Kyoko Inaba serves as a central figure across the original series and sequels. As a student in Class 5–3 at Dōmori Elementary School under homeroom teacher Meisuke Nueno, she stood out with fiery orange-red hair styled in twintails, striking blue eyes, and a playful outfit of striped sando, short shorts, and a pink jacket.

Her story began when Nueno rescued her from a demonic possession attempt, forging a lasting bond that saw her repeatedly join forces with him to combat supernatural threats plaguing the school. Blending spirited assertiveness with fierce loyalty, she rallied classmates during emergencies while maintaining a playful yet contentious rivalry with Miki Hosokawa, often competing for male attention. Their clashes included humorous bargains like trading piano recitals for swimsuit dances.

Her dynamic with classmate Hiroshi Tateno shifted from classroom rivalry to blossoming mutual affection, punctuated by jealous sparks over his interactions with Miki. Twelve years post-graduation, she returned to Dōmori Elementary as a teacher, cementing her ties to the institution. Her arc culminated in preparations to wed Hiroshi in Italy, stepping away from her earlier adventures.

A fleeting alternate-timeline appearance surfaced in a spin-off series’ flashback, depicting Nueno’s presumed death within a time-bending storyline. Her name’s etymology merges “village child” (Kyoko) with “rice plant leaf” (Inaba). A live-action adaptation modified her signature hairstyle, deviating from the original design.