eine (Haine) and Naoto are not on a very well-known basis. You could say that they were two people being attacked by people that were from the same enemy – and common enemies lead to an alliance. When they first meet, it does not take anything but the naked eye to see that they are edgy upon each other. Yet, when they are fighting they fight together as one.
In the first chapter of the second volume, Bullets & Carnage, the two cross paths without even realizing who the other is. The two of them are going in the opposite direction, and once she passes him he turns to look back (although I could be slightly mistaken). Of course, his friend tells them that they should get some lasagna to eat and the whole encounter is dropped completely.
During a few more chapters, the two are seen fighting their own battles, but they seem to have strange parallels to each other. Naoto’s conversation with the priest, also enhances the similarities between the two. Heine remembers his past, but wants to forget it. Naoto does not remember her past, and strives for the truth. They are working toward opposite goals, but they still feel as if they are walking dead.
Naoto meets up with Heine for the first time with Badou by his side. Heine acts quite coldly to her, which she responds in the same coldness.
When the trio meets up with Granny Liza, Naoto is the one who catches the gentle persona Heine holds once Granny Liza mentions Nil (along with the mention of “lace dresses”). Of course, it suddenly twists into a frown when he turns to Naoto and tells her that it is now her turn to talk to the old lady.
It is revealed to her by Granny Liza that Heine is “like that around any girl.” Badou also adds that it is because of something that happened in his past. He acts this way around all females except for Nil, the girl at the church, who Naoto had already met previously.
Complications arise as the Noki and Luki twins reappear to attack on the group. Naoto manages to defend Heine right at the moment when he’s about to get hit, planning to ask the twins some questions. Heine frowns upon this gesture, calling Naoto “obstinate” (stubborn).
The appearance of a woman and Giovanni make their entrance as well. The two of them immediately team up. There is a moment when Heine grabs the attempt to choke one of the twins, gaining Naoto’s ill favor. However, it is at this moment that she realizes just what kind of enemies she is dealing with and what kind of person lies underneath the seemingly human appearance of Heine.
Naoto soon butts heads with the woman as she is leaving the battlefield. However, she manages to catch the glimpse of the woman’s eyes and is immediately thrown into a tantrum as the train leaves. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, she begins to fall to the floor only to be grabbed at the last moment by Heine who, along with Mihai and the priest, is quite baffled at her behavior. This act from Heine surprises the other two bystanders who know about Heine’s “problem” with woman, but their suspicions are put to rest as he lets go without any gentleness of the sort, letting her fall to the ground roughly.
After this event, Heine is seen in the church once more, musing about how the “conversation ended so fast.” However, he is not alone as Naoto, too, sits by him (albeit at quite a far distance). He asks her why she is here and she parries with a witty answer of her own, saying that her “conversation” had not ended yet either.
As the chapter comes to a close, a small snippet of narration is provided which can easily sum up the relationship between these two:
“It is important for these two who are approaching the truth to fight together, but…”
Another interesting thing to note is that they both defend Nil with their lives. More of that can be read into here.
Although the two are rough around the edges, they prove to be quite the team against their foes. They still have a long way to go in terms of friendship, but there is no doubt that the two consider the other to be a “rough” acquaintance. Their partnership, for now, is based solely on the term of “common enemy.” There are also some foreshadowing hints that are dropped that suggest that the truth they both seek may not be so distantly related from each other.
Romance between the two would be interesting, but the current sparks flying are not of the “flirting” type. They are both, no doubt, stubborn and determined in their goals. If one were to fall in love with the other, the other would probably 1) not notice at all, 2) feel somewhat uncomfortable, or 3) ignore it. The one falling in love would most likely never admit it as well, yet hide it behind rash words that would drop some hints of concern on his or her part. What a rough patch there, eh?
However, there are some small developments that could show something between these two, such as how Heine caught Naoto before she fell to the ground at the train tracks. There is also some sympathy that must’ve crossed his mind as he had looked at her pitiful state on the ground once he drops her. Whether this is romance or friendship is all up to the reader’s prospective, but it is the growing of a relationship. Which turn it will take is beyond my sight right now, but it is not a far-fetched thought.
Heine Rammsteiner
