Harue Akado is the mahjong club coach at her alma mater Achiga Girls' Academy in Nara Prefecture and is a protagonist in the spin-off manga "Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A". Harue was once known as the "Legend of Achiga" for taking the school to the national high school team mahjong tournament. After the team's defeat, she lost confidence and stopped playing mahjong for some time, leading to the team's eventual disbandment. She was later scouted by a professional team but returns home several years later when the company decides break the team up. Harue's defeat in the national semifinal came at the hand of Sukoya Kokaji, who would eventually become a professional player and commentator in subsequent national high school tournaments in the main "Saki" manga.