Yuki Kushinada

Yuki Kushinada is a secondary character in SNK's fighting game series, The King of Fighters. She first appeared in The King of Fighters '97 and is the girlfriend of the protagonist, Kyo Kusanagi. Originally, Yuki was not intended to be a character but was mentioned in Kyo's profile as one of his most cherished possessions. She was added as a joke by a programmer due to Kyo's popularity among female gamers. Yuki's character was fleshed out further as she began appearing alongside Kyo and his teammates in official illustrations. She was further developed in the manga, The King of Fighters: Kyo, and its video game adaptation, making her a recognizable character. In The King of Fighters '97, Yuki is kidnapped by the Orochi clan to be sacrificed for the resurrection of Orochi, but she is rescued by the Three Sacred Treasures Team (Kyo, Iori, and Chizuru). While unaware of her family history, Yuki plays a significant role in the series. She is portrayed as a 'girl next door' type, with a calm and patient personality. Although she gets slightly annoyed by Kyo's reluctance to study, she genuinely worries about his safety and waits faithfully for his return. In the non-canon game, SNK Gals' Fighters, she appears as a hidden character.