Katsumi Takishita, a male student, attended prep school at the Kanto Institute of Fine Arts with Rō Hayakawa. His formal upbringing ingrained a habit of addressing others with respectful language, making casual peer communication difficult. He struggles to interpret social atmospheres.

Artistically dedicated to painting, Katsumi harbors doubts about his own talent. He distinguishes between technical skill—masterable within a year, in his view—and genuine creativity, believing true art cannot be taught. Despite fearing his university-accepted works lack originality, a deep personal passion drives him to continue, viewing his creations as "mere pictures" rather than significant art. Abandoning art would bring him shame.

His romantic interest focuses on Misato Kuzuhara, sparked when he witnessed her distinctive act of kicking a malfunctioning vending machine—a moment he found refreshing. This marked his first experience of love. Though typically composed and uninterested despite popularity among girls, Katsumi becomes visibly nervous around Misato.

Entering university alongside Rō, Katsumi intended to move on from Misato, who attended a different school. A chance reunion at his former prep school, however, saw him observing her destroy a sculpture modeled after her ex-boyfriend—symbolizing her desire to progress. This led Katsumi to recognize a shared trait: both struggle to quickly forget past experiences and let events rest.

Regarding relationships, Katsumi employs analogies like rock-paper-scissors, viewing himself as "scissors" destined to lose to "rock." He believes confessing feelings constitutes a request for permanent presence. His ideal partner possesses strength, humorously expressed as wanting someone "strong enough to break my bones," and he values cuteness even within volatility.