I figured the series needed the company to be, well, a company, with occasional financial issues (even though they're backed by a mystery millionaire) and diva-ism. (Hey, Ruki lost in the category that was his life's specialty!)

Kouki and Ryoga do match very well - sometimes, you just see two guys together and think, that's a pairing. I think the only other guy I'd ship Kouki with would be Minase (because, hello, they've lived together for the entire life cycle of the band, and Kouki described them as being like a married couple?) - but alas, the window for that is closing, what with Minase giving up the band to take over his family's business. (I keep hoping there'll be some dramatic eleventh-hour rescue where another of Minase's siblings suddenly shows up at his farewell show and says they'll take over the business instead so he can continue with the band . . . but alas, things like that only happen in anime.)