Akagi, Haruko
Seiyuu / Dub
Summary
A first-year student at Shohoku High, Haruko is the younger sister of Takenori and the object of Sakuragi’s affection. Possessing a sweet and captivating demeanor, she frequently attends matches to support the players, particularly her brother, who is fiercely protective of her and instructed her in the fundamentals of basketball, as well as Sakuragi, whom she regards as her closest friend. She is often seen with Sakuragi’s friends and her own best friends, Fujii and Matsui. Like many girls at Shohoku, she harbors feelings for Kaede, but despite his lack of reciprocation, she struggles to let go of her crush, even acknowledging later in the anime that he does not love her in the way she desires. Haruko played a pivotal role in recruiting Sakuragi by observing him dunk a basketball at her behest; impressed by his vertical leap, she deemed him skilled enough for the team. Sakuragi is deeply devoted to her, often obeying her wishes, and the two have shared unofficial dates and training sessions. Although she appears emotionally dense and gentle, Haruko is academically capable, having assisted her brother in tutoring Sakuragi and the other starters when they needed to retake exams. She also demonstrates courage by defending others, such as confronting Sakuragi over a misunderstanding regarding an attack on Rukawa and protecting him from Kaede’s aggressive fans, once even being knocked down during one such incident.
