What do you think of Naematsu (Makoto/Kaede)? Two optimistic and hopeful protagonists who are generally nonviolent but won't hesitate to throw hands if the situation requires it. They have a lot of chemistry, I'd think!
I can definitely see it! I think the main reason I don't usually pair them is because my approach to thinking about ships is usually to start with the ways that they're different, and the differences between Makoto and Kaede are ones that can be exaggerated to get to an easier ship. (I will explain that bizarre sentence in a second.)
To be clear, what I'm about to describe is a series of ways in which Naematsu is harder than some other ships, not how it's worse. It's a good ship; there are just pragmatic reasons one might not arrive at it. Like, Kaede is more energetic and socially playful than Makoto is, which is a fun dynamic to explore, but if that's the dynamic one wants to explore, it's easier to put him with Hina and get a more extreme version of the same thing. On the flipside, Makoto being a little quieter and less into teasing than Kaede can be put through a similar distortion, and you'd arrive at Saimatsu. Basically, a lot of what you can play with when shipping Naematsu is stuff you can get to more easily by shipping Makoto with Hina or Sayaka, or shipping Kaede with Shuichi, Tsumugi, or Rantaro.
All of that said, one special thing about Naematsu is that they would definitely be the couple that everyone likes. A lot of my Makoto ships invoke a sense of befuddlement from the other characters, like "What is Makoto doing with Izuru Kamukura? What is Makoto doing with Byakuya?" None of that, for this one. This one tracks for everyone.
They would legit get away with everything. They get to be insufferably cute, and everyone just accepts it because it's Makoto and Kaede and it makes sense. None of their friends can even go "He's not good enough for her," "She's not good enough for him," because both of their reputations are so good. The most anyone can do is some halfhearted discourse about a talented pianist going for a luckster, but that sentiment doesn't make it far because they take one look at Makoto and go "Oh, adoring trophy husband, I see. Carry on."
Kaede is the girl who will give you firm but heartfelt advice about your problems, Makoto is the guy who you call when you run out of gas at three in the morning and need help getting home. Kaede will help you hide a body, Makoto will have dinner ready when you get back and won't ask too many follow-up questions about why you have a shovel. They are the couple whose guest room you want to stay in.
