Big Windup!/Oofuri/Ookiku Furikabutte- Not Just About Baseball

Big Windup!  came into my life recently, but it has since taken over a HUGE part.  I originally fell in love with the fact it was a baseball manga, not the undertones of shonen-ai.  But really, it didn't take long for me to pick up on them.  From the first episode (when you find out all the main characters except for two, Momokan and Shino'oka, are guys), you basically know whats going to happen with 10 hormonal teenage boys.

For anyone that doesn't know, Big Windup!/Ookiku Furikabutte is a three season anime about a baseball team comprised entirely of high school freshmen at Nishiura.  The pitcher, Mihashi Ren, was mistreated by his Junior High team at a different school, and has a severe inferiority complex when it comes to his pitching.  The catcher at Nishiura, Abe Takaya, discovers Mihashi's near-perfect control and convinces him to keep pitching.  For a more complete description, refer to Wikipedia.

So now lets get into some specfic details.  Those little moments that make you sure that this series is about more than baseball and a pitcher with an anxiety disorder.

First, the HAND HOLDING.  Thank you, Shiga-sensei, for the hand holding!  The boys use it as a method to connect as a team and focus together, as prescribed by their advisor.  Abe and Mihashi specifically seem to be fond of this method.  If you don't believe it, take a look at this:

And that's only a few of the pictures that show up when you google search 'oofuri holding hands'.  It's an inescapable fact: the guys are totally in it for each other.

Second, we all now about Momokan's boobs.  They're huge, lets just get that out of the way.  And yet, how many times do any of the Nishiura boys ever talk about them?  The only time that comes to mind is when Tajima puts something in his shirt to resemble them.  How could 10 teenage boys never even mention them?   Kazuki Kawai, Tosei's catcher, definitely notices though:

Thus, we must reach the conclusion that the Nishiura boys just don't like boobs.

And the final hint is how the characters act to each other.  Abe taking care of Mihashi, Hanai's obsession with Tajima, Haruna's obession with Abe, Mihashi trying constantly to please Abe...it simply reeks of secret love.  Or, not so secret love...

"I like you"

"I like you"

"I like you"

No matter what you believe, there is no denying it.  Abe likes Mihashi, Mihashi likes Abe. And the end, "who wants Mihashi?"?  Well, Abe certainly does.  To further the point, remember when Mihashi got hit by Junta Takase's wild pitch in the game with Tosei?  He got hit on the butt, and Abe must have a vested interest in that specific area (hint hint), which is responsible for some of his concern.

If you still don't believe it, well, there's nothing to be done.  The evidence speaks for itself.  The Nishiura boys are gay--for each other.

For anyone that hasn't watched Big Windup! yet, you should.  And not just for the not-so-secret boy on boy. The story itself is heartwarming, the games are exciting, and it always left me with a sense of excitement many animes don't.

For the fanfiction reader, visit http://oofurikink.livejournal.com/686.html (for the hard yaoi fans) and http://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Okiku_Furikabutte_Big_Windup/ (for anyone looking for a little loving, smut or otherwise).