maehara shinobu

Birthday: November 15th
Age: 12 (Chapter 1), 13 (Chapter 2), 15 (Chapter 89), 19 (Chapter 123)
Height: 152 cm (5' 0")
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Blood Type: O
Shinobu Maehara is an exceptionally shy young girl who gradually gains confidence throughout the story. She starts at age 12 with short black hair, one strand sticking out subtly. In the anime, she first appears in episode 1 and is introduced more fully in episode 2, where we learn her parents are divorcing and she's expected to leave town but prefers to stay as a resident at the Hinata apartments. In the manga, she is already living there when Keitaro arrives.
She is in seventh grade but struggles to connect with her classmates due to her shyness. Even on the eve of her planned departure, she hadn't informed them she was leaving. However, she eventually makes friends from her class, as seen in episode two.
Shinobu has remarkable culinary skills, possibly learned from her mother who ran a restaurant, or perhaps she is naturally gifted. Despite consistently downplaying her abilities, she is delighted when her cooking is praised by the residents of Hinata House—especially when Keitaro remarks, "My life would sure be a lot nicer if I could look forward to eating great food like this every day." She occasionally mixes up clothes for washing and food ingredients for the washing machine, creating what is humorously called "wash curry," though this has only been shown twice.
She develops feelings for Keitaro when he helps her with her studies, but feels betrayed when she learns he misled her about being a Tokyo University student. They reconcile when Keitaro discovers her birthday is approaching, and the residents organize a surprise party for her. Her birthday is on November 15th.
Shinobu was originally designed not to be cute, but her unique non-cuteness ended up making her adorable in her own way.
She handles alcohol very poorly and once accidentally drank half a glass of Keitaro's white wine, becoming instantly intoxicated.