Kanade Takahashi

A fifth-grade elementary school student who stands at an impressive 173 cm with a face that looks far beyond his years — yet on the inside, he is every bit the kid his age suggests. The only son of the landlady of Kazumasō, he almost never steps out of his beloved gym clothes. Kanade saved Natsume from nearly being struck by a truck, firmly telling her to stop putting herself down. Though he had no intention of sharing his name at first, fate brought them back together at Kazumasō, and after she confessed her feelings, the two began dating. His personality is straightforward and lively — he adores crude jokes, brims with curiosity, and says things that are both surprisingly childish and unexpectedly mature. Despite his immaturity, he genuinely treasures Natsume and never hesitates to express his feelings honestly, whether that means making outrageous promises like hula-hooping 200 times or serenading her with a self-composed love song on a melodica. He sometimes hurts her without realizing it, but he always finds a way to make things right. After losing his mother in third grade, he became harder to handle, yet he carries many of the values she instilled in him — most of which revolve around relationships. He loves dried seaweed and claims everyone else's portion as his own every morning. He misunderstands the meaning of the word "virgin," struggles in most subjects except math, and his antics aren't exactly popular with the girls in his class — though he couldn't care less. Despite losing his mother, he once said he never feels lonely, because he has everyone around him.