He no longer wants to be the boy who silently watches Yuuko from afar. He wants to be the boy who makes Ayumi smile.
For a series titled Hatsukoi Limited (“First Love Limited”), the choice of Kei over anyone else is thematically perfect.
Ayumi visits the Zaitsu household specifically to address her feelings. The story ends with her acknowledging both brothers—viewing them as "rivals" for her affection—while she continues to navigate her own complicated first love. other couples in the series, like Kei and Kusuda, ended their stories? hatsukoi limited who does ayumi choose
Throughout the story, Ayumi struggles with her feelings for the older, cool-looking (her first crush) and her growing connection with Kei. By the end of the manga (and the anime adaptation), she realizes her honest feelings for Kei and starts a relationship with him.
Unlike other male characters who pursue girls based on looks or shallow impressions, Kei grows to like Ayumi precisely because of her passionate, honest, and slightly clumsy heart. He no longer wants to be the boy
Ayumi, despite her outward hostility toward Kusuda, begins to see cracks in his armor. She notices that his actions often contradict his words. When he protects her, or when he goes out of his way to help her despite acting like a
The turning point in Ayumi’s heart occurs as she begins to witness the sincerity behind Misao’s actions. Unlike many of the other suitors in the series who are driven by fleeting hormones or ego, Misao’s love for Ayumi is selfless and unwavering. He consistently prioritizes her safety and happiness, often protecting her from shadows—both literal and figurative—without demanding recognition. Ayumi gradually realizes that while Mamoru is a pleasant fantasy, Misao is a steady, supportive reality. Ayumi visits the Zaitsu household specifically to address
This is the central conflict of Ayumi’s narrative. How can she compete with her own sister? Yuuko is everything Ayumi fears she is not: graceful, feminine, academically successful, and gentle.
Had Ayumi chosen someone else—a new character, or remained alone—the arc would have felt incomplete. Had she ended up with Misao (a horrifying outcome the narrative never seriously entertains), it would have destroyed the story’s emotional intelligence.
Ayumi’s romantic journey is a classic "love dodecahedron" that begins when she receives a frightening love letter from the hulking high-schooler Misao Zaitsu . However, her heart quickly turns toward his younger brother, Mamoru , after a "meet-cute" where he helps her to the infirmary.