Misa Hayase, born March 3, 1990, into a Japanese family steeped in a century of military tradition, was the sole daughter of Admiral Takashi Hayase. Her youth during the Unification Wars centered on her relationship with boyfriend Riber Fruhling. His military service on Mars became her impetus to enlist. Fueled by this commitment, she graduated first in her class from the UN Spacy Officers' Academy. However, Riber perished just before her first mission when anti-UN forces annihilated his returning fleet. This profound loss shaped her worldview, pushing her to prioritize duty over personal connections.

Assigned as First Lieutenant and bridge coordinator aboard the SDF-1 Macross at its February 7, 2009, launch, she demonstrated exceptional tactical acumen and strict professionalism. Her analytical skills proved vital throughout Space War I. This included developing the unorthodox "Daedalus Attack" maneuver, which involved ramming enemy ships with the Macross's detachable arm followed by missile barrages—a tactic later adopted by other Macross-class vessels. While captive among Zentradi forces, her keen observation identified cultural deficiencies as a potential weakness in their adversaries.

Initial interactions with civilian-turned-pilot Hikaru Ichijyo were marked by friction, stemming from his impulsiveness and his accidental reference to her as "oba-san" ("old lady"), highlighting their contrasting personalities. Shared experiences forged mutual reliance: Hikaru rescued her from the collapsing Mars Base, and they endured joint captivity after a reconnaissance mission. Stranded together on post-apocalyptic Earth during their escape, they discovered Protoculture ruins where Misa deciphered lyrics to an ancient love song. These events catalyzed her emotional evolution, enabling her to confront repressed feelings.

A pivotal moment occurred when they were trapped together during a Macross transformation sequence. They confided personal histories—Misa’s grief over Riber and Hikaru’s confusion about his bond with pop idol Lynn Minmay. Though they separated without confessing their growing attraction, Hikaru later signaled "Wish you return to Macross safely" via Morse code, deepening their connection. After Earth’s near-annihilation, Hikaru rescued Misa from Alaska Base ruins, affirming his commitment despite planetary devastation.

Postwar, Misa navigated a complex love triangle. While Hikaru initially wavered due to lingering affection for Minmay, Misa’s heartfelt confession solidified their relationship. They married on October 10, 2011, and welcomed a daughter, Miku, a year later. In 2012, Misa was appointed commander of the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 colonization ship, with Hikaru leading its fighter squadron. Minmay joined the mission as a cultural ambassador, reconciling with the couple. During the ship’s 2016 fold jump, all contact ceased, and its crew—including Misa, Hikaru, Miku, and Minmay—were declared missing.

In later Macross continuity, signals hinted at Megaroad-01's survival. A mysterious figure known as "Lady M," wielding significant influence over New United Government research into Protoculture and music-based technology, emerged in *Macross Delta*. Given Misa’s command role, analytical background, and prior decryption of Protoculture lyrics, she is theorized as Lady M’s identity, though this remains unconfirmed in canon.

Her character arc embodies the tension between duty and vulnerability. Initially defined by stoicism and grief, she gradually embraced emotional honesty without compromising her leadership—a synthesis reflecting the series’ themes.