chaos
starting with →
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saiki kusuo
– degree: business + literature (with a random history minor he picked up without trying) – job: remote researcher / ghostwriter (under multiple aliases) – yearly income: £45k–£80k (depends how much effort he can be bothered to put in that year)
he absolutely leaves japan the SECOND he graduates. not in a dramatic way, no announcement, no goodbye speech—he just… disappears and suddenly he’s living in some quiet, culturally rich place where people mind their business and the coffee isn’t terrible
he picks something practical like business purely so he can survive without drawing attention to himself, but literature/history ends up being the thing he’s actually good at (obviously). he doesn’t care about the degree, he just wants something low effort that lets him exist peacefully
ends up working remotely because there is no universe where saiki willingly goes into an office. ghostwrites articles, essays, probably full books under fake names. low interaction, flexible schedule, zero emotional attachment. ideal.
he travels constantly but in the most lowkey way possible—no influencer vibes, no photos, no posting. just quietly existing in different countries, learning languages instantly, blending in, and leaving before anyone gets too attached or annoying
still sends money home because despite EVERYTHING he is unfortunately a good person. visits occasionally but keeps it short because his family and friends are… a lot
overall: he wins. this is the closest he gets to peace.
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kaidou shun
– degree: starts in something intense like law / business / economics… does not finish – job: entry-level office worker (after a LOT of trial and error) – yearly income: £22k–£28k (slowly climbs but very slowly)
he tries so hard. like genuinely tries.
crams like his life depends on it, pushes himself into a “respectable” uni and course because that’s what’s expected of him, what his mum wants, what he thinks will finally make him feel like he’s something
and for a while it looks like it’s working—he’s getting decent grades, lands internships, starts building this image of himself as someone important, someone impressive
but it’s all built on pressure and pretending
and eventually it just… cracks
burnout hits HARD. he can’t keep up, can’t maintain the persona, can’t handle the workload or the expectations. he starts falling behind, misses things, spirals, and ends up dropping out / failing out entirely
after that it’s rough
he bounces between part-time jobs, nothing stable, nothing fulfilling. constantly feels like he’s failed at the one thing he was supposed to do right. compares himself to everyone else way too much
BUT—
he never fully lets go of the “jet-black wings” part of himself
he starts writing. fantasy novels, comics, over-the-top lore-heavy stories with dramatic names and self-insert protagonists that are way cooler than he feels in real life
they don’t take off. barely get any attention. but he keeps going anyway
dating-wise he tries, goes on a few dates, but he overcompensates or gets awkward or tries too hard to be impressive and it never really sticks
eventually—eventually—he lands a boring, stable, entry-level office job. nothing fancy. nothing like what he imagined
but it pays the bills. it gives him structure. it’s… okay
overall: he doesn’t become what he dreamed of, but he survives—and honestly, that counts for more than he thinks
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kuboyasu aren
– degree: primary education – job: primary school teacher – yearly income: £28k–£38k
he actually does the work. like properly.
goes into teacher training with the full intention of fixing his life, keeping his head down, doing something normal for once—and for a while he tries teaching older students
hates it.
they’re loud, disrespectful, push every button he has, and he is this close to relapsing into his old habits on a daily basis
so he switches to teaching younger kids and everything just… clicks
little kids love him. they think he’s cool, he’s patient (or at least trying very hard to be), and he weirdly ends up being really good at handling chaos without escalating it
he becomes one of those teachers that students remember years later
like “yeah he looked kind of scary but he was actually the nicest one”
he keeps the tattoos. probably gets a few more. still rides his bike. still looks intimidating as hell standing at the front of a classroom full of six-year-olds reading picture books
and then somewhere in his mid-20s—
he starts talking more with one of the mums when she’s picking her kid up
single mum, kid’s a bit chaotic but sweet. they bond slowly, casually, no big dramatic moment. just conversations that get longer over time
he’s awkward at first, doesn’t really know what to do with himself, but he’s genuine—and that’s what works
they start dating. it’s soft. steady. real
eventually he marries her and becomes a stepdad and he takes it SO seriously
like he is determined to be the kind of adult he never really had
and he’s good at it. really good
overall: he builds a quiet, stable, genuinely happy life—and that’s more than enough for him
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nendou riki
– degree: none – job: line cook → eventually senior cook / kitchen staple – yearly income: £20k–£30k
he does not do higher education. like not even a little bit.
he leaves school and just… starts working. whatever he can get. odd jobs, manual work, short-term stuff—he’s not picky, he just wants to help his mum and keep things going
it’s messy at first. inconsistent hours, low pay, figuring things out as he goes
but then he ends up working in a restaurant kitchen
and weirdly??
he’s really good at it
he doesn’t overthink, he works hard, he can handle pressure, and he actually enjoys the routine of it. the noise, the movement, the clear tasks—he thrives in that kind of environment
he becomes the kind of coworker everyone likes
not because he’s polished or professional, but because he’s reliable, funny, and never makes things harder than they need to be
as he gets older he chills out a bit. still loud, still himself, still a bit clueless—but more grounded, more responsible, more aware of the people around him
he helps support his mum consistently. makes sure she’s okay. that’s always been his priority
and yeah—he 100% has a dog
big, slightly dopey, absolutely adored. he takes it to the park all the time
that’s where he meets her
she’s not “conventionally attractive” either, and she’s dealt with that her whole life. there’s no weird tension between them, no pretending—just easy conversation, shared jokes, mutual understanding
they connect in a way that feels… comfortable. safe
they date. it’s simple, but it’s real
and honestly? they’re happy. like genuinely happy
marriage is a “maybe in the future” thing, not rushed, not pressured—just something that feels natural if it happens
overall: he builds a steady, warm, grounded life—and he’s surrounded by people (and a dog) who love him
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yumehara chiyo
– degree: starts in fashion design → switches to baking / patisserie – job: full-time baker at a café (eventually a core part of the place) – yearly income: £22k–£32k
she goes into fashion first because it feels right—pretty, creative, aesthetic, everything she thinks she’s supposed to be
but after a year she realises she doesn’t actually like it as much as she thought
it’s stressful, competitive, and way too tied to appearance in a way that starts messing with her head
so she switches
baking is different. softer. warmer. more real
she studies patisserie, learns properly, and ends up working in a café where she just… fits
like she becomes part of the place. the kind of worker regulars recognise, the one who remembers orders, who makes things look pretty without it feeling forced
it’s not glamorous, but it makes her happy
and at some point—whether it’s a doctor, a recommendation, or just things building up—she ends up seeing a therapist
and that changes a lot
she starts unpacking all the insecurity, the pressure, the way she’s been viewing herself for years
she stops trying to shrink herself to fit an idea
she lets herself exist properly
she gains a bit of weight, yeah—but she’s happier. more comfortable. more herself than she’s ever been
dating-wise she goes through a few relationships, nothing awful, just not quite right
until one day she meets someone in a café (not even hers, just a random one)
it’s easy. natural. no overthinking
they date, take their time, build something stable
eventually they get married, have a kid, and move out of the city for something quieter
she still commutes to the same café though—she never leaves it
overall: she grows into herself, builds a life that feels safe and warm, and finally stops trying to be someone she’s not
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mera chisato
– degree: business (later in life) – job: retail worker → store manager – yearly income: £18k starting → £32k–£40k over time
she doesn’t get the luxury of “figuring herself out” after school
she goes straight into working—whatever she can find, whatever pays, whatever keeps things going
the debt her father left might be gone, but the damage isn’t. they’re still struggling, still one bad week away from things falling apart
and then her mum gets worse
and eventually… she passes
and mera doesn’t even get time to properly grieve before she’s thrown into survival mode
she fights for custody of her siblings and she wins—because there’s no other option. no one else is going to step up
so she does
it’s hard. like genuinely exhausting
long hours, barely enough money, constantly stretched thin trying to keep everyone fed, housed, okay
they’re not thriving—they’re surviving
but she never lets it show fully. she keeps going, keeps pushing, keeps holding everything together even when it feels like it’s about to collapse
and slowly… things shift
her siblings get older. they go to school, start working part-time, start contributing
and more than that—they notice
they see everything she did for them
so they start pushing her, gently at first, then more seriously
telling her to go back to school. to do something for herself for once
and eventually, she listens
she studies business—something practical, something that can actually improve their situation
it’s not easy balancing that with everything else, but she does it anyway
and it pays off
she lands a job in retail, works her way up steadily, proves herself over and over again until she becomes a manager
it’s stable. reliable. enough
they’re not rich—but they’re comfortable. they can breathe
dating-wise… she doesn’t really bother
not because she can’t, but because it’s never been her priority. her life has always been about survival, then responsibility, then family
and honestly? she’s okay with that
she finds her fulfilment in knowing her siblings are safe, fed, growing into their own lives
overall: she sacrifices everything early on—but in the end, she builds a life where all of them finally get to live, not just survive
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hairo kineshi
– degree: sports science + physical education – job: community sports coach / rec centre instructor – yearly income: £26k–£36k
he THRIVES in education but specifically the kind where he can move, lead, and motivate people
goes into sports science and teaching with zero hesitation—this is the most “i know exactly what i’m doing with my life” out of all of them
ends up working at a community centre running sports programs, coaching teams, organising events, mentoring kids, hyping everyone up constantly
like he is that guy
the one who remembers your name, cheers the loudest, convinces you that you can do one more lap even when you absolutely cannot
and outside of work??
he is everywhere
charity runs, sponsored swims, obstacle courses, volunteering at events, helping out at schools, organising fundraisers—if there’s a cause, he’s already signed up and dragging five other people with him
he becomes really well-known in the community, but not in a flashy way—just in a “everyone trusts him” kind of way
financially he’s comfortable. not rich, not struggling. just steady
dating-wise he explores a lot, especially when he’s younger—figuring himself out, dating different people, not really putting pressure on it
he’s open, confident, and surprisingly emotionally intelligent about it all
later in life i can see him settling down, maybe getting married, maybe not—but definitely finding someone who matches his energy and supports the way he lives
and he 100% travels when he can—hiking trips, international charity events, sports exchanges, anything that keeps him moving
overall: he builds a life full of purpose, people, and constant motion—and he wouldn’t have it any other way
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toritsuka reita
– degree: none – job: unemployed → part-time jobs → sketchy sales / pyramid scheme victim – yearly income: £0–£18k (unstable and inconsistent)
he does NOT go into higher education. not even considered
he just stays at the temple because it’s easy, it’s familiar, and it means he doesn’t have to actually figure anything out
and for a while, that works
he complains about it constantly, hates the responsibility, hates the restrictions—but he’s still being fed, housed, and kept afloat
the problem is… he doesn’t change
he keeps being inappropriate with visitors, keeps crossing lines, keeps thinking he can get away with it because he always has
until he doesn’t
he gets reported. things escalate. and eventually it lands him in actual legal trouble
it’s not brushed off. it sticks
he ends up getting arrested for a period of time, and when he gets out, the temple is done with him
they don’t take him back
and suddenly he has nothing
no stability, no support system, no structure
he bounces between part-time jobs, can’t hold anything down for long, struggles with money constantly
lives alone in a tiny, barely affordable place, just scraping by
and then—because of course—
he gets pulled into some sketchy “easy money” opportunity
pyramid scheme, predatory sales, whatever version of it—he falls for it hard because he’s desperate and it sounds like a way out
it just makes everything worse
he ends up stuck in that cycle for years, chasing quick money that never actually comes, digging himself deeper every time
overall: he had chances to stabilise his life, but his own behaviour keeps sabotaging him—and he ends up trapped in a loop he can’t really escape from
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aiura mikoto
– degree: beauty therapy (hair, nails, makeup, etc.) – job: freelance beauty tech / salon chair renter + “spiritual consultant” on the side – yearly income: £18k–£35k (very up and down depending on clients)
she leaves school and just keeps running her sketchy clairvoyance thing
tarot, readings, vibes, telling people what they want to hear—she’s good at it, charismatic enough to keep people coming back, but it’s inconsistent money and a little unstable
she’s getting by, just about
until something shifts—bad luck, less clients, competition, whatever it is—and suddenly it’s not enough anymore
so she pivots
goes back into education and picks something practical but still very her—beauty
hair, nails, makeup, all of it. she learns fast, realises she actually likes it, and more importantly—it pays
after qualifying she starts working in a salon, eventually renting her own chair
and that’s where she thrives
she builds up regulars, the kind of clients who come in not just for the service but for her
she chats, gossips, reads their energy, sometimes literally does tarot while doing their nails or hair
it becomes this mix of beauty + spirituality + entertainment and people eat it up
her income fluctuates, but she always lands on her feet somehow
dating-wise she is NOT settling down
she dates a lot, both men and women, very fluid, very “we’ll see what happens”
relationships are fun, not permanent
and as she gets older?? yeah she fully leans into it
confident, experienced, going for younger partners without a second thought, still going out, still partying, still living exactly how she wants
she’s never been the “white picket fence” type and she never will be
overall: her life is chaotic, inconsistent, and completely on her own terms—and she wouldn’t trade that for stability if you paid her
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saiko metori
– degree: business / finance (private education, top-tier everything) – job: CEO of family conglomerate – yearly income: £200k+ (plus generational wealth, assets, etc.)
he was always going to take over the company. that was never a question
elite schools, private tutors, everything handed to him in terms of opportunity—but not necessarily in terms of discipline
he grows up spoiled, entitled, used to things bending around him
so when he officially takes over?
it shows
the first year is rough. bad decisions, poor management, not really understanding the weight of what he’s responsible for. profits dip, people start questioning him, and for the first time he actually faces consequences he can’t just brush off
and that’s what forces the shift
he doesn’t suddenly become amazing—but he does start trying
he learns. listens (a bit). surrounds himself with people who actually know what they’re doing and, crucially, doesn’t ignore them completely
over time he becomes… competent
not brilliant, not innovative, but stable enough to keep things running and not tank the entire company
his employees don’t like him much though
he’s still out of touch, still a bit arrogant, still clearly someone who’s never had to struggle in the way they have
he’s respected more than he is liked
personally? his life is kind of empty
i can see him getting married because it makes sense, because it’s expected, because it fits the image
they have a kid
but it’s distant. formal. emotionally cold
they coexist more than they connect. conversations are surface-level, time together is limited, everything feels… transactional
and he doesn’t really fix it, because his focus is always on work, on maintaining status, on keeping everything running
overall: he grows just enough to not fail—but never enough to actually be fulfilled
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teruhashi kokomi
– degree: something vague and “appropriate” like communications / media (never really matters) – job: model / public figure (pushed into the entertainment industry) – yearly income: £100k+ (brand deals, modelling, appearances)
she doesn’t actually choose her path
there are too many expectations, too many eyes on her, too many people already deciding what she should be before she even figures out what she wants
and makoto absolutely plays a role in that
he helps her get into the entertainment industry—connections, opportunities, the kind of push that makes it feel less like a choice and more like a direction she can’t really refuse
so she becomes a model
and of course she’s successful. effortlessly. immediately. everything about her fits the image people want
but she doesn’t like it
not really
it’s exhausting, performative, constantly being watched, constantly being expected to be perfect
and the worst part is—she built that image herself
she created “the perfect pretty girl,” and now she’s trapped inside it
she can’t slip. can’t be honest. can’t say she’s tired or bored or unhappy without it ruining everything
so she pretends
smiles, performs, maintains
and somewhere under all of that, she starts wishing for something quieter. something private. something that actually belongs to her
but she doesn’t even know what that is
because she’s never really been allowed to figure it out
her life just gets bigger, louder, more demanding
more expectations, more pressure, more eyes
and eventually she gets married—because of course she does
it fits the image. it completes the picture
but it’s not a happy marriage
it’s distant, controlled, frustrating. she feels boxed in, irritated, constantly performing even in her own home
they don’t really connect. they just… exist in the same space
and she never has kids
partly because she doesn’t like them, partly because she knows it would just be another role she’d be forced to play
overall: she achieves everything she was expected to—but never gets the chance to become someone she actually wanted to be
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hope you guys enjoyed this because i’ve been rotating these thoughts in my head for DAYS 💀
feel free to argue with me, add your own takes, or send requests for other saiki k characters and i’ll do them—i’m lowkey obsessed with analysing them like this now
BUT.
before anyone even asks.
i am NOT doing touma.
i don’t like him, he annoys me, he pisses me off, and i personally choose to believe he does not exist in this universe ❤️
anyway send me characters <3
