Misa Hayase
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Misa Hayase (早瀬未沙 Hayase Misa?) is one of the central character of the Macross series. In the Robotech edited adaptation, she is known as Lisa Hayes.
[edit] Background
Born into a family with a hundred-year military lineage and the only daughter of Admiral Takashi Hayase, Misa had aspired to enter the military since childhood. This dream was bolstered by a desire to join her boyfriend and first love, Carl, in the UN Spacy, a hope tragically unrealized as he dies short after leaving Misa on Earth.
After graduating first in her class at the UN Spacy Officers' Academy, she earned a bridge post aboard the SDF-1 Macross. As she herself admits, her mind is constantly preoccupied with duty. This changes, however, after she meets the young pilot Hikaru Ichijyo. Their officer/subordinate status would slowly evolve through the series, from originally a professional relationship 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 Carl.
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 (and being each other's first kiss), discovering both have very much in common. In the final episode, Hikaru realizes he's in love with Misa, and after the climactic final battle, they marry and become the commanders of the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 to leave on a stellar exploration mission in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Misa and Hikaru have a daughter, Miku Hayase Ichijyo, in 2013.
After their ship disappears in 2016 without a trace near the center of the galaxy, they were reported as missing. It still remains unknown if both Misa and Hikaru and the ship's crew (including Lynn Minmay, who remained as their friend and also joined the exploration mission) are dead or alive.
[edit] Additional notes on the character
Misa's character is the total opposite of the sweet, flighty, insecure Minmay. She's strong-willed, determined and down-to earth type of woman, with strong leadership skills and completely immersed in doing her duty; at the same time, these traits had made her unable to maintain romantic relationships.
Misa's best friend is officer Claudia LaSalle, who knows Misa from their days at the military academy. She is her confidante and advisor in her personal life.
According to an article in Animerica magazine, Shoji Kawamori original idea for the Macross series was an all-female crew for the battleship with a female captain at the helm. After the idea was revamped for its final presentation, the female captain idea was reworked and became the template for Misa's character.
While the Macross-related film The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? tells a different take of events from the original series, Misa's character and relationship with Hikaru is portrayed in similar fashion as in the original.
