Honjou, Kumi

本条久美

Hanabishi Kaoru's mother.
The Hanabishi family disapproved of her, viewing her as a woman of low status, which meant she was never "officially" married to her husband, Hanabishi Yuuji. After Yuuji died in a sudden car accident and with no other known heirs, Kaoru was recognized as the "official" heir of the Hanabishi family, provided that Kumi left the estate and cut off all contact with Kaoru.
Kumi dies while Kaoru is in high school, though the cause of her death is never specified. Her death served as the catalyst for Kaoru to leave the Hanabishi family, as he had remained solely to honor her wish for him to lead a prosperous life.