Mayaka Ibara is a female student at Kamiyama High School who advanced from the first year to Class 2-C in her second year. She came from Kaburaya Middle School and is only 148 centimeters tall. At first, she joined the Manga Club and worked as a library committee member, but she later followed Satoshi Fukube and joined the Classic Literature Club as well. Mayaka has a small, childlike appearance, but her strong personality makes her stand out. She is determined, honest, and never sugarcoats her words. Her tough approach applies to everyone, including herself, but deep down, she is a good person. While not as brilliant as Eru Chitanda, her grades are still above average. Mayaka has a long friendship with Hotaro Oreki, being in the same class with him for nine years, but her attitude towards him has changed over time. She has had a crush on Satoshi for a long time and started dating him around the end of her first year in high school.
Mayaka Ibara is very short, standing at only 148 centimeters tall.
She looks quite young for her age, keeping her childlike face even after entering high school.
In elementary school, people thought she looked mature, but she hasn’t changed much since then.
Mayaka is known for her tough and honest personality.
She never lets anyone off the hook, not even herself, and will call out mistakes directly.
Her words can be harsh and direct, and she does not like to compromise.
Despite this, she is fair and will also blame herself when she makes mistakes.
Hotaro Oreki describes her as “hard to get along with, but actually a good person.”
She always aims for the best and is very responsible.
Mayaka went to Kaburaya Middle School before attending Kamiyama High School.
She became interested in manga after visiting a cultural festival at Kamiyama High School during middle school, where she was impressed by the Manga Club’s works.
Because of this, she joined the Manga Club and the library committee when she entered high school.
After learning that Satoshi was in the Classic Literature Club, she decided to join that club as well.
Mayaka is dedicated to her studies, with grades that are good, though not quite at Eru Chitanda’s level.
She works hard at everything she does.
She dreams of becoming a manga artist in the future.
She has a long-standing connection with Hotaro Oreki; they were classmates from elementary through middle school, spending nine years together.
At first, her relationship with Hotaro was strained, especially during middle school, because of an event he caused and his passive nature.
Over time, especially after joining the Classic Literature Club and learning the truth about the past, her impression of Hotaro got better, and she even apologized to him in their second year.
Mayaka has liked Satoshi Fukube since middle school and often tried to approach him.
At the end of first year and beginning of second year, they finally started dating.
She calls Hotaro “Oreki,” Eru “Chi-chan,” and Satoshi “Fuku-chan.”
She is also cousins with the Zenna sisters, who call her “Maya big sister.”
“I wonder if I could read that story and laugh about it?”
Joining Clubs and Chasing Dreams
After visiting Kamiyama High School’s cultural festival, Mayaka was fascinated by the Manga Club’s work.
She joined the Manga Club and also worked on the library committee when starting high school.
She later found out Satoshi was in the Classic Literature Club and decided to participate in that club too.
Growing Up and Changing Friendships
Mayaka and Hotaro spent nine years as classmates. Their connection was long, but not always friendly.
During middle school, Mayaka was often harsh toward Hotaro because of his actions and lack of motivation.
Through club activities and facing mysteries together, she slowly changed how she felt about him.
When they became second-year students, Mayaka quit the Manga Club, saying she was tired.
She finally learned what really happened in middle school and apologized to Hotaro.
Falling for Satoshi
Mayaka liked Satoshi for a long time and tried to show her feelings many times.
Satoshi often turned her down and joked around, but Mayaka kept trying.
Their relationship had many hurdles. For example, on Valentine’s Day, there was a big incident involving homemade chocolate.
But finally, they became a couple after those events.
The Real Reason for Leaving Manga Club
Mayaka said she left the Manga Club because she was “tired,” but the real story is more complex.
Her relationship with Ayako Kawachi and details about this are told in the story “Our Legendary Volume,” which is in the short story collection “Even So, If You Were to Say Wings.”
Secrets and Family
Mayaka is actually a huge otaku, but she hides this from her Classic Literature Club friends.
She is related to the Zenna sisters, who look up to her and call her “Maya big sister.”
Mayaka is said to be an “expert at getting angry.”
She is known for being stubborn and direct.
She likes to argue directly with Satoshi, even about his logic.
Though she often feels awkward in groups, she still tries her best.
She dreams of becoming a manga artist someday.
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