[DreadBringer]

Supana's highlight.

So Hotaro has his hostile and negative side too. Similar to Shotaro against Terui, or Kouta against Oren before. He clearly doesn't like Supana to deny them being friends, as well as taking hard time to acknowledge his abilities such as his cooking. The nail in the coffin for now is him at the end when Supana rejects his gesture, while also not acknowledging the existence of people around him (except Rinne) like Boruto, to vow to surpass him and put Supana in his place. That one being what's viewed as a jerk however...

...it seems that the show tried to mislead viewers that Supana purposely ruin Boruto's life, but it's anything but, unlike Ren in Ryuki picking fights and gathered many enemies. Other than his natural aloofness, Supana didn't do anything questionable to Boruto, as he simply just defeated him in a test in a fair way. What Renge said was right, there are just people who are jealous of him. Boruto is just terrible and self-centered to blame others for his shortcomings to the point of scheming petty revenge against them, even becoming a Malgam. This should also show that while the Academy so far serves good, people won't necessarily join it for good, like Boruto who is unhinged and wants to prove his superiority. Boruto's dark reflection of both Hotaro (inferiority complex to Supana) and Rinne (alchemist wanting to follow their father's footsteps).

The alchemist's weakness is clearly shown here in Rinne being powerless if her ring is taken away. And it seems that she has to chant to use her abilities? That gives away her chance to be sneaky (with her also being intelligent student). At the end, both Hotaro and Rinne seems to display a little sympathy to Boruto when Minato erases his memories, despite him being a scumbag who kidnapped the latter. Other than Hotaro, this seems to be a glimpse of Rinne's child self in the present? To have it overpower her dutiful nature. With her having limits on obeying rules... Wrestler G's separation from Koichiro deserved sympathy more, or it's let out because Koichiro is ready to part away unlike Boruto's begging?

Outside of that though, with Supana being established as perfect here, it seems clear that Gotchard played a big part in saving the day too, to save Rinne and propel Valvarad. Felt that Supana should maybe think about that (even if hiding it due to pride), considering his attachment to Rinne and him being a loner who looks down and won't expect help. Other than Supana's apology, I feel his reaction to Rinne in danger in front of his eyes isn't as strong as I'd suspect, I wonder how'd Supana react if he's truly alone in that situation.