Kouta Takamura is the male protagonist of Ichigo Aika: Strawberry Elegy, positioned as the new stepbrother to the female lead, Aika. His life undergoes a significant change when his father, Yoshiyuki, decides to remarry, bringing Kouta a new mother, Misaki, and a stepsister in Aika. He is characterized by a rational, logical, and somewhat straight-laced personality, which stands in stark contrast to the chaotic and free-spirited nature of his new sibling. Described as a young man who is meticulous and orderly, Kouta prefers a predictable and well-managed life, making him ill-prepared for the disruption Aika represents.

Kouta's primary motivation throughout the story is to navigate the turbulent new family dynamic while attempting to maintain his principles and resist the increasingly complicated feelings that develop between him and Aika. Initially, he finds her behavior, which includes bringing other boys home and acting brashly, to be a nuisance, and the two clash from their very first encounter. However, beneath his annoyance, a caring and protective instinct begins to emerge. He struggles with the boundaries of their relationship as a step-sibling, often acting as the voice of restraint when Aika pushes for more intimacy, driven by a personal code of conduct that makes him wary of crossing certain lines.

Within the narrative, Kouta serves as the reluctant anchor to Aika's wild personality. His role is that of the "straight man" to her chaos, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that drives the romantic comedy. The plot largely follows how his rigid exterior slowly cracks under the pressure of living with Aika, forcing him to confront his own growing attraction to her. His key relationships are centered around his new family. With his father Yoshiyuki, who is portrayed as gentle and calm, Kouta shares a history of being raised in a single-parent household after the loss of his mother. His relationship with his stepmother Misaki is more distant, defined by his new connection to her daughter. However, the most significant and complex relationship is undoubtedly with his stepsister Aika. What begins as mutual irritation and conflict gradually transforms into a deep, physical, and emotional bond as she becomes attached to his caring nature.

Kouta experiences notable development over the course of the series, shifting from a position of outright rejection of Aika's lifestyle to a more nuanced acceptance of his feelings for her. Early on, he is simply frustrated by her presence, but as they share more experiences, he becomes increasingly protective, even going so far as to assert his role as her older brother. He is often the one trying to slow down the pace of their physical relationship, not out of a lack of desire, but out of a genuine concern for the emotional consequences and a desire for their connection to mean something more than just a physical fling. This journey shows him learning to loosen his strict control and accept a relationship that defies simple categorization. Regarding abilities, Kouta does not possess any supernatural or extraordinary physical powers. His notable traits are his domestic aptitude and his strong sense of self-control. He is shown to be a capable cook, with his food even being preferred over that of his stepmother, and his most defining characteristic is his impressive willpower and ability to resist temptation, even when placed in highly provocative situations.