Tsurugino Mai serves as the protagonist in the Japanese video game *Makeruna! Makendō* (internationally titled *Kendo Rage*). A young girl recruited by the spirit detective Doro, Mai defends the human world against monstrous threats. She wields a versatile kendo stick for both melee combat and ranged attacks, battling adversaries across seven stages, each concluding with a boss encounter. Gameplay requires completing stages within a time limit starting at 04:00 in-game time, rather than accumulating points.

The OVA adaptation reveals Mai as the older of two martial arts sisters, alongside Tsurugino Hikari. The sisters ally with Kaimyouji Eizan, a young man transformed into a cyborg by the antagonist Dr. Mad. This trio confronts Dr. Mad and other monsters to prevent the human world's destruction. Mai participates in this conflict reluctantly, a contrast to Hikari's eagerness for monster hunting.

Mai's character development remains minimal across media, lacking detailed personal history or significant evolution. Within the OVA ensemble, she functions primarily as a combatant, utilizing her martial prowess against supernatural foes without exploration of individual motivations or growth arcs. Her familial relationship with Hikari forms the core dynamic of their partnership in the OVA narrative.

Tsurugino Mai appears solely within the original game and its OVA adaptation. Her portrayal is consistent across both as a dedicated fighter against monstrous threats, with no deeper exploration of her origins or internal journey documented.