OVA
Description
Naoya Nifuji is Hirotaka Nifuji's younger brother, with seven years between them. He possesses light golden-brownish hair swept left and dark blue eyes, though naturally born with blue hair like Hirotaka. His name combines "still" (尚) and "man" (哉), while his surname signifies "two" (二) and "wisteria" (藤).
Cheerful and sociable, often likened to a cat due to his cat-like smile, Naoya works contentedly as a barista in a coffee shop near Hirotaka's office, finding genuine satisfaction in pleasing customers. Unlike Hirotaka and most other main characters, he is not an otaku and is notably poor at video games, contrasting sharply with his brother's proficiency.
He cares deeply for Hirotaka, frequently worrying about his brother's introverted tendencies and celebrating his positive developments. Narumi Momose, Hirotaka's childhood friend and later wife, acts as a big-sister figure to Naoya; they bonded during her childhood visits to play video games with Hirotaka. Narumi is fiercely protective of him, demonstrated when she reacted strongly upon mistakenly believing someone made him cry.
Naoya's significant development stems from his relationship with Kō Sakuragi, a socially anxious university classmate and avid gamer. They first met at his coffee shop after he noticed her playing a video game. Initially mistaking her for a boy due to short hair and baggy clothes, he later discovered their shared university attendance. He returned an information sheet she left, expressing a desire to be her friend. Misinterpreting this as wanting a "gaming friend," Kō connected through online games. Despite his poor skills, he persisted to bond with her, valuing her kindness and patience—unlike Hirotaka's critical gameplay approach.
Their friendship deepened through offline interactions like arcade visits and outings with Naoya's friends. After Naoya accidentally discovered Kō's gender, she avoided him out of embarrassment. Concerned, he sought advice from Narumi and Hirotaka; Hirotaka lent his gaming account to locate Kō online. Naoya apologized for any misunderstanding, and they reconciled after cooperating to evade a game monster, strengthening their bond as Kō grew more comfortable socially with his support.
As their relationship progressed, Kō distanced herself after taking a part-time job, frequently declining invitations. Feeling neglected, Naoya confided in Hirotaka and cried. Encouraged by friends, he confessed his feelings to Kō, who happily reciprocated. They became a couple, marking a key milestone in his growth. The manga's afterward hinted at a future proposal where Naoya plans to beat Kō in a video game—though she remains unaware and continues outperforming him. An illustration depicted him challenging her to another match, smiling as he promised to win, while Kō affectionately called him "Nao-chan," indicating increased closeness.
Key moments include Naoya sharing an umbrella with Kō during rain—a culturally significant gesture in Japan—and wiping her wet hair after she initially ran away flustered, highlighting his attentive nature. Hirotaka approved of their relationship, noting Naoya no longer needed his in-game help and enjoying multiplayer sessions with both.
Naoya embodies the youngest sibling archetype: people-oriented, less ambitious, and adept at juggling social connections. This contrasts Hirotaka's firstborn traits of responsibility and stability. Naoya's university life and part-time job reflect his interpersonal strengths, while his evolution from supportive brother to committed partner defines his character trajectory.
Cheerful and sociable, often likened to a cat due to his cat-like smile, Naoya works contentedly as a barista in a coffee shop near Hirotaka's office, finding genuine satisfaction in pleasing customers. Unlike Hirotaka and most other main characters, he is not an otaku and is notably poor at video games, contrasting sharply with his brother's proficiency.
He cares deeply for Hirotaka, frequently worrying about his brother's introverted tendencies and celebrating his positive developments. Narumi Momose, Hirotaka's childhood friend and later wife, acts as a big-sister figure to Naoya; they bonded during her childhood visits to play video games with Hirotaka. Narumi is fiercely protective of him, demonstrated when she reacted strongly upon mistakenly believing someone made him cry.
Naoya's significant development stems from his relationship with Kō Sakuragi, a socially anxious university classmate and avid gamer. They first met at his coffee shop after he noticed her playing a video game. Initially mistaking her for a boy due to short hair and baggy clothes, he later discovered their shared university attendance. He returned an information sheet she left, expressing a desire to be her friend. Misinterpreting this as wanting a "gaming friend," Kō connected through online games. Despite his poor skills, he persisted to bond with her, valuing her kindness and patience—unlike Hirotaka's critical gameplay approach.
Their friendship deepened through offline interactions like arcade visits and outings with Naoya's friends. After Naoya accidentally discovered Kō's gender, she avoided him out of embarrassment. Concerned, he sought advice from Narumi and Hirotaka; Hirotaka lent his gaming account to locate Kō online. Naoya apologized for any misunderstanding, and they reconciled after cooperating to evade a game monster, strengthening their bond as Kō grew more comfortable socially with his support.
As their relationship progressed, Kō distanced herself after taking a part-time job, frequently declining invitations. Feeling neglected, Naoya confided in Hirotaka and cried. Encouraged by friends, he confessed his feelings to Kō, who happily reciprocated. They became a couple, marking a key milestone in his growth. The manga's afterward hinted at a future proposal where Naoya plans to beat Kō in a video game—though she remains unaware and continues outperforming him. An illustration depicted him challenging her to another match, smiling as he promised to win, while Kō affectionately called him "Nao-chan," indicating increased closeness.
Key moments include Naoya sharing an umbrella with Kō during rain—a culturally significant gesture in Japan—and wiping her wet hair after she initially ran away flustered, highlighting his attentive nature. Hirotaka approved of their relationship, noting Naoya no longer needed his in-game help and enjoying multiplayer sessions with both.
Naoya embodies the youngest sibling archetype: people-oriented, less ambitious, and adept at juggling social connections. This contrasts Hirotaka's firstborn traits of responsibility and stability. Naoya's university life and part-time job reflect his interpersonal strengths, while his evolution from supportive brother to committed partner defines his character trajectory.