#midoichi

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”