Live action TV
Description
Mei Misaki is a central figure in the narrative, known for her striking and memorable appearance. She is a fifteen-year-old student in Class 3-3 at Yomiyama North Middle School, characterized by her short, black hair, pale complexion, and a white eye patch that covers her left eye. Her petite frame and quiet demeanor often cause her to blend into the background, yet her unusual features draw the attention of those who notice her.

Her background is steeped in tragedy and family secrets. Mei was born as Mei Fujioka, a twin, but was given to her maternal aunt, Yukiyo Misaki, shortly after birth. This adoption was due to her biological family's financial struggles and the desire to help Yukiyo cope with the loss of her own unborn child. Consequently, Mei was raised believing her twin sister, Misaki Fujioka, was merely a cousin. When she was four years old, Mei lost her left eye to a malignant tumor. The prosthetic eye she received was not a standard one but a unique doll's eye created by her adoptive mother, the doll artist Kirika.

The death of her twin sister, Misaki, from an illness exacerbated by the class curse, became the defining tragedy of Mei's life. Before this loss, Mei was shy but noticeably happier and wore brighter clothing. The devastation of Misaki's death caused Mei to withdraw emotionally, adopting the solemn, detached personality she displays for most of the story. This trauma, combined with her solitary nature, led her to initially see little value in forming bonds with others, believing that everyone is ultimately alone.

Mei's personality is a study in contrasts. On the surface, she is enigmatic, gloomy, and seemingly apathetic, showing little reaction even to gruesome deaths. However, beneath this cold exterior lies a deeply kind and selfless individual. She willingly accepted the role of "the one that does not exist" in her class to act as a sacrifice against the curse, believing this was preferable to ignoring someone else. She can also display an unexpected childish side, such as becoming frightened when an octopus stuck to her hand or jokingly confirming a school ghost story. Her hobby is drawing, and she is a member of the art club, though she admits she prefers looking at art to creating it.

Her primary motivation throughout the story is to end the calamity that plagues Class 3-3, driven by her inability to bear witnessing more deaths after losing her sister. She also seeks connection, despite her claims to the contrary, and finds a confidant in Kouichi Sakakibara. Their relationship is the most significant in her development. Initially, she warns him to stay away, but as he persistently reaches out to her, she opens up, revealing the secrets of the curse, her family, and her prosthetic eye. Through Kouichi, she begins to re-engage emotionally, and her actions are motivated by a desire to protect him from the sorrow she has experienced.

Mei possesses a remarkable and crucial ability derived from her unique prosthetic left eye. This doll's eye allows her to perceive the "color of death," a supernatural visual cue that enables her to identify individuals who are fated to die soon or are already dead. This ability is central to the plot, as it is the key to recognizing the "extra" dead person whose presence triggers the curse's deadly chain of events. However, the eye is also a source of insecurity for Mei, which is why she normally keeps it hidden beneath her eye patch.

In the story, Mei serves as the knowledgeable guide to the mystery of the curse. She is the one who explains its history and mechanics to Kouichi. Despite her deep understanding, she feels powerless, as knowing who the dead person is does not provide a clear method to stop the calamity without causing more chaos and violence. Her character development is subtle but significant, transitioning from a passive, isolated observer to an active participant who, alongside Kouichi, confronts the curse head-on, eventually helping to resolve it. Her journey is one of moving past her trauma, allowing herself to care for someone again, and finding the will to fight against a seemingly inevitable fate.