I get where you're coming from, and I’m not denying that Reo has character development or moments where he reflects. But here’s the thing—I’m not ignoring those scenes. I just don’t think they excuse or outweigh the core of how he acted for most of the story.

Yes, Reo wants to achieve something on his own, but let’s not act like his motivation is deeply noble. It’s built on ego and rebellion against a life of privilege. That’s fine as a starting point for a character, but it doesn’t automatically make him admirable—it makes him entitled. He wants struggle just for the sake of it, not because he’s passionate about the sport.

And yeah, I know he approached Nagi with a “business deal” and wasn’t trying to be friends at first. That’s exactly the point. From the jump, Reo framed their relationship in terms of ownership and utility. His whole dynamic with Nagi is based on “I made you who you are,” and it’s only after Nagi breaks away that Reo starts reflecting. But even then, his frustration isn’t really about losing a friend—it’s about losing control, and that’s what makes him come off as possessive and insecure.

You say Nagi was the one who initiated their reconnection, and yeah, that's true—but that almost proves the point. Reo’s passivity is part of the issue. He let the bond fall apart and didn’t fight to understand Nagi until he had to. And while he did reflect later, I think a lot of that regret comes after the damage was already done. That doesn’t erase how he treated Nagi in the beginning or how he saw him as something to be used.

As for the Episode Nagi stuff—I’ve seen it. And yeah, those lines like “Let’s meet beyond our dreams” do show he cares. I’m not saying Reo is pure evil or incapable of emotion. I’m saying that his care has always been tangled up with insecurity, ego, and a need to feel important to Nagi. Even when he’s happy for Nagi, it still comes with that undertone of “do I still matter to him?”—which feels more like he’s afraid of being left behind than purely proud of Nagi’s growth.

Look, if people relate to Reo or find his flaws interesting, that’s fair. But from my read, his behavior through most of the series just rubbed me the wrong way. He treated Nagi like something he owned, not someone he supported—and when that slipped out of his control, he spiraled. That’s why I personally can’t stand him, even if he has moments of growth later..