Momo’s struggle in Dandadan: Why confessing to Okarun isn’t easy

In Dandadan, Yukinobu Tatsu cranks the formula of shonen romance into something uniquely frustrating and hilarious. At the heart of the story lies the undeniable chemistry between Momo Ayase and Okarun (Ken Takakura).

And despite everything the duo has faced together, Momo still hasn’t confessed her feelings to Okarun outright. This begs the question: why is Momo, who is usually confident and outspoken, struggling so much to tell Okarun that she loves him?

For a character who can stand up to terrifying yokai and space invaders without flinching, why is a three-word confession so difficult? Chapter 159 of Dandadan gave us a partial breakthrough: Okarun confessed.

But even then, Momo didn’t reciprocate outright. Instead, she delayed, saying they should wait until she’s “back to normal.” This was partly situational (since she was shrunken at the time), but it also revealed something deeper: Momo still isn’t ready to admit her feelings directly.

Some might argue that Momo doesn’t have anything to fear. Okarun has already shown countless signs that he’s crazy about her. He’s blushed, risked his life, and even attempted confessions that circumstances cut short. To us readers, it’s glaringly obvious. But from Momo’s perspective, love is never 100% certain until the words are exchanged.

Rejection, even an imagined one, is terrifying. The irony here is delicious: Momo can take on gods and monsters without fear, but she crumbles at the idea that Okarun might not return her feelings in the exact way she hopes. That’s teenage love in a nutshell: logic doesn’t always apply.

---

The gendered expectation: Waiting for Okarun to go first

One of the biggest fan theories about Momo’s hesitation is rooted in cultural and personal expectations. Many fans point out that she seems to want Okarun to confess first.

Three major moments support this:

1. The Reiko Kashima Dream - After being tricked into thinking Okarun confessed, Momo wakes up murmuring, “but you told me you loved me.” Clearly, she longs for him to say it first.
2. The Ombusman Arc - When tensions rise, Momo daydreams about Okarun confessing to her, revealing her desire for him to take the initiative.
3. The Danmara Sequence - Even while exhausted, she imagines Okarun saying those magic words.

Momo is not just waiting; she’s daydreaming about him making the move. It’s not that Momo lacks the courage to say it; it’s that she wants to be chosen, to hear Okarun declare his feelings in a way that validates everything she already feels inside.

---

Momo’s “indirect confessions”

Although she hasn’t outright confessed, Momo has basically already confessed through her actions and words:

• She wrote Okarun a note with an implied “I love you.”
• She often gets jealous when Aira or anyone else flirts with him.
• She literally told him, “Don’t even think about cheating on me.”

To anyone else, these are clear declarations of love. But in classic shonen-romance style, Okarun second-guesses, overthinks, and sometimes fails to interpret them correctly. Momo herself knows she hasn’t said it straight to his face, which leaves both of them in this frustrating limbo where everything is implied but nothing is confirmed.

---

What Momo’s confession will mean in Dandadan

When Momo finally does confess, it won’t just be a romantic payoff; it’ll mark a significant milestone in her character arc. For Momo, confessing will mean:

• Letting go of fear - Accepting vulnerability instead of hiding behind bravado.
• Taking responsibility for her emotions - No more waiting for Okarun to make the first move.
• Closing the loop with Okarun’s confession - Making their relationship mutual and balanced.

Just as Okarun’s confession in Dandadan symbolized his growth into courage, Momo’s eventual confession will represent her growth into emotional honesty.

---

Final thoughts

As fans, we may be impatient, yelling at the pages for her to “just say it already,” but that’s exactly why this storyline works. The buildup ensures that when Momo in Dandadan finally does confess, it’ll be one of the most satisfying payoffs in the series.

Just as Okarun had to grow into his courage, Momo must grow into her honesty. In the end, Momo’s confession isn’t just about love; it’s about becoming her truest self.