Captain Mitsuru Konishi commands the 801st Tactical Training Squadron, nicknamed the "Airbats," with a boisterous charm and a booming voice, perpetually shielded behind mirrored sunglasses. A fiercely protective leader, he battles tirelessly to shield his squadron from disbandment. His rivalry with Kengamine Kouji traces back to their school days, where Konishi once dominated a school ramen-eating championship.

Before leading the Airbats, Konishi harbored unspoken feelings for Saginomiya Sakura. During her flight exam, he impulsively proposed, but Sakura misattributed the gesture to his closest friend, Toshimitsu Tokaji. Konishi, masking his heartache, redirected credit to Tokaji to spare her confusion. Unaware to him, Sakura’s hidden affection for Konishi mirrors his own unresolved yearning.