Aoharu x Kikanjuu Pairs Playlist
1. Hotaru/Kanae: Could It Be by Christy Carlson Romano
“ I know we've been friends forever
But now I think I'm feeling something totally new
And after all this time, I've opened up my eyes
Now I see you were always with me
Could it be you and I never imagined?
Could it be, suddenly, I'm falling for you?
(I am falling)
Could it be you were right here beside me?
And I never knew
Could it be that it’s true that it's you?
(Could it be?) That it's you
It's kinda funny, you were always near
But who would ever thought that we'd end up here?
And every time I needed you, you've been there for me
So now it's clear, I've been waiting for you”
Kanae didn’t seem to show any romantic interest for Hotaru until after their race against each other. And they had been best friends since the start of high school and that was a long time. She looked genuinely surprised with what she seemed to feel when Hotaru put her blazer on her and caressed her cheeks. I’d like to think that was her bisexual awakening and she realized that may be she had always had romantic feelings for her best friend.
2. Haruki/Haruka: If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys
“Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things define what's within
And I've been there before, and that life's a bore
So full of the superficial
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah”
“Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me”
Haruka seemed to have a good life. He had good grades, good career, and popular with the ladies. But he didn’t seem to care for any of it. He said it himself that despite his achievements he had always felt lonely, and that he only cared about Haruki.
3. Hotaru/Haruki: Because You Live by Jesse McCartney
“Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
It's the end of the world in my mind
Then your voice pulls me back like a wake up call
I've been looking for the answer
Somewhere
I couldn't see that it was right there
But now I know what I didn't know
Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself when nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky
It's alright, I survived, I'm alive again
Cuz of you, made it through every storm
What is life, what's the use if you're killing time
I'm so glad I found an angel
Someone
Who was there when all my hopes fell
I wanna fly, looking in your eyes”
Okay, this song can also fit Hotaru and Matsuoka in a way, but when I hear this song, I’m reminded of the time Hotaru ran toward Haruki when he was crying during the festival to comfort him and encourage him to go back to the team. I think this song fits this pair better. Especially when at the end of that particular chapter, he glanced at her, as if realizing that he wouldn’t be here with his teammates and gained his confidence again if it wasn’t for her. And even after that, Hotaru continued to cheer for him and give him emotional support, convincing him that he’s stronger and better than he thought he was. In turn, he too fell even harder for her.
4. Midori/Ichi: Smile by Avril Lavigne
“You know that I'm a crazy bitch
I do what I want when I feel like it
All I wanna do is lose control (oh, oh)
But you don't really give a shit
You go with it, go with it, go with it
'Cause you're fucking crazy rock n' roll
You said hey
What's your name
It took one look
And now I'm not the same
Yeah you said hey
And since that day
You stole my heart
And you're the one to blame
Yeah, and that's why I smile
It's been a while
Since every day and everything has
Felt this right
And now you turn it all around
And suddenly you're all I need
The reason why
I, I, I, I smile, oh oh oh”
Ichi used to be a lonely girl who never had any friends or anyone close to her. It was only after Midori approached her that she started to open up. She was very cold and harsh toward others because people did not want to approach her and those who did were only men who lusted for her body. Midori being the first person to approach her with kindness was what changed her. She started to smile more often and become more cheerful, though usually only in his presence.
5. Midori/Fujimoto: Judas by Lady Gaga
“When he comes to me I am ready
I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
Even after three times he betrays me
I'll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But I'm still in love with Judas, baby
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But I'm still in love with Judas, baby
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas
Judas! Judaas Judas! Judaas
Judas! Judaas Judas! GAGA
I couldn't love a man so purely
Even prophets forgave his crooked way
I've learned love is like a brick you can
Build a house or sink a dead body”
Does it need more explanation? Midori may treat him badly and give him punishments as much as he liked, but Fujimoto would still love him. He’s a true masochist after all. He even let Midori used him as a chair. And he always mistook Midori’s vile action as an act of kindness. Like when Midori said he found a new toy, Fujimoto thought he was talking about finding a new kohai. When Midori said to play along with their opponents strategy, he thought Midori was being kind when in fact he only wanted to give them hope only to crush it in the end.
6. Matsuoka/Yukimura: You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift
“Walkin' the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinkin' this is how it ought to be
Laughin' on a park bench, thinkin' to myself
"Hey, isn't this easy?"
And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you're fine, I know you better than that
Hey, what you doin' with a girl like that?
She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreamin' 'bout the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see
You belong with me
Standin' by and waitin' at your back door
All this time, how could you not know, baby
You belong with me
You belong with me”
Poor Yukki was pining for Mattsun while Mattsun pined for Midori. He was there to comfort Mattsun when he broke off with Midori, but Mattsun was still obsessed with Midori without realizing that Yukki had always stayed by his side the whole time it happened. I’d like to think that one of the reasons Yukki hates Midori (other than the fact that he hurt Mattsun) was because he felt inferior to him. Midori was better than Yukki in many ways. He’s stronger, smarter, more handsome. He was a popular doctor while he was a shut-in mangaka. Naturally Mattsun was more attached to Midori than Yukki.
7. Matsuoka/Midori: I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift
“Once upon a time
A few mistakes ago
I was in your sights
You got me alone
You found me
You found me
You found me
I guess you didn't care
And I guess I liked that
And when I fell hard
You took a step back
Without me
Without me
Without me
And he's long gone
When he's next to me
And I realize
The blame is on me
'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
'Til you put me down, oh
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So, shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
Now I'm lyin' on the cold hard ground
Oh, oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble
Oh, oh
Trouble, trouble, trouble”
Midori and Matsuoka met when Matsuoka was about to kill himself. The later than decided to leave his hand in the former’s hand, and the former taught him about survival game, giving him a new reason to live. In a way he prevented him from committing suicide, though his method was rather questionable. Matsuoka was grateful and got attached to Midori. They were good friends for a long time until Midori decided to break it off. But looking back, even Matsuoka had already detected that there was something strange with Midori from the moment they met, but he was too desperate to think clearly back then. He even admitted that when he decided to put his life in Midori’s hand he was “digging his own grave”.
8. Hotaru/Matsuoka: Crush by David Archuleta
“I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush
'Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It's just too much, just too much
Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know
Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?
Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Has it ever crossed your mind
When we're hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?”
Matsuoka was genuinely confused when he felt romantic feelings for Hotaru for the first time since he still thought she was a boy back then. To the point that he’s questioning his own sexuality. He kept denying his feelings. Every time Hotaru made him flustered, he kept telling himself he was straight. He looked really upset when he saw Hotaru and Midori kiss in the onsen. It seemed to make him realize he’s in deeper than he thought with Hotaru, that it was more than just a “crush” with her.
9. Hotaru/Midori: Miss Independent by Ne-Yo
“Ooh there's something about
Kinda woman that can do for herself
I look at her and it makes me proud
There's something about her
Something ooh so sexy about
Kinda woman that don't even need my help
She said she got it, she got it (she said she got it, she got it)
No doubt, there's something about her (there's somethin' about her)
Cause she work like a boss
Play like a boss
Car and the crib she 'bout to pay 'em both off
And bills are payed on time, yeah
She made for a boss
Only a boss
Anything less she telling them to get lost
That's the girl that's on my mind
She got her own thing
That's why I love her
Miss independent
Won't you come and spend a little time
She got her own thing
That's why I love her
Miss independent
Oh, the way she shine
Miss independent
Her favorite thing to say, don't worry I got it
And everything she got best believe she bought it
She goin' steal my heart ain't no doubt about it, girl
You're everything I need
Said you're everything I need”
I think Midori is genuinely interested in Hotaru because of how strong and unpredictable she is. He was quite neutral and nice to her until their first fight. His reaction when he witnessed her bloodlust alternated between fear and excitement. You might even said he got turned on by it. She challenged him in many ways, whether it was her frightening fighting skills or her unpredictable actions (bringing her gun to the hospital to challenge him, kissing him in the onsen). He tried to blackmailed her to kiss him but he didn’t expect her to go for it. He even admitted, while laughing, that he “totally lost to her”. He couldn’t keep up with her, and I think he likes that about her.