Interview with Voice Actors Takehiro Urao & Yūki Yamamoto on the Appeal of Cheerful Sports-Type Heroine Haru ["You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!" Interview]

The TV anime adaptation of the harem romantic comedy manga "You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!", serialized in Magazine Pocket, has been airing since January. In episode 8, which marks the latter half of the season, Haru Hinata (Haru), one of the four childhood friend heroines, makes her full-fledged appearance.

The story has been depicting episodes that seem like they'll develop into romantic comedy situations with the childhood friend heroines Shio Minamo (Shio), Akari Hiodoshi (Akari), and Runa Tsukimi (Runa) surrounding the protagonist Yonosuke Sakai (Eiyū), but never quite do. However, with Haru's appearance, the story enters a new phase.

In this article, we conducted an interview with Takehiro Urao, who plays Eiyū, and Yūki Yamamoto, who plays Haru. We'll deliver what we heard about what Yamamoto was conscious of when playing Haru and the exchanges between Eiyū and Haru.

——At the time of this interview (episodes up to 7 have aired), Haru hasn't yet made her full-fledged appearance on air, but we hear she'll finally appear from episode 8 onwards. First, please tell us your first impression of the work "You Can't Be In a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends!".

Yamamoto: When I first read the original work, the image I immediately felt was "Interesting! Cute! Frustrating yet endearing!" As I reread it in preparation for playing Haru, I felt it was like a parade of classic romantic comedy tropes (lol). I think that's the fun part of this work.

——Each episode depicts about three different scenarios, which is reflected in the subtitles too, giving it that parade feeling (lol).

Yamamoto: I think viewers will definitely find situations they love!

——What was your first impression of Haru?

Yamamoto: Haru is an incredibly energetic character, so when I was chosen to play her, I thought this would require a lot of energy, and I was conscious of trying to perform with my meter completely maxed out.

Also, Haru is a girl who can say what she's thinking straight out. Even when it's difficult to say something, she's the type who will say what needs to be said according to her beliefs, so I was conscious of not lying in those moments.