It's interesting that Hiroshi and Ochi both are experiencing immense pressure to succeed in baseball, and that it borders almost as if it's militaristic training. It perhaps best shows us that maybe Horshi isn't as perfect or upbeat as he portrays himself to be, and is just as prone to breaking under pressure, even if he tries to hide it, which is what makes this relationship with Kanae seem even more unsettling because we know he's bubbling under the surface just as much as she is.
It's also interesting that Ochi basically realizes that Horshi isn't acting like himself when he insulted him or that he acknowledges that Horshi is in the same mindset that Ochi, himself, was in when he was a kid, and so decides to return the favor and help him in the same way
@DarknessAssassin From what I've heard about the author...She has some issues, so I could imagine that she may be going through some stuff in her personal life
EDIT: I JUST NOTICED HE WAS WATCHING FILTHY FRANK. THE AUTHOR IS A WOMAN OF CULTURE, HOLY SHIT