Momo Ayase is strong, loud, honest and not the kind of girl who is easily impressed. Ken Takakura, better known as Okarun, begins the story as a shy occult nerd who believes in UFOs, gets bullied and struggles to talk to people. On paper, they should not work together at all.
So, why does momo like ken takakura? The answer is not because he is the coolest boy in school or because he suddenly becomes powerful. Momo likes Ken because he is sincere, brave, loyal and emotionally safe in a world full of chaos. Their romance works because it grows naturally from trust, shared danger and genuine respect. To follow every moment of Momo and Ken’s relationship from chapter one, read Dandadan on KunManga.
Quick Answer: Why Does Momo Like Ken Takakura?
| Reason | How It Shows in the Manga |
|---|---|
| He never gives up on her | Ken keeps fighting for Momo even when he is scared or outmatched |
| He accepts her completely | He does not treat her powers or beliefs like something strange or shameful |
| He makes her feel safe | Momo slowly trusts him outside her family circle |
| He is genuinely kind | His awkwardness hides a warm and sincere heart |
| They survive impossible things together | Shared danger builds a bond normal school life could never create |
| He sees Momo as a person | Ken values her feelings, not only her strength or psychic powers |
The simplest answer to why does momo like ken takakura is that Ken earns her trust. He does not try to control her, impress her with fake confidence or treat her as someone who needs to be rescued. He stands beside her, even when he is terrified.
How Momo and Ken’s Relationship Started
Momo and Ken do not begin with a sweet romantic introduction. They start with an argument. Momo believes in ghosts and spirits, while Ken believes in UFOs and aliens. Neither of them fully respects the other’s worldview at first.
Their bet becomes the spark for everything. Momo goes to a UFO-related location, while Ken goes to a haunted place. Both discover that the other person was right in the worst possible way. Aliens and spirits are both real, and neither of them is ready for what follows.
This beginning matters because their connection is built through survival before romance. They do not fall for each other in a clean, perfect school setting. They learn to trust each other while facing things that should be impossible.
That makes the romance stronger. Momo and Ken do not like each other because the story says they should. They grow close because each one repeatedly proves they will show up when the other is in danger.
The Moment Momo Started Seeing Ken Differently
There is no single simple moment where Momo suddenly realizes she likes Ken. That is one of the reasons the romance feels so natural. Her feelings grow through many small moments, not one dramatic switch.
One of the earliest turning points is Ken’s willingness to fight for her. He is not naturally confident, and he is not the strongest person in the room at first. But when Momo is in danger, he acts anyway.
That kind of courage is different from arrogance. Ken is brave because he knows he might lose and still chooses to stand up. For Momo, that matters more than looking cool.
Ken also never uses Momo’s vulnerability against her. He sees her angry, embarrassed, scared and powerful, but he does not mock her for it. That creates a kind of emotional safety Momo is not used to receiving from many people.
This is another key answer to why does momo like ken takakura. He sees the whole person. He does not only see a pretty girl, a psychic fighter or someone who can protect him. He sees Momo as Momo.
What Ken Offers That Nobody Else Does
Ken gives Momo sincerity. He is awkward, but he is rarely fake. He cannot smoothly hide his feelings, and that makes him refreshing in a story full of bizarre threats, misunderstandings and emotional chaos.
He also gives her consistent loyalty. Ken may panic, overthink or get embarrassed, but when it matters, he comes back to Momo. He keeps trying even when the situation is bigger than him.
His courage is especially important because it does not come from being naturally dominant. Ken starts as someone who has been bullied and ignored. When he becomes brave, it feels earned.
To Momo, that matters. She is strong enough to protect herself, but she still wants someone who chooses to stand with her. Ken does that again and again.
Understanding who Ken is at his core explains a lot about their relationship. Our how old is ken takakura dandadan guide breaks down his age, powers and character growth.
Momo’s Emotional Walls and Why Ken Got Through Them
Momo is not emotionally open in a simple way. She is direct and expressive, but that does not mean she easily lets people close. Her strength often works like armor.
Part of that comes from her family situation. Momo lives with her grandmother Seiko, and the absence of her parents in her current life gives her a strong independent streak. She is used to handling things herself.
Ken does not break through her walls by forcing a confession or making grand romantic gestures. He gets through because he stays. He listens, worries, protects, apologizes and keeps showing up.
That patient presence is exactly what Momo needs. She does not need someone who tries to own her life. She needs someone who respects her strength while still caring when she is hurt.
This is why the question why does momo like ken takakura has an emotional answer, not just a plot answer. Ken becomes important because he gives Momo a place to be strong without being alone.
Momo’s difficulty trusting others makes more sense when you know her backstory. For more context, read what happened to momo ayase parents.
How Their Romance Develops Through the Manga
| Arc or Stage | Relationship Stage | What Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Strangers with a bet | Momo and Ken challenge each other’s beliefs |
| Early supernatural events | Reluctant allies | They survive aliens, spirits and curses together |
| Turbo Granny material | Growing trust | Ken and Momo learn to rely on each other in battle |
| Mid-series arcs | Unspoken feelings | Small jealousies, concern and tenderness become harder to ignore |
| Later manga arcs | Clear romantic tension | Their bond becomes one of the emotional centers of the story |
The romance works because Dandadan does not stop being chaotic to make room for love. Instead, love grows inside the chaos. Momo and Ken fight monsters, argue, misunderstand each other, get embarrassed and still keep moving closer.
That slow build is why fans root for them so strongly. Every small moment feels earned because it comes after fear, danger and emotional honesty.
Why Momo and Ken’s Romance Feels Different
Many manga romances rely on dramatic declarations, perfect timing or instant chemistry. Momo and Ken have chemistry, but it is awkward and messy in a way that feels more real.
Momo does not like Ken because he acts like a perfect hero. She likes him because he is honest when he is scared, kind when he does not have to be and brave when someone needs him.
Ken does not like Momo only because she is beautiful or powerful. He admires her courage, her directness and the way she sees him when almost nobody else does.
Their feelings are mutual because each gives the other something important. Momo gives Ken confidence and connection. Ken gives Momo trust and emotional steadiness.
This is the heart of why does momo like ken takakura. He is not the fantasy version of a perfect boy. He is the boy who keeps choosing her, even when choosing her means running straight into danger.
How Ken Shows He Likes Momo
Ken’s affection shows most clearly through action. He worries about Momo, protects her, listens to her and becomes stronger partly because he wants to stand beside her.
He is also emotionally sincere in a way that makes him easy to root for. He cannot always say the right thing, but his intentions are usually clear. His awkwardness makes the romance funnier, not weaker.
Ken’s love language is effort. He trains, fights and pushes himself because Momo matters to him. Even when he feels insecure, he does not want to be someone who only gets protected.
That effort is one of the reasons Momo’s feelings deepen. She sees him trying, and she understands that his courage is real.
Ken is just one reason Dandadan has such a strong cast. Explore the full roster in our dandadan characters guide.
FAQs
Why does Momo like Ken Takakura in Dandadan?
Momo likes Ken because he is kind, sincere, brave and loyal. He accepts her fully, fights for her when she is in danger and makes her feel safe without trying to control her. That is the clearest answer to why does momo like ken takakura.
When does Momo start having feelings for Ken?
Momo’s feelings develop gradually. There is no single sudden moment. Her affection grows as Ken repeatedly proves his courage, loyalty and sincerity through their shared supernatural experiences.
Do Momo and Ken end up together in Dandadan?
Momo and Ken have the central romantic relationship in Dandadan. The manga develops their feelings slowly, with clear romantic tension and major emotional steps, but it treats their relationship as a gradual process rather than a simple instant couple label.
Why is Momo and Ken’s relationship special in Dandadan?
Their relationship is special because it grows from trust instead of instant attraction. They survive impossible situations together, learn from each other and become emotionally important to each other over time.
How does Ken show he likes Momo in Dandadan?
Ken shows he likes Momo by protecting her, worrying about her, training to become stronger and staying emotionally sincere even when he is awkward or scared.
Is the romance in Dandadan a slow burn?
Yes. The romance between Momo and Ken is a slow burn. Their feelings build through shared danger, comedy, jealousy, vulnerability and trust across many arcs.
Conclusion
So, why does momo like ken takakura? Momo likes Ken not because he is the strongest, coolest or most confident person around her. She likes him because he is real. He is kind, awkward, loyal, brave and willing to stand beside her even when the world becomes terrifying.
Ken gives Momo something simple but rare: steady care without control. He sees her strength, but he also notices her fear and vulnerability. That is why their romance feels so natural.
To follow every step of Momo and Ken’s slow burn relationship, visit KunManga and read Dandadan from the beginning.
Techna Taylor is a content contributor at KunManga, focusing on manga, manhwa, and webtoon-related guides, recommendations, and reader-friendly explainers. With a strong interest in digital comics and online reading trends, Techna helps create clear, accessible content for fans who want to discover new series, understand popular titles, and follow updates across different manga genres.