Misaki Takahashi is the main protagonist of the Junjō Romantica storyline within the Junjō Romantica series. He first appears as an eighteen-year-old high school student living with his older brother, Takahiro Takahashi. When Misaki was eight years old, both of his parents died in a car accident, and his brother gave up his own dream of attending university to work and raise him. Misaki carries a deep sense of guilt over his parents’ death and the sacrifices his brother made, which drives his strong sense of responsibility and his desire to succeed academically. To help him gain admission to a competitive university—the same one his brother had hoped to attend—Takahiro arranges for his best friend, the famous novelist Akihiko Usami, to tutor Misaki. Initially, Misaki dislikes Usami after discovering that Usami writes boys’ love novels featuring Takahiro as a character. Over time, however, Misaki gradually becomes drawn to Usami, and after Takahiro is transferred to Osaka for work, Misaki moves into Usami’s home. Misaki has no prior experience with romance or dating, and he struggles intensely with denial over his growing romantic feelings for a man. His internal conflict is a central part of his emotional journey. Throughout the series, Misaki evolves from an insecure and guilt-ridden teenager into a more self-assured young adult who learns to accept his feelings and navigate his relationship with Usami. He remains an academically focused student, especially strong in literature, though he possesses no supernatural abilities. His bond with his brother Takahiro is foundational to his motivations and emotional burdens, while his relationship with Usami is the primary romantic and personal growth arc of his story. Misaki’s loyalty, sensitivity, and gradual self-acceptance define his role as the narrator and protagonist of the Romantica arc.