Shirase Kobuchizawa

Known behind her back at school simply as "Antarctica," Shirase Kobuchizawa projects a cold and unapproachable exterior, though in truth she is shy, straightforward, and occasionally oblivious to the world around her. She has a particular fondness for penguins. When her mother, Takako Kobuchizawa, went missing in Antarctica during Shirase's middle school years—roughly three years before the story begins—Shirase became fixated on traveling there herself to uncover the truth. In reality, however, she was fleeing from the unbearable possibility that her mother was already gone, clinging instead to the belief that Takako was still alive and waiting for her on the ice. Driven by this conviction, she spent three years working part-time jobs to save money and pursued every conceivable means of reaching Antarctica—even going so far as to hatch the ill-advised scheme of having Mari Tamaki and Hinata seduce male members of the observation team. Her connection with Mari began when Mari returned the one million yen she had accidentally dropped, prompting Shirase to invite her along on the journey. Though she freezes and stammers in front of cameras, she displays a striking boldness when confronted by those she considers her adversaries, such as the classmates who mock her aspirations. Ultimately, with the unwavering support of her three companions, she discovers her mother's laptop at the very site where Takako disappeared. In doing so, she finally confronts and accepts the reality of her mother's passing, freeing herself from the grief she had long suppressed. Before departing for home, she entrusts the laptop to Gin.