Kanae Maekawa holds the position of vice-captain for the civilian expedition known as the Antarctica Challenge. She first became involved with Antarctic exploration through her friendship with Gin Tōdō and Takako Kobuchizawa, whom she met during previous observation team activities. Before joining the expedition, Kanae worked in a sales position at a company, a background that helped her develop a sharp, quick-thinking mind and strong communication skills. These abilities would prove essential to her role in the expedition.

Kanae is characterized by a cheerful, mild-mannered, and caring personality. Her warm and upbeat nature stands in stark contrast to the expedition captain, Gin Tōdō, who is notably reserved and taciturn. Because Gin speaks little and often avoids social interaction, Kanae naturally assumes responsibility for external communications and negotiations. She acts as the public face of the expedition, handling the diplomatic duties and interpersonal dealings that require a more approachable and articulate presence. Her ability to navigate these social situations has made her very popular among the male members of the team, and behind the scenes she is sometimes referred to as the shadow captain due to her significant influence and practical leadership.

As a close friend of both Gin and Takako, Kanae shares a deep personal history with them. This connection is a core part of her motivation for being part of the expedition. She was part of the previous journey to Antarctica that ended in tragedy with the loss of Takako. When the story begins and a new group of high school girls, led by Shirase Kobuchizawa (Takako's daughter), joins the expedition, Kanae takes on the role of their guide and mentor. She helps the younger girls adjust to the rigors of the journey, from driving them to summer training camps to explaining the rules on board the ship and looking after them when they suffer from seasickness. Her role is one of a steady, reassuring presence who bridges the gap between the stern, experienced adults and the enthusiastic but inexperienced new recruits.

Throughout the series, Kanae demonstrates a remarkable ability to read situations and people. While she is generally jovial and easygoing, she can turn serious and pragmatic when the situation demands it, showing a flexibility that makes her an effective vice-captain. One of her notable abilities is her acumen in fundraising and finance. She is instrumental in managing the expedition's resources and is honest with the new members about the financial struggles the Antarctic Challenge Foundation faces, revealing that securing funding is a constant challenge. Her competence in this area is a direct result of her former career in sales.

Kanae's relationship with Gin is one of mutual respect and deep understanding. She works seamlessly alongside the captain, supporting her decisions and managing the practical aspects of the journey that Gin prefers to avoid. She also serves as a foil to Gin, providing a lighter, more socially adept counterbalance to the captain’s intensity and reserve. Her personal connection to the past tragedy is explored subtly; as someone who was also there, she shares in the unspoken grief and the complicated mission to return to Antarctica. Despite her generally open and cheerful demeanor, she is shown to have other facets to her personality. In a web-exclusive segment, she runs a bar on the ship for the crew to relax, but when a patron gives an excessively complicated order, she displays a rare and startling burst of anger, revealing that even her patient nature has limits. This moment hints at hidden depths and a more fiery personality that is usually kept in check beneath her professional and friendly exterior.