With all the new Jesse scenes in not just the novels but now Challenger, I speculate that there is a lot of hidden facets of Jesse and a lot I speculate can tie in with his dad, Robert Coste.
In both the novels, we see scenes of their dynamic from Seiji's perspective, even if he doesn't glean a lot of the undertones of it. It was made clear by Mr. Katayama that how Robert spoke the boys after losing a slot away from gold was despicable, but Robert acted surprised with a "they won't improve if-" and thats all we hear of it.
However, I theorize that most of Jesse's obsession of being number one comes from his dad if this is how he usually reacts to him losing. This is referenced by Aidan who remarks on the possibility of Jesse ever NOT being number one, and in fact, he probably thinks about it most of the time. Based on little Jesse's somber act after Katayama drags Robert aside to really ream into him, it's not difficult to imagine that Jesse, who obviously loves and idolizes his dad, probably goes to great lengths to make sure scenes like this, where he is yelled at by Robert or that he's verbally torn into, never happen if he can help it.
In the new challenger comic, there are alot of scenes that visualize a good relationship between father and son, like fencing practice and fishing. But that doesn't mean that isnt a troubling dynamic to the two, and from this scene it seems Jesse even hides his fallout with Seiji from his dad and his expression just screams out that Jesse is a kid that puts on a lot of airs when it comes to his dad, and probably hides a lot from him too.
Personally, I would love to see the hidden facets of Jesse and just how harmful Robert's obsessive coaching is to Jesse in the long run, who was referenced to obsessively watch all of Jesse's training and matches, almost to a fault.
If I could go a little off center, it would actually be really cool to have an "Elemental" scene with Jesse. Specifically where he is like Ember, and the combo of Seiji and now his new scenes with secret half brother Nicholas, might start to rub at Jesse perfect image. To the point that, at one point he will just break in on himself with a simple yet powerful line:
"I think I'm failing."
Losing control of this ideal of being the perfect son and number one fencer. And because I'm a shipper at heart, I really hope its Eugene who hears it and witnesses the vulnerabilities behind Jesse's diamond hard composure, and maybe the first to not only see but realize, Robert Coste isn't the ideal anyone should try to live up to.
