Mei Misaki is portrayed as quiet, withdrawn, and emotionally distant, traits that isolate her from her peers in Class 3-3. She often expresses a bleak outlook on human relationships, remarking that “in the end, everyone is alone,” though she gradually opens up to Kōichi Sakakibara and grows accustomed to his presence. Despite her cold demeanor, Mei demonstrates compassion and selflessness, such as when she withholds the identity of the “Extra” student to spare Kōichi from grief, a choice she later regrets.

Her withdrawn nature is partly rooted in personal tragedy. In the fifth grade, Mei discovered that her cousin Misaki Fujioka was in fact her twin sister. The two developed a close bond, often meeting in secret against the wishes of their guardian, Yukiyo Misaki. Misaki’s death from leukemia, linked to the class curse, left Mei devastated and profoundly shaped her emotional state. Having lost her sister, Mei shows resilience to other traumatic events, appearing detached in situations that shock her classmates.

Mei conceals a prosthetic left eye beneath an eyepatch, which she is deeply insecure about. The eye has the ability to perceive death, reinforcing her conviction that death represents isolation rather than release. While she dislikes cell phones, claiming discomfort with constant connectivity, she carries one at her aunt’s request. Mei is a member of the school’s art club and has a hobby of drawing, though she admits she prefers observing art over creating it.

Beneath her aloofness, Mei displays genuine kindness and self-sacrifice. She willingly confides in Kōichi about the curse, her family, and her prosthetic eye, and at one point offers herself as a sacrifice to end the deaths in Class 3-3. Although usually reserved, the anime adaptation depicts moments of playfulness, such as building a sandcastle on a school trip or wearing a flower headpiece as a joke. These lighter traits contrast with her otherwise somber characterization, emphasizing the depth and complexity of her personality.

Mei Misaki is a pale-skinned girl of small stature, making her one of the smallest members of Class 3-3. She has short black hair cut into a messy bob and heterochromatic eyes. While both were originally red, Mei lost her left eye to illness at the age of four. It was replaced with a glass prosthetic crafted by her mother, Yukiyo Misaki, who deliberately gave it a different color to avoid perfect symmetry, believing that identical eyes would be boring. Mei refers to the prosthetic as an eye that can see “things best left unseen,” reinforcing her association with the supernatural elements of the curse.

Her typical attire is the standard female school uniform of Yomiyama North Middle School. However, she is also shown in several alternate outfits, particularly in scenes featuring her twin sister Misaki Fujioka. These include a light blue and white dress with a blue bow, a white dress with a navy blue jacket and a red-and-blue tie, a light blue dress with aquamarine long sleeves, a blue suit with a black skirt and stocking garters, and a dark blue one-piece swimsuit paired with a light-colored hat and sweater.

Mei Misaki was born as the elder of twin girls to Mitsuyo Fujioka. Her twin sister, Misaki Fujioka, was raised by their biological mother, while Mei was given to Mitsuyo’s younger twin sister, Yukiyo Misaki, to be brought up as her daughter. The decision was influenced both by Yukiyo’s grief following a miscarriage and by the Fujioka family’s financial difficulties. As a result, Mei grew up believing Yukiyo to be her mother.

During her elementary school years, Mei discovered the truth of her parentage when her grandmother accidentally revealed that Misaki Fujioka was her twin sister. This revelation triggered a breakdown in Yukiyo, who insisted that Mei avoid contact with her biological family. Despite this prohibition, Mei secretly met with Misaki, and the two developed a close and affectionate relationship.

Approximately a year and a half before the events of Another, Mei witnessed an unidentified assailant murder a young woman across a river, a traumatic memory that lingered with her leading into the events of the story.

Kōichi Sakakibara
At the start of the series, Mei distances herself from Kōichi, telling him to stay away from her. Over time, however, she grows accustomed to his presence as he continues to approach her. Mei expresses concern for him, warning him about the curse, and their relationship develops further when Kōichi becomes a “non-existent” student like her. She eventually invites him to her home, walks with him after school, and shares meals with him, indicating her growing trust. Mei confides in Kōichi about her family, her resentment toward Yukiyo Misaki, and the truth about her twin sister, Misaki Fujioka. She often appears more open and even smiles most frequently in his company. In the inn incident, she holds his hand while fleeing with him, and by the end of the series, she agrees to remain in contact with him, suggesting a lasting friendship.

Misaki Fujioka
Mei shared a close and affectionate bond with her twin sister, Misaki Fujioka. Despite Yukiyo’s prohibition, the sisters met in secret and frequently spent time together, confiding in each other, dressing alike, and strengthening their attachment. Mei became fearful for Misaki after perceiving the “color of death” on her through her prosthetic eye and grew protective in the period before Misaki’s death. Misaki’s passing left Mei devastated, as she lost both her twin and closest companion.

Yukiyo Misaki
Mei’s relationship with her adoptive mother, Yukiyo Misaki, is depicted as distant and cold. Mei claims Yukiyo is indifferent to her, allowing her to skip class without consequence and often forgetting basic caretaking responsibilities. She expresses the feeling of being treated more like one of Yukiyo’s dolls than a daughter. In the live-action film adaptation, the relationship is portrayed as even more strained, with Yukiyo actively discouraging Mei from forming friendships or speaking openly about her prosthetic eye. During the climax at the inn, Mei calls Yukiyo to confront her, declaring that she has found others who care for her.

Izumi Akazawa
Initially, Mei and Izumi maintain a neutral relationship, though Izumi often glares at Mei when she is near Kōichi, particularly after several deaths occur. Tensions escalate in episode 10 when Izumi demands that Mei apologize for her perceived role in the curse. Following Takako’s death, Izumi becomes openly hostile, convinced that Mei deliberately caused the incident. Her bitterness culminates in violent behavior, including physically attacking Kōichi when he defends Mei. Despite Izumi’s hostility, Mei reacts with sorrow and remorse upon her classmate’s death, visibly shaken as Izumi dies in front of her.