Tiger and Bunny/Ho Yay

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And this was just the beginning... Quite literally. We would like to remind you that yes, this was their first meeting.

There's a reason this show managed to garner a sizeable fanbase amidst the gay crowd.

Involving Kotetsu and Barnaby

An astonishing number of interactions between Kotetsu and Barnaby involves this. They meet in Episode 1, and by Episode 2 they're quarrelling Like an Old Married Couple.

• Their first meeting involves Barnaby catching Kotetsu in his arms. When it happens again in Episode 10, Barnaby even remarks that it's been a while since he carried Kotetsu like this and teases him about having gained weight. Word Of God indicates that he did, in fact, register the slight weight change (despite Kotetsu now being in a different suit).
  • The Princess Carry makes its appearance once more in episode 25, following which the two have a short conversation while Barnaby is still holding Kotetsu. The conversation implies that the only reason Barnaby returned to the Superhero scene was to stay by Kotetsu's side.
• Barnaby can be quite Kuudere / Tsundere at times (switching between the two depending on his mood) -- and while the kuu and tsun sides are the default modes that he usually exposes to everyone, Kotetsu is the only person he is ever shown being dere towards.
• Episode 5 is basically a Yaoi Fangirl's fantasy come true -- beginning with Barnaby complaining about Kotetsu asking him if he's eating enough, Kotetsu planning a special birthday party for Barnaby because he think he's lonely and then suggesting that he should be the birthday present. ^{[dead link]}
• Episode 8 has quite a bit, what with Kotetsu grabbing Barnaby's hand and Taking the Bullet for him.
• The drama CD indicates that Kotetsu's high-school sweetheart (and eventual wife) was a Meganekko Hollywood Nerd at the top of her class. Sound familiar?

(From Kotetsu's interview with Hero Gossip): I like a woman who scolds me when I’m slacking off but is kind when the times are tough. [...] But Bunny always scolds me, saying “You could have read the instructions yourself, you know".

• • Not to mention how Kotetsu gave both of them silly nicknames when he first met them. The parallels become more pronounced in episode 17, when Barnaby repeats some of Tomoe's words almost verbatim.

(Comment on episode 17 in Hero TV Fan Book 2): Barnaby's words on TV bring back memories of Tomoe, who said the same thing on her deathbed.

• Episode 9; Kotetsu has an extended conversation with Barnaby, during which the latter worries about Kotetsu's injuries and reveals most of the details regarding his childhood trauma. This is also the first time we see a genuine, open smile from Barnaby.
• Towards the end of episode 13, when Barnaby calls him "Kotetsu" instead of the usual "Oji-san", Kotetsu's expression was pretty d'aww-worthy.
  • He later admits that this made him so happy he went out drinking in celebration.
• In episode 19, Barnaby is asked if there's anyone he aspires to be like. His answer is that there isn't, but there's one person who he feels he can't compare to, and his greatest wish is to be noticed by this person. You get no points for guessing who that is.
  • This episode is chock-full of it, with Kotetsu making a meal for Barnaby (which is described in HeroTV Fan Book 2 as "The rice packed with Kotetsu's love detonates!") and saying that he worries about him (and showing it); a scene involving a crying Barnaby looking up at Kotetsu and saying his name (in a dramatic way that resembles a scene straight out of a shoujo manga) while in a rather compromising position that goes straight to Does This Remind You of Anything? territory; and Kotetsu's comments about buying a matching pair of fancy pins "just for us" and making it a memory of them spending time together...
• Episode 24 has the Ho Yay scene to end all Ho Yay scenes: After Kotetsu (apparently) pulls a Heroic Sacrifice, Barnaby cradles him in his arms and the two start talking -- cue dialogue where Kotetsu admits how happy he was when Barnaby first called him by his name, and Barnaby confesses that he's been learning how to make fried rice (which he assumes to be Kotetsu's favourite food), so he can't die right now, goddammit! And the last thing Kotetsu does? Comment on Barnaby's long eyelashes...
  • According to Matsui, if Kotetsu had actually died, Barnaby would never have recovered from the trauma.
• Many Word of God comments (Barnaby prioritizes Kotetsu's safety above everything else; Kotetsu was more or less teetering on the verge of depression before Barnaby showed up; Barnaby's relationship with Kotetsu is the first emotional connection he's made with a human being in two decades; Nishida put way more thought into the Barnaby-Kotetsu rescue scenes than he probably ought to have; etc.) are liable to make one wonder when the two of them will just get married already.
  • Regarding the bridal carry scenarios:

(From the Roman Album): (About the first "princess rescue") If they had been a man and a woman, they would have fallen in love right then. But with "Ojisan" and "Handsome"...(laughs) (From Monthly Hero 6): The first princess carry was the start of their love [Note: The exact phrase was 馴れ初め (The first meeting of the people who later end up in a romantic relationship. The occasion of falling in love. Start of a romance. Beginning of love.)].

• • It's indicated that Karina considers Barnaby her rival, and her thoughts are described like this: "Because he is Kotetsu’s precious partner, there's a lot about their closeness that worries her".
• Comments from the staff:

Matsui (Producer): (About the two after the events of episode 25) Barnaby is slightly tsun (it’s his nature), but they understand and trust each other so thoroughly that sometimes words aren’t even needed. Masafumi Nishida (Writer): After [Barnaby] opened up to Kotetsu (as we see at the start of the second cour), he was very happy; and being the "love is blind" type, he was prone to overlooking Kotetsu's faults. (Regarding Kotetsu and Barnaby after the final timeskip, addressing what he'd like to show in the sequel, should there be one) Their struggle to lead their lives together might be one of the things we'd like to portray. Fukuda Nobuaki: After his parents got killed, Barnaby became twisted and closed his heart – but here comes the amazing Tiger, embracing Barnaby with his great love! When it comes to the human relationships, in the end, it simply really is just “love”, isn’t it? Okamoto Nobuhiko: They build up so many things between them, I think they’ll stay together for the rest of their lives. (From an interview with Katsuhisa Houki and Hiroshi Iwasaki): Barnaby is an eccentric, but considering his history and what he shoulders it's probably inevitable. But Kotetsu truly is deeply attached to everything about him, his weirdness and issues included. [...] Both of them long to be told that they are indispensable for the other. Hirata Hiroaki: But you know, I think that for Kotetsu every face of Barnaby’s personality is good -- be it his tsun or his dere. Kaida Yuuko: When Maverick started getting involved with those two, I couldn’t help but snicker. I mean, just look at that dangerous love triangle. Hidaka Rina: That’s right! It really seemed like another guy inserting himself between the two lovers. Just what do you call this sort of relationship? Keiji Andou: One of the jokingly proposed names for Kotetsu and Barnaby's combined bike form was the "Couple Chaser".

• • Ozaki has stated that Kotetsu and Barnaby's relationship is left open to the viewers' interpretations, and that the ambiguity has been intentional since the very beginning. Basically; if you think of it as being romantic, that's correct. If, on the other hand, you think of it as Bromance, that's also correct.
• Excerpts from the official guides and fan books:

(From the Illustration Book): (Regarding Barnaby in the second half) He didn’t go dere or anything, it was love. (From the pamphlet of HERO AWARDS 2011): (About Kotetsu's expression at the end of episode 24) Perhaps due to the feelings of relief and safety brought by his partner's embrace, his expression was serene. (From Hero TV Fan Book 2): (About Barnaby's views on their decision to quit in episode 25) Kotetsu and him are one in soul and body. He was certain they will come back one day. (About Barnaby) Usually brimming with easy confidence, Barnaby never reveals his weaknesses to other people. But because of how unparalleled he is, even subtle things can wound him -- which resulted in the brittle aspect that is prevalent in his nature. The only people who ever managed to see through this and with whom he interacts without pretense are his trusted family and his precious partner [Note: The "partner" word used here is wholly civilian, not "aibou" or "paatonaa". The exact phrase was 大切な相手].

• The first ending theme has a somewhat Ho Yay flavour too. It includes romantic lyrics ("And even if I get analyzed, classified, and deciphered, only I will know who I loved"); Kotetsu and Barnaby running to catch the Memento MacGuffin from episode 19 and, upon reaching it, clasping each other's hands around it; riding their combined motorcycle outside the city at night and watching the stars together.
• This picture is apparently official art by Ueda Hiroshi, Tiger & Bunny's manga series illustrator. You can, um... draw your own conclusions about who he ships.
  • And here's Ueda again. This has to be deliberate.

Nathan (to Karina, about Barnaby): You know what they say, "You always hurt the one you..."

Involving other characters

• Episode 8: Ivan's devotion to his friend Edward.
• Played for Laughs by Nathan in Episode 6.
  • ...Again in episodes 1, 7 and (the epilogue of) 25, what with him having No Sense of Personal Space.
• In the seventh drama CD, Nathan narrates how he and a rugby player called Mac Enroy started dating. He gets interrupted before he can finish talking about him just like in the first Drama CD.

Mc Enroy: Um... Nathan, do you.... Uh, do you have a boyfriend? Nathan: Well, there's somebody I like, yes. Mc Enroy: Oh nooo! Nathan: And he's right next to me. Mc Enroy: Nathan... Nathan: Mc Enroy... Mc Enroy: Nathan! Nathan: Mc Enroy!

• There's also a good bit of this between Nathan and Antonio (Rock Bison) at times; Nathan's lack of respect for personal space is especially apparent in regards to Antonio, and the big man himself always seems to be made a bit too uncomfortable by the attention - almost as if one were putting on airs.

Les Yay

There's no trace of Les Yay in the show itself, but the fifth drama CD hints at Pao-Lin's crush on Karina.

Pao-Lin: [I don't know why, but my heart was pounding like never before.] Agnes: That look on your face...that's "amour". Pao-Lin: Ms. Agnes, you were there!? Agnes: You guys looked so close, I didn't want to spoil the scene by calling out. Pao-Lin: Um, just now...you said "amour"... Agnes: Don't worry so much. You were looking at Blue Rose so intently. Even if she isn't a boy, you can still fall for her, you know.