Nao is of average height and has a Sadako-like appearance due to her very long jet-black hair that flows down to her lower back. Her long flowing bangs commonly cover her right eye, even when she ties her hair back whenever she cooks.

Despite her creepy appearance, she wears a neat standard school uniform during school hours and a standard chef’s uniform whenever she cooks. Compared to the rest of the female cast, Nao’s red eyes are much more sinister, lacking the luster and shine of normal female eyes. Instead, her irises are more pronounced. During her “exorcism,” her long hair gains more luster, her eyes change to the standard female type, and her face becomes more normal.

In her “exorcism” mode, her creepy and Sadako like appearance is removed entirely, making Nao much more beautiful and attractive, possibly, and ironically, one of the most attractive girls in the Academy if she were to stay this way.

Two years prior to Sōma Yukihira’s entrance into Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, when Nao challenged Hisako Arato to a Shokugeki, her hair was much shorter, reaching about shoulder length and shaped like an umbrella. Her bangs still covered her right eye.

Nao holds a deep affection toward Erina Nakiri. She would do anything to get close to Erina, including sending her 30 letters daily or watching her from afar using binoculars. As a girl with a strong obsession, her pride and desire to fulfill her fantasies often cloud her judgment. In her mind, Nao labels anyone close to Erina as her “mortal enemy.” She will not hesitate to crush her “love rivals” and place herself as Erina’s personal associate, even if that person is close to Erina, such as Hisako Arato. Her jealous aura is so strong that it even unnerved the academy security guards. Nao later extends her obsession to Hisako and shows the same admiration she has for Erina, much to the latter’s dismay.

She also appears to be a masochist, wishing to have Erina insult her and only her. Originally, Erina was her only target of affection, but after tasting Hisako’s Autumn Election Preliminary dish, Nao developed feelings for Hisako as well and calls her “Hisako Onee-sama.”

Nao has gained a profound amount of respect for Sōma due to their shared interest in making food that is disgustingly delicious. This respect was so great that she was able to forgive Sōma for spending a whole week with Hisako during the Stagiaire period.

The origins of Nao’s obsession with Erina are unknown, but it has existed at least two years prior to the events of the story. Around that time, Nao challenged Erina’s secretary, Hisako Arato, to a Shokugeki for the right to become Erina’s secretary but ultimately lost. As a result of her defeat, she was forbidden from coming within 50 meters of Erina. However, Nao found ways around this restriction by watching her idol from afar using binoculars and sending her 30 letters every day. Despite her humiliating loss, Nao continued to idolize Erina while harboring a deep grudge against Hisako.