She originally practiced rhythmic gymnastics but ultimately switched to figure skating after being inspired by watching Mao Asada perform on TV when she was five years old.

Kensuke Nakaniwa, Makoto Nakata, Momoe Nagumo, Aya Tanoue, and Akane Seo became Nakai's new coaching team.

[5] In September 2022, Nakai debuted on the Junior Grand Prix circuit at the 2022 JGP Latvia in Riga.

[12]Two weeks later, at the Junior Grand Prix Final, Nakai finished in fourth place, 1.16 points behind bronze medalist Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea.

[16] Competing at the World Junior Championships in Calgary, Nakai was third in the short program with a clean skate.

[17] Nakai fell on her triple Axel attempt at the beginning of the free skate, but delivered the rest of the program cleanly, finishing third in that segment as well and winning the bronze medal.

[18][19] Nakai began the season by competing on the Junior Grand Prix at the 2023 JGP Thailand, skating a clean short program to lead the segment.

[20] She secured another gold medal at the 2023 JGP Turkey in Istanbul, despite struggling with jump combinations in the free skate, which she said left her "a little bit disappointed," but adding she was "happy to be in first place."

[21] Dealing with a back injury with painkiller and injections, Nakai withdrew from the domestic sectionals competition in early November.

[25] Nakai next appeared at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Beijing, placing fourth in the short program.

[4] Nakai opened the season by competing on the 2024–25 ISU Junior Grand Prix, winning silver at 2024 JGP Turkey.

[28] At the 2024 JGP China, she won the gold medal, notably landing two triple Axels in her free skate although they were deemed as slightly underrotated.

She placed third in the short program, and fourth in the free skate, taking and third overall, winning her first JGP Final medal, and rounding out a Japanese sweep in the junior women's event, alongside Kaoruko Wada and Mao Shimada.