Haruka Mikami is a central character in the anime Like a Mom. She is a young girl who lives next door to the protagonist, Keita, and has been his childhood friend since they were small.

Her personality is defined by a strong internal conflict between her genuine affection for Keita and her inability to express it directly. Because she struggles to convey her true feelings, she often ends up treating him harshly instead. This creates a dynamic where her behavior is at odds with her internal emotions.

Haruka’s primary motivation is her deep-seated love for Keita. When she learns that he has begun living with three beautiful women who are candidates to become his new mother, she feels she must take action. Driven by a desire to protect what she sees as Keita's pure and innocent nature, she impulsively volunteers herself as another candidate for the maternal role. Her actions are a direct response to the unique and potentially threatening domestic situation that arises.

Within the story, Haruka is thrust into a competition for Keita's filial affection. She joins a group of other female candidates, each hoping to be chosen by Keita as his mother by the end of the summer vacation. Her role is that of an unexpected and emotionally invested participant, whose personal feelings for Keita complicate the premise of the contest. Keita, for his part, misunderstands her motives, believing that she harbors feelings for his father instead.

Key relationships are central to her character. Her bond with Keita is the most important, acting as the source of both her harsh exterior and her determined actions. She also interacts with the other mother candidates, Sawagiri Chiyo, Tateshina Kazuho, and Kasukabe Noriko, as rivals in the contest for Keita’s choice. Information on her development throughout the series and any notable abilities beyond her ordinary human traits is not available.