They make quite a pair, those two.
Shinji would mutter his thoughts about a subject, and would rant on it.
And if Horio's attention span lasted long enough, he would shout out the important parts loud enough for the whole school to hear.
When Horio couldn't think of anything witty to say, he would listen to Shinji mumbling and repeat what he said.
When Shinji needed someone to talk to, really talk to, he knows that Horio will listen and comment on everything.
Some people who found it annoying when it was just Shinji murmuring to himself, found it even worse when a little boy with a spastic voice would repeat it.
Other's who found it difficult to hear or understand what Shinji was saying, found it better when that special little boy with the spastic voice repeated it.
The two were always together.
But not 'together' together.
That happened a few weeks ago when Shinji was playing against Echizen.
That was when Horio first noticed him.
And he couldn't stop noticing him.
PG thoughts of Shinji invaded his mind. He couldn't concentrate on school work or anything else. He found his once dreamless sleeps were interrupted with dreams of lakes, rivers, ponds…
Horio quickly sprung up in bed, he didn't have to lift up the sheets to know what had just happened.
"Damnit!" He cursed. "I really have to stop drinking water before going to sleep!"