Harumuu

Harumuu is the het ship between Haruka Sakurai and Muu Kusunoki from the MILGRAM fandom.

Canon
Haruka and Muu are fellow prisoners at MILGRAM and close friends. In Season 1, the two seem to get along as both of them were a bit quiet and timid in nature. They share many similarities such as victimizing themselves or insisting their innocence to Es, and both of them acting out their murders in fits of rage as. By Season 2 when they were both declared innocent, they became haughty and outspoken, as well as developing an unbalanced co-dependent relationship. When asked, Haruka states that one of the prisoners he talks to the most is Muu. Muu frequently pays attention to Haruka, also mentioning that he is the one she gets along the most with.

In Season 1, the two remain meek and quiet towards one another; before Haruka’s interrogation, Muu greets him and asks if he’s going to be alright, ruminating on how scary the situation must be for him, later wishing him all the best. On Haruka’s birthday (2021 in a timeline conversation), Muu wakes him up and wishes him a happy birthday, stating recently she’s been interested in him, leading to Haruka giggling over Muu’s attention.

In Season 2, it’s revealed that Haruka and Muu developed a co-dependent relationship, where Muu takes on the role of a leader or queen and gains satisfaction from Haruka’s obedience, while Haruka relies on her for attention, praise, and acknowledgment. Haruka addresses Muu by the honorific “-san” while Muu addresses him with “-kun”, showing the power dynamic between them.

Haruka is aware that Muu is using him for her own motives; when confronted about this by Es, he responds how he doesn’t care and that’s he’s grateful for the fact he’s worthy enough to be used by Muu. In Jackalope’s words, Haruka enjoys being dominated by Muu. Jackalope jokes that Haruka and Muu are in a romantic relationship, stating that they “do the lovey-dovey” and that Haruka got carried away. Yuno often comments on their relationship as well. Fuuta recognizes their relationship as well, stating to Muu that she may be Haruka’s “salvation.”

Haruka has a strong attachment to Muu, relying on her greatly as his only source of attention to the point where it’s borderline obsessive. As a result of being neglected and abused by his mother, Haruka sees and calls Muu his “real” and “only” mother. He’s desperate to please Muu, only apologizing for his actions so that he can be an “good boy” for Muu. Haruka often appears insane while discussing his friendship with Muu, snapping in his voice drama and threatening to kill Es if they don’t forgive Muu and declare her innocent: he later plans that he’ll kill himself if Muu is declared guilty, raving about how without Muu he wouldn’t have become his current self after the first trial. He sees Muu as the only reason to stay at MILGRAM and rejoices that he’s met his “actual mother all along.”

Muu states that her relationship with Haruka is highly beneficial, and that she “really feels their friendship.” Muu says that she enjoys their friendship since Haruka listens to whatever she says and always does as she commands, and in return she poses as a mother figure for him like picking out his clothes and giving him attention. As Muu is rather self-absorbed she enjoys Haruka’s submission, also mentioning how Haruka treats her very well.

Despite this, it’s believed that Muu is only using Haruka and exploiting his heavy emotional attachment to her as a means to an end; she seems to actively recognizes his attention issues and feeds into it. In Es’ words, Haruka desires a mother but Muu’s goal is unknown. It’s unclear whether Muu truly views Haruka as a friend, though despite her manipulation she seems to have a genuine liking and concern for Haruka. Notably, Muu has a skewed idea of friendship and doesn’t view Haruka as important as he does for her—she finds herself self-important and feeds off of Haruka’s attachment. It’s implied she doesn’t think very highly of him when she states that everyone at MILGRAM has a screw loose.

Second Trials (Season 2)
In the introduction video for the second season, after Es wakes up, Jackalope starts explaining the timeline of events that had happened after the first round of verdicts. During Haruka's section, Jackalope explains that Haruka being voted "forgiven" unlocked his "desire to be dominated," which led to him forming a codependent relationship with Muu. Jackalope gives an annoyed expression explains that after Haruka’s ideas were affirmed, he got carried away and “does the lovey-dovey” with Muu. Whether this was a comedic joke from Jackalope or a romantic implication is unclear. In Muu's section, he mentions that Muu is able to be her real self as being voted "forgiven" helped her lose her fear and anxiety of being trapped in MILGRAM. Jackalope suggests multiple terms to use for their relationship ("supply and demand", "queen and slave") before moving onto the next prisoner.

In Haruka's voice drama, "Metamorphosis of a Weakling", Haruka has a breakdown and attempts to attack Es but Es stops him, then they proceeds to hit him once and call him an idiot multiple times. Haruka then breaks down more in a delirious state and starts lamenting the way his mother neglected him and the fact she never gave him attention or loved him. Then, Haruka says that Muu was his "real mother” all along, and further states that she's the only one who acknowledges the once "useless him”, stating how she gives him acknowledgment, attention, and praise, panting and laughing while doing so. He states that his current self after the first trial only exists because of Muu, and that as long as Muu is here there’s meaning for going to MILGRAM. After this, Haruka mentions that he’s happy that he met his “real mother”, and that he has to be a "good boy" for Muu’s sake.

Haruka also reveals that Muu is still scared of MILGRAM, and because of this, he asks Es to not scare her. As the conversation comes to a close, he then asks Es if he can say something. When permitted, Haruka threatens to kill Es if they do not forgive Muu for her murder of Rei. Es remarks that Haruka can’t kill them, so in response, Haruka responds that he’ll kill himself then, laughing and saying he’s not an idiot.

In Muu's voice drama, "Queen B", she reveals to Es that Haruka told her about his suicide plan if Es does not forgive her. Muu stated that she can feel the friendship between the two of them, knowing she feels at ease knowing that Haruka would do anything for her. When Es accuses her of exploiting Haruka, she claims that she doesn't understand what they're trying to say and continues explaining how beneficial their relationship is. Muu warns Es to forgive her, reminding them how Haruka is going to kill himself if Muu isn’t forgiven. Es shows shock that Muu knows of Haruka’s plan, and Muu happily states that Haruka told her so she could “rest easy.” She goes on to explain it made her happy and feel their friendship. Es incredulously asks Muu if she’s going to stop Haruka, and Muu retorts that if Haruka wants to do it, there’s nothing she can do about his decision. Es then questions Muu’s friendship with Haruka, and Muu explains how friendship is being beneficial for one another. After Es asks if she isn't going to stop him from conducting his suicide plan, Muu says that since it's something Haruka wants to do, and because friendships are all about letting your friends do the things they want, she isn't planning to do anything.

In the second round of interrogation questions, upon the prompt, “What do you want from the Warden?” Haruka writes, “Please forgive Muu-san.” When asked her opinion on Haruka, Muu writes, “We’re friends, he treats me very well.”

Timeline Conversations
On Haruka’s birthday (2021), taking place in the first trials, Muu wakes up Haruka and wishes him a happy birthday, to which Haruka surprisedly mutters her name and thanks her. Muu remains silent and asks if he’d like to talk, stating she’s recently been pretty interested in him. Haruka is shocked, repeating, “I-In me…?” and begins to giggle from the fact someone, being Muu, is interested in him.

On Haruka’s birthday (2022) Muu notices that Haruka’s looking away; she asks what’s wrong and tells Haruka he shouldn’t look away when he’s with her, leading to Haruka stammering with an apology and stating he had a feeling of something about to happen. Muu suggests that the feeling may stem from the fact it’s his birthday, then suggest the cause being from Es waking up soon. Haruka responds it may be true and that he wants Es to see the new him.

On Haruka’s birthday (2023) Muu comes into Haruka’s cell and brings him food, to which Haruka thanks her greatly and begins to apologize—Muu gently scolds him and advises him to eat properly and to not lock himself inside, stating she understands how he feels. Haruka then mumbles to himself what he could to do keep his “promise” “for Muu-san’s sake.”

On Muu’s birthday (2023) Fuuta approaches Muu and worriedly asks her about Haruka’s condition. Muu responds with an affirmation, stating she’s been bringing Haruka food and talks about how amazing she is. Fuuta shows annoyance at her response, going on to state it must be nice to have someone there for you who accepts you fully; Fuuta speaks in the behalf of the other prisoners and states they may not understand, but that if Muu is Haruka’s “salvation”, in Fuuta’s words, that’s something. Muu responds saying she doesn’t get what Fuuta means, mocking him with a reference to Kotoko’s attacks, then adds that it’s her birthday.

Quotes
"I’ve met my real mother, so I’m happy. I’m sorry for causing problems earlier. I need to be a good boy- for Muu-san’s sake as well."

- Haruka to Es in his 2nd Voice Drama "Yeah…? Yeah, right, everyone only has one mother. The mother who never looked at me wasn't my mother either. [] Haa… I'm sorry, Guard-san. For causing you trouble. My mother was Muu-san all along. Muu-san is my mother"

- Haruka to Es.

"I've... changed? Ah, my hairpins and clothes, they're all things Muu-san picked out for me. How is it? Muu-san is extremely nice, she always pays attention to me."

- Haruka in his Season 2 Interrogation

"It was really scary before, but now I feel at ease. And on top of that... Haruka-kun is really kind! He listens to whatever I say."

- Muu in her Season 2 Interrogation

"[...] As long as Muu-san is here, I feel like there's a meaning to me coming to MILGRAM."

- Haruka in the "Transformation of a Weakling" Voice Drama

Fanon
Harumuu is a somewhat popular ship in the fandom. It is currently the most popular heterosexual ship including Haruka or Muu. It is mostly rivaled by Muurei, the femslash ship between Kusunoki Muu and her victim Rei. On AO3, Harumuu currently has 20+ works. Harumuu was primarily shipped for their close relationship and because Muu was the closest person Haruka talks to and vice versa, as well as their first trial music videos sharing many similarities and their crimes being done out of emotional rage.

After Season 2, some dropped the ship as Muu was taking advantage of her relationship with Haruka and remaining apathetic to his suicide plan, while Haruka has an unhealthy attachment to Muu. Others prefer to ship Harumuu in AUs where they have a functioning romance outside of MILGRAM while others find the toxicity of their friendship an interesting factor to shipping them, waiting to see how their unhealthy dynamic turns out and whether their relationship may be redeemed.

The fandom is rather split on Haruka and Muu’ relationship; often, most Haruka fans dislike his relationship with Muu and Muu herself, as she manipulates and takes advantage of Haruka and his intense emotional instability while nearly worsening his state. Other fans believe that Haruka will slowly recover through Muu’s attention and acknowledgment. Some fans, recognizing his intense attachment to Muu, even voted Muu as “forgiven/innocent” so that Haruka won’t commit suicide. Muu is often disliked solely for her manipulation towards Haruka.

Fans theorize that Haruka’s idea of a “mother” refers to a person or woman he trusts and relies on, seeing as Haruka not only sees Muu as his mother but also Es, as well as the fact that both Muu and Es are younger than Haruka. Notably, some fans have pointed out that in Haruka’s second trial song MV, his mother bares slight resemblance to Muu.

The MILGRAM fandom collectively views Haruka to have a one-sided attraction for Muu, though this is unconfirmed. Jokes and memes of the two dating or Haruka having a yandere-like obsession for Muu are common within the fandom and based on the Voice Dramas.

Fandom

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Trivia

 * Haruka’s second trial song, “All-Knowing And All-Agony” references Muu multiple times.
 * The official English lyrics translates a line as: “I promise to make my dreaMU come true” which is a pun and reference to Muu’s name.
 * Muu means dream or vision.
 * Both Haruka and Muu’s MVs make a play on honey, likely referencing one another.
 * Haruka has stated in his interrogation questions that all he wants from his significant other, if he had one, is for them to give him attention, and later explains how much attention Muu has given him.
 * Jackalope and Yuno jokingly implied that Haruka and Muu’s relationship is romantic while Muu stated in her interrogation in the second trial that there's nobody she likes, assuming romantically.
 * Muu picks out Haruka's clothing every day and puts hairpins on his hair. The hairclips Haruka wears originally were Muu's as her hand-me-downs.
 * Both Haruka and Muu were voted guilty during their second trials after receiving innocent judgments during their first trials, as well as being scorned by the fandom for their sudden shift in behavior.
 * They have a height difference of 12 cm, with Haruka being 174 cm and Muu being 162 cm.
 * They are both cancers born in June.