Medaka Box/Heartwarming

• Kikaijima and her senpai value money more than their lives, but they also value each other more than money.
• GO GET HIM, TIGER!
• Definitely understated, but Munekata's backstory. Munekata's killing impulse is the real deal, so he had himself branded as a wanted criminal and purposefully isolated himself from others in order to avoid killing anyone. His main reason for joining the Flask Plan was to find people strong enough that they could survive being friends with him.
  • And of course, Zenkichi is badass enough to do just that.
  • Zenkichi manages to do something similar in later chapters, being able to convince Emukae Mukae that just because she was a Minus doesn't mean she couldn't be accepted.
  • And of course we can't forget how Zenkichi pretty much persuaded Medaka that it it was her purpose in life to make the people around her happy.
• Zenkichi accepting Shiranui and declaring her his friend, even though she'd just made herself his enemy and seemed to be trying her hardest to alienate him.
  • "There's no way I can stomach something so sweet."
• Kujira realizing that why she couldn't betray Medaka and company.

Kujira: "I like them too much. So while I can betray my friends, I can't betray myself."

• Zenkichi's Heroic Sacrifice in the Manager of General Affairs battle against Kumagawa.
• Hinokage finally getting the recognition he deserved while fighting in the Vice President battle -- that translates to an entire school cheering for the Unknown Hero.
  • What makes the above entry all the more heartwarming is that Hinokage had been helping everyone despite the fact that almost no one could remember whom he was because of his ability.

Hinokage: "I held pride in protecting everyone without anyone noticing or realizing it... but it really is great -- being cheered on by everyone, being appreciated by everyone."

• Medaka's fight with Kumagawa ultimately culminates in one that overlaps with an Awesome Moment:

Medaka: "Crawl back up, Kumagawa. I look forward to the day that I get to save you!"

• • In the same chapter Kumagawa apologizes to Class Minus 13 for losing, and declares that it wouldn't matter since he would willingly sacrifice himself to protect the Minuses.
  • And then we have Class Minus 13 saying Kumagawa was already doing that, that it was now their turn to protect him, and promising to improve their ways once they saw that even someone like Kumagawa could be reformed.
    • It's also a heartwarming moment for Kumagawa; his defeat by Medaka is the first time that he's lost properly. Not because of fate, not because of his Minus, but because of only himself. It was the kind of defeat that helped people get stronger afterwards, giving him the hope that someday, he'll win.
  • We also have Medaka telling Kumagawa that she needed him in the Student Council.
• Takarabe refusing to apologize to Aka, because Aka bullied her friends. Despite being scared to death.
  • Kumagawa winning against Aka just to get her to apologize to Takarabe and her friends for looking down on them because they didn't have an ability (and maybe get the nurse to go Naked Apron).
• In chapter 119, Kumagawa announces that he's willing to support Kikaijima in stopping Anshin'in's plans.
• Munakata willing to break his code in order to help his friends, despite being somewhat aware that his intentions won't justify his actions.
  • Of course, Kumagawa protecting Kikaijima from Munakata, commenting that there's a sort of happiness in dying for a girl.
  • And Medaka's successors opting to follow Kumagawa, saying that in order to return things to normal they're willing to make as many enemies as needed, including Anshin'in herself.
• In a meta-example, there's something inexplicably heartwarming about Kumagawa's total and complete victory in the second character poll. Seeing him cry tears of happiness at finally winning for once (and, one assumes, for other things) is rather touching.
• Akune coming to terms with his feelings for Medaka, allowing himself to finally be able to move on and go all out.
• Though there is an undercurrent of manipulation from Ajimu, it's definitely heartwarming to see how many people are willing to support Zenkichi in Chapter 122. Maguro, Naze, Shiranui, Emukae, Munakata, and eventually Akune.
• In chapter 126, Emukae sets aside her own feelings and declares that Zenkichi's "selfish" love for Medaka isn't wrong, because it's love.
• Chapter 128: Ajimu asks why Shiranui is helping Zenkichi get with another girl. Her response?

Shiranui: You see, unlike justice, love does not always have to win.

• Medaka casually mentioning that she was proud that there was a time she earned Akune's affections.
• Chapter 139: Zenkichi telling Medaka that she has to find her own reason for living, then telling her that her speech about "living for strangers" is wrong, and that no one at the school thinks of her as a stranger anymore.