[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

It's like seeing a re-enactment of Amatsu Gai's backstory, but with cute cactus instead of cute robot dog. Fortunately, Riku has a good advocate in Houtarou who will stand up to the father that Sabosuke should be respected as a friend to Riku, not a mere distraction. While the story ends for Riku the same way it did for Asahi, it seems that he can still live happily as long as he continues to get the emotional support he needs. Sabosuke had provided that in the father's absence, so hopefully the father will actually keep his word and make more time for Riku from now on.

The proof isn't exactly seen yet, Riku is shown to have his grades falling since befriending Sabo, which was how Sabo and Hotaro being a distraction means. It not being a distraction will be proven if Riku can keep his good grades while still making friends, or if they're convinced that living/future isn't only about getting best grades. M̶i̶c̶c̶h̶y̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶K̶u̶r̶e̶s̶h̶i̶m̶a̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶,̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶u̶r̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶'̶d̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶e̶e̶p̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶m̶o̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶ ̶(̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶p̶l̶e̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶o̶p̶p̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶)̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶n̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ For Hotaro being an advocate, would it be considered him being a nosy "busybody" who takes away someone's agency by telling Riku's dad what to do despite only knowing Riku recently? Though this'd be also what being heroic is, meddling when you don't need to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Looks like this will be the personal challenge for Houtarou, where he strongly believes that the Chemy Law is wrong while working within Alchemy Academy to change it and create a world where humans and Chemies can co-exist peacefully. It'll probably be a long road though, as Minato and Spanner won't be easily convinced and his opposing actions may risk deducting points which will count against him later, or at worst be branded another traitor like Fuga. Houtarou shaking up the system will surely cause Rinne, Sabi and Renge to reconsider their own values as well.

Yeah, even if the real proof is there (with Supana also being proven wrong) Minato won't be easily convinced. And in these kind of scenarios.... as what I already said in this comment, the audience will likely typically consider Hotaro or other kind of these boy scouts as just naive and sticking their nose in others' affair without knowing anything, always treating anything he says or does as in the wrong and doesn't listen to others who know more (particularly with Minato being the instructor thus is proven expert, and how rough and mean characters like Supana is usually portrayed as the experienced one to the greenhorn MCs, thus their words are always taken at face value and seen as sensible). If these kind of characters had shortcomings, their good-nature would be blamed, but those experts' shortcomings will be overlooked. True that Chemies being free may risk causing Malgams, but Minato is dead wrong here of Chemy being to blame for Riku and Kenji's "bond", but I've seen that Hotaro's the one who should listen to Minato's prejudice there rather than thinking over what any party says.