GaoSaw

GaoSaw is the slash ship between Gaolang Wongsawat and Yoroizuka Saw Paing from the Kengan fandom.

Gaolang and Saw Paing first met in a village on the border of Thailand and Myanmar for the annual inter-country martial arts meet. At the time, Gaolang was fifteen, already unmatched and representing Thailand, and Saw Paing was sixteen, representing Myanmar. With blood streaming down the right side of his face, Saw Paing loudly declared Gaolang his "rival of destiny" during their match. Right after, Gaolang was pronounced the winner by the judges' decision, even though Saw Paing was still standing and yelling that he wasn't done yet. That was the one match in Gaolang's entire career that he didn't win by K.O.

From then on, Saw Paing kept challenging Gaolang to a rematch, even barging in on him taking a shower. They haven't seen each other in a while before reuniting at the Kengan Annihilation Tournament. The night before the tournament starts, Gaolang approaches Saw Paing, saying that he'd never imagined that he would run into him here. Throughout the tournament, they would often be seen together watching the matches.

After Saw Paing lost to Mikazuchi Rei, his fighting spirit was utterly crushed because that meant his village was done for. Gaolang, not having known Saw Paing's village was at stake, attempted to comfort him when he woke up and was outraged when Saw Paing told him he couldn't fight anymore. Gaolang's reaction showed how much he really respected Saw Paing for his determination and endurance.

Saw Paing's fighting spirit was revitalized, however, after he watched Gaolang's match against Kanoh Agito, The Fifth Fang of Metsudo, which repaired their relationship.

During Gaolang's match against Carlos Medel in the Kengan Association VS Purgatory Tournament, Saw Paing was with Karo, cheering Gaolang on with a massive flag. Gaolang reveals that Saw Paing was the one who inspired him to make his fist unbreakable.

Before Saw Paing's match against Imai Cosmo in the Berserker Bowl Tournament, Gaolang gives him advice along with Karo and Saw Paing thanks them. After Saw Paing wins his match, Gaolang and Karo help him up and out of the arena.

Fanon
GaoSaw's opposites attract trope and one-sided rivalry is what appeals to most of its shippers. The borderline queer-baiting 4-komas of them only add fodder to the shipping flame. Their AO3 tag is relatively void as of now.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * They star in many 4-komas together.
 * In the 4-koma Gaolang and Saw Paing, Gaolang has caught a cold and Saw Paing offers to help him with waterfall meditation and lots of exercise, but Gaolang says he'll just go see a doctor. Saw Paing is surprisingly understanding.
 * In the 4-koma Lethwei Cooking, Gaolang and Saw Paing are cooking together. Gaolang discovers that Saw Paing doesn't shout when he's cooking because he believes he has to concentrate, especially when working with fire and knives. This confuses Gaolang.
 * In the 4-koma Affection, Saw Paing is telling Gaolang that he better not lose before he gets his turn with him. Tomoko overhears them and gets a nosebleed, interpreting Saw Paing's words as something more lewd.
 * In the 4-koma Running, Gaolang gets a text from Saw Paing saying he's in Thailand and is going to meet Rama XIII. Gaolang fears Rama will have Saw Paing hanged for his impudence and runs over to stop Saw Paing. When he gets there, he's both surprised and worried at how well Rama and Saw Paing are hitting it off.
 * In the 4-koma Tears, Gaolang, Saw Paing, and Kaneda are crying while chopping onions for the curry they're making.
 * In the two-parter 4-koma Karaoke, Metsudo holds a fighters' karaoke contest. Gaolang, whose hobby is solo karaoke, offers to go first and sings the Thai National Anthem. When it's Saw Paing's turn, he surprisingly chooses to sing "Hey Judy" by the Beatoes (Hey Jude by the Beatles).
 * Saw Paing regularly crosses the Myanmar-Thailand border to challenge Gaolang to a fight. Gaolang even moved to a high-rise apartment to prevent Saw Paing from breaking in.
 * All of Gaolang and Saw Paing's fights (excluding their first one) has ended in a draw because Gaolang, sick of Saw Paing's tenacity, forfeited them all halfway through.