Makoto Nanaya is a squirrel-type beastkin and a supporting character in BlazBlue: Alter Memory. She was born in the 11th Hierarchical City of Shinatsu and later attended the Military Academy, where she became a classmate and close friend of Tsubaki Yayoi, Carl Clover, Noel Vermillion, and Jin Kisaragi. As a beastkin, she experienced discrimination and bullying during her early days at the academy, but the support of her roommates Noel and Tsubaki helped her overcome that hardship. She is highly energetic, outgoing, and adventurous, often acting on impulse with a short attention span, yet she can be unexpectedly cunning and resourceful when the situation demands it. Despite occasional insecurities about her race, she is proud of her identity and refuses to let others define her by it.

Makoto possesses extraordinary physical abilities, including inhuman reflexes and tremendous strength, which allow her to deliver powerful punches capable of creating impact craters and even leaving a fist imprint on the moon when she unleashes her full power. Her fighting style revolves around close-quarters combat, utilizing a Drive ability called Impact that charges energy in her fists to deliver devastating blows. She also wields tonfas and incorporates her tail into her movements during battle. Outside of combat, she enjoys playing lacrosse and has a fondness for all-you-can-eat meals and chestnut parfaits.

In the story of BlazBlue: Alter Memory, Makoto works for the Novus Orbis Librarium's Intelligence Department alongside Hazama, but she is secretly a spy for the anti-government organization Sector Seven. Her dual loyalties place her in a precarious position, as she must gather intelligence while maintaining her cover. Her motivations are driven by a strong sense of justice and loyalty to her friends, particularly Noel and Tsubaki. When she learns the truth about the NOL's darker machinations and the curse affecting Tsubaki, she chooses to defect from the NOL in the true ending, fleeing alongside Noel and the cyborg soldier Iron Tager to protect those she cares about.

Makoto's key relationships include her deep friendship with Noel, whom she treats as a sister, and her concern for Tsubaki as she falls under the Imperator's curse. She also maintains a complicated professional relationship with Hazama, whom she distrusts due to his manipulative nature. Her bond with Sector Seven's lead scientist Kokonoe and her subordinate Tager grows over time, leading her to join their cause. Throughout her arc, Makoto evolves from a carefree academy student into a courageous agent who is willing to risk her safety and abandon her position to fight for justice and her friends.