TV-Series
Description
Haruko Kashiwagi is a supporting character who appears across multiple entries in the Muv-Luv series. Her background shows two distinct sides depending on the world. In the peaceful setting of Muv-Luv Extra, she is introduced as a popular and athletic high school student, originally a member of the basketball club where she played as point guard, who later serves as the goalkeeper for her class lacrosse team. Her personality in this world is cheerful and easygoing, which makes her well-liked by both male and female classmates. She also has two younger brothers whom she enjoys teasing.
In the main story of Muv-Luv Alternative, Haruko takes on a far more serious role. She holds the rank of Second Lieutenant and is a member of Flight C of the Special Task Force A-01, the 9th Squadron, where her callsign is Valkyrie-6 and her position is Impact Guard. Before joining this elite unit, she was a member of training squad 207A and, by the time of the story, is one of only two remaining survivors from that squad still in active service, the other being Suzumiya Akane. While her core personality remains cheerful, it is further developed and matured by her military experience. She acts as a big sister and mentor to the protagonist, Takeru Shirogane. Through their conversations, Takeru learns more about her family and personal history than he ever did in the peaceful world of Extra. Her comrades praise her strong team spirit, her ability to quickly analyze difficult situations, and her skill as a quick thinker.
Her role in the story is significant as a senior member of the Valkyries who helps guide newer pilots. Tragically, she becomes a casualty during the operation to retake Sadogashima. She is killed by a Fort-class BETA. The depiction of her death varies slightly across different media. In the original visual novel and manga, she is instantly dissolved by the creature's dissolving liquid. In the anime adaptation, her death is more detailed: after her Tactical Surface Fighter is severely damaged by Grappler-class BETA, a Fort-class BETA impales her cockpit from behind with its stinger, injecting the dissolving liquid directly into her body. Her fate is a key emotional moment in the narrative.
Key relationships include her bond with Takeru as a mentor and senior figure, as well as her connection to her surviving former squadmate, Akane Suzumiya. Her family, particularly her two younger brothers, is also an important part of her background and motivation. In spin-off material like Altered Fable, she has an expanded role where she actively participates in the group's activities and openly competes for Takeru's romantic affection, reflecting her popularity as a character who received her own dedicated game and romance route in supplemental material. Regarding notable abilities, Haruko is highly athletic and a skilled Tactical Surface Fighter pilot. Her specific strengths lie in her analytical skills, quick decision-making, and strong team spirit, which makes her an effective Impact Guard responsible for frontline defense. Her background in basketball and lacrosse also speaks to her general physical prowess and coordination.
In the main story of Muv-Luv Alternative, Haruko takes on a far more serious role. She holds the rank of Second Lieutenant and is a member of Flight C of the Special Task Force A-01, the 9th Squadron, where her callsign is Valkyrie-6 and her position is Impact Guard. Before joining this elite unit, she was a member of training squad 207A and, by the time of the story, is one of only two remaining survivors from that squad still in active service, the other being Suzumiya Akane. While her core personality remains cheerful, it is further developed and matured by her military experience. She acts as a big sister and mentor to the protagonist, Takeru Shirogane. Through their conversations, Takeru learns more about her family and personal history than he ever did in the peaceful world of Extra. Her comrades praise her strong team spirit, her ability to quickly analyze difficult situations, and her skill as a quick thinker.
Her role in the story is significant as a senior member of the Valkyries who helps guide newer pilots. Tragically, she becomes a casualty during the operation to retake Sadogashima. She is killed by a Fort-class BETA. The depiction of her death varies slightly across different media. In the original visual novel and manga, she is instantly dissolved by the creature's dissolving liquid. In the anime adaptation, her death is more detailed: after her Tactical Surface Fighter is severely damaged by Grappler-class BETA, a Fort-class BETA impales her cockpit from behind with its stinger, injecting the dissolving liquid directly into her body. Her fate is a key emotional moment in the narrative.
Key relationships include her bond with Takeru as a mentor and senior figure, as well as her connection to her surviving former squadmate, Akane Suzumiya. Her family, particularly her two younger brothers, is also an important part of her background and motivation. In spin-off material like Altered Fable, she has an expanded role where she actively participates in the group's activities and openly competes for Takeru's romantic affection, reflecting her popularity as a character who received her own dedicated game and romance route in supplemental material. Regarding notable abilities, Haruko is highly athletic and a skilled Tactical Surface Fighter pilot. Her specific strengths lie in her analytical skills, quick decision-making, and strong team spirit, which makes her an effective Impact Guard responsible for frontline defense. Her background in basketball and lacrosse also speaks to her general physical prowess and coordination.