Sakura was living with her grandfather on Sadogashima at the time of the BETA Invasion of Japan. During the fall of Sadogashima, they both hid in a bunker which collapsed under the weight of the invading BETA, leading to a massacre. The sole surviving person was Sakura who managed to remain undetected inside of a metal locker. During the evacuation of the island, she is found by Komaki Sayoko who was looking for survivors and brought to a ship carrying civilians and some of the remaining soldiers.

She later becomes a surface pilot in the United Nations, reaching the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, and joins the Special Task Force A-01's 9th Squadron. She is part of the squadron's A Flight.