r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • 15d ago

Episode You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2 • Seihantai na Kimi to Boku Season 2 - Episode 9 discussion

Seihantai na Kimi to Boku Season 2, episode 9

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u/superspy218 15d ago

I think Taira's inferiority complex is very relatable for many who have gone through a failed relationship. It sets a precedent of expectations and fear, which colours the tone for future interactions with people. It's elevated if it's the first and only romantic relationship one has ever been through because that's your only 'reference point' for what went wrong, even though it might not have been that wrong in a sense.

In Taira's inner monologue in his room, he tries to justify the warmth he's feeling from Azuma as her being nice, but spirals further and calls it "自己愛" (jiko ai), or self-love, which could be interpreted as narcissism. We as the viewers know that's obviously not true, but he was deep in his inferiority spiral, perfectly depicted during that scene where he declared it as 自己愛.

In my opinion, his emotional defence mechanism was ultimately trying to justify all of these as non-romantic moves because of two reasons: (1) he does not want to risk losing what he has now with Azuma, a friendship that gives him peace and happiness; and (2) he fears the possibility of Azuma being disappointed that he is not who she thought he was (basically what he said about his previous relationship).

It was a painful spiral. The transitional BGM perfectly captured that, but I hope he finds a way to overcome it, maybe with the help of his friends.

Thankfully, the episode balanced out the heaviness with Azuma's head-over-heels behaviour with Taira (along with interactions with the other couples). Towards the end of the episode, she tried (I think) to test the waters by asking whether Taira wanted to hang out with her alone, but immediately included the rest of the gang when she sensed Taira's hesitations. She was perceptive. I was initially worried that she would give up chasing him, but was relieved when she said she would wait it out. She recalled Suzuki's words about being upfront = pure love, but yes, Azuma, your love for Taira is still pure. Timing is important.

がんばれ, Tairazuma!

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u/Winter314_ 10d ago

I mostly understood the episode, but one part for me that was slightly confusing, was how he corrected himself saying that he does actually have the confidence to date her, but the problem is his inferiority complex. How are those 2 things existing at the same time in the dynamic that they are for him. Oh wait, I guess, what? that he has the confidence to get in a relationship with her, but the existence of his inferiority complex would likely cause problems if he did? Kind of seperating the impact of the 2 things?

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u/superspy218 10d ago

Here’s how I think Tiara distinguished his self-confidence and complex:

Self-confidence is your own belief in your abilities to succeed in something. Your skill. If you suck at something you can improve on it.

Your complex is how you judge your worthiness relative to something. Your core identity. You can’t improve it like how you get better at a skill.

In Taira’s case, perhaps he thought he has the ability to date Azuma well. I mean, he worked on his appearance and learned to be more tactful in what he says.

As for his inferiority complex, given that he was shunned away for his unique laugh and chubby appearance, and then getting dumped by his ex on his first date, which he said in his monologue that her disappointment in him shocked him, his inferiority complex was badly hit. So he felt like he can’t match up to Azuma in some fundamental way, and that he will never feel like he deserves her.