Tiger and Bunny/Ho Yay: Difference between revisions

* Episode 8 has quite a bit, what with Kotetsu {{spoiler|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]] [[Nerds Are Sexy|at the top of her class]]. Sound familiar?

** 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.

* 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 {{spoiler|Barnaby calls him "Kotetsu" instead of the usual "Oji-san",}} Kotetsu's expression was pretty d'aww-worthy.

* 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 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:

'''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:

''(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 [http://youtu.be/7R3YhnBKZ3U 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.

* [http://twitpic.com/8hlivv 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 [http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwm64nZmqM1qjcglao1_500.jpg here's] Ueda again. This has to be deliberate.

== Involving other characters ==

** ...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 [[Manly Gay|rugby player]] called Mac Enroy started dating. He gets interrupted before he can finish talking about him [[Running Gag|just like]] in the first Drama CD.

Mc Enroy: [[Say My Name|Nathan!]]<br />

Nathan: Mc Enroy! }}

== [[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.

'''Agnes:''' That look on your face...that's [[Gratuitous French|"amour".]]<br />

'''Pao-Lin:''' Ms. Agnes, you were there!?<br />