Nokoko Inaka, a first-year student at Itan Private High School, hails from a rural background that fuels her self-consciousness and longing to blend into urban life. Her surname, echoing the Japanese term for "countryside," mirrors her inner tension between heritage and assimilation. Shy and anxious in social settings, she dreads ridicule for her roots, yet her classmates find her quirks charming. She sports short black hair marked by three freckles on each cheek and opts for a modestly long school skirt, deeming shorter styles immodest. Awkward yet kind, she balances responsibility with a wealth of nature knowledge, often overanalyzing others’ perceptions. Enamored with Shouko Komi—her ideal of urban sophistication—she emulates Komi’s demeanor, oblivious to Komi’s own rural family ties. Her growth unfolds during a Kyoto school trip: fearing judgment for her accent, she stalls disembarking the train, only to discover her peers’ unconditional acceptance. At the cultural festival, she nervously contemplates suggesting a disco theme, mustering the courage only after Tadano’s encouragement. Later, co-managing a shrine booth with Komi, she frets her rural identity might surface, but Komi’s quiet solidarity reassures her. Bonding with classmates Onemine and Otori in Kyoto, she crafts a cherished photo frame gift, deepening their camaraderie. Shinobino’s whimsical daydreams cast her as a rustic neighbor bearing vegetables or Valentine’s sweets—playful fictions detached from reality. Though class reassignments separate her from Komi by year’s end, she departs leaving a warm imprint. Her arc traces tentative steps toward self-acceptance, harmonizing rural pride with city aspirations, culminating in becoming Komi’s 98th friend after an initial missed chance. Notably, she once whispered her disco idea too softly for others to hear and remains unaware of Komi’s countryside links despite frequent visits to Komi’s grandmother—a testament to her enduring naivety and sincere struggle to navigate social landscapes.