Haru Hinata is a main heroine in the anime You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!. She is a high school student and a member of the girls' track and field team. Her physical appearance includes brown hair cut to neck-length, yellow eyes, and a tan. She is often seen in her school uniform, which features a ribbon tie.

In the story, Haru is revealed to be a childhood friend of the protagonist, Yonosuke Sakai, as well as their friends Shio Minamo and Akari Hiodoshi. A key detail is that the group had previously played with Haru in elementary school, but they had always assumed she was a boy, making her reemergence as a more mature and sophisticated young woman a surprise. Her presence as a fourth childhood friend raises the romantic stakes of the story. Her personality is characterized as bright and friendly with an open and easy demeanor, and she is often seen with an inviting smile.

A significant moment for the character occurs during a fireworks festival, where she directly asks Yonosuke, So, which one will you choose, Yonosuke? This question suggests her motivations are tied to the central romantic dynamic, as she becomes an active participant in the love triangle, observing the group and challenging Yonosuke about his feelings. Her role in the narrative is to further complicate existing relationships and introduce new tensions as a returning figure from the past who has since changed dramatically. While she maintains a warm and familiar bond with Yonosuke and the others from their shared history, her development involves stepping out of the role of a platonic childhood friend and asserting herself as a potential romantic interest. A notable ability is her athleticism, specifically as a member of the track and field team, which aligns with her characterization as the athletic type among the heroines.