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This pre-story wound is crucial. Unlike a typical rom-com lead who is dense or feigning ignorance, Wakana’s hesitancy is born of genuine trauma. His first relationship with a potential love interest was a phantom—a future he had already canceled.

Wakana’s first legitimate romantic relationship—though it develops slowly—is with Marin Kitagawa, a first-year high school student and gyaru.

For most anime protagonists, the first blush of romance is a familiar, if awkward, trope. But for Wakana Gojo, the introspective Kashirashi (Hina doll head craftsman) from Shinichi Fukuda’s hit series My Dress-Up Darling , the journey into first relationships is anything but standard. Gojo’s story isn’t just about falling in love; it’s a masterclass in how trauma, passion, and unexpected kindness can slowly pry open a heart sealed shut by childhood shame.

One of the most iconic romantic beats occurs when Marin realizes she has fallen for him . While Wakana remains characteristically oblivious, his actions—staying up all night to finish a garment or meticulously researching a character—serve as his "love language."