[DreadBringer]

Also btw can you respond to my reply about Yuka's behavior (the romance hijinks one) that I don't advocate, or Kusaka's jerkassery?

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I'm so glad to hear that your interest in Kusaka has been restored! I love how committed he is to being an a**hole to Takumi and Kiba that he showed up at the theme park incognito just to casually insult them. It's easy to take for granted how much he contributes to the comedic value of the show when his actions are inconsequential.

The dynamic between him and Takumi is so unique as well. It's neither the first nor the last time the Primary and Secondary Riders have been rivals but they seriously don't get along even out of combat and yet they still have some kind of twisted camaraderie between them while being as passive aggressive as possible. Kusaka would never consider another Orphenoch a comrade but he made an exception for Takumi even though he would rather kill him. Takumi respects Kusaka for being generally competent and unhesistant which in turn helped Takumi to become more assertive in his principles. It's intriguing how their perpetual rivalry and mutual dislike can actually be beneficial for development.

The theme park looks like the same one from the first Faiz vs Crocodile and Kaixa vs Crocodile fight scenes. Maybe?

I would agree on Die for this one with them sincerely hating each other (though if want to be more specific, more one sided on Kusaka), and not like the usual primary and secondary Riders. Also like I said before, I don't want for people to see any characters constantly being hostile to each other but is inseparable, as friends deep down who just acts as worst enemies outside. There are certainly those who are like that, but don't consider all characters who are like that the same.

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this is what I meant for the comment I said here about don't promote people being scummy and cruel to others and give them free pass in the name of building chemistry (more excuses for people being terrible then).

From the shipping, I feel that it can convince people that being cruel to others is just them building a tension relationship with you, giving them more free pass to commit vile acts ("he's only teasing you because he likes you" defense to bullies that happened in irl is a softer indication, of that)... bad message! By that, I would never ship arch enemies, like for Ex-Aid, as much as I like Kuroto and that I would like for him to never change his ways (he has no redeeming qualities or any plans to give himself one, but there's a way to lessen his threat in story like mutual goals so he wouldn't antagonize heroes), but god, I would like for the story not to build good relationship between Kuroto and others, I want everyone to keep genuinely hating/disliking him for what he's done, with exactly zero frenemy traits ("only behaving like worst enemy outside but deep down friends" type, like all the insults, threats, and potshots are all of genuine hatred. I also want for people to not have frenemy thoughts, like those who thinks Kuroto turned into new leaf). As much as I like the characters, I'm viscerally opposed against Kiriya/Kuroto pairing, I don't want them to warm up to each other and become bros, ever! And Ex-Aid actually did that so I appreciate (though there are people who thinks about frenemy vibes), like Emu never forgave him even with Kiriya being back.

Also with the argument of Kusaka being good (anti-hero is still that, though admittedly you still consider him extreme one) because of him killing Orphnochs (out of pure racism, just that the target species happens to be mostly malicious one), I've been holding it back until now, where Minami appears.

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Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Die

I think they sincerely hate each other? I feel Takumi is okay hanging around jerks because he's been a jerk to tons of people (which is to say he doesn't care even a little bit if Kusaka hates him), while Kusaka knows he's going to need more Riders if he wants to bring down Smart Brain.

I don't know if I think they even grudgingly respect each other? Like, I think they view their actions as Riders as The Mission, and that exists in a strata so far above emotions that things like respect or camaraderie don't even enter the calculus. Fighting together... it's like they're both in the same fight, but they aren't fighting together.

This is a smart way to put a monstrous character on protagonist side without portraying them in a better light, like Kuroto in Ex-Aid, but I'm onboard with the hatred being genuine and the only reason they "work together" is some mutual gain, not even grudging respects, or camaraderie. Also forgot to talk about this but.... it's not Mari's decision to keep Kusaka around because both her and Kusaka live in Keitaro's laundry which would make for Keitaro to decide Takumi, Mari, and Kusaka to live there or not?