Kou Kitamura

Kou is laid-back, sarcastic and exceptionally good at concealing how seriously he takes things. He frequently answers emotional situations with jokes or an indifferent expression, leaving other people to infer what he actually feels from his actions. That habit is particularly strong around baseball: for years, people who know him casually have little reason to suspect how much private practice he has accumulated.

He is intensely competitive beneath that relaxed exterior. A challenge from Aoba can motivate him more effectively than praise, and he pays close attention to her judgment even while the two spend much of their time arguing. Yuuhei Azuma and others notice that Kou and Aoba resemble each other in precisely this stubborn, competitive temperament.

Kou is also dependable in ways he rarely advertises. He helps at his family's sporting-goods store, is comfortable looking after Momiji Tsukishima, and repeatedly supports friends without demanding recognition for doing so.

Kou bats and throws right-handed. His earliest developed skill is hitting: years of almost daily practice at the Tsukishima batting cages make him particularly effective against fastballs. Even before receiving serious coaching, his timing and hand-eye coordination are advanced enough to mark him as an unusually talented hitter.

His pitching develops much more privately. Kou studies Aoba's form and follows a demanding training program designed around becoming capable of throwing as she does. Once he begins pitching competitively, he combines high velocity with strong control, stamina and an expanding repertoire rather than relying on speed alone. Osamu Akaishi becomes his primary catcher and helps turn that raw ability into an effective battery.

Kou's composure is another major competitive strength. He rarely looks as anxious as the situation warrants and can continue executing under pressure. During Seishuu's decisive game against Ryuou, his fastball reaches the 160 km/h mark that Aoba had long used as her benchmark for an exceptional pitcher.

Kou begins as a boy who appears more interested in batting-cage tokens than organized baseball. His connection with Wakaba and the Tsukishima family defines his childhood, while Aoba provides the baseball model he quietly begins trying to imitate.

Wakaba's death in a swimming accident changes the direction of his life. Her dream of seeing Kou pitch at Koshien with Akaishi catching becomes a private goal shared by the people closest to her. Kou continues training without immediately revealing what he is becoming, then enters Seishuu and initially finds himself separated from the school's favored varsity players.

Under Sentarou Maeno, Kou, Akaishi and the other players on the prefab squad develop into a genuine team. They eventually overturn the school's existing baseball hierarchy, and Kou becomes Seishuu's ace as the club pursues the prefectural championship and a place at Koshien.

His development runs alongside his changing relationship with Aoba. The two challenge, irritate and understand each other with unusual precision, while baseball repeatedly forces them to confront feelings they are far less comfortable discussing directly. Seishuu ultimately defeats Ryuou to qualify for Koshien, fulfilling the central baseball goal that had shaped Kou's training.

Wakaba Tsukishima is Kou's childhood companion, birthday twin and first love. They grow up practically inseparable, and their families already treat them like a couple while they are children. After her death, the dream she described for Kou becomes one of the strongest forces behind his commitment to baseball.

Aoba Tsukishima has a combative relationship with Kou from childhood, initially resenting how much of her beloved older sister's attention he receives. Kou nevertheless respects Aoba Tsukishima's baseball ability enormously and models his pitching form after hers. Their constant arguments conceal how closely each understands the other. Their feelings gradually become romantic, culminating in an acknowledgment of his love and a quiet mutual acceptance at the end of the story.

Osamu Akaishi is Kou's catcher and one of his closest teammates. Osamu Akaishi understands the significance of the dream connecting them to Wakaba and becomes the other half of the battery meant to reach Koshien.

Yuuhei Azuma begins as an intimidating elite player but becomes one of Kou's most important teammates. Yuuhei Azuma recognizes Kou's talent early and develops considerable trust in him as Seishuu's ace.

Daiki Nakanishi is one of Kou's longtime friends and later a teammate at Seishuu, while Keiichirou Senda becomes another regular member of the team despite frequently being the target of Kou's dry humor.

Momiji Tsukishima treats Kou much like an older brother. Kou looks after Momiji Tsukishima, cooks for her and plays catch with her.

Ichiyou Tsukishima likewise treats Kou as part of the family and trusts him with personal matters. Seiji Tsukishima welcomes Kou into the Tsukishima household and batting center almost as another son.

Akane Takigawa becomes close to Kou after moving into the neighborhood. Their apparent romantic relationship complicates the feelings between Kou and Aoba, although Kou's attachment to Aoba remains increasingly apparent.