Mine Kuramae is a supporting character in Fruits Basket who works as a seamstress and designer at Ayame Sohma's custom costume shop, living with him in the apartment above the store. She is introduced as Ayame's lover and later becomes his girlfriend, roommate, and eventual wife. Her background is not extensively explored, but she is consistently portrayed as a cheerful, eccentric, and highly enthusiastic individual who takes great joy in dressing up any cute girl she encounters in frilly outfits, often sparkling at the prospect. She herself is almost always seen wearing a frilly maid's uniform, though she occasionally changes into other costumes such as nurse or school uniforms depending on her mood.

In terms of personality, Mine is kind, perky, and passionate about her work and her relationship. She is determined to do anything for Ayame and takes care of the practical details he overlooks in his own dramatic enthusiasm, such as securing permission to visit his younger brother Yuki's class. The creator, Natsuki Takaya, has described Mine as an amazing person for being able to keep up with Ayame's eccentric demeanor. Her motivation stems from her deep affection for Ayame and her desire to support him both personally and professionally. She is one of the few people who truly understands him, and Ayame regards her as someone he can confide in. Yuki suspects that Mine is aware of the Sohma family's zodiac curse, though this is never explicitly confirmed, and she never directly interacts with the curse's supernatural elements on screen.

Her role in the story is primarily as Ayame's partner and anchor. She often appears alongside him in scenes that provide comic relief, but she also plays a crucial emotional role in Ayame's development. While the series does not focus heavily on her personal growth, her presence is a stabilizing force that helps Ayame mature and become more attentive to the needs of others, particularly his brother Yuki. Her key relationship is with Ayame; her unwavering support and acceptance allow him to be himself fully. When Ayame is freed from the zodiac curse, the first thing he does is embrace her and confess his love, marking the culmination of their relationship.

Notable abilities include her skill as a seamstress and costume designer, which are integral to Ayame's shop. She is also adept at handling Ayame's flamboyant personality and managing the logistics he ignores. Her overall development is subtle but significant: she transitions from being Ayame's employee to his partner, and in the series' epilogue and the sequel manga Fruits Basket Another, she is married to Ayame and the mother of two children, Hibika and Kanna.