Wasn't my intention to have back-to-back days with the same guy... But, well. I'm in a mood~ Might as well keep going while the iron's hot. :3
Let's talk about this goober~...
Kaede Kayano, definitely one of the more "obvious" love interests for Nagisa Shiota... Well. It's obvious, and not-so-obvious. A lot of fans gloss over Kaede because she's too "vanilla" for Nagisa... Some even think it was just a kiss that turned her into a lovesick bimbo... That's not the entire story, though. There was a lot of lead-up to that kiss, the emotions born from it... So let's get to it.
Akari Yukimura was a famous child actress with a stage name of "Haruna Mase". We don't know much of her background, but her dad ran a pharmaceutical company, and wasn't too involved in Akari or her sister's lives. Though it would behoove us to mention that he arranged for Kotaro Yanagisawa to marry Akari's sister, Aguri, after their company struggled to keep afloat and Yanagisawa bought the company. You get the sense that Akari's childhood may have been a lonely one, with her dad likely never home because of running the company and her sister off to college. Perhaps that's why Akari turned to showbusiness, to give herself something to do, and maybe to help pay the family bills.
Even so, Akari loved her sister. That much is undeniable. Even when busy with school or laboratory work, Aguri would call and make time for Akari. Sometimes, they'd even meet up in-person. Though by the time the series started, it had been a while since they didn't have a phone between them. Whatever other friends or acquaintances Akari may have had as a child, Aguri was her best friend, the one she loved and adored the most. Akari was looking forward to meeting up again, talk about this new guy that caught Aguri's fancy... 'Cause Akari sure never liked Yanagisawa very much, and she could tell Aguri seemed unhappy, too. The new mysterious guy seemed promising...
... And then the unthinkable happened. Aguri died. Akari didn't even know the circumstances, and her sister was just... gone. What Akari did "know" was that someone was there when Aguri died and fled the scene, and that reeked of guilt. Who just flees a scene after an explosion, much less like how Koro-sensei did? Akari didn't know the circumstances, but it looked like murder. The note Koro-sensei left behind didn't help matters. And Akari wasn't the type to leave things be; Aguri was very important to her, and if she was murdered... then Akari would get revenge. She needed to.
That's why she gave herself tentacles and infiltrated Kunugigaoka. She barely understood what her sister was working on, but her instincts told her that she would need the tentacles to get her revenge. Akari forged documents to create an alias to not draw attention, and that's how she became Kaede Kayano, a previous one-off role she played in a show. She didn't know why the monster killed Aguri, why he decided to teach a bunch of Junior High kids... but she knew that she needed to be here. This was her only shot at getting justice.
It's safe to say that Kaede had no intentions of forging new bonds. Not when the most important person in her life was killed. But if she remained a loner, she'd draw attention to herself... Kaede needed to be a typical student, make friends, lead a happy-go-lucky life... on the surface, anyway. As much as she wanted revenge, she wasn't going to rush into this without any idea of her target and his capabilities. Kaede was clearly patient, and just as observant as Nagisa... the first guy she met in E-Class. There wasn't any rhyme or reason to pick him as a cover - it's simply that the sooner she made a "friend", the sooner everyone would drop their guards around her. She knew nothing of Nagisa's family life, the hardships he faced with his mom wanting a daughter as opposed to a son... Kaede just saw an opportunity to be cutesy, to make a simple change to his appearance and stand out a little bit less. Kaede couldn't know for sure how deep their "friendship" would ever go...
Things don't go to plan. Kaede might not have wanted to get attached, but think about it. Nagisa nearly died - that's hitting a little too close to home for Kaede. Maybe Nagisa is a means to an end, but Kaede isn't that heartless... Deep down, a part of her is yearning for someone to fill in the void left behind by Aguri, and right now Nagisa's the closest friend she has... and she almost lost him because a stupid jerk couldn't carry out his own suicide plan, Terasaka just had to make Nagisa do it... Kaede's an accomplished actress, but when a personal tragedy like this occurs mere days/weeks after losing her sister, that shock and anger is going to be all too real. ... I think she's struggling with herself to hold back, 'cause if Akari wants to kill Koro-sensei, what do you suppose she wants to do to Terasaka...?
It's a real pity this near suicide is brushed off pretty quickly, and no one talks to Nagisa about it on-screen ever again... But I think it's fair to assume Kaede draws closer to Nagisa over the coming weeks and months because she knows better to value what she has while she has it. Even if she didn't intend for Nagisa to be a true friend... her heart just won't give him up.
So, she gives Koro-sensei his name. Watches Sugino get in a funk over failing to kill the octopus, then later basks in everyone getting a shot because Koro-sensei ruined the flowerbeds. I'm pretty sure Nagisa went up a few notches in Kaede's book because he was starting a habit of keeping notes. Something she couldn't afford to do openly because she needed to keep a low profile. It still showed that Nagisa was a pretty meticulous guy, too, and she could throw her full support behind that, gleefully. If Nagisa missed anything, she could innocently point it out to him, but moreover having a second opinion was always great. Having Mister Karasuma formally join the class as an instructor is another bonus, resources and training.
Karma arrives, and Kaede is intrigued if nothing else than because he has a history with Nagisa. She probably suspected Karma would get his ass whooped, seeing as how none of them had much success. And she'd be right... after getting over the initial flustered reactions, Koro-sensei comes to expect Karma's repeated attempts. Turns it around on the guy. and pretty soon Karma's becomes a team player.
... Then Professor Bitch shows up, and oh boy... Kaede's not having a good day. (๑╹ω╹๑ ) This is one of the first major hints of Kaede's crush - not that the girl's conscious of it yet, but c'mon. Seeing a knockout of a teacher waltz in here and kiss her Nagisa...? And then smother him with those melons? Yes. Kaede has words. (๑╹ω╹๑ )
*ahem* Kaede just wants it on the record, that's sexual assault. Kaede does not approve. (๑╹ω╹๑ );;;
But yeah. Professor Bitch joins the class, and Kaede's all for that nickname, by the way. No, really. Listen to how chirpy she is in the next episode with calling Irina that, when they're making their way down the mountain for the assembly. Kaede-chan holds a grudge. lol Professor Bitch aside, Okuda also made an attempt on Koro-sensei, revealing her passion in chemistry... although like Kaede and Nagisa figured, Koro-sensei's "help" was really for his own benefit, making himself more flexible with the Liquify trick. After they make it down the mountain, Kaede's there when those two boys from D-Class mock Nagisa during the assembly. Outwardly she's not showing much inflection, but that's mostly because the rest of E-Class keeps their heads down, and Nagisa doesn't acknowledge those guys, either... I'll still bet that there's a part of her that wanted to yell back at those boys or comfort Nagisa.
Kaede really, really hopes Professor Bitch ditches this nasty habit, though... Damn femme fatale. (๑╹ω╹๑ );;;;;;;;;;
After the assembly, Kaede does miss a further altercation between Nagisa and those two from D-Class... At least Nagisa stands up for himself, Kaede would be proud. Still, the incident prompts the Principal to take E-Class down a peg for the First Term midterms, and they all take a hit there...
The Kyoto trip comes next, and they have to work in groups so that some professionals can snipe the octopus. It's clear Kaede, Nagisa, and Sugino are the beginnings of a group; Nagisa drags in Karma, and Kaede picks Okuda. Sugino nominates Kanzaki for the last member, and Kaede's totally for it~... Though I'll bet she notices Nagisa and Kanzaki blushing at each other. XD
The train ride to Kyoto is pleasant enough. Kaede and Nagisa are both excited to learn more about each other and their classmates on the trip. Even the first bit of touring the sites around Kyoto is fun, Kaede showing she has a sweet tooth, and Nagisa researched the Kyoto area pretty thoroughly (well, they all did, but some studied more than others). It's all fun and games until some high school guys throttle the boys, and kidnap Kanzaki and Kaede.
This little adventure is dramatic and tense; the highschoolers intend to molest Kanzaki and Kaede, the latter of which has to keep her composure and not reveal too much... even if she wants to kill their kidnappers. Kaede also learns more about Kanzaki, and bonds with her. The circumstances could be better, but it's really sweet that Kaede is making friends with E-Class... Nagisa was her first, Sugino and Karma are proxies of being friends with Nagisa, then she grew closer to Okuda, and now Kanzaki... Kaede probably figures this is just to keep up her facade, but after they're rescued the friendship clearly sticks. In terms of Nagisa, he keeps the guys and Okuda calm and collected, using Koro-sensei's guidebook as a way to track down the kidnappers and save their friends. Nagisa also calls Koro-sensei for backup, and they manage to get the girls in time before things got worse. Kaede sounds genuinely thrilled that Nagisa and the others found them, and stays upbeat after Koro-sensei throttles the highschoolers, glad that Kanzaki isn't traumatized by the experience.
After that episode, they retire for the evening at their hotel, breaking off into boy and girl groups. Both groups, unironically, end up talking... romance. The guys hold a popularity poll, and though we don't know who voted for who, I'm willing to bet that Nagisa voted for Kaede...or Kanzaki, though considering the relative closeness he has with Kaede... I'd say there's a good chance he supported his friend. Nagisa doesn't really have a crush as of yet, but that's more due to his meek nature. He doesn't see a way that any girl would like him as more than a friend, and moreover, they're young. Nagisa's not in a rush for romance. In the girls' group, there's the same level of ambiguity as Rio tries to get them talking about crushes on the boys in their class. Kaede doesn't chime in, and that's probably more due to the fact that Kaede's revenge-driven; consciously, she has no romantic interests. She just goes along with the lighthearted fun, trying to tickle an answer out of Kanzaki when she hesitates...
Then Koro-sensei gathers intel on the boys and girls, and garners a pincer attack on himself for his nosiness. XD
Kyoto ends off on this heartfelt moment between Nagisa and Kaede~ Even with all that happened, they're able to have a good time and bond. Nagisa's unsure of the future, his future, and... he wants to live in the moment. Because we won't find out until next season, but Nagisa has a hellish life at home. E-Class provides him a sanctuary, a place to have fun and make memories... And Nagisa's bittersweet about them going separate ways after Graduation, assuming the world survives. This is the happiest he's been in a long time... and Nagisa doesn't want it to end. Kaede doesn't understand Nagisa fully yet, but I'll bet she senses there's more to the story than Nagisa's telling her... She just doesn't want to pry too much, so Kaede empathizes with him instead. Kaede wasn't counting on making real friends and precious memories, but she is, and Kaede would love for the good times to last even just a little longer... Dragging her heels on her revenge scheme is taking on a whole new meaning - the longer she takes, the longer she can stick by Nagisa's side. The longer she can stay Kanzaki's friend. And Okuda. And Sugino. And Karma... Remember: This is a girl who came to E-Class because she lost her sister. Whether or not she fully realizes it yet, these people are filling the void left behind by Aguri. She's getting attached.
Ritsu joins the gang. Lovro tests Professor Bitch... Things get complicated when Shiro shows up with Itona. Kaede knows it's Yanagisawa; Itona's tentacles confirmed it, but Kaede likely had an inkling when Shiro performed the dove trick (in the manga, there's a panel where Aguri introduces Yanagisawa to her sister, and he performs the same magic trick), and Shiro's intimate knowledge of Koro-sensei. She keeps her head low, but Yanagisawa notes her presence, and later investigates. While Shiro agrees to not harming innocents, Kaede probably stuck close to Nagisa on the off-chance he got hurt from the brawl in the ring. Again, losing Aguri has...given her perspective. And why should she trust Yanagisawa, anyway? He let Aguri die, carried on that tentacle research. She's not losing someone else precious to her. Kaede's probably even relieved when Koro-sensei chases them off, as much as the teacher's thirsty for answers.
The baseball/basketball matches happen... And then Takaoka shows up. Right before that, Karasuma overdoes a defensive move when Nagisa gets the drop on him, and Kaede's there for Nagisa pretty quickly, like Sugino. Dunno if she was keeping an eye on him during the drills, but her concern for Nagisa is definitely growing. When Takaoka does rear his deceptive mug, Kaede probably suspects a deception on account of the bribe the new PE teacher brought them on the first day. ... But it's desserts, so how can Kaede refuse? The tentacles really heightened her sweet tooth, that's for sure.
Takaoka's real colors come out the next day, and it's Hell for a bit, with Karasuma and Koro-sensei powerless to stop Takaoka. But then Takaoka goes too far again with his sadistic teaching methods, and Karasuma has to step in; but Takaoka wants to settle it as teachers, making Karasuma pick out a champion to take him on. Kaede's most likely antsy about the chance of being picked for the match, since she wants to keep her cards close to her chest...but it's not her. It's Nagisa.
Nagisa has the choice to decline the knife, but he ends up agreeing to Karasuma's request, because he respects their original PE teacher. Kaede knows there's a pretty good chance Nagisa will get hurt, but she's once more powerless to do anything without breaking her cover. The show can't show too much conflict on Kaede's face because they have to keep that shocking twist for later, that there's more to Kaede than meets the eye. But even so, this is more than enough. Kaede's not overprotective, even if part of her wants to be, after losing Aguri. She watches uneasily, hoping Nagisa will pull through.
... And he does. Oh, boy, he does. Nagisa's innate skills are on full display, and they let him get the drop on Takaoka without so much as a scratch. Kaede's blown away just like the rest of them, not even Karasuma expected it to go this well. Again, she has to to keep a low profile... but she joins her classmates in gushing over Nagisa, and that's probably all genuine. Her worries about Nagisa's wellbeing are alleviated, and now they don't have to put up with Takaoka anymore. Plus, someone as skilled as Nagisa... That's her friend right there. I'm pretty sure Kaede's stoked to have such a promising ally, both inside and out. Kaede doesn't have to fake any of that elation, she really is thrilled.
Shiro and Itona make another attempt on the octopus... Kaede is threatened just as everyone else is due to the fact she can't swim with the tentacles inside her. But thankfully, that incident manages to blow over easily enough, with Terasaka learning a valuable lesson. This was also the first time the class subconsciously learned that one of Koro-sensei's biggest weaknesses...is defending them.
The First Term Finals come around, and it's really just adorable with how close Kaede and Nagisa are, being on the same wavelength with reactions, like when Isogai first offers the chance to study in the library, and then when they all threaten the Big Five 'cause they were being dicks... XD They were both feeling bad for Ren hitting on Yukiko, and Nagisa was trying to warn her about Kaede's, um...book cover sliding off.... (๑╹ω╹๑ ) "Puddings of the World", eh, Kaede-chan? Nagisa and Kaede did their best on the exams, but in the end it was Rio, Isogai, Okuda, and the Terasaka gang that scored the highest in various subjects. This earns them the trip to Okinawa from A-Class.
Okinawa's a pretty big adventure for E-Class, because they come together as a group to try and take out Koro-sensei... Unfortunately, it doesn't work out because of his Absolute Defense Form. Still, it's quite a thing to see the class operate as a unit, and when Nagisa was blown into the water, Kaede was pretty quick to bring her boat over to him~ And they're both deadpan when Karma's sadistic nature rears its head again with Koro-sensei so...vulnerable, in that ball. Everyone's pretty bummed about failing again, but it did get some good data.
... Unfortunately, the hits keep on coming. Takaoka contracts some professionals to poison some of E-Class, and he wants Nagisa and Kaede for the handoff of the cure. Nobody's really eager to send them in there alone, however, and the remaining members of the class come together to save their ill classmates.
Scaling the hotel, there's a few adorable hints for NagiKae. They're just...very much in sync, and are glued to each other's side. They don't understand Fuwa's fourth wall-breaking gimmick... They're pissed like everyone else when Koro-sensei comes off as whimsical and way too carefree for a guy stuck in an indestructible ball... They're impressed with Karma's growth as a person...though slightly terrified of his sadism, too.... And then Nagisa goes in with the girls to infiltrate the club, and he's not too happy to be forced to crossdress... The girls just carry on, however, and leave him at the mercies of Yuji. ... Thankfully, Kaede comes back for him, though, and everyone's deadpan with Yuji trying to woo them with his...dance skillz. Or lack thereof. They get through the party floor, but Nagisa's still uncomfortable with the whole experience, feeling like he didn't really do anything. At least Kaede tries cheering him up, insisting Yuji's better off that Nagisa was there with them. It is a tender moment for Kaede and Nagisa... though of course, Karma spoils the mood with having a pic of Nagisa crossdressing.
After getting past the sniper in the auditorium, they reach the top floor and discover it was Takaoka behind the whole thing. He calls Nagisa out for screwing up his life (not really Nagisa's fault, and the others do stand up for him as they should), and demands to face Nagisa one-on-one if they want the cure for their friends. Kaede shows a lot more emotion this time, and rightfully so; last time was just a training exercise, more or less. But this time? Takaoka isn't going to take chances. Nagisa will definitely get hurt if he goes up to that helipad, and Kaede's frightened for him. ... But Nagisa feels he can't refuse. He needs to play along, at least until they work out a more concrete plan for taking Takaoka down. Kaede's uneasy, and she can certainly protect Nagisa if she wanted... But again, that would involve revealing herself. She holds herself back...barely.
... Takaoka forcing Nagisa to apologize on his hands and knees probably was a real test of Kaede's patience... Just saying~
It's brutal for everyone to watch Nagisa get beaten down in a one-on-one fight...but it's especially crushing for Kaede. She was there after Aguri was killed, she didn't watch her sister slip away. But here...? There's a very good chance Nagisa could die. The beatdown is just the start, but when Takaoka goes to pick up the knife, makes that psychotic declaration of carving Nagisa up and savoring his screams... Kaede just can't take it anymore. She needs Karasuma to shoot Takaoka. She manages to hold it together and not intervene, but damn... If Takaoka cut into Nagisa with that knife, that might've sent Kaede over the edge. There's no concrete proof of that, but she's definitely getting emotional over Nagisa's pain and torment. Kaede's hysterical, but that's because she's lost someone before, and she doesn't want to suffer another loss.
Mercifully, Nagisa turns the situation around with the technique Lovro taught him before the trip. He uses Terasaka's stun gun to beat their enemy, even if the victory becomes bittersweet with Takaoka's unconscious body crushing the remainder of the antidote. For Kaede, though... she couldn't be more relieved if she tried. Nagisa pulled through again, and he just keeps getting better in skill. A part of her must realize, deep down, that she doesn't want to risk Nagisa... So as good as he's getting, as happy and proud as she is to have his support.... There's probably a part of her that wants to handle the assassination alone. To not endanger Nagisa further. After the dust is settled and they're relaxing on the beach, Kaede confides in Nagisa that she's glad he can handle himself... but she really worries about him. And that's the truth. At least Nagisa's sorry for worrying her...
Can't get away with an anime series without a "love scandal" episode~... I think it's awesome Koro-sensei picks up on the close bond Nagisa and Kaede share, and pair them up. He just... He just knows! XD Nagisa's as dense as Mister Karasuma, but Kaede definitely has a soft spot for the blueberry~... Of course, Koro-sensei's scheme to "inspire romance" in his students royally backfires, but it's still a fun excursion that results in them all trying to hook up Professor Bitch and Mister Karasuma.
... You know Kaede is pushing hard for that ship. (๑╹ω╹๑ ) Leave. Nagisa. Alone. (๑╹ω╹๑ )(๑╹ω╹๑ )(๑╹ω╹๑ )
Their time in Okinawa comes to a close, and they return home for the remainder of their summer break. But they all end up coming together again for the summer festival, and it's nice seeing Nagisa and Kaede pair off again. For Kaede, it's probably been a while since she got to enjoy a festival, if she's ever gone out for one at all (with friends, anyway). She plays games with Nagisa, enjoys yummy food, and watches the fireworks with everyone~... All in all, a good memory for Kaede and Nagisa.
Soon enough it's September, and Kaede decides to make an assassination attempt, to make sure she's "contributing" to the cause and not drawing attention to herself. Of course she has to center her plot around pudding... It's so... Kaede. (๑╹ω╹๑ ) Nagisa gets to support her for once, and it feels...melancholic for him. Like, he's happy to, there's no mistaking that. ... But I think the ultimate reason for his subdued presence in the episode is that he's down on himself again. Because Kaede's stepping up, and she's showing that she can be a leader very easily... something he would struggle with. From his perspective, Kaede's miles better than him, even if he did pick up the Clap Stunner. Kaede's just...capable. But he never vocalizes any misgivings he has, that's just not Nagisa's style. He thinks his insecurities are, well...not that big of a deal. Kaede would disagree, but you get the picture.
In the end, Kaede is on the verge of ruining her own plan, because her love for pudding wins out... but Koro-sensei sniffs out the trap, defuses the bomb, and save some pudding for the whole class. Kaede's overjoyed despite the inevitable failure, and she's tickled pink with Nagisa's admiration of her. Even teases she has more that she's hiding, but I think that's just the result of how...happy Nagisa makes her feel. It's endearing that Nagisa can have this effect on her~
... Though, she can do without the "Forever Flat" label that Yanagisawa gives her... She's really, really bloodthirsty about that moniker. (๑╹ω╹๑ );;;;;;;;;;
Before long, Itona's formally recruited into the class, bonds with the boys. They start developing their parkour skills... They go to support Isogai at his part-time job with the diner, but man...poor Nagisa. XDDD Tries to bring up middle-aged ladies dote on him too, and the girls (Kaede included) are flippant about it, despite admiring Isogai for it... lol It's probably Kaede messing around, or going overboard with Isogai's gentlemanly aura... But, it's for the humor, so....
The Big Five blackmail Isogai with his part-time job, and challenge E-Class to a pole-toppling competition. The boys manage to come together and win. Then the accident with Principal Matsukata happens, and E-Class helps out at the daycare... Kaede's actress side oozes out with the stage play, and Nagisa tries tutoring Sakura... and finds he has a knack for it. He inspires Sakura to change, to think outside the box when faced with bullies at school... That on top of renovating the daycare is enough to win Principal Matsukata over and let him forgive E-Class for the mishap. E-Class doesn't do so well on the Second Term midterms... but there's time to turn things around again. :3
The Reaper incident happens not long after this. Nagisa and Kaede's group are assigned the task of getting a grownup gift for Professor Bitch's birthday, and it's nice to see these two have a moment like this~ Makes it feel less one-sided with the bond they share.
Of course it doesn't take the flower salesman long to reveal his true colors, and mock Nagisa and the rest for being taken in. Kaede's giving Nagisa a sympathetic look the whole time the Reaper is talking down to them, and... I think it's really a clever detail to throw in there. Yes, Kaede is concerned for him, but it goes deeper than that. Kaede was duped as well, but moreover, she's also putting on an act and fooling the class... Kaede feels some guilt over that, at least when Nagisa's involved. Seeing Nagisa's devastated expression is a grim omen of what Kaede's in for, when the truth comes out - at least, that's what Kaede fears. At this point, she doesn't want to lose Nagisa's friendship... But she also can't give up on her revenge.
E-Class tries to battle the Reaper on his terms, with Professor Bitch at stake... but naturally, their enemy doesn't play fair, and he's leagues above them. Dispatches them as easily as swatting flies. Another good moment, however, is when the Reaper hurts Kaede; it's another test to keep her mask in place, but moreover, Nagisa is incited to take action because of Kaede's pain. It goes to show that, even without romance, Nagisa cares a great deal for Kaede. He tries to take care of the Reaper... and gets soundly defeated. Everyone's rounded back up in the cell, and it's another neat detail that Kaede's over by Nagisa, fretting over him again. If she'd exposed herself and beat the Reaper, she could have spared Nagisa the embarrassment of defeat...and she didn't. Frankly, she's lucky that the Reaper didn't kill Nagisa, so she's taking solace in the fact they're both alive.
Thankfully, Koro-sensei and Mister Karasuma come to save the class. Karasuma makes amends with Professor Bitch, and the Reaper is defeated. The next "threat", however... well, we finally dig into Nagisa's background.
Nagisa's indecisive about his future, what career he should settle on... He knows his mom's plans for his life because she won't stop going on about them, but as for himself, beyond assassination he just doesn't know what else he'd be good at. We were kind of overdue for this conflict, because we've been in Nagisa's perspective for a while, but we've never understood the struggles he's had to face. We got a taste of it, back when we saw his dad and they revealed Nagisa's parents divorced a while ago. But then it just took a backseat to everything else going on, until now. Nagisa's mom isn't happy that her son is stuck in E-Class, and she wants to go as far as bribing a teacher to get him higher up the social ladder. Also, she has this obsession with dressing him up like a girl, because she wanted a daughter...not a son.
This is the first time Kaede's learning about Nagisa's home life. They don't go into much detail with her own reactions, but it's clear from what little we see that she's paying very close attention... And later, some of the class eavesdrops on the meeting between Koro-sensei and Hiromi, and Kaede and everyone else are overwhelmed at how angry Nagisa's mom can get... Again, not much is shown from Kaede's perspective, but in a way... the lack of information is a possible clue of how she's...feeling. I mean, eavesdropping on that parent-teacher meeting gave Kaede a real life expose of what Nagisa goes through on a daily basis. That... wouldn't make anyone happy to know their friend is going through something so hellish. Kaede won't do anything at the moment because Koro-sensei is handling it... But I imagine if Nagisa continued suffering after this episode, she'd kick up a fuss about it; she still wouldn't expose the depths of her real feelings just yet, but she would damn well do anything to help her friend. Because... she did nothing when Aguri was dating Yanagisawa, and look how that turned out.
Fortunately, Nagisa's home situation gets...resolved, with a little further assist from Koro-sensei, and they just drop the issue that Hiromi tried burning down the mountainside campus (not to mention all the previous abuse Nagisa suffered)... Not exactly a warm and fuzzy resolution as far as giving Nagisa a truly stable home life, but the boy genuinely loves his mom, and wants his parents to get back together. She's at least acknowledging him and letting him make decisions...
The Fall Festival takes place soon after, and Nagisa gets a little further confirmation his mom will support him... she just doesn't want to let him go yet. Kaede's reactions are glossed over again, but she's probably happy for her friend... for the most part. Probably still holds a grudge for the past abuse, but Kaede's obviously not gonna show that. She's supposed to maintain a cheery, bubbly persona.
Soon after, the Second Term Finals occur, E-Class lands in the Top 50. Principal Asano tries assassinating Koro-sensei and gets his life turned around, accepting E-Class as they are... The Drama Festival goes on, and then... we get to Kaede revealing her true colors.
Even though she set up this trap to isolate Koro-sensei, it's a little telling that she uses Nagisa as her... bait for the octopus. It's a complex decision on multiple levels. For one, she's letting her fondness for the blueberry get away from her again - she really cherishes these moments with Nagisa. But also... she takes this trap as her last opportunity to reminisce with him. Because once she starts fighting Koro-sensei, there's no going back. There's also the fact that she trusts Nagisa the most out of the whole class; if she involves anyone in her trap, at least Nagisa won't bungle it up somehow. ... Maybe even a part of her, deep down, hopes that Nagisa talks her down from this scheme. Unfortunately, Nagisa's presence is not enough to deter her. The tentacles demand she take action... and she does. In the process, though, she does hurt Nagisa... both physically and emotionally.
It's too late to turn back, however. She reveals her identity to the class after she fails to kill Koro-sensei right then and there. She splits off to recover and make her preparations for her real attempt at killing the octopus. Meanwhile, the class puzzle over the fact that she's Haruna Mase, Nagisa is especially vexed as to why she hid behind him all this time (he privately wonders if he was just a tool to her), and want answers from their teacher... But he won't tell them until Kaede is back with them. He needs to save her.
The next confrontation with Kaede is still just as cold and disheartening. She's set on this path because the tentacles aren't giving her a choice, but she's also a little bitter how quickly everyone forgot about her sister... So she's not completely separated from the situation at hand. Kaede tries dismissing Nagisa's wounded expression, puts on airs that all this time meant nothing to her... But I think that's because she has to. We've seen numerous times, Kaede hates seeing Nagisa hurt... Yet here she is, a grand, duplicitous avenger. Betraying him. In her own way, she's probably trying to give him closure, inwardly accepting that she selfishly severed their bond, accepting that he should hate her... It's easier to lie and say it all meant nothing, because if she allows herself to become conflicted now, there's no way she'll be able to kill Koro-sensei. She has to harden her heart and give this her all.
... Even if it costs her life. Nagisa is alarmed at how far she's willing to go, but she's barely listening at this point. The tentacles have just about fully taken over, and she's giving this assassination everything she's got. Itona points out it's too late, talking her down won't do anything; they've got minutes until she's dead. Koro-sensei knows this well, and deep down Kaede's hoping that he'll save her.
And this is where it all comes together. They have to distract Kaede from her bloodlust by any means necessary, and Nagisa has that flash of inspiration of how to save her without hurting her... He'll use what Professor Bitch taught him, way back. But it's not just a mechanical, knee-jerk reaction... Even Nagisa knows how deeply intimate kisses are. And he privately reflects on him and Kaede... This kiss is Nagisa making his decision to trust in the Kaede he's come to know all this time. He absolutely refuses to accept it was all a lie... Nagisa might not dare to speculate about the full depths of his emotions for Kaede, but it's indisputable that all of their time together has made him truly treasure their friendship. I would even go so far as to say he loves Kaede. On many levels. He's bonded with all of his classmates, but Kaede's bond feels... especially powerful. She's been by his side the longest, given him confidence, fretted over him... Nagisa might hesitate to admit any romantic feelings he may have, but that's because the kiss was... forced on her, and he's anxious that this is enough to really ruin what they have. More than that, Nagisa still has this doubt in him about why girls would fall for him romantically. He figures Kaede can do a lot better than him, so he focuses on what this action might've done to the bond they have.
... But Kaede, oh Kaede... She finally wakes up from a long dream. Here she is, throwing everything away for the sake of revenge... Throwing her friends away. Throwing Nagisa away... And this boy comes right up to her and kisses her. Refusing to give up on her despite being so hurt by her betrayal. Kaede's completely caught off-guard, and rightfully so. She's shocked at Nagisa's resiliency, such a huge heart he has... But it's not just Nagisa. She's... floored how overwhelmed she feels. This kiss has snapped her back to normal, put her back in the driver's seat instead of the tentacles... And Nagisa keeps kissing her, even after she's back in control. He's not shying away. He's daring to be close with her, intimate with her. For once, she feels this genuine connection she's built up with Nagisa... and it's just too much. She's trapped in this euphoria, this love, and she doesn't want to escape. Nagisa can never replace Aguri, but seeing him risk his life like this... for her... Establishing their bond was, is real... Kaede doesn't understand what's come over her, but damn if she wants it to stop. She's spellbound, and just lets Nagisa save her. After 15 Hits, Nagisa breaks the kiss, and Koro-sensei extracts the tentacles from the lovestruck girl.
Even after Kaede wakes up, she's stunned that Nagisa (and everyone else) is worried about her. He conveys in words this time what she's done for him, why she means something to him... And he makes a plea with her to listen to Koro-sensei's story. Kaede can't really say no to that... because she can finally abandon the act. She can finally be real. Just real. She's here, and she doesn't want to leave.
They all hear Koro-sensei's story, and then Kaede goes to rest at the hospital for the winter break. I'm guessing that this is the first day she's allowed visitors, otherwise Nagisa wouldn't be making this nervous apology about the kiss.... He's uncertain if he should stick to calling her Kayano, or switch over to Yukimura, and Kaede just accepts 'Kayano'. Kayano's the one that built up a rapport with E-Class, not Akari Yukimura. ... Though I'm sure she wouldn't mind changing that. Everyone's been so lost over the break, wondering what they're gonna do from now on, and Kaede feels guilty about forcing this on them... Yet like the sweetheart he is, Nagisa comforts her, refusing to let her blame herself. It's all fun and games until things get real. She's caught off-guard when Nagisa apologizes for the kiss, and she spaces out, unable to look away from his lips... (๑╹ω╹๑ ) But then she snaps out of her lust-filled haze and forgives Nagisa, 'cause... he really did save her. ... And she has no earthly idea of how to handle these repressed emotions inside, so she hides under the blankets so as to not worry Nagisa further. Not wanting to embarrass Kaede, Kanzaki suggests they let her rest, and they take their leave.
... Kaede is left scrambling to calm herself down, because she still doesn't understand why that kiss worked so effectively. This whole time, she was focused on her revenge, focusing on remaining in peak condition... And Nagisa brought her down with a kiss... The thing is, these feelings have been building up for ages. She's only just now become fully cognizant of them. She underestimated Nagisa, and she underestimated herself. All this time, her heart's yearned for someone special to fill the void left behind by Aguri, and Nagisa is definitely the closest person she's been to for months... Sure, it was originally because of her "cover", but Nagisa became her friend through and through. Her best friend. She had fun with him, got angry alongside him, cried alongside him, worried about him, admired him. She became truly alive, capable of moving past Aguri's death... even if she didn't want to. Nagisa was everything she aspired to be, the best assassin in the class... But it wasn't just his deadly skills, Nagisa had such a big, warm heart. He uses his skills for saving people, places everyone else above his own wellbeing...
Nagisa Shiota terrifies her, but in a good, warm and fuzzy way. Kaede really has no idea where this love began or where it'll end... But she's here. She's here because Nagisa and Koro-sensei saved her... All she can do now is...play the part of his friend. She's not sure she deserves that honor... But she'll live because Nagisa fought so hard for her sake. And she'll fight for his sake now. It's only fair.
A chance to begin repaying Nagisa arrives soon enough... The class is divided on what they should do about Koro-sensei, whether they should save or kill him. Kaede makes her choice and sides with Nagisa, because all-around this is an excellent way to redeem herself. She was so dead-set on killing him before without knowing all the facts, and Koro-sensei still risked his life to save her...both he and Nagisa did. She has all this freedom, and she absolutely wants to support the people she loves. The guy her sister loved. And...the guy she loves. It's just a win-win for Kaede.
However...to her dismay, Kaede gets knocked out without shooting any of Red Team. Still, it is nice to receive that affirmation by Okano that whatever happens, they'll stay united as a class. No more masks, no more hidden agendas. It's a weight off Kaede's shoulders, but she still wishes she properly helped Blue Team... In the end, it comes down to Nagisa vs Karma, and Kaede knows the kind of person Nagisa is. He won't take an easy victory over Karma, he wants Red Team to understand where he's coming from. ... And that tenacity and grit pays off, because Karma returns that courtesy. Kaede fretted over Nagisa again...but it all worked out.
They organize a hijacking of a trip to space to get data they need to possibly save Koro-sensei. Nagisa and Karma take point as representatives of the two teams, and Kaede's content to keep giving her support. Nagisa and Karma make it back in one piece, and everything's fine... The risk of Koro-sensei exploding is less than 1%.
The year's not over yet, however... February and entrance exams arrive, and with them comes... Valentine's Day.
At this point, Kaede's feelings have peaked. There is no way she can love Nagisa more than she does now... Kaede has mulled over these feelings for a month, and she's certain it's Love, wholly and completely. At this point she can't keep it to herself... She needs Nagisa to know... But she's so anxious about what she should say to him. She's played roles, studied it... But this is her first time truly experiencing this powerful emotion. That's why she went all this time not knowing what Nagisa meant to her - she was honestly as dense as he was. She's probably anxious about how he'll respond, but more than anything... She wants to convey her heart. Tell him so many things... She's tongue-tied.
... Karma and Rio butt into her conundrum, and at first she's defensive... flustered beyond her wildest imagination when she sees the two Demons preserved that kiss for posterity... She can't hide anything in this state, and she grudgingly accepts the troublemakers' help. They do some recon on their classmates, see how the other girls bestow chocolate, and the ultimate takeaway is...just be yourself, Kaede. Say what you need to say. Karma promises to keep Koro-sensei busy as long as she had that...gift prepared. It all comes down to Kaede now...
And she does. She tried. Standing in front of Nagisa, words escape her as she frets over the little things, like how she looks, feeling flustered when Nagisa shows concern over her silence. She delays the confession and asks what he'll do after Graduation. She is genuinely curious... And without saying directly what he wants to do, Kaede understands right away. He wants to be a teacher, she's seen him look up to Koro-sensei and the way he admires their teacher for everything he's done for the class... Of course Nagisa would want to go down a similar path... He knows better than most kids, there's always going to be children in need. Children without a good role model to follow... Children that just need someone to care. Kaede was one of those kids, too. Everyone in E-Class was like that. Kaede's further impressed with Nagisa, and awed into silence yet again...
Nagisa is unsure what has Kaede so lost in thought, and he cares enough that he doesn't want to disturb her too much. He'll wait as long as possible, but...he briefly looks away and gets distracted by Koro-sensei up in a tree. Without even thinking, he withdraws his gun and aims it... but Koro-sensei's out of range. Much to Nagisa's chagrin. For Nagisa, it was just a moment of distraction. Kaede was still the priority for him... he wants to hear what she has to say...
However, Kaede understands everything now. The reason she was initially attracted to Nagisa... It was that unwavering, straightforward focus. His drive. His commitment. His bloodlust Kaede can't take this away from Nagisa, she doesn't want to distract him. Even after March rolls around and they move on, Nagisa's going to be busy with his dream. She knows from how hard Aguri studied and worked, teaching is a massive undertaking. It's...a good way to live, and above all else she wants to support Nagisa. She can set aside her own happiness, use her acting ability for something good for once... All this time Nagisa supported her without knowing the real her, and she wants to pay him back. She needs to. There's no way she can give him up completely... she'll stick around in his life, but she'll fade into the background.
Nagisa's confused when she gives him the chocolates and thanks him for staying by her side... And he's baffled when she starts pushing him along, ending their conversation as he tries to get a word in edgewise, figure out what her real feelings are... Eventually he gives up for now and accepts she wants to be alone, but I'm sure he leaves pretty reluctantly. If nothing else, he wants to convey that he should be thanking her... But she just won't hear it. She wants him to focus, achieve his dream.
After Valentine's Day, they strap in for the final part of the year... E-Class failed to assassinate Koro-sensei, so now the government steps in. Yanagisawa initiates his endgame strategy, using Koro-sensei's original student as a more refined "Koro-sensei". The teacher is outmatched for a while, but he does manage to hold his own... at least until his students are threatened. And then Kaede makes a foolhardy attempt to distract Reaper 2.0 and give Koro-sensei time to recover... It ends as you'd expect, getting stabbed so thoroughly and...dying.
This is enough to have Koro-sensei unleash his full power, but I noted how Nagisa was the one to scoop up Kaede, how morose he looked with her passing... It would've been nice to flesh that out more, but considering all that was going on, it's understandable that moment was kept brief. And besides... after Koro-sensei defeated his student and Yanagisawa, he did revive Kaede. So Nagisa has an additional moment to convey his joy and relief that she's okay... But shortly after they all celebrate, the time comes to send Koro-sensei off. If they don't... the government's just going to do it for them. It hits them all hard, Kaede and Nagisa included. But they get through the ordeal... The government rewards them, and they're allowed to graduate with their schoolmates from the main campus.
Time marches on. E-Class lead their separate, fulfilling lives. Kaede goes back into acting, and Nagisa becomes a teacher (well, a teacher-in-training). There's no on-screen development for these two, but they've at least kept in touch. Nagisa inherited Koro-sensei's spirit, and Kaede...has some interesting potential dreams~ Like having children... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Doesn't mean she's pregnant now... but wouldn't that be something~ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Hardly needs to be said... but I'll die buried with this ship (人◕ω◕) Kaede deserved better than holding herself back. Nagisa needed to open his eyes. But... It is what it is. Canon gave us more than enough to go on, and especially in the wake of Koro-sensei's death...they needed each other. Nagisa keeps Kaede grounded, gives her hope and love after losing so much... And Kaede's so... dedicated. Like she's already his wife and wants what's best for him, wants him to achieve his dreams. There's always room for a relationship once he becomes a teacher, but c'mon~... Even Karasuma and Professor Bitch got hitched. Had a kid. You're telling me in seven years, we're shown no signs of a deepening relationship for Kaede and Nagisa...? Sheesh. XDDD Japanese and their traditions... Well, it's fine. NagiKae wasn't shot down. So long as the potential exists... I'll sail with this ship forever~ So much chemistry~ So much love~
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