Masamune Takano

Origin

Takano is first seen with a book on his head, exhausted from the editorial work. He is the editor-in-chief of Emerald and famed for making the dead department into the successful one it is today, so Ritsu expects him to be very proper, but is shocked when that is not the case. Takano blatantly calls Ritsu useless when he learns that the other man has no experience in manga, and actually forces Ritsu to stay because his pride makes him stick around to prove his worth. While Takano clearly irritates Ritsu to no end, Takano can't help but wonder if they had met before.

Later, Takano is the first to remember who Ritsu was. Back in high school, his kohai had confessed his love to him in a library and they had been dating since that event. His kohai said something very serious to him, so he wasn't sure how to respond and laughed nervously because he was embarrassed. His kohai then got upset and roundhouse kicked him before leaving. His first love was Ritsu, and he had never gotten over what happened. He tries to get Ritsu to remember when that happened, but the other man seems to have a pretty selective memory and thought Takano was making fun of him because he can't remember roundhouse kicking anyone.

Ritsu eventually remembers when Takano tells him that his name used to be Saga Masamune, the upperclassmen that Ritsu had confessed his love to. While Ritsu tells him that he had sworn never to fall in love again, Takano scoffs and declares that he will make Ritsu fall in love with him again.

Creation

Takano, who was created by Shungiku Nakamura, does not have any notes so far on what inspired the mangaka to create him.