Naruko Anjou, nicknamed Anaru, stands at the center of a childhood friend group narrative. She belongs to the close-knit Super Peace Busters, alongside friends including Jinta Yadomi, Meiko Honma, Atsumu Matsuyuki, Chiriko Tsurumi, and Tetsudo Hisakawa. As a child, she sports chin-length brown hair, dark grey-rimmed glasses, and casual clothes: a purple shirt with a yellow shooting star, a white skirt, blue running shoes, and often a light blue handbag. Physically, she measures approximately 164 to 165 cm (5'4" to 5'5") with a slim build and a weight around 53 kg (116 lbs). Her blood type is A and her zodiac sign is Capricorn. In her teens, her appearance shifts to wavy, mid-length orange hair, typically worn in two pigtails secured with star-shaped accessories. Her standard outfit becomes a white collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a red bow, a pink hair tie bracelet on her left wrist, a dark magenta skirt fastened with a dark red belt featuring a gold buckle, dark blue mid-calf socks, and brown shoes. Her personality evolves significantly. She frequently displays a cold or dismissive attitude toward Jinta Yadomi in front of others, yet simultaneously harbors deep concern for him, consistently delivering homework during his school absences despite frustration with his reclusive nature. Painting her nails before visiting him hints at underlying affection. A defining trait noted by Chiriko Tsurumi is her susceptibility to external influence; she often conforms to surrounding behaviors and opinions, even when disagreeing personally, driven by a desire for acceptance. This tendency extends to her high school social life, associating with peers some childhood friends deem less conventional. Despite conflicts, she maintains genuine care for her original friend group. Her interests include working at a video game store and amassing extensive manga and video game collections, which later facilitate reconnection with Jinta and Tetsudo Hisakawa. Interpersonal relationships are critical. Her connection with Jinta Yadomi involves deep emotional layers. She harbors long-standing romantic feelings for him, initially obscured during childhood by his focus on Meiko Honma. As teenagers, she confesses these feelings, though their relationship remains complicated by his unresolved grief. A pivotal shift occurs during the "Anohana 10th Anniversary Event," set a decade later, where Jinta reveals his intention to propose. Upon overhearing this, she reacts with flustered surprise but ultimately confirms mutual commitment, signaling a transition toward a romantic partnership. Regarding Meiko "Menma" Honma, Naruko experienced childhood admiration mixed with intense envy over Menma’s bond with Jinta. This jealousy culminated in guilt following Menma’s accidental drowning, an event indirectly linked to a question Naruko posed. Though initially doubtful of Menma’s posthumous reappearance, she participates earnestly in fulfilling Menma’s final wish, reconciling her conflicted emotions by acknowledging Menma’s observation that her kindness remained unchanged. Her dynamic with Atsumu Matsuyuki stems from mutual recognition of their respective unrequited loves—his for Menma and hers for Jinta. Atsumu identifies them as kindred spirits and periodically suggests they date, though neither fully moves past their primary affections. He provides tangible support, intervening when she faces harassment. Her background reveals she once wished for Menma’s absence, believing this would allow her to grow closer to Jinta. Instead, Menma’s death paradoxically weakened her connection with him until years later, when Menma’s temporary return prompted their gradual reconciliation. She carries enduring guilt over her role in the accident that claimed Menma’s life. Across the series, she evolves from someone governed by insecurity and peer influence toward greater assertiveness in expressing her emotions, particularly her love for Jinta and commitment to childhood friendships. This growth culminates in her acceptance of Jinta’s marriage proposal a decade later. Trivia includes the meanings of her names: "Naruko" combines "ringing" (naru) and "child" (ko), while "Anjou" derives from "cheap" or "peace, quiet" (an) and "castle" (jou). Her defining quotes reflect internal conflicts: "Nothing's changed... then, or now," and "I don't know if I love him. I just can't get him out of my mind."