OVA
Description
Haruna Sairenji is a central figure in the To Love-Ru series, recognized as the girl for whom the protagonist, Rito Yuuki, has long held deep affection. She is a student at Sainan High School where she is also a dedicated member of the tennis club, known for being a left-handed player. Haruna has known Rito since their pre-school days, but their active interactions and growing closeness begin as the main story unfolds.
Haruna possesses a gentle, kind, and highly responsible personality. Her classmates hold her in such high regard that they often vote for her as class representative even when she is not a candidate. Despite her popularity and good looks, Haruna struggles with self-confidence, particularly concerning her modest figure and her place among the more assertive personalities around her. She is extremely modest and demure by nature, usually preferring to step back and let others shine. However, her father's advice from her childhood—"If you're worried, act instead"—inspires her to take charge during critical moments, showing unexpected courage and leadership when it matters most. Her primary fear is of ghosts and the supernatural; when frightened, she has a tendency to grab the nearest thing to her—which is often Rito—and swing it wildly. Despite this fear, she has formed a close and supportive friendship with Oshizu Murasame, a local ghost.
Haruna's central motivation revolves around her romantic feelings for Rito, which she has harbored since middle school. She was initially attracted to his kind and gentle nature, noticing him taking care of neglected school flowers. Both she and Rito are painfully shy and have great difficulty confessing their mutual feelings. Their numerous attempts at a confession are almost always interrupted by some accident or alien invention, creating a long-running situation where both believe their love is unrequited. A significant internal conflict for Haruna is her friendship with Lala Satalin Deviluke. After becoming best friends with the alien princess, who is openly engaged to Rito, Haruna suppresses her own feelings out of respect. With encouragement, she eventually confesses her feelings to Lala, who not only accepts her as a rival but enthusiastically supports the idea of them both marrying Rito, as the laws of Earth would not apply to him as the future King of Deviluke.
In the sequel series To Love-Ru Darkness, Haruna's role deepens as she confronts the possibility of a polygamous relationship, a common custom in space. Learning this from Momo Belia Deviluke explains Lala's unwavering cheerfulness and support, leaving Haruna confused about how to proceed with this newfound possibility. Her close friends include Risa Momioka and Mio Sawada, who are often seen together with Lala; they frequently tease Haruna by playfully groping her, much to her embarrassment. She lives in an apartment with her older sister, Akiho, as her parents live elsewhere. She is also a skilled cook, having taken classes in elementary school, and is in charge of meals at home.
Throughout the story, Haruna shows notable development from a purely shy and hesitant girl to someone who actively tries to confront her feelings. While she often wishes she could be as open with her affections as Lala is, she remains considerate of others. On one occasion under the influence of a Deviluke herb drink, she admits she wants to monopolize the person she loves, revealing a deeper desire beneath her modest exterior. She eventually shares an accidental but meaningful kiss with Rito, which pushes her closer to a confession. Although she struggles with the idea of a harem, her love for Rito and her friendship with Lala lead her to consider it. By the end of the Darkness storyline, Haruna finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings to Rito and learns that he reciprocates them, leading to their relationship becoming mutual.
As a normal human, Haruna does not possess any supernatural or alien abilities. However, in moments of extreme fear or when protecting others, she can display surprising bursts of physical strength, enough to impress even the powerful alien heroines like Lala and Golden Darkness. Her academic performance is excellent, and she is also proficient in athletics as a tennis player. She is also a capable cook, with her culinary skills being one of her notable talents.
Haruna possesses a gentle, kind, and highly responsible personality. Her classmates hold her in such high regard that they often vote for her as class representative even when she is not a candidate. Despite her popularity and good looks, Haruna struggles with self-confidence, particularly concerning her modest figure and her place among the more assertive personalities around her. She is extremely modest and demure by nature, usually preferring to step back and let others shine. However, her father's advice from her childhood—"If you're worried, act instead"—inspires her to take charge during critical moments, showing unexpected courage and leadership when it matters most. Her primary fear is of ghosts and the supernatural; when frightened, she has a tendency to grab the nearest thing to her—which is often Rito—and swing it wildly. Despite this fear, she has formed a close and supportive friendship with Oshizu Murasame, a local ghost.
Haruna's central motivation revolves around her romantic feelings for Rito, which she has harbored since middle school. She was initially attracted to his kind and gentle nature, noticing him taking care of neglected school flowers. Both she and Rito are painfully shy and have great difficulty confessing their mutual feelings. Their numerous attempts at a confession are almost always interrupted by some accident or alien invention, creating a long-running situation where both believe their love is unrequited. A significant internal conflict for Haruna is her friendship with Lala Satalin Deviluke. After becoming best friends with the alien princess, who is openly engaged to Rito, Haruna suppresses her own feelings out of respect. With encouragement, she eventually confesses her feelings to Lala, who not only accepts her as a rival but enthusiastically supports the idea of them both marrying Rito, as the laws of Earth would not apply to him as the future King of Deviluke.
In the sequel series To Love-Ru Darkness, Haruna's role deepens as she confronts the possibility of a polygamous relationship, a common custom in space. Learning this from Momo Belia Deviluke explains Lala's unwavering cheerfulness and support, leaving Haruna confused about how to proceed with this newfound possibility. Her close friends include Risa Momioka and Mio Sawada, who are often seen together with Lala; they frequently tease Haruna by playfully groping her, much to her embarrassment. She lives in an apartment with her older sister, Akiho, as her parents live elsewhere. She is also a skilled cook, having taken classes in elementary school, and is in charge of meals at home.
Throughout the story, Haruna shows notable development from a purely shy and hesitant girl to someone who actively tries to confront her feelings. While she often wishes she could be as open with her affections as Lala is, she remains considerate of others. On one occasion under the influence of a Deviluke herb drink, she admits she wants to monopolize the person she loves, revealing a deeper desire beneath her modest exterior. She eventually shares an accidental but meaningful kiss with Rito, which pushes her closer to a confession. Although she struggles with the idea of a harem, her love for Rito and her friendship with Lala lead her to consider it. By the end of the Darkness storyline, Haruna finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings to Rito and learns that he reciprocates them, leading to their relationship becoming mutual.
As a normal human, Haruna does not possess any supernatural or alien abilities. However, in moments of extreme fear or when protecting others, she can display surprising bursts of physical strength, enough to impress even the powerful alien heroines like Lala and Golden Darkness. Her academic performance is excellent, and she is also proficient in athletics as a tennis player. She is also a capable cook, with her culinary skills being one of her notable talents.