Kawakami is a highly competent and professional teacher who never lets her ever-mounting stress and exhaustion show visibly in either of her jobs. She is laid-back and outspoken, once saying "crap" in class. 

She is also something of a hopeless romantic, though both her crushing self-loathing and age cause her to feel that she has grown past the point where she can experience such things. Still, she enjoys cheesy romantic lines and is more than willing to throw some herself. 