RIVAL

Tachibana Ryoki is the main love interest to Narita Hatsumi, and thus, Shinogu's biggest rival. However, their relationship is not as one would expect it to be. It's very...convoluted. At times, Shinogu believes he can trust his sister with Ryoki, and at others, he refuses to let them even be near each other. Their interaction is rocky and stiff; while Shinogu is mature and passive, Ryoki is consistently hostile - while also being aloof. I don't know how he manages to pull it off, but he does.

Things start out normally. Shinogu is indifferent about Ryoki, but knows that Hatsumi is frightened by him. It is when he learns that Ryoki is bullying her into being his girlfriend (Ref: Vol. 4, Ch. 16, Pg. 47) that Shinogu really becomes agitated by his actions and really, starts to pay attention to him. Before this, he'd paid no mind to Ryoki because, in all honesty, he never really saw him as a threat. He was just "the guy Hastumi's afraid of" until this point. After this, Shinogu starts paying attention to every time Ryoki and Hatsumi are together, everyway he touches her - it's one of the things he immediately focuses on!

Shinogu becomes Ryoki's tutor in order to get the building to stop ignoring them, and it is during their first session that he broaches the subject of Hatsumi with Ryoki.

Shinogu: Are you...serious about Hatsumi?
Ryoki: Does that really concern you?

This is after Azusa has already laid the seed of suspicion in Ryoki's mind, hence the underlying hostility. This is before Shinogu has confessed though, so while he probably senses the challenge behind those words, he does not respond to it. This is one of the most civil interactions the two share throughout the series.

Ryoki: You guys are too close for comfort!
Ryoki: I mean...what was that last night, anyway? All that hoochy-koochy, lovey-dovey...

Clearly jealous of Shinogu, Ryoki bombards Hatsumi with verbal abuse, insecure about his place in Hatsumi's life. Almost simultaneously, Shinogu moves out in the middle of the night because of Hatsumi's growing feelings for Ryoki (Ref: Vol. 5, Ch. 20, Pg. 35) among a few other things. It's funny that they're both so insecure about the other. They are constantly watching how close the other is to Hatsumi, how they touch her, and who she talks about. But, while Ryoki is aggressive and belligerent about it, Shinogu is quietly resigned.

Even still, for the most part, Shinogu attempts to be polite and well-mannered whenever they interact. Unfortunately, Ryoki does not extend this curtosy - he is abrasive, short, and detached whenever speaking with Shinogu; this is especially true after confirming Shinogu's love. That doesn't mean that Shinogu doesn't voice his opinion! On the contrary, he does it in a way that is gentler. He doesn't beat on Hatsumi, or shout at her, or call her names. He quietly states his opinion - and even apologizes if it makes her feel bad. What does he think of Ryoki?

Shinogu: ...that...friend of yours. Might be real rich or whatever, but...
Shinogu: Doesn't...seem to have any manners...to go with it...
Shinogu: Making you feel like this was a big favor, when actually...
Shinogu: You're stuck all the way out here in the sticks.
Shinogu: And forced to go home by yourself...
Shinogu: I'd call that...pretty inconsiderate...and messed up...
Shinogu: ...some friend.

Their relationship gets even rockier when Ryoki slaps Hatsumi across the face and Shinogu prevents her from going with him (Ref: Vol. 8, Ch. 33, Pg. 10). The point is - they pull back and forth. There are many instances where Shinogu honestly tries to leave Hatsumi and Ryoki together - he tells him to never make her unhappy, he calls off his tutoring gig, he does his best to keep Hatsumi satisfied in the relationship she seems to want. It is Ryoki who consistently drops the ball.

I don't see the two of them ever really getting along. Ryoki has said and done too many things that Shinogu will probably never forget. Oppositely, Ryoki, being as jealous as he is, will probably always feel that twinge of anxiousness whenever Shinogu is around because Hatsumi could have very well picked him.

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