Mikan Irako, known affectionately as "Mikan-chan," commands the Harekaze's mess hall, expertly overseeing meal preparation and kitchen operations with help from the Kinesaki twins, Homare and Akane. Born February 14 in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture, this 151-cm Aquarius has black hair, orange eyes, and blood type O. Her personality blends intense diligence with perfectionism—especially in cooking—where meticulous attention to detail guarantees high-quality meals but frequently delays service. She asserts competence in Japanese, Western, or Chinese cuisine with recipes, though she privately researches unfamiliar dishes to avoid letting others down. Despite her kind core, a sharp tongue sometimes paints her as sly or cunning, contrasting her surprising physical strength evident when she effortlessly lifts heavy supplies like flour sacks. Her background includes pre-enrollment friendships with galley assistants Homare and Akane Kinesaki, engineering chief Maron Yanagiwara, and assistant engineer Hiromi Kuroki, all attending Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School. Inspired by TV dramas, she pursued both culinary arts and dreams of joining the Blue Mermaids, earning certifications as a Second Class Ship's Cook and Maritime Sanitation Manager, later adding a medium skipper's license. Beyond the kitchen, she manages torpedo and mine supplies as a logistics officer and serves on the ship's cooking committee. Key moments include Episode 6, where she cooked German cuisine for crewmate Wilhelmina. After initial internet research, she adapted to authentic tastes, learning distinctions like Berlin-style boiled versus Bavarian roasted pork knuckle, reinforcing cultural authenticity's value. Her strategic cunning emerged in Episode 1 when she feigned inability to cook rice without a rice cooker, pressuring damage control officer Hime Wazumi into swift repairs. Daily hobbies include fixed-point photography at consistent times and watching TV dramas, fueling her aspiration to become a bride. She savors Italian food, kaiseki, crème brûlée, and chick-shaped buns but avoids cup noodles. Academically, she excels in Home Economics yet struggles with Japanese language arts, guided by her personal motto: "If you don’t forget your yearning, it will become reality."