My on-off girlfriend tells me that she thinks of Nekomaru as 'Courage Wolf Personified'
Perfection itself.
Nekomaru's definitely the kind of guy you'd want to have around when you're in a situation like this. It's interesting that despite being such a boisterous person, a lot of what he does for the group is done in the background. For example, when you have to investigate one of the new islands (I think it was the third), Nekomaru decides to leave it to you and guards the other islands because he's concerned about Akane getting into trouble.
I'm not sure how many people feel the same, but I actually wish Nekomaru got more interaction with Sonia. I always felt they had a lot in common with how they interact with the other students, and of their talents center around tending to the needs of others. They also are pretty agreeable and take the trials seriously.
I think part of the other problem is that Nekomaru lives until chapter 4, but only participates in two of the trials, so even though he's a big, loud, cool guy, he really doesn't centralized a lot. Hell, he'd make a good group mom and dad combo with Mahiru, and even shares the same "We're a team working in unity" mindset with Ibuki.
Even so, Nekomaru's a cool guy. The only thing I can't forgive the writers is that they didn't make a joke involving the ehandbooks and Nekomaru raising the shitimi pet. THAT'S INEXCUSABLE!!!!
Having said that, I feel having him in the background like that fits him. His FTEs make it painfully obvious he wasn't gonna survive and that he'd do pretty much anything if it means protecting his team.
Other than tapping into his almost people-pleasing side or possibly the "doomed to always be on the sidelines" side, I can't even picture what ultimate despair Nekomaru would be like.
Even though I can't play baseball with them, I can still share their victory and defeat with them...That's...what it means to be a team manager...You have a duty to support your team, especially if you can't be on the field with them...
That line always sticks with me, and it fits Nekomaru's role in the plot perfectly.
I guess you can say we all...Fell For Nekomaru? I'm sorry, I'll be going to hell now.
