OVA
Description
Kouji Nanjou, youngest son of the wealthy Nanjou family, has two older brothers (Hirose and Akihito) and a sister, Nadeshiko. Born December 24th, he is a Capricorn with blood type A, standing 191 cm tall and weighing 78 kg. His past includes leading a motorcycle gang, reflecting an attraction to danger and a reputation for coldness. Despite abandoning formal education in his tenth year, he achieved significant success as a Japanese rock star, renowned for haunting vocals and striking appearance. He favors black and red, has an affinity for long-haired women, dislikes children, and possesses martial arts proficiency in judo, kendo, karate, and aikido.
A chance encounter transforms Kouji's life when soccer prodigy Takuto Izumi finds him unconscious in an alley after excessive drinking. This triggers Kouji's recollection of seeing Izumi six years prior during a soccer match, where he initially mistook the long-haired, intensely playing Izumi for a girl. This childhood experience had subconsciously driven Kouji's musical career in his search for that person. Recognizing Izumi as the object of his longstanding obsession ignites an all-consuming fixation. Kouji actively inserts himself into Izumi's life, becoming his soccer practice partner by volunteering as goalkeeper and rearranging professional commitments for their sessions. During a pivotal rainy encounter, Kouji collapses waiting for Izumi; later, in his apartment, he confesses his feelings, resulting in an attempted sexual assault he aborts mid-action.
His famous declaration to Izumi's younger brother Yugo – "No, I am not gay. I am only in love with Takuto. Even if you were twins, I could only love Takuto" – encapsulates the exclusive nature of his attachment. This obsession manifests in extreme actions, including deliberately severing his own left arm to protect Izumi from threats within his family. The Nanjou family dynamic significantly impacts Kouji; his father Ryuuichirou displayed clear favoritism toward him, breeding resentment from his brothers, particularly Akihito. Kouji's mother, Ayako, a former teenage actress/model who became pregnant with him, was unable to raise him due to health complications. He was raised by her manager before joining the Nanjou household at age three. Familial tensions periodically force Kouji's return, such as when he temporarily loses his singing voice.
The Cathexis OVA portrays Kouji's psychological state through surreal music videos visualizing his turbulent emotions and fixation on Izumi, using thematic elements like religious imagery, vampire motifs, and abstract sequences. Narrative developments across the manga, including the sequel Bronze, depict Kouji's persistence in maintaining the relationship despite pressures. The "Restart" arc continues their journey. The series' unresolved conclusion in volume 19, due to the author's illness, later received supplemental resolution in the doujinshi "Ai ni Obore, Ai ni Shisu," providing a final meeting scene.
A chance encounter transforms Kouji's life when soccer prodigy Takuto Izumi finds him unconscious in an alley after excessive drinking. This triggers Kouji's recollection of seeing Izumi six years prior during a soccer match, where he initially mistook the long-haired, intensely playing Izumi for a girl. This childhood experience had subconsciously driven Kouji's musical career in his search for that person. Recognizing Izumi as the object of his longstanding obsession ignites an all-consuming fixation. Kouji actively inserts himself into Izumi's life, becoming his soccer practice partner by volunteering as goalkeeper and rearranging professional commitments for their sessions. During a pivotal rainy encounter, Kouji collapses waiting for Izumi; later, in his apartment, he confesses his feelings, resulting in an attempted sexual assault he aborts mid-action.
His famous declaration to Izumi's younger brother Yugo – "No, I am not gay. I am only in love with Takuto. Even if you were twins, I could only love Takuto" – encapsulates the exclusive nature of his attachment. This obsession manifests in extreme actions, including deliberately severing his own left arm to protect Izumi from threats within his family. The Nanjou family dynamic significantly impacts Kouji; his father Ryuuichirou displayed clear favoritism toward him, breeding resentment from his brothers, particularly Akihito. Kouji's mother, Ayako, a former teenage actress/model who became pregnant with him, was unable to raise him due to health complications. He was raised by her manager before joining the Nanjou household at age three. Familial tensions periodically force Kouji's return, such as when he temporarily loses his singing voice.
The Cathexis OVA portrays Kouji's psychological state through surreal music videos visualizing his turbulent emotions and fixation on Izumi, using thematic elements like religious imagery, vampire motifs, and abstract sequences. Narrative developments across the manga, including the sequel Bronze, depict Kouji's persistence in maintaining the relationship despite pressures. The "Restart" arc continues their journey. The series' unresolved conclusion in volume 19, due to the author's illness, later received supplemental resolution in the doujinshi "Ai ni Obore, Ai ni Shisu," providing a final meeting scene.