Natsue Horikawa is a supporting character in the anime Boys Be... She is a high school girl who harbors a strong dream of standing on the pitcher's mound at the annual Kōshien high school baseball championship. However, because she is a girl, she is barred from participating in the tournament, a limitation that shapes her motivations. She is described as possessing immature emotional swings, but beneath that she is intelligent, reserved, and composed. Her reserved nature often comes across as cold or distant, but this is rooted in shyness and a lack of social confidence. Despite this, she is deeply caring and supportive of those around her, and she has a gentle, calming voice. Her primary motivation is her unfulfilled love for baseball, which she channels into a role that rekindles the sport’s meaning for someone else. In the story, Natsue enters the life of Yoshihiko Kenjo, a talented baseball player who has lost interest in the sport. She guides him out of his disinterest, and through their interactions they grow closer and eventually become lovers. Her key relationship is with Yoshihiko, but she also forms close friendships with other central characters such as Aya Kurihara and Chiharu Nitta. Over the course of the series, Natsue undergoes personal development: she becomes more open and comfortable in social situations, and her relationship with Yoshihiko helps her gain confidence. Notable abilities include her talent in archery, as she is a member of her school’s archery club, and her quiet strength that inspires others.