Kokona Aoba is a second-year junior high school student who lives in Hanno City and is one of the main characters in Encouragement of Climb Season 3. She first encountered the main group while descending Mount Takao, where she had gone in the hope of seeing dwarf flying squirrels, only to be delayed by a broken shoe. This chance meeting led to a lasting friendship with Aoi Yukimura and Hinata Kuraue. Kokona is small in stature, standing 144 centimeters tall, with long light brown hair and red eyes. She is known for her polite and gentle manner of speaking, often using honorific language, and she has a tendency to drift into daydreams, which gives her a fairy-tale-like quality. Despite her delicate appearance, she possesses considerable physical strength and stamina, often surprising her friends, and she is dexterous and skilled at housework due to her parents both working. Her cooking ability is particularly notable, and she enjoys making sweets from cookbooks. She has a deep affection for cute things, animals, and especially horses, and she is knowledgeable about various trivia topics. Her motivations are driven by a love of nature and a desire to share experiences with her friends, and she eagerly participates in the group's mountain climbing activities. Within the story, Kokona serves as the youngest member of the main climbing group, bringing a blend of maturity and youthful wonder. Her key relationships include her close bonds with Aoi and Hinata, as well as with Kaede Saitou, and she also shares a supportive relationship with her mother. Over the course of Season 3, Kokona continues to develop her climbing skills and becomes more confident in her abilities, contributing her resourcefulness and positive spirit to the group's adventures. Her notable talents extend beyond cooking and housework to include a surprising athletic ability and a sharp, observant mind.