Yachi Ships

•Kei and Hitoka are a textbook case of opposites attracting but they find common ground in a profound sense of mutual respect for one another. Kei knows Hitoka has a good head on her shoulders, but that potential is hindered by her insecurity.

•Kei stands as the proverbial brambles to Hitoka's rose and where one lacks the other makes up for. Kei's a little prickly, and his words are biting, but Hitoka is given the privilege to see above and beyond that, not because Kei gave her leeway but because Hitoka is attuned enough to how his personality works that she can see through his thorny exterior. Akiteru takes notice of this during the Shiratorizawa match, and I'd like to think that Hitoka is Kei's first real friend aside from Tadashi. Shoyo and Tobio's status as friends are rectified a little later.

•Additionally, I think Akiteru is the one who notices first that something's different with his little brother. Then Tadashi. Kei comes around with his feelings, but it takes time for him to warm up to the thought of confessing.

•Shoyo only comes to the realization one day that Kei and Hitoka have something going on when, during a tutoring session, he thinks he grabbed Hitoka's notebook, but it was Kei's. Shoyo's spent a good chunk of time mesmerized over Hitoka's notes that he probably knows her note taking style by heart (and has probably also implemented it into his own) so color him surprised when he finds Kei's usually minimalistic notes bursting with colors and doodles in the margins.

•Hitoka just has a very positive influence on Kei. People can tell he mellows with her around, and Kei's bit back so many insults in the company of the idiot duo, because even well into their third year, they still come to Hitoka for tutoring sessions. Hitoka scolds him halfheartedly when his insults ignite Tobio and Shoyo's tempers, but she knows he still doesnt want to see them fail.

• I can see Kei having a preference for slightly smaller and delicate women. Kei admittedly was never Hitoka's first choice, but she grew attached to him the more he let his walls down around her.