Karen Moriya

Karen is friendly, perceptive and confident. She knows Chinatsu well enough to recognize when her friend is holding something back and is comfortable discussing romance and personal concerns that Chinatsu would hesitate to share more widely.

She is ambitious in her own career rather than simply existing around the athletes in her social circle. Karen balances school with entertainment work and accepts the difficulties that accompany pursuing something seriously. Her willingness to challenge herself is one of the qualities Haryuu admires about her.

Karen also has a playful side. She is comfortable teasing friends about romance but can become direct and supportive when someone genuinely needs advice.

Karen is not presented primarily as a competitive athlete. Her established career is in entertainment, which she pursues alongside her education.

Her demanding schedule demonstrates considerable discipline and time management. She maintains her work, friendships and relationship with Haryuu despite the limited time available to both of them.

Karen's other major strength is interpersonal insight. She frequently acts as a confidante for Chinatsu and can discuss relationships more openly than her reserved friend.

Karen is introduced through her connection to Haryuu, whose unexpected revelation that he has a girlfriend resolves Taiki's early suspicion that Haryuu might be romantically involved with Chinatsu. She later becomes an important confidante for Chinatsu.

Because she has known Chinatsu since childhood, Karen can speak to aspects of her personality that Taiki is still learning. She also understands the demands placed on someone pursuing a difficult goal, allowing her to discuss Chinatsu's athletic ambitions without treating romance as more important than basketball.

As Taiki and Chinatsu's relationship develops, Karen becomes one of the people aware of their circumstances and offers support rather than interfering. She also remains closely involved with Ayame as her younger sister navigates her own increasingly complicated feelings.

Chinatsu Kano is Karen's best friend from childhood. They were classmates from kindergarten through elementary school, and Chinatsu trusts Karen as a confidante.

Kengo Haryuu is Karen's boyfriend. They first met at swimming school in fifth grade and maintain their relationship while pursuing demanding goals of their own.

Ayame Moriya is Karen's younger sister. The sisters have contrasting approaches to romance, with Karen's established long-term relationship providing a different example from Ayame's initially casual attitude toward dating.

Taiki Inomata becomes Karen's friend through Chinatsu and Haryuu. Karen eventually supports his relationship with Chinatsu and understands the importance he has acquired in her friend's life.