Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-206.248.102.212-20130711220058/@comment-2140238-20130830001629

Why does everyone assume this anime is shonen-ai?

The only so called 'proof' is your implications on the writing to assume it's supposedly somehow means they're gay.

Which is false since it's never stated so don't assume!

Furthermore anyone who seems to think Gou has no place in this anime should go away.

She's the one who signed them up for the relay in secret. Without her they wouldn't of got the second chance and would remain back home twiddling their thumbs.

Also the club wouldn't of been formed if she hadn't signed up. And it was not to fawn over the boys, but she undertook a major role - their manager whilst sharing the same enthusiasm as the rest of the them.

Making their regimes, constructing trips for them - and she handles them without a grumble.

Not only is she their manager, but also cares for the team and does worry over them. Not as a manager, but as a friend (as one of the major themes is the show is friendship) and it's been shown many times that Gou also considers the Iwatobi Swim Club to be her friends.

Gou's fascination with muscles is totally derived from the actual males themselves.

She doesn't say "Oh, those guys are hot~"  or rather "Oh, those muscles are splendid~"

If she was she would be drooling all over Seijuurou or something.

Her fascination with muscles is a just a fascination - an add on to her character.

She doesn't stand for the many fans of this show who are attracted the the main male cast.

She is a normal girls with perks and quirks like us and it's disappointing to see how people try to suggest she's forced when she's implemented herself into the story very well.

Kids these days...