Himeko Kurusugawa, the Solar Priestess destined to battle the ancient deity Yamata no Orochi, endured a traumatic childhood. Orphaned young under unknown circumstances, she was shuffled between abusive relatives before finding sanctuary at Ototachibana Academy's boarding school. This past left deep emotional scars: extreme sensitivity about her hair being touched, persistent self-blame, and an apologetic nature. Socially withdrawn, she maintained few connections beyond her roommate, Makoto Saotome.

She possesses waist-length honey-blonde hair, usually tied with a red ribbon, purple eyes, and a medium build. Her standard uniform is a crimson school dress paired with black stockings and brown boots. A prominent solar emblem on her chest, sometimes mistaken for a bruise, activates during distress or when channeling her priestess powers.

Key relationships shape her journey. She shares a profound, cyclical bond with Chikane Himemiya, the Lunar Priestess, initially unaware of Chikane's longstanding romantic feelings. Concurrently, she feels attraction towards her childhood friend Sōma Ōgami, mistakenly believing him and Chikane were involved. This misconception fades as Himeko acknowledges her deeper feelings for Chikane, a realization emerging after traumatic events. These include a sexual assault by Chikane, intended to manipulate Himeko into a sacrificial ritual. Despite this violation, Himeko clings to the belief that Chikane's actions hid altruistic motives.

Himeko's character evolves significantly. Beginning as a timid, insecure girl plagued by low self-worth, she gradually develops determination and courage. This growth culminates in her acceptance of her priestess duties and her resolve to confront Chikane directly. Her abilities encompass reincarnation across lifetimes alongside Chikane, awakening the guardian entity Ame no Murakumo, and wielding priestess artifacts like the solar hakama and a ritual sword. During the final conflict, she dons Chikane's lunar hakama after losing her own.

Her arc concludes differently across media. In the anime, she is compelled to kill Chikane as part of a world-saving ritual, erasing Chikane from memory. Despite this, Himeko retains a subconscious longing, vowing to await Chikane's return; they eventually reunite in a subsequent incarnation within the same timeline. The manga diverges, depicting Himeko initially in a relationship with Sōma before ultimately uniting with Chikane. Their final reincarnation renders them twin sisters, fulfilling a cultural motif about destined lovers while implying a continued, ambiguous bond.