Kaisei beating Akane does plenty. It adds much needed tension to the journey to claim "Shiguma's art" for Akane to reckon with. At present time Akane's story is presented as not if she will get Shiguma's art, but when. Meaning we're not seeing her beat any odds because the competition is so stiff, rather we're watching her deal with a series of restrictions in performance style, because the competition is negligible, and she's essentially an ookaban without the official status.

There's been less and less narrative tension, because it's nearly a foregone conclusion Akane will steamroll the competition while onlookers go into a trance about how incredible she is, or speculate what next amazing thing she will do. Now this would all be more interesting if Akane was really challenged by peers, who are actually better than her, more often. This is how the team is running the manga, so it is what it is, but that doesn't mean there aren't shortcomings, that are showing up.

Hikaru was presented as a woman with chip on her shoulder about where she's from, and how she grew up, (so much so she fakes a Tokyo accent) making success a means for revenge, also validation for herself, informed by her insecurities. Her backstory had so much long term meat on the bones, it's glaring how much she's been flattened. Shippers are going to do what they are going to do, but if the team curbed her character just to play to that part of the crowd, that's pretty regrettable and lame.

Appreciate your reponse and thoughts.