Ruka (Luka) Urushibara is a fan-favorite character who presents as a shrine maiden. The series handles Ruka’s identity with a bit more weight than standard comedies, exploring Ruka's genuine desire to have been born a girl through the show’s time-travel mechanics.
This distinction is crucial. While the West tends to view these characters through the lens of sexuality or transgender identity, Japan often (though not exclusively) views otokonoko through the lens of ladyboy anime
A protagonist meets a "heroine" only to discover later—often through a comedic misunderstanding—that they are male. Ruka (Luka) Urushibara is a fan-favorite character who