Character: Hayase Misa

This changes, however, after she meets the young pilot Ichijou Hikaru. Their officer/subordinate status would slowly evolve through the series, from originally a difficult professional relationship (with Hikaru even calling her "old lady" when he first hears her over his Valkyrie's onboard radio, which results in his senpai, Roy Focker, getting a good laugh, much to Misa's chagrin) to a friendly personal one; and much later to a romantic one, clashing with the already strong infatuation Hikaru has with Lynn Minmay. She also has some short-lived feelings for Minmay's cousin Kaifun, who bears a striking physical resemblance to the deceased Riber.

Initially ranked as First Lieutenant, she is later promoted to Captain, and later to Major, concluding with her being chosen as the commander of the new SDF-2 Megaroad-01 ship and crew.

Despite having early disputes with Hikaru, she slowly begins to harbor feelings for him as they share some adventures during the war, discovering both have very much in common. In the final episode, Hikaru realizes he is in love with Misa, and after the climactic final battle, they marry and become members of the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 crew to leave on a stellar exploration mission in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Misa and Hikaru have a daughter, Ichijou Miku, in 2013.

After their ship disappears in 2016 without a trace near the center of the galaxy, they were reported as missing. The whereabouts of Misa and Hikaru and the ship's crew (including Lynn Minmay, who remained as their friend and also joined the exploration mission) are still unknown.