Akane Kurokawa is introduced as a teenage theater actress and a member of the LALALAI theatrical company, known for cultivating talented stage performers. She first appears as a contestant on the reality dating show We're About to Fall in Love for Real. Initially presented as a quiet and reserved girl who struggles to stand out, her serious nature and desire to meet expectations lead her to follow the producer's advice to create on-screen drama. This results in an incident where she accidentally scratches the face of a popular cast member, Yuki. Although the act was unintentional and forgiven on set, the broadcast triggers a massive wave of cyberbullying, with viewers sending her death threats and vicious insults. Unable to cope with the relentless online harassment and believing she has become a burden, she attempts to jump from an overpass during a typhoon but is saved at the last moment by fellow cast member Aquamarine Hoshino.

Akane's personality is multifaceted. On the surface, she appears shy, mature, and highly empathetic, but she possesses a deep-seated determination and a tendency toward self-criticism and obsession. Her background as a method actor has honed her natural talent for psychological analysis and research, making her exceptionally perceptive. This intelligence and her capacity for deep understanding allow her to see past facades. Her near-death experience and Aqua's intervention become a pivotal turning point, shifting her gratitude into a profound devotion. She is not naive, however, and is willing to make morally complex decisions and put herself in danger to protect those she cares about.

Her primary motivation becomes intrinsically linked to Aqua Hoshino. Initially driven by gratitude for saving her life and reputation, she agrees to a business-like, public relationship with him after he kisses her on the final episode of the show. She is fully aware that he is using her for his own purposes, which she later deduces is tied to his mother, the murdered idol Ai Hoshino. As she spends more time with him, her feelings evolve from repayment into genuine romantic love. Her ultimate motivation shifts to protecting Aqua from his own dark path of revenge. She resolves to understand his trauma and share his burden, famously declaring that she will help him kill his target. She later works to find a way to end his vendetta without destroying himself, even attempting to secretly eliminate his biological father to free him from his obsession.

Akane's role in the story is that of a crucial ally and foil to Aqua. She is one of the few people who learns the full truth about his past life, his identity as Ai's son, and his quest for revenge. While Kana Arima represents a light of normalcy and hope for Aqua, Akane is the one who understands his darkness and stands beside him on equal footing, acting as his strategist and confidante. Her exceptional deductive skills often allow her to piece together information that Aqua misses, making her instrumental in advancing the central revenge plot. She also serves as a rival to Kana in both acting and love, creating a complex dynamic between the two actresses.

Her key relationships are central to her development. Her bond with Aqua Hoshino evolves from savior and victim, to a fake couple, to genuine lovers, and finally to separated allies who still deeply care for one another. She becomes his most trusted partner, the person who can relieve his painful emotions and whose advice he seeks on life-altering decisions. In contrast, her relationship with Kana Arima is one of long-standing rivalry and mutual respect. As a child, Akane idolized the child prodigy Kana and began acting because of her. As they grew older, this admiration turned into a fierce professional and romantic rivalry, with Akane determined to surpass the actress who once told her to stop imitating her. Despite their animosity, they share a deep understanding of each other's talents.

Akane undergoes significant development throughout the narrative. She begins as an insecure girl who nearly loses her life due to public opinion. After being saved, she gains confidence and purpose, transforming into a decisive and active player in the entertainment industry and Aqua's life. She grows from a passive participant in a fake relationship to a proactive agent who declares her love and willingness to commit crimes for him. Later, she matures enough to accept the end of their romantic relationship while still vowing to protect his happiness from the shadows. Her arc sees her evolve from a victim to a protector and a master strategist.

Akane's most notable ability is her mastery of method acting. She possesses an extraordinary talent for researching and psychologically profiling individuals, allowing her to perfectly mimic their mannerisms, speech patterns, and emotional cores. This is most powerfully demonstrated when she performs a flawless impersonation of Ai Hoshino, stunning Aqua and Ruby. She uses these same research and deductive skills off-stage to piece together complex mysteries, often surpassing Aqua's own investigative work. Her intelligence is considered on par with or even exceeding his in certain areas, and she is known for her calm, logical analysis even in high-pressure situations.