It's a stated fact that Naota admires his brother. His baseball swing, anyways. But deep down inside, somewhere, I think they'res a real strong resent towards his brother. Why the hell do i know? Because it's like that in alomost every younger-sibling - older-sibling type relationship.

While Naota loves and respects his brother's accomplishements, he must feel overshadowed by his beloved. The baseball team he plays on, refers to him as "Tasaku's brother", among other refrences to him.

Naota is pretty loyal to his brother, but he tries to cover up Tasaku's... more questionable desisions in America -- particularly, his new girl.

But loyalties can only go so far. How far do they go, how much can Naota hide, until he starts wanting to be his own person? Naota, being Naota, would very much choose to tell Mamimi about this. He feels sorry for Mamimi. As much as he may seem to not like Mamimi, Naota obviously doesn't feel much anamocity towards her. He can be very steadfast when he wants to be, but he doesn't mind Mamimi's... attention.

And so the question becomes, how far is Natoa willing to let the bounds of loyalty strech? Obviously, Naota wants Mamimi to know about his brother. He tries to tell her on several occasions, and fails. As much love as Naota has for his brother, as much as he wants his brother to look to him for someone he can trust with a secret like that, Naota is his own person. He belives in honesty more than his brother does. And he wants Mamimi to know about her brother's new girlfriend.

Which leads me to belive that Naota keeps his brother's dirty secrect because he wants to be freinds with his brother. He wants Tasaku to be able to look at him with trust, friendship. Isn't that what all younger siblings want, to be admired and respected, and befriended by their older? I can't say i haven't wanted to be on friendly terms with my sister now and then.

Part of the reason he wants to be respected by his brother, i think, is so his town will respect him. Mabase obviously sees Tasaku as something , that if you want it hard enough, you can achive. a pinnacle of succsess, for those who work hard. Mabase loves the elder Nadaba brother. Naota's father and grandfather, obivously share in this respect, but does Naota? the tagalong little brother, with no succsess of his own to show? of course, that all changes by the end of OVA 6, i mean, saving your town is something to be proud of, right?

In some sort of conclusion to this rambling little article that has taken me weeks (on and off, of course. i'm not that slow.) to finish. Yes, Naota does love his brother. a slightly damaged and abriged love, so to put it, but love nontheless.