Mai Katahira

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

15 years before the events of Episode 8, Mai Katahira was engaged and freshly married, but then suffered a car accident in which she lost her husband. During the next years, Mai wasn't able to move on from her husband, dating several men but inevitably breaking up. However, Mai also underwent artificial insemination and had Mao, which she loved despite her deformities.↗

As Mao grew, Mai began to worry that she would bullied for her appearance and got into contact with Rohan Kishibe through Yukako Yamagishi and asked Rohan if he could cure her. However, Rohan wasn't interested and when he turned Mao into a book, claimed that she was ultimately fine the way she was. Nonetheless, Mai learned that the biological father lived in Yagatama and was 30 by the time he donated his sperm. Thus, she could investigate the cause of Mao's quirks.↗

Later, Mai incidentally saw a man who both fit the clues and reminded her strangely of her late husband. Following him up to the park Mao was playing, Mai was then victim of a prank: Mao shed her skin and disguises a friend as herself, making Mai believe she was being kidnapped by the same man. The misunderstanding being cleared, Mai then became acquainted with the man, named Obanazawa, and came to like him immediately.↗

Less than 3 months afterward, Mai is stated to have married Obanazawa.↗

TV Drama

Mai's story undergoes many notable changes in the TV Drama adaptation. Her occupation is mentioned to be in interior design.↗

Mai's family has a history of suffering from accidents. Both her parents died in an accident. Mai and her husband, Akira Katahira, were registered organ donors when they married. Six years before the events of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Mai was pregnant with Mao when she lost her husband in a car accident. The organs were then transplanted to Taro Hirai, who had been in an accident around the same time. While Taro was hospitalized, Mai published a book on interior design through Shumeisha.↗

One day, as she and Mao go for a walk in the park, Mao suddenly tugs on Taro's shirt, making him fall and bump his head on a wall. Worried, Mai and Kyoka Izumi bring him to a hospital. Mai waits in the hospital, with Mao hidden under her shawl, to know if Taro is alright. In the meantime, she meets Rohan Kishibe. She tries to hide Mao from Rohan but becomes interested in him when Kyoka says he knows hypnotherapy. Taro returns, and Mao grabs Taro a second time.↗

When Rohan and Kyoka come to her, she's initially reluctant to let Rohan approach Mao, but he says that she can't hide Mao forever and that he knows she fears something. Mai resigns herself to explain all her fears and anxiety. She doesn't know why Mao is so abnormal and also fears that somehow, her genes could be the cause for the many accidents she's witnessed in her life. Rohan examines Mao but finds that she is simply what she is because of her genetics and upbringing.↗

Mai finds Mao at the children's playground, playing with Taro. She is actually astonished to see Mao being so lively. When she sees them, Mao runs off and is almost run over by a car, but Rohan manages to catch her. Mai is relieved that her daughter is safe. Rohan then turns her and everyone else into books to confirm his suspicion. Indeed, it seems that Taro was the one who received organs from Akira, Mai's late husband. Mao seems to have sensed a connection with him due to that.↗

Later, Taro, Mao, and Mai walk together, relieved that Mao is well. Mao says she's thirsty, and Taro buys her a can. When he returns, Taro sees that Mai is worried about him and reassures her, pointing out her forehead wrinkles. Embarrassed, he also scratches his head with his pinky, which makes Mai think of Akira. Moreover, he also offers a can of sweet coffee to her. Mai remembers Akira's words, who promised that he, Mai, and Mao would be fine.↗

Personality

Mai is marked by the death of her former fiancé, and has not been able to forget her feelings toward him, being incapable of loving another man.↗

Profile details

Status Status based on their final appearance in the part(s) they are featured in: Alive (TSKR)↗