Ayaka Usagida, often referred to as Ayaka-chan, is the protagonist of the story. She is a young office worker who falls deeply in love with her senior colleague, Hiroko Kano. Before developing these feelings, Ayaka was known for being quite serious and stone-faced at work. Her affection for Hiroko prompted a significant change in her demeanor and priorities, leading her to alter her dress style and become more expressive in an effort to catch Hiroko's eye.

Personality-wise, Ayaka is characterized by her straightforwardness and emotional transparency. She loves with a disarming simplicity and is not afraid to express her desires, even in the face of misunderstanding or rejection. Her approach to romance is persistent and determined, often described as charging forward like a bull to cut through any obstacles, including her partner’s self-sabotage and fears. While her relentless advances are a source of comedic energy, they also stem from a genuine and vulnerable place, as she endures considerable emotional turmoil in her pursuit of a sincere relationship. As the story progresses, particularly into the 2nd Stage, Ayaka becomes more full of humanity, developing a warmer, nurturing side that exudes a kind of maternal instinct in how she cares for Hiroko.

Ayaka’s primary motivation is to build a genuine, intimate relationship with Hiroko. After a year of dating and cohabitating, her central conflict shifts from winning Hiroko over to deepening their physical and emotional connection. She becomes vaguely worried by Hiroko’s reluctance to make a move, which leads her to seek advice from friends in an effort to resolve their misunderstandings and become a real couple. Her journey is about translating her passionate feelings into a stable, mature partnership where both partners' needs are communicated and met.

In the narrative of the 2nd Stage, Ayaka plays the role of the driving force for conflict and resolution. The plot is set in motion by her anxieties regarding the lack of intimacy in her cohabitation with Hiroko. Her subsequent actions, including following Hiroko to a spa resort in Hawaii after misinterpreting a situation, push the couple toward the confrontations necessary for their growth. Ayaka’s key relationships include her deep bond with her senior and girlfriend, Hiroko Kano, whose perfect complex and fear of hurting Ayaka create the central misunderstanding of the season. She is also close with her coworker and confidante, Risa Komai, from whom she seeks advice on navigating her relationship.

Throughout the story, Ayaka undergoes notable development. While her initial struggle was to make her feelings known, the second stage sees her learning to navigate the more nuanced challenges of an established relationship. She grows from being solely focused on pursuit to actively working on communication, striving to move past the exaggerated misunderstandings that define much of their dynamic and toward a more authentic connection. A review of the season notes that she learns to better articulate her needs, representing a clear evolution from the first season. In terms of abilities, Ayaka possesses no supernatural or extraordinary skills; her notable abilities are her emotional resilience, her unwavering determination in love, and her capacity to grow from her experiences.