Hotaru Imai (今井 蛍 Imai Hotaru) is Mikan Sakura's best friend. Her transfer to Alice Academy was the catalyst for Mikan's transfer, and thus, the start of the story. Hotaru is an elementary student and posesses the Invention Alice. She is a three-star and considered to be an elite student of the school along with Yuu Tobita. She belongs to the Technical Class. Hotaru is considered to be the blackmailing queen; her hobby is to take embarassing pictures of Ruka Nogi and make money out of it from his fanclub. Her older brother is Subaru Imai, who is also a student in the Academy.