Ikumi “Nikumi” Mito, a 92nd-generation student at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, wields formidable expertise in meat and an uncompromising personality forged by her heritage. Hailing from the influential Mito family, pillars of Japan’s meat industry, her childhood was dominated by her father’s rigid demands to shed perceived weaknesses tied to femininity. A defining childhood moment arrived on her ninth birthday when he destroyed a teddy bear gifted by her mother, cementing his mandate for her to embody strength as the family’s heir. This upbringing fueled a fiercely competitive spirit, propelling her to master meat cuisine and ally with Erina Nakiri’s faction to purge Tōtsuki of underperforming clubs. Her striking appearance—short blonde hair crowned by an ahoge, sharp green eyes, and a curvy silhouette—is amplified by bold fashion choices. She favors a modified summer uniform highlighting cleavage, a bikini-top cooking ensemble with fringed shorts, and accessories like a choker and a Bōsōzoku jacket, blending audacity with calculated style. Arrogant and brash by nature, Ikumi’s demeanor fractures after a pivotal Shokugeki defeat to Sōma Yukihira. Challenging him to dismantle the Don RS club, she wagers her expulsion against his, only to lose when her premium A5 beef dish falls to his inventive Chaliapin Steak Don. The loss cracks her hardened exterior, exposing vulnerability and a gentler core. She grows flustered by Sōma’s casual affection, eventually embracing the nickname “Nikumi”—once a point of irritation, now a cherished sign of camaraderie. Post-defeat, Ikumi integrates into the Don RS, supporting Sōma during high-stakes trials like the Tōtsuki Training Camp, where her meat mastery aids his Petit Size Loco Moco Don buffet. Though she occasionally misreads his straightforward requests as personal overtures, her loyalty remains steadfast. Her culinary drive, rooted in familial legacy, evolves to balance relentless ambition with collaborative growth. While spin-off explorations remain uncharted, her core narrative traces a journey from cutthroat rivalry to trusted ally, her fiery resolve undimmed but tempered by newfound kinship.