u/Puzzled_Watch_3431

It’s been several weeks since Chapter 13 came out, and I still can't get over this scene.

I’m a huge fan of romantic love stories, and seeing Nakamura tell Hirose that everything about him is charming—that he loves everything about him—is just so beautiful. I mean, imagine how brave Nakamura was to say that, and think about how appreciated and loved Hirose must have felt. God, this scene is gorgeous; *Go for It, Nakamura!* is everything right with the world. 😭

The idea for this post came to me while I was writing the one dedicated to Hirose. Here, I will analyze Nakamura’s other relationships, as well as the dynamics of her family and friendships—all to explain why she connected with Hirose so quickly.

At the beginning of the series, Nakamura has no friends, is distant from his family, and is generally quite socially isolated. It seems he only talks to Icchan about his problems or concerns. Although he does not appear to mind being so isolated, this is not a good thing.

Nakamura has no one to listen to him (except Icchan), nor anyone with whom he can discuss his interests or tastes.

Hifumi (I love her):

Hifumi is starting to become friends with Nakamura. They both like *Love Bento* and share an interest in animals. But that’s not all; Nakamura truly appreciates Hifumi—he only agreed to take part in the play because he wanted to thank her for the drawing she made for him. She never makes him feel judged. Their interaction in Chapter 10 really develops their friendship.

A few hours ago (or days—I’m not quite sure when I’ll finish this post), I started a discussion about whether Nakamura knows that Hifumi is aware of his feelings for Hirose. Many people said he probably knows, but they simply haven't talked about it. That seems likely, and it’s nice to think that Nakamura feels comfortable enough with her to ask for drawings and portraits, knowing she won't judge him. I think it would be good for Nakamura to talk to her more about the subject. In fact, the conversation between Hifumi and Nakamura in Chapter 10—where he confesses his love for *Love Bento*—could be a metaphor for him confessing his feelings for Hirose to her. Her response of "Yes, I know" would carry even more weight in that context.

I consider their relationship to be a work in progress, but I believe it will ultimately become a beautiful friendship built on respect, trust, and shared interests.

His family:

To avoid confusion, I’ll refer to our protagonist as Okuto and his parents as Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura (so I don't have to keep saying "Nakamura's father/mother").

The Nakamura family is extremely emotionally distant.

Mrs. Nakamura was very worried about Okuto during Chapter 12, yet she did nothing to help her son; we know nothing about Mr. Nakamura.

Okuto spends far too much time in his room; he never talks to his parents or Kana, and his interactions with them are very limited.

It is certain that they don't even know Nakamura is gay, nor do they ask him why he is so depressed. Mrs. Nakamura says she wants to go look for him, yet she never approached him to ask how he was feeling while he was still at home. This suggests that she doesn't know how to react to Okuto's behavior; she likely doesn't want to invade his space, but she gives him so much room that she ends up being an emotionally absent figure in his life. It doesn't help that he never tells her anything, so she doesn't know how to act when her son is struggling—simply because she doesn't know what is wrong.

Now, this dynamic isn't good; Okuto needs supportive, present figures in his life, and his parents ought to know how to handle situations like this.

Then there is Kana. She and Okuto have a very contentious relationship. They argue constantly, and when they aren't arguing, they simply don't speak to each other. She finds him annoying, and vice versa. And yet, I believe they care deeply for one another. Mind you, it isn't a good relationship, and their dynamic is far from healthy. In Chapter 12, it becomes clear that she wants to help him (yes, even if it doesn't look that way), but she doesn't know how. Their dynamic was built on mistreatment, and when Nakamura is going through a rough patch—a time when he needs to be treated with affection and understanding—Kana freezes up; she doesn't know how to help because she doesn't know how to get along with him, so she decides to give him space.

Honestly, it makes me very sad to see that family dynamic. We all need support figures in our daily lives, especially during emotionally complex ages like adolescence. And the family circle should fulfill this function.

Hirose:

Now, enter Hirose. And I want to explain why this crush (picture 4) isn't the same as that one (picture 5). In the early episodes, Nakamura had a crush on Hirose, but it was just that—attraction. Hirose is Nakamura's type: light hair, a nice smile, and so on.

We know Nakamura is terrified of being judged, yet Hirose never judges him. He always tries to make him feel comfortable and included. Hirose became the supportive figure Nakamura needed but hadn't had until then. And so, slowly, Nakamura's superficial crush evolved into a much deeper, emotional love.

Hirose and Nakamura are two poles of the same spectrum. Both fear judgment, but while Nakamura externalizes this fear by distancing himself from others, Hirose does so by trying to please people (drawing close to others in an unhealthy way). They meet each other's needs because they connected in a healthy manner—always respecting boundaries, and remaining respectful and understanding. Hirose showed Nakamura that he doesn't need to hide his interests, as there is nothing wrong with them, while Nakamura showed Hirose that he doesn't need to hide his feelings or try to please others, because he is appreciated just as he is. In this way, they help each other realize they are loved for who they are, and that is truly beautiful.

This post focuses on Hirose’s social relationships: his sister, his friends, Sakamoto, and Nakamura. I won’t be reviewing the series' events chapter by chapter; instead, this will be an overall assessment of how Hirose relates to others and why his other dynamics explain the speed with which he connected emotionally with Nakamura.

While writing this post, it occurred to me to review Nakamura's relationships so we could see why he connected with Hirose so easily (because no, it wasn't just because he had a crush on him—though that certainly might have helped).

Friends and Sakamoto:

One thing I noticed about Hirose—and that really struck me—is that before meeting Nakamura, he didn't have a single friendship involving a deep emotional connection. We all have friends with whom we share a more "superficial" dynamic—the kind where we joke around and chat about shared interests, but never really talk about our feelings. Then there are those other friends—the ones with whom you discuss your deepest emotions and how you’re truly feeling, and with whom you allow yourself to be vulnerable. Before Nakamura, all of Hirose’s friends fell into that first category: friends based on shared interests. Mind you, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but highlighting the absence of the second type of friendship—those with a deep connection—is crucial to understanding Hirose.

When analyzing Hirose’s friendships, it makes perfect sense that they don’t fit into that second category (with the possible exception of Oomori, though I’d ​​like to speculate a bit about him later). Let’s start with Mukai: he comes across as very reserved, and if you look closely, he never really talks about himself. That can make it difficult to connect with him.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Takeuchi, who talks about himself too much; in fact, almost everything he says and does revolves around his own interests. The friendship between the three seems to center largely on their shared interests and Takeuchi’s desires. Takeuchi’s "everything revolves around me" attitude could be a barrier preventing Hirose from connecting with him. Of course, their relationship might not actually be like that—after all, we’ve only seen a small glimpse of their friendship—but that is the impression left by the few interactions we’ve witnessed between Hirose, Mukai, and Takeuchi.

Another factor that might hinder the connection between the three is that Hirose feels uncomfortable with his friends' conversations but is afraid to confront them.

Hirose’s own attitude plays a role here, too. He is a pleaser person who puts others' wishes before his own and never prioritizes his own needs (nor does he know how to set boundaries, as we see in Chapter 5). This could be fueling the dynamic with Takeuchi.

In short: Mukai and Hirose always give in to Takeuchi. Mukai doesn’t open up emotionally to his friends, and Hirose doesn’t bring up the issue because he fears confrontation.

And then there’s Oomori (best supporting character and GOD), with whom this dynamic makes less sense to me. They’ve been friends since elementary school and share many interests. Honestly, I don't quite know what to make of Oomori and Hirose.

I have two theories here:

1: Oomori and Hirose do talk about their feelings, but we just don't see it. This could make sense; if you think about it, Hirose left Oomori behind in Chapter 6 to go with Nakamura, and while with Nakamura, he says Oomori will be fine because he has his number anyway. He probably knows Oomori won't judge him for leaving, which implies they know each other much better. One could argue against this since Hirose admits he doesn't feel comfortable with his friends, but he never specifies if that applies to Oomori as well.

2: They’re really just friends who share common interests. This makes sense, too, since we don't see Hirose turning to Oomori the way he does with Nakamura. Also, keep in mind that most friendships formed in elementary school are based on shared interests like TV shows, music, video games, etc. It’s possible they’re both just comfortable with this friendship dynamic as it is.

It’s harder to theorize about them, specifically because Oomori isn't as open as Takeuchi and really doesn't get much screen time. Honestly, I’d love to know a bit more about the dynamic between these two ("Go for it, Hirose" is a necessity, not a whim 🫡🫡🫡).

Matsumura, this is much easier to understand. He is in love with Hirose, just like our Nakamura. However, unlike him, he never sought to understand Hirose emotionally or truly connect with him. Matsumura’s love (or rather, obsession) is limited to wanting to spend time with him (often in an intrusive manner). Furthermore, his appearances reveal that he has heavily idealized Hirose and holds a simplistic view of him. This suggests that Matsumura never tried to establish an emotional connection with Hirose, and consequently, Hirose never attempted to open up to him emotionally either.

Finally, let's talk about Sakamoto. Her relationship with Hirose was always very superficial; they weren't a couple for very long, and Hirose wasn't interested in her, so it makes sense that they didn't connect.

His family:

We hardly know anything about them. The only person from his family circle we are familiar with is his sister, and she has a total of about one minute of screen time. So, we have to focus on her. Aiki’s sister cares deeply for him—evident in how considerate she is, how she cheers him on, and how she gifts him movie tickets (likely without him even asking). Ultimately, she wants Hirose to view her as a positive, present figure in his life. Hirose, however, sees her as annoying. I don’t think she is actually annoying, but there is a key factor to consider: they spend a lot of time together because they are family. Hirose likely finds her intrusive because he is at that age where he wants space, and since they spend so much time together, he feels she isn't giving him any. On top of that, his sister sometimes doesn't listen to him—as seen when she starts cheering him on during the play, even though he had asked her to go back home.

Nakamura (The best, I love him.):

And then there’s Nakamura (he’s the best; I love him with all my heart). We all know that he and Hirose connected very quickly and deeply. Nakamura knew how to fulfill Hirose’s need to be heard and valued—and the feeling was mutual, though this is really about Hirose. As we can see, Hirose didn’t connect with anyone else in his circle—only Nakamura. I believe this happened because Nakamura allowed it to happen by listening to him and validating him, never once making Hirose feel judged. Nakamura knew how to be the supportive figure Hirose needed, even if he didn't realize it himself.

I want to write a post about Nakamura and his relationships with his family and friends, and while organizing my ideas, I asked myself the following question: Hifumi knows that Nakamura likes Hirose. But do you think Nakamura is aware of this? I mean, he has asked for manga featuring the two of them and for portraits of him several times. He might not realize how obvious it is, but I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Before I begin, I want to thank everyone who has read this theory and shared their opinions with me. I’m really happy to be able to share my thoughts with the people in this subreddit.

To be honest, this part took me a really long time to put together. The more I analyzed and interpreted Hirose’s behavior, the more I noticed—regarding both him and others—that clearly explains why his relationships play out the way they do. However, I wrote this specific section of my theory intending to focus on his key relationships (Nakamura and, to a lesser extent, Sakamoto), so I had to try to weave the theory together without getting sidetracked by explaining his other relationships. It’s not all bad news, though: I’ve got some ideas brewing for a future post about Hirose’s friendships. Another hurdle was that I couldn't find the specific screenshots I wanted to use, so I took them myself; the image quality leaves a lot to be desired—sorry about that—but I watched the series on a touchscreen potato. Here are the three previous parts for anyone who wants to read them.

Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/Niloff28Am

Part 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/VO0ZLzW4Dk

Part 3: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/nzvtbmX0tc

Chapter 12:

Hirose has to stay a little longer before heading home. I believe Hana asked him to stay and confessed her feelings while Nakamura was helping Otogiri. Hirose was flattered by Hana's confession. He agreed to be her boyfriend partly because he appreciated the compliment and partly out of a sense of obligation. I think Hirose knew Nakamura was still around, so he decided to wait for him to talk about how he was feeling. He asked Nakamura if he had received any chocolates, but Nakamura said no. Since I believe Hirose is attracted to Nakamura (likely unconsciously), we also have to consider the emotional conflict he is experiencing right now: What does he feel for Nakamura? Does he want to be with Hana? How should he act? Is it okay to feel this way? Hirose was too embarrassed to admit to all these complex emotions. Ultimately, he chose the easy way out: shutting down and running away. That is how Hirose’s relationship with Hana began. At first, he probably wasn't uncomfortable; he was simply testing out what it felt like to be in a relationship. Over time, he realized that the relationship wasn't what he wanted, yet he didn't break up with Hana because, as we know, Hirose fears confrontation.

Chapter 13:

Now comes the best part: Chapter 13. At this point, Hirose no longer wants to be with Sakamoto. His attitude toward her is quite cold. She begins to realize that he isn't the guy she thought he was. The relationship cools off rapidly, until Sakamoto finally gets fed up and decides to confront Hirose. She tells him that it isn't as fun as she initially thought. Hirose is left feeling quite disheartened—not because of the relationship itself, but because of Hana's comment.

I want to point out here that Hirose’s attitude isn't right (though it is realistic). He was quite cold to Hana, even though she wasn't at fault. That’s not to say Hirose is a bad person— because I don't think he is.

While having this conversation with Sakamoto, Hirose spots Nakamura. Once the conversation ends, he decides to go after Nakamura. "The relationship is over." Hirose explains that he feels frustrated because he wasn't "enough" for her. "She didn't understand your charm." At this point, we see a serious look on Hirose's face (picture 5). Okay, let's imagine what Aiki might have felt in that moment. Nakamura—someone he deeply appreciates and admires (and is attracted to, by the way)—has just told him that Sakamoto failed to appreciate his charm; she didn't see his positive qualities. That must have felt like, "Wow, this person really values ​​me and enjoys my company." But immediately after, Hirose shuts down again. He runs off, and it is Nakamura who has to suggest they go home together. This is another instance of fear of confrontation; continuing that conversation would have meant exploring uncomfortable feelings. It’s not about confronting Nakamura, but confronting himself—something very difficult to do. However, when Nakamura asks to go home together, Hirose agrees and talks with him. In doing so, he explores his feelings. Aiki speaks sincerely. He tells Nakamura that while it might be true that he isn't "enough," Nakamura's comment made him happy. He says this while running across the street (almost as if he wanted to flee again but ultimately didn't🤨) (picture 6). Nakamura tells him they can talk about whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and that he will always try to be there for him.

Look at the look in Hirose's eyes when Nakamura says that to him (picture 7). It looks like he's on the verge of tears. (If you look at the other close-ups of Hirose, his pupils are perfectly round, whereas in this image, they are irregular).

Once again, Nakamura made Hirose feel appreciated and validated. This moment must have felt incredibly special to him. Nakamura runs off, leaving Aiki completely bewildered. Aiki chases after him, and when he catches up, he asks for his LINE ID (picture 9).

When he gets home, his sister (who I know would be my favorite character if she didn't have like 0.000000000001 minutes of screen time) hands him two movie tickets—presumably for him and Sakamoto. I can picture Hirose looking incredibly embarrassed as he accepts them, telling her, "We just broke up." I imagine his sister replied with something like, "Well, go with someone else." And the first person Hirose thought of was Nakamura. I bet that after inviting Nakamura, he sat there waiting for a reply, thinking things like, "He probably doesn't want to come; he left me on read 😭" and checking his screen every 0.1 seconds. It seems he couldn't tell if Nakamura was typing—I say this because Nakamura couldn't see when Hirose was typing, so it’s not a sure thing. Then Nakamura replies with a simple "OK😊" (LOL), and Hirose answers him the very next minute 😭 (picture 10).

I think Hirose spent that whole day and the next overthinking what Nakamura said about his charm. It was truly very significant to him.

The next day, Hirose arrives at least 15 minutes before 11:00, as we can see on Nakamura’s phone (picture 11). And we all know that punctuality isn't exactly his strong suit; in the first episode, he arrives late to cooking class, and in Chapter 4, he and Oomori have to rush because they would otherwise be late.

On another note, it is worth mentioning that Hirose was the one who treated them to popcorn; he likely didn't have much money and could only afford to buy one large box to share (picture 12). This makes me suspect that Hirose also paid for the drinks at the café shortly after (picture 13), though we can't know for sure. Hirose came across as very considerate in this episode; I’ve seen posts from others mentioning that Aiki’s family is facing financial difficulties. Therefore, these small expenses carry much more weight for him. While at the café, he confesses to Nakamura that he went to see that movie just for him: "It’s not a genre I usually watch, but I thought it would be fun to see it with you." This speaks volumes about how attracted Hirose feels at this moment. He values ​​Nakamura and wants to spend time with him. I think Hirose is at that stage where you like someone and say things like, "There’s something special about them, but I don’t know what it is"; it’s exactly that kind of moment where you don't yet explicitly realize you like them, but you sense a certain attraction.

A while later, when the two of them sat down in the park, Hirose closed his eyes for a moment. I think that, just like Nakamura, Hirose was lost in his own internal monologue. I like to imagine Hirose was thinking something along the lines of, "Nakamura really is a good guy; I really enjoyed spending the day with him—he's so charming..." and then recalling what Nakamura had said about his own charms.

So Hirose decides to "confront" Nakamura. "What is charming about me?" (Picture 16)

"Everything!!!!". (Picture 17)

Look at the look of astonishment on Hirose's face (picture 18); he was probably expecting a compliment like "you're very kind" or "you're funny." But instead, Nakamura said "Everything!!!"—and he didn't say it casually; he shouted it. Just imagine for a moment what that means—how cherished Hirose must have felt. It must be startling to hear something like that. He was truly taken aback by Nakamura's answer. And notice how nervous Hirose became after hearing it; he isn't laughing because he finds it funny—it's a way to hide how nervous he felt. Hirose told Nakamura, "You're really amazing." This exchange was his attempt to return the compliment. "Honestly, not really..." Nakamura replied. But Hirose didn't believe him; he sees Nakamura as someone cool, kind, considerate, and funny—an interesting person he truly appreciates and wants to get to know better. Hirose is able to see Nakamura's virtues and flaws, his interests, and his fears. All in all, he sees a wonderful person worth knowing. It must have made him sad that Nakamura couldn't see himself the way Hirose saw him.

Hirose gives Nakamura the octopus keychain. I’d love to know where and when he bought it—I’m guessing at a shop in the mall, though who knows? Our Nakamura must have felt like the luckiest person alive. He thanks Hirose, clearly overjoyed, while Hirose, feeling nervous, downplays the gesture. I think he felt a spark all over again seeing Nakamura so happy. But, true to form, he ended up running off to the observation deck, covering his face (which was likely beet-red).

In the credits, both of them look very happy; Hirose intends to ask Nakamura to see another movie. It’s worth noting here that he stood Matsumura up again, whereas he went to great lengths to see that movie with Nakamura and spend the day with him.

Unfortunately, we didn't see things from Hirose's point of view. But I hope this theory has helped us picture what he was seeing. It truly makes me happy to watch this series, and I really enjoy sharing my thoughts on it with others.

Okay, this is the penultimate part.

Part 1 is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/Niloff28Am

And Part Two is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/VO0ZLzW4Dk

Chapter 7:

When he enters the occult club with Oomori and Tamura, the first thing he sees is Nakamura crucified 😭😭. Tamura had really insisted that Nakamura be the main character. But look at Hirose—his eyes light up when he hears that; I think he felt a great deal of admiration for Nakamura (let's not forget that Hirose has admired Nakamura ever since he saved him in Chapter 4). Hirose is terrified throughout the chapter, though he believes it doesn't show all that much. He grabs onto Nakamura's belt so he doesn't lose sight of him, ensuring he doesn't risk being left alone. Personally, I think he actually held his hand at first and then let go.

Chapter 8

Hirose barely appears in this chapter; the focus is instead on the conversation between Nakamura and Matsumura. So, I’ll look at their dialogue to understand where each of them stands regarding their relationship with Hirose. To start, let’s talk about Matsumura. I think Hirose is his "friend" more out of obligation than genuine interest. While Nakamura no longer idealizes Hirose—thanks to previous chapters—Matsumura seems to have an unrealistic image of him and lacks a deep understanding of his personality. Hirose ignores him, keeps him at arm's length, and seems to be simply waiting for Matsumura to stop talking to him. I don’t know what happened to make Hirose act this way toward him, especially considering he was the one who initiated the friendship in the first place. I suppose things just aren't the same anymore, and Hirose gradually distanced himself from Matsumura until he no longer considered him a close friend. On the other hand, there’s Nakamura; Hirose cares about him and has interacted with him 121 times in just a few months—a significant figure considering he had 120 interactions with Matsumura over the course of all of middle school. I want to dwell on this last point: the school year starts in April (spring), and this chapter takes place right after summer (I don’t know the exact month, but let’s assume it’s September or late August). If we subtract summer vacation (two to three months) and consider that Nakamura spent the entire first month without speaking to Hirose, we see that, broadly speaking, Nakamura and Hirose have interacted more in two months (May and June) than Hirose and Matsumura did throughout middle school —a period that, according to my online research, lasts three years in Japan. In this context, Matsumura is living proof that Nakamura is doing things right😍

Chapter 9:

Hirose begins the chapter trying to help everyone with the festival (a classic people-pleasing moment). When Tamura asks him to play the role of the most beautiful woman in Japan in their play, Hirose agrees and calls his sister to ask for a dress. His sister brings it over and stays to watch him perform. When the play starts, he discovers that Nakamura is the one acting. She starts shouting, which makes him angry. These scenes really capture their dynamic, and I think they help us understand how the two of them get along. Hirose’s sister adores him and wants to be a positive, present figure in his life, but he seems to find her behavior intrusive. I think his sister is a genuinely good person—not annoying at all—but Hirose is simply at that age where he wants some space.

Chapter 10:

This chapter shows a Hirose who is much more interested in Nakamura. When he sees him enter the library, he calls him over and tells him to sit next to him. Later, when heading to the cafeteria, he notices Nakamura intends to stay behind and invites him to join the group. By this point—as I mentioned in Part 2—I believe Hirose was already interested in Nakamura; he likely felt some level of attraction toward him. Furthermore, he knows Nakamura struggles with socializing. He tries to include him, but Nakamura remains shy and keeps studying quietly (while noting down Hirose's preferences, lol). I think Hirose might have felt a bit guilty; perhaps Nakamura hadn't wanted to be there and only came out of a sense of obligation. Then, noticing Nakamura has finished his coffee, he offers to refill it—even though he hasn't finished his own drink yet. I believe his goal was to make Nakamura feel included or special. However, when his other friends ask him to refill their drinks too, he gets annoyed; that gesture wasn't meant for them—it was for Nakamura, whom he views differently. While refilling the drinks with Nakamura, he tries to strike up a conversation, talking about the cocoa in the coffee and how his sister prepares it. He seems genuinely interested in Nakamura—and notice how close he constantly gets to his face. You don't usually get that close to someone unless you're attracted to them (whether consciously or not; it's unclear at this stage). A crucial moment occurs here: Hirose "confronts" Nakamura, saying something like, "I think you'd prefer to study in silence." This reveals the level of trust he feels toward his friend; Hirose apologizes for making him feel bad, even though we know Nakamura didn't actually feel bad. Both of them feel guilty about their behavior, even though neither actually treated the other poorly. In a final attempt to include Nakamura, Hirose decides to play the "coffee prank" on Takeuchi—which backfires. When we view the chapter from Hirose's perspective, we might think the interaction went poorly—or even that Nakamura was left with a bad impression of him or his friends—which strikes me as sad, because in reality, Nakamura was quite happy.

Chapter 11:

Hirose talks to Oomori about the new limited-edition Aquapet T-shirt. Once he gets home, he pre-orders it. A few days later, while he is sitting down, a pink pen topped with a small octopus figure rolls to his feet. It belongs to Nakamura; Hirose associates octopuses with him. When Nakamura tells Hirose he can keep the pen, Hirose gets flustered. Judging by Hirose's reaction, I think he did pick up on the lie. Nakamura says "it's a gift for you" in a sincere tone, but his tone changes when he adds, "well, I bought two, and blah blah..." Hirose was likely thinking, "Why do you have to lie to me about this?" Even so, I think he found the gift nice.

On the day he returns to class after the New Year's break, Hirose is about to enter the classroom when he bumps into a very attractive guy; he blushes slightly and apologizes. He takes note of the guy and looks at him again curiously, wondering who he is. Then, as he touches his bangs, he realizes it is Nakamura.

Hello. First of all, I want to explain why I decided to share this theory in parts. I like to finish what I start—especially when sharing it with others—and do the best job possible. Releasing the theory in parts makes both easier: since I’ve already started, I’m going to finish it, and the episodic format allows me to delve deeper into key chapters like 6, 12, and 13. I also want to clarify that there won't be much of a time gap between the parts of this theory. I’ll be releasing Part 3—covering episodes 7 through 11—in the next few hours or maybe tomorrow.

For those who haven't read Part 1 and would like to do so firts : https://www.reddit.com/r/Ganbare_Nakamura/s/Niloff28Am

Okay, before we begin, so far Hirose sees Nakamura as brave for saving him, with quite interesting tastes, kind, a good person, a bit shy and clumsy, yes, but a good guy overall. What Hirose doesn't like about Nakamura is that he tends to lie about his tastes and hide his feelings (something we know he does too). His actions in chapter 6 can be understood much better in this context.

Now let's look at Chapter 6 from Hirose's perspective. He seems excited to explore the city and wants to visit as many places as possible before leaving. However, it appears that Hirose's group has been doing what Takeuchi wants (following Yuuka). Hirose wants to do something else, but instead of leaving alone, he decides to stay behind (once again avoiding confrontation). When Takeuchi leaves, Hirose stays with Oomori and Nakamura, and they go to eat with Otogiri. Otogiri mentions that he sometimes likes being alone, which Hirose finds amazing because he himself is incapable of being alone, always wanting to please others. A while later, as they walk, Nakamura spots an aquarium and decides to go in alone. Hirose finds this incredible once again and decides to leave Oomori and go with Nakamura. When he enters, he sees Nakamura looking at an octopus and decides to approach him, thinking, "So you do like octopuses after all." When Nakamura explains that he used to be teased for his fondness for these animals, he emotionally opens up to Hirose for the first time (note that Nakamura is the first to open up emotionally). Hirose tells him that it's okay because of his tastes. This is important because when Nakamura opened up emotionally to Hirose, Hirose saw the reason why Nakamura is so closed off about his tastes.

Here I'm going to theorize a bit. We know from chapter 13 that Hirose is quite insecure. When Hana broke up with him, his insecurity about "not being enough" was clearly triggered because Hana told him he wasn't as fun as she thought. I think that at this moment Hirose saw some of his own fears reflected in Nakamura, specifically the fear of being judged. Hirose has also always had a much less idealized view of Nakamura, which is why he connected with him more easily.

Then they were sitting down, and Hirose finally decided to open up emotionally as well. "When Takeuchi left, I felt relieved." Here, for the first time in the entire anime, Hirose speaks about how he truly feels. He confesses that he doesn't like his friends' conversations, that he doesn't enjoy certain attitudes of theirs, but that he never tells them how he feels (once again, fear of confrontation). He confesses that he doesn't follow his own advice to be honest about his feelings without fear of being judged (this is key to understanding Nakamura and Hirose's relationship from this point forward). But then Hirose shuts down again (yes, he does). He asks Nakamura, "What do you want to do?" but doesn't say, "I'd like to do this, shall we?" Once again, he leaves the decision up to others. But Nakamura asks him what he wants to do. Here, Hirose must have felt incredibly loved and appreciated by his friend. He listened to him, and not only that, he took him into account. That's why I find the scenes where they walk through the city so beautiful.

Finally, they're by the sea, chatting. When the wind lifts Nakamura's hair, revealing his face, Hirose seems to find him attractive. He simply tells him he'd look great without his bangs and finds Nakamura's reaction amusing. But the pleasant moment he's spending with his friend is interrupted by Takeuchi. Hirose tells him he doesn't feel like going with them, and Takeuchi gets angry. Once again, Hirose tries to avoid a confrontation and goes with them. However, Nakamura takes the initiative and stops him, "Don't force yourself to go; it's better to be honest." I think that at this moment, Hirose felt a spark for Nakamura for two reasons: remember that he found Nakamura attractive earlier, and that this image (Picture 5 ) was what Hirose saw; and second, Nakamura reminded him of his values: being honest and staying where you truly feel comfortable. Nakamura charmed Hirose in this scene, and I won't argue with that.

A while later, they are sitting in the park. Nakamura gives Hirose the crab keychain. Hirose is happy, especially because the keychain is proof that Nakamura has been listening to him all day. Nakamura considered Hirose's tastes when choosing the gift. Then Nakamura asks Hirose if he wants to be his friend. It's important to see Hirose's reaction here: he looks at Nakamura, then at the keychain, and remains silent. At this point, Hirose understands that Nakamura has difficulty socializing and needs explicit reassurance. That's why the photo of them together is so important to their relationship. It's tangible proof of their friendship.

I love Nakamura and his funny faces😭😭😭

I LOVE this scene. I understand you, Nakamura, I also have like 80 tons of clothes and paradoxically I never find anything to wear 😭😭😭

Vale, me encantó este capítulo. Al principio, me decepcionó un poco que Nakamura no se le declarara a Hirose. Pero lo volví a ver y ahora entiendo por qué la historia terminó así. Probablemente lo concluyeron de esta manera para que la autora pudiera terminar su obra, lo cual me parece bien. Aun así, es un final satisfactorio, y si la serie no continúa con otra temporada (cosa que dudo por esa última escena), será un buen final.

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Son el refugio del otro:

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Este episodio marcó un punto de inflexión en su relación.

Nakamura le dice a Hirose que puede hablar con él de cualquier cosa, cuando quiera, y que siempre estará ahí para él. Nakamura se convirtió en el refugio de Hirose. Al día siguiente, Hirose le dice a Nakamura que solo habría visto esa película si hubiera estado con él, lo que implica que lo considera su refugio. Lo ve de una manera que nunca vio a Hana.

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Esto es recíproco; Nakamura también empieza a ver a Hirose como su refugio por primera vez. Antes, Nakamura se sentía amenazado cerca de Hirose; no podía mirarlo a los ojos, estaba nervioso, mentía, etc. En otra publicación, expliqué que los créditos representan el mundo interior de Nakamura. Para resumir lo que dije ese día, el dibujo lineal y la paleta de colores de los créditos iniciales difieren del resto de la serie, excepto en los episodios 3, 12 y ahora 13. En el episodio 3, se da a entender que Hirose está en el coche durante los créditos. En los demás episodios, excepto el 13, se muestra la habitación de Nakamura durante los créditos: su refugio. Pero en el episodio 12, la habitación de Nakamura deja de ser ese espacio tranquilo, como lo demuestra el uso de un estilo artístico y colores más oscuros. Esto es importante porque en la escena donde Hirose le da a Nakamura el llavero de pulpo, vemos a Nakamura por un segundo, pero con el color y el estilo artístico de los créditos (imagen 2), lo que implica que, a partir de ese momento, Nakamura comenzó a ver a Hirose como su nuevo refugio.

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Sobre Hirose:

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Este capítulo dejó algo claro: Hirose está interesado en Nakamura, pero no está listo para iniciar una relación. Esto se evidencia en los siguientes puntos:

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1. Hirose esperó 20 minutos a que Nakamura respondiera a su mensaje y contestó al instante, casi como si no hubiera soltado el teléfono en todo ese tiempo. Esto resulta sorprendente si recordamos lo distante que es con Matsumura, a quien ignora por completo e incluso olvida que iba a irse a casa con él no una, sino dos veces.

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2. Le dice a Nakamura que no entiende por qué quería ver esa película específicamente con él. Por lo tanto, Hirose no comprende los sentimientos que tiene por Nakamura.

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3. Le presta mucha más atención a Nakamura que a su novia.

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4. No puede dejar de pensar en cuando Nakamura le habló de sus encantos.

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5. Después de darle el llavero a Nakamura, se sonrojó y salió corriendo, usando el mirador como excusa. Siempre huye de sus sentimientos. Eso me hace pensar que aún no está listo para una relación.

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Por otro lado, está su trato hacia Hana. En el episodio anterior, parecía feliz con ella, incluso nervioso por su confesión. En este episodio, confesó que al principio se alegró mucho cuando Hana le confesó sus sentimientos y aceptó encantado ser su novio. Pero con el tiempo, se dio cuenta de que eso no era lo que realmente quería. Sin embargo, ya era demasiado tarde, y como todos sabemos, Hirose antepone la felicidad de los demás, así que no terminó la relación. Hana finalmente comprendió que sus sentimientos no eran correspondidos y simplemente decidió terminar la relación de la manera más madura posible. Creo que amaba a Hirose, pero fue capaz de entender que sus sentimientos no eran correspondidos. Curiosamente, Hana lo llama Aiki, pero Aiki nunca la llama Hana. Cuando Hirose le cuenta a Nakamura sobre su relación, la llama Sakamoto. Mi teoría es que Hirose podría haberse sentido atraído por Hana, pero nunca pudo conectar emocionalmente con ella; tal vez sea bisexual. Por otro lado, parece sentirse atraído por Nakamura tanto física como emocionalmente.

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Sobre Nakamura

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Solo diré que Nakamura se confesó accidentalmente.

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H: "¿Qué tengo de encantador?"

N: "Todo."

Nakamura fue tan increíblemente sincero que incluso Hirose se sorprendió. De repente, Hirose se echó a reír. Creo que fue una reacción inconsciente para controlar sus nervios. En este episodio, solo una escena me dolió de verdad: cuando Nakamura va al baño y se lava la cara, se mira y dice que ya había decidido rendirse. Dios, esa escena duele; Esa sensación de renunciar a tu enamorado, de pensar "Nunca seré suficiente para él", es horrible. Pero luego Nakamura acepta que todavía ama a Hirose. Su arco argumental concluye porque es honesto con Hirose, se permite emocionarse cuando Hirose le da el llavero, es feliz, y eso es lo que importa. Aun así, el nivel de Nakamura de "estas son cosas que haría un amigo, porque eso es lo que somos, amigos, sí, solo eso, jeje" en este episodio 😭. La primera vez que vi el episodio, no lo noté tanto, pero la segunda vez me di cuenta. Hirose se pasó todo el episodio demostrando que le gustaba Nakamura, y Nakamura le decía: "Oye, me invitó al cine la misma tarde que rompió con su novia, solo eran cosas de amigos", "Ni siquiera tarda medio segundo en responder, amigos, obviamente", "No habría venido a ver esta película si no hubiera estado con él, pero nunca podré hacerlo feliz". ¡Dios mío, Nakamura, ¿por qué?! Después de ver el episodio, me di cuenta de que una confesión en ese preciso momento habría sido completamente inapropiada. Si alguien acaba de terminar una relación, una confesión se sentiría como una falta de respeto hacia esa persona.

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Conclusión:

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Creo que esta pareja terminará junta; simplemente sucederá. Es obvio que se gustan. Deberían conocerse mejor y superar sus inseguridades primero, pero tarde o temprano, serán pareja.

Me gustó que este episodio se centrara exclusivamente en ellos, aunque, en mi opinión, deberían haber incluido algunas escenas desde la perspectiva de Hirose.