About “Ao Haru Ride” in a few words:

Ao Haru Ride is a romantic slice-of-life anime and manga series that follows the story of Futaba Yoshioka and Kou Mabuchi, two childhood friends who are reunited in high school after years of separation. As they navigate their way through school, friendships, and relationships, they must confront their past and present selves to find their true selves and potential love interests.

Meet the characters from Ao Haru Ride

Futaba Yoshioka

Okay, Futaba is that adorable chaotic core of the story — earnest, a little clumsy, and intensely dramatic about feelings (in the best way). She tries so hard to be straightforward but then trips over her words and her own feet, like a rom-com magnet, and you love her for it. Super loyal to friends, secretly stubborn about growing up, and also the kind of person who collects tiny notebooks for “important thoughts” and then loses them in her bag. Sometimes she’s annoyingly wise for her age, and sometimes she’s baffled by how to make tea correctly — which, yes, is a contradiction and also very Futaba.

Kou Mabuchi

Kou is brood central — closed-off, quiet, like a storm that smells like rain and regrets (dramatic, I know), but he’s also ridiculously protective in this quietly tearful way. He gives off such intense vibes: distant but deeply sincere, the kind of guy who says one sentence and it changes the mood of a room. He’s got this tragic-softness backstory and a habit of being awkward with affection, which makes him hot and frustrating in equal measure. Also, he’ll pretend he hates sweets but secretly snacks on something ridiculous (I’m picturing sesame crackers) — he’s complicated and somehow reliable.

Yuri Makita

Yuri is firecracker energy — sharp, sassy, and funnier than she lets on, with a streak of competitiveness that makes everything more interesting. She comes off bold and a touch mischievous, like someone who will drag you into doing karaoke at midnight and then out-earnest you at feelings two minutes later. She’s loyal to the group in a very loud way, but also kind of dramatic about romantic stuff (swooning! eye-rolling! fainting, maybe not literally). Honestly, she keeps surprising small details, like knitting in class or hoarding sticky notes, which I can’t explain but love.

Shuko Murao

Shuko is blunt and iconic — the friend who will call you out, protect boundaries, and somehow make you rethink your life choices in one sentence. She’s fiercely principled, with a no-nonsense vibe that softens into this quietly wounded side (she acts tough but has secret nights of overthinking, which makes her messily human). Loves music and edgy fashion? Probably. Also occasionally reads like she’s both the bravest and the most scared person in the room, and that mix is devastatingly real.

Aya Kominato

Aya is sunshine and confetti — sweet, bubbly, and the friend who documents everything with Polaroids and then makes you feel like the main character in her scrapbook. She’s supportive to the point of being a soft, warm safety net, but also has these hilarious small obsessions (cute stationery!! snacks at two a.m.!!) that make her endlessly lovable. She’s thoughtful in tiny gestures and sometimes a little scatterbrained, like she’ll plan a perfect surprise and then forget where she put the cake. Honestly, she’s the kind of person you want in a crisis and in a karaoke booth.

Yōichi Tanaka

Yōichi is cheerful and low-key mischievous, that dependable buddy who’s always ready with a dumb joke and also somehow subtle emotional intelligence when it counts. He flirts with life (and maybe people) but in a harmless, smiley way — you trust him immediately, even if he eats all your chips. He’s athletic-ish? Or at least pretends to be; also collects weird caps or vintage concert flyers, I think — details blurry but charming. He’s steady, funny, and the kind of supporting presence that balances out all the heavy feelings around him.