Kokoro Nanase

Nanase receives little individual characterization outside Akashi's national-championship run. She is presented primarily as a member of a strong and cohesive school team rather than through an independent storyline.

Nanase is a competitive karuta player capable of representing Akashi First Girls' at the national championship.

She plays Taichi during the semifinal. Although the narrative focuses more heavily on the overall team contest and the ace match involving Megumu, Nanase's board contributes directly to the five-match result.

Nanase appears prominently during the national semifinal between Akashi First Girls' and Mizusawa. The match tests Mizusawa against another team with sufficient depth to threaten it across all five positions.

Nanase is assigned against Taichi. Taichi defeats her by five cards, while Mizusawa narrowly takes the overall semifinal 3–2.

Megumu Ousaka is Nanase's teammate and the ace of Akashi First Girls'.

Keiko Yuube, Nene Hayasaka and Natsuki Tanimura compete alongside Nanase on Akashi's national-level team.

Taichi Mashima is Nanase's opponent during the national semifinal against Mizusawa.