It's one of the most compelling facets of the series, for me -- I like how it repeatedly gets in the way of his relationship with Katou, and yet Katou knows that it's fundamental to their happiness. As much as I melt over the tender moments, they wouldn't be nearly as meaningful if there wasn't so much pride at stake - one of my favorite panels in the English scan of "Truth River" is the one where Katou's trying to explain what's so wrong about Iwaki being too concerned about his welfare and flails, "But -- DAMN!" So Katou. So awesome.

And Mochimune would be evil enough to actively make use of their pasts to push them both into making an even darker, nastier film than Lost Heart. Heh. (Come to think of it, that's a pairing you should consider: Mochimune and Onozuka. Although the fact that the mere thought of it is making me gleam is probably saying volumes more about me than I ought to allow. *eyes characters, sharpens scalpel*)