Takeo stands out due to his towering height and impressive muscular build. His strong, athletic physique is complemented by his large, thick lips and short, dark black hair. He also has dense, bold eyebrows and prominent sideburns, which add to his distinctive, rugged appearance.

Takeo is a kind-hearted, selfless individual who always strives to help others, even when he doesn’t receive recognition. His strong sense of justice drives him to protect those who are important to him, especially when it comes to standing up against anyone who harms or insults his friends. Fiercely loyal, he defends his loved ones without hesitation, even when it means putting himself at risk. Despite his temper when others are wronged, Takeo is quick to forgive and rarely holds grudges, as seen in his friendship with Makoto Sunakawa, whose charm led to many of Takeo’s crushes confessing their feelings for Suna instead. Rather than being upset, Takeo understood that it was due to his own appearance, and he didn’t blame Suna for it.

Takeo’s love for his friends extends to his feelings for Rinko Yamato. When he first met her, he fell deeply in love but, believing she was interested in Suna, was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for their potential relationship. His devotion to others knows no bounds—Takeo will go to great lengths to help those in need and never abandons a friend.

Energetic and expressive, Takeo’s emotions are always written on his face. He’s a straightforward, open person who values honesty, though his trusting and naive nature sometimes leads him into difficult situations. His simple-mindedness often makes him a poor judge of character—he’s quick to trust others and, as a result, can be unintentionally insensitive. For instance, he never realized that many of his previous crushes were using him to get closer to Suna, only discovering this after Suna pointed it out. Similarly, Takeo was surprised to learn that Rinko’s friends, whom he thought would be kind like her, had also spoken poorly of him—though they later apologized after he saved them from a fire.

Impulsive by nature, Takeo often acts before thinking, leaping into action with little regard for the consequences. This is especially evident in his tendency to make promises without fully understanding what’s at stake, believing it is a man’s duty to protect others and keep his word. He also has a quirky disinterest in technology—preferring to write down his email address for Yamato rather than using more modern methods, and sending simple, short texts while Yamato fills hers with long, emotive messages.

Despite his impulsiveness, Takeo is determined and unwavering once he sets his mind to something. While he may lack in intelligence and study habits, he compensates with his athleticism, often being recruited by sports teams. Humble about his abilities, he acknowledges there is always someone better than him. His appearance, though not popular with girls, earns him admiration from his male peers for his strength, sense of justice, and friendly personality.

Takeo is not particularly well-versed in social cues or personal space, often misunderstanding situations and unintentionally making others uncomfortable, such as when he stared at Yamato, trying to figure out why she wasn’t honest with her feelings, or when he forced Suna into an awkward kissing practice.

He also has a few bad habits, such as picking his nose, scratching his butt, and keeping a disorganized room. Yet, these quirks only add to his charm as an endearing, if sometimes clueless, protagonist.

The two most important relationships in Takeo’s life are with Yamato and Suna. His love for Yamato is deep and respectful, always valuing her happiness above his own desires. With Suna, Takeo shares a deep bond of friendship, never resenting him for the attention Suna received from Takeo’s crushes. In fact, Takeo compares their friendship to the legendary story of the red and blue demons, where he sees himself as the red demon, feared by others, and Suna as the blue demon, who helps Takeo form meaningful connections with others.

Past

Takeo and Suna’s friendship dates back to kindergarten, and their bond has always been something of a mystery—even to Takeo himself. The two are polar opposites in almost every way: their personalities, appearances, and even their outlooks on life. While their friendship might seem unlikely to outsiders, it is built on a foundation of trust and shared experiences. They first became close because they lived in the same apartment complex, were neighbors, and their mothers were friends. Initially, the two didn’t get along well, as they had different ideas of what to play and struggled to connect.

Despite this, they never fought. Over time, their bond grew stronger, with the turning point coming one day when Takeo found Suna alone on a swing, visibly upset over his father’s illness. Wanting to cheer him up, Takeo attempted to show Suna how to use the swing, which resulted in a comical fall into a bush. This moment, filled with genuine laughter, marked the beginning of their true friendship.

The pair also starred in their kindergarten play, where Takeo played the red demon and Suna, the blue demon. Takeo fondly remembers a moment when, during a field trip, he accidentally spilled his lunch and Suna, without hesitation, shared half of his own with him. In another memory, when Takeo had an embarrassing moment and peed his pants, Suna laughed but later threw a bucket of water on him to keep his secret. These small acts of kindness solidified their friendship.

Past Connection with Rinko

Unbeknownst to Takeo, his future love interest, Rinko Yamato, had crossed his path before. During a family trip to the mountains with Suna, Takeo got separated from the group while chasing a beetle. He stumbled into a cave rumored to be haunted by a ghost. Scared and unsure how to get out, Takeo encountered a child he assumed was the ghost. Despite his fear, he decided to help the “ghost,” believing it was lonely and needed help to move on. The child was actually a younger Rinko, who had entered the cave to find a lost squirrel but had gotten lost herself. Together, they found their way out, and Takeo, thinking he had helped a ghost pass on, never expected to meet her again. Little did he know, Rinko was thinking about him and hoped to cross paths once more.

Current

Now in high school, Takeo remains best friends with Suna at Shuei High School. One day, while riding the train, Suna points out a sketchy-looking man, and, being the protective friend he is, Takeo rushes to confront him. In the process, Takeo ends up meeting Rinko again when he grabs hold of the man, preventing him from harassing her. The encounter leads them all to the police station, where Takeo gets suspended for punching the man after he mocked Rinko. This event marks the beginning of Takeo and Rinko’s relationship, as Rinko makes it clear she wants to see him again.

At first, Takeo, misreading the situation, believes that Rinko might have feelings for Suna. This assumption is further reinforced when, during Rinko’s first visit to Takeo’s house, she stops Suna from leaving, leading Takeo to think she’s interested in his best friend. However, Suna later clears up the misunderstanding, revealing that Rinko is actually in love with Takeo. With this revelation, Takeo and Rinko begin to date, and their relationship blossoms from a shared history and genuine affection.

Family

Maki Gouda
Maki is Takeo’s younger sister. Though their bond is not deeply explored in the story, Takeo demonstrates his love and protectiveness as an older brother. He is often seen looking out for Maki’s well-being, from preventing mosquitoes from getting near her to ensuring she is happy and safe. Their relationship, while simple, is built on Takeo’s care and attention to his sister’s needs.

Love Interest

Rinko Yamato
Rinko is Takeo’s girlfriend, whom he deeply loves and cherishes. From the moment they met, Takeo was struck by her beauty, but he initially misunderstood her feelings, believing she was in love with Suna. Wanting both Suna and Rinko to be happy, Takeo encouraged Rinko to pursue his best friend, even though it caused her to cry. With Suna’s help, the misunderstanding was cleared, and Takeo and Rinko began their relationship. Despite their contrasting personalities, with Takeo’s straightforwardness and Rinko’s more romantic nature, they find happiness together. In the final chapter, Takeo proposes to Rinko, and she accepts, solidifying their bond and love for one another.

Friends

Makoto Sunakawa
Suna is Takeo’s best friend, and their friendship has lasted for over a decade. Although they are opposites in many ways—Takeo being the outgoing, energetic one and Suna the cool, reserved one—their bond is rooted in mutual respect and unwavering loyalty. They have always supported each other, with Suna even helping Takeo confess to Rinko. Their friendship reflects the strength of understanding and care, despite their differences.

Ai Sunakawa
Ai is Suna’s older sister, and while Takeo is oblivious to her feelings for him, she has held a quiet affection for him since childhood. As a young girl, Ai was teased for her appearance, but Takeo, unaware of her insecurities, always saw her as beautiful. Though Ai’s feelings for him were unspoken, she chose to wait until Takeo was older to confess her love. By the time she was ready, Takeo had already started dating Rinko. Despite this, Ai and Takeo share a comfortable, friendly relationship, with Ai continuing to be supportive of Takeo’s relationship with Yamato.

Mariya Saijou
Mariya is a classmate of Takeo’s who initially found him intimidating due to his large, imposing figure. However, after being paired together for a relay race during sports day, Mariya began to see a different side of Takeo. His encouragement helped her gain confidence, and she began to develop feelings for him. This caused some tension in Takeo’s relationship with Yamato, as Mariya’s affection for him led to Yamato feeling insecure. However, Takeo, as always, remains unaware of Mariya’s feelings, which complicates matters further.

Yukika Amami
Yukika is a quiet and shy classmate who has known Takeo since childhood, though they didn’t interact much until high school. Initially awkward around him due to his intimidating presence, Yukika grew more comfortable and began confiding in Takeo about her feelings for Suna. Takeo, always supportive, encouraged her to express her feelings and helped her gain the confidence to confess to Suna. Their relationship is rooted in friendship and mutual respect, with Takeo always willing to help those in need.

Other

Kouki Ichinose
Ichinose is a pâtissier who initially viewed himself as the perfect match for Rinko, due to his good looks and shared interests with her. He expressed disdain for Takeo, claiming that Rinko only loved him out of gratitude. This caused Takeo to question his worth for a time. However, when Ichinose forgot his baking tools before a competition, Takeo set aside their rivalry and helped him. This act of kindness began to soften Ichinose’s attitude toward Takeo. After Yamato rejected Ichinose’s advances, the rivalry faded, and the two were able to form a more positive relationship based on mutual respect.

The nameTakeois composed of two kanji: “猛” (take), meaning “fierce,” “rave,” “rush,” “become furious,” “wildness,” or “strength,” and “男” (o), meaning “male” or “man.” Together, the nameTakeocan be interpreted as “valiant male” or “warrior male,” emphasizing strength and fierceness.

Takeo’s surname,Gouda, is made up of “剛” (gou), meaning “sturdy,” “robust,” “tough,” or “strength,” and “田” (ta/da), meaning “field” or “rice paddy.” The surname can be understood as referring to strength and resilience, rooted in the imagery of a strong and enduring field.