Mitsuru Kagurazaka is a high-school student specializing in traditional Japanese dance before cryonic preservation. Her name, translating to "beautiful crane," carries a poetic association with elegance.

She awakens with the Winter Team in the Pacific Ocean off southern Hokkaido. Three team members perish during the thawing process. The group suffers further losses when their guide and another member, Mutsuki, are killed by a saber-toothed tiger. This leaves Mitsuru with only two surviving teammates: Fubuki Samejima and Takahiro Aramaki. Navigating extreme survival challenges in a drastically altered ecosystem, the trio forms a close bond.

Initially, Mitsuru feigns disdain for Fubuki, masking her true admiration. She later reveals she was a fan of both Fubuki and Takahiro before preservation. This admission complicates their dynamic when both develop romantic feelings for her, creating a central emotional conflict within the group.

Her background in dance and disciplined artistry contrasts sharply with the harsh demands of their new environment. The Winter Team's journey involves adapting to unfamiliar flora and fauna, including grasslands populated by small-eared rodents, unknown ruminants, and saber-toothed predators. Mitsuru's resilience is tested alongside her teammates as they travel toward Mount Meakandake, designated as Akan Fuji, where a survival cache awaits.

Throughout their ordeal, Mitsuru's interactions with Fubuki and Takahiro highlight themes of trust and vulnerability. Her character evolves within the context of shared trauma and interdependence.