Ako Saotome is a main character in the Aikatsu Stars! and Aikatsu on Parade! series. She is a student at Four Star Academy, where she belongs to the Bird Theatre Class focused on acting and performance, and she eventually becomes a member of the elite S4, serving as the 26th and 27th generation representative for her class. As a pop-type idol, her preferred brand is initially Shiny Smile, later transitioning to FuwaFuwa Dream. Ako is notably petite, standing 152 centimeters tall, with a birth date of September 25th, making her zodiac sign Libra. She has long vermilion hair with straight-cut bangs and chest-length forelocks; a portion of her hair at the back is tied into a bow shape, which from the front gives the appearance of cat ears. On the right side of this bow is a small yellow ribbon with a blue bell attached, and her bright cyan eyes are sharp and angled. On the surface, Ako presents a cool, calm, and collected exterior with natural confidence in her acting abilities, but this often gives way to a passionate and hot-blooded personality, especially when she encounters a rival or someone who challenges her skills. When experiencing strong emotions such as extreme happiness or a foul mood, her behavior becomes distinctly cat-like, a trait her peers find both cute and peculiar. Despite her confident facade, she is easily flustered, particularly in social situations involving her affections. Her primary motivation for enrolling at Four Star Academy is her deep admiration for Subaru Yuuki, a member of the popular male idol unit M4, and she is an ardent fan whose room is filled with his merchandise. This admiration initially fuels jealousy toward the protagonist Yume Nijino due to Yume’s close interactions with Subaru, but Ako gradually warms up to her, choosing Yume as her first unit partner during the Autumn Festival, and both later become fellow S4 members. Ako also develops an unconscious crush on another M4 member, Kanata Kira, whose perceptive comments often leave her flustered. In the second season, she faces a major challenge when Kirara Hanazono is chosen as the muse for FuwaFuwa Dream, a role Ako had desired, leading to a loggerhead relationship that eventually resolves into friendship and the two becoming double muses for the brand. Ako respects Tsubasa Kisaragi, the former Bird Theatre Class leader, and experiences a humbling defeat in the S4 finals against her. Her notable abilities include a specialty in ballet, skill in playing the violin, and refined acting talent that earns her lead roles in dramas. She also awakens a special ability known as a Mercury Wing. Over time, Ako matures from a jealous fan into a focused, competitive idol who values rivals as friends and partners.