Inori Yuitsuka took up figure skating inspired by her older sister Mika's performances. After Mika suffered a career-ending injury, their mother Nozomi strongly opposed Inori pursuing the sport, forcing her to practice secretly at the Ohsu rink. She negotiated free access with receptionist Sekoma by providing earthworms for his birds, developing a notable affinity for the creatures which she found stress-relieving and cute. Academically, she struggled significantly, particularly in math, though she could calculate figure skating scores involving decimals. Her elementary school teacher Mr. Harada provided unpaid tutoring to help maintain her minimal academic standing and self-esteem. A pivotal moment occurred when Inori met Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former ice dancer who recognized her talent despite her late start. He became her coach after witnessing her natural ability during an evaluation arranged by Nozomi, who had intended for a coach to reject Inori. Tsukasa helped her pass the Preliminary Level badge test. During this test, she encountered future rival Rioh Sonidori and befriended Hikaru Kamisaki, a top Novice skater. This experience solidified Inori's determination to pursue Olympic gold, earning limited support from Nozomi until middle school. Her competitive debut at the Meikoh Cup involved intensive training where she substituted a problematic Double Salchow with an innovative flying sit spin inspired by observing a dog. During the competition, she overcame pre-performance nerves and a fall to deliver a strong program, culminating in an unplanned broken leg spin. Her first-place finish and display of resolve moved Nozomi to fully support her skating ambitions. She also developed a rivalry-turned-friendship with fellow competitor Ryoka Miketa. Subsequent development included passing the Level 1 Badge Test and competing in the West Japan Championship. A critical incident occurred when she left her skates on a train before the event; Tsukasa retrieved them while she practiced on land, trusting his return. She performed with double jumps and a step sequence but sprained her ankle post-program, leading to a training hiatus to recover from shin splints. Watching competitor Ema Yamato's performance motivated Inori further, and she progressed to Level 5 through subsequent badge tests. Later challenges involved mastering the Double Axel to qualify for Novice A nationals. At the Tsuruga Training Camp, Inori clashed with Rioh Sonidori after he joined her club and disparaged Tsukasa. She defended her coach and vowed to master a triple-double combination before Rioh. Analysis revealed her Double Axel struggles stemmed from technical flaws rather than strength, prompting specialized training. Her fearless approach to speed and height, attributed to dangerous childhood games with Mika, aided her athletic development. Throughout her journey, Inori exhibited distinct personal traits: a shrimp-tail hair tuft with a forehead braid, self-styled hair and leggings to prevent skate chafing, and reliance on Tsukasa's worm-like hoodie strings for pre-event comfort. She used Jackson skates purchased for 28,000 yen and wore a mascot character "Penkuma" on her chest. After entering middle school, she minimized text communication with Tsukasa due to his perceived lack of energy in messages.