Akane Hino, also known as Cure Sunny, is a 14-year-old second-year student at Nanairogaoka Middle School and a member of the volleyball team aiming to become its ace attacker. Hailing from Osaka, she speaks with a distinctive Kansai dialect, using “uchi” for herself and expressions like “aka~n.” Her family runs an okonomiyaki restaurant called Okonomiyaki Akane, where she often helps out, debating recipes with her father Daigo and spending time with her mother Masako and younger brother Genki. Akane has a passionate, tomboyish personality and a strong sense of humor, frequently making puns to lighten the mood. Despite her brash exterior, she secretly adores cute things, especially gorillas, and shows fierce loyalty to her friends. Initially reluctant to become a Pretty Cure, she transformed for the first time after impulsively moving to protect her friend Miyuki Hoshizora (Cure Happy) from danger. As Cure Sunny, she commands fire-based powers and raw strength, declaring “The brilliant sun, hot-blooded power! Cure Sunny!” Her orange-themed costume features a feathered tiara, a flame-accented pleated dress, and thigh-high boots. She gains upgraded forms including Tiara Mode, Princess Sunny with flowing hair and a rainbow-gradient outfit, and Ultra Cure Sunny with wings and iridescent hues. Akane shares strong bonds with her fellow Cures: she considers Miyuki a treasured friend, affectionately calls Yayoi Kise (Cure Peace) a crybaby while praising her talents, shares a friendly athletic rivalry with Nao Midorikawa (Cure March), and respects Reika Aoki (Cure Beauty) for her academic excellence. She also shows protective instincts toward the fairy Candy. In the movie Eiga Smile Precure: Ehon no Naka wa Minna Chiguhagu!, Akane and her teammates enter a picture book world guided by a girl named Niko. She once had a crush on an exchange student named Brian Taylor, reacting with shyness when teased about him. Her journey as Cure Sunny reinforces the values of teamwork and trust, moving from initial reluctance to accept help toward becoming a crisis leader who balances fiery independence with unshakable camaraderie.