Ai Okabe
An 11th generation Kenkyuusei member of AKB48. Talented in dancing and singing, she is however also very ambitious and self-centered, which caused her to view "Minori" with enmity after he replaced her as center in Kenkyūsei performances. She has even tried to sabotage him inside and outside performances. However, after he constantly emerged unscathed from her plots and even saved her from a botched sabotage attempt, she reluctantly concluded a truce with him. As the series progressed, while remaining aloof from the other Kenkyūsei members, she was forced to admit that Minoru made a better center than her due to his charisma and hard-working attitude.
