You can't help but cheer Nakamura on. This shy, arkward, octopus-loving guy just wants to talk to his crush and be friends with him. Doesn't get any sweeter than that.
Nakamura's first real conversation with Hirose comes after Hirose defends him from some punks that tripped him in the hallway. Nakamura later pays him back after Hirose is cornered by delinquents on his way to give a sick classmate a worksheet. Granted he failed his first attempt at a rescue, but he did succeed in the end.
Otogiri-sensei covering for Hirose when he is confronted by the disciplinary counselor over his natural hair color. Hirose would come to admire Otogiri-sensei after that.
The final chapter has Nakamura trying to befriend Hirose on their class trip, but endlessly failing. While splitting off from the group to go to an aquarium, Nakamura considers giving up on Hirose, when his crush suddenly appears in the flesh. They spend the rest of the day hanging out, getting to know each other, and Nakamura finally gets told the words he always wanted to hear...that Hirose already considers him a friend. Nakamura finally scores (in the friends one at least).
In the sequel manga, Hirose gets a girlfriend, only to get dumped because she thought Hirose was dull. Nakamura, who had spent the whole time crying his eyes put every night, manages to tell Hirose that he isn't boring that he has his own appeal, cheering Hirose up just a bit.
Hirose is the first to notice when Nakamura is nauseous from drinking too much protein shake, and takes him to the nurse's office, even helping him throw up.
