Actually I’m gonna address this since it does bother me
(Tw for suggestions of rape)
or he could just be joking...? If he didn't really care about his feelings then at his love suite event he could've raped him like Korekiyo and Miu did. But he knows his boundarys, and it was even a DREAM where he could do anything.
Re. Ouma’s remarks in the Salmon Mode dates ‘I don’t have to be nice to you, so it’s really easy to hang out with you, Shuichi’, and suggestions of it being backhanded and out of dislike.
To be fair, it’s entirely possible that he’s messing with him, I’m not going to say that it isn’t. That being said, the way it comes across is worthy of scrutiny, considering his attitude is... strange at other times, as well. This isn’t an isolated incident, that’s the problem- if it was just one thing that sounded a little rude and backhanded, that would be one thing, but it’s not. Shuichi even remarks that what he said at a point ‘wasn’t a compliment’, while Ouma pointedly insults and calls him a ‘sicko’ - unprovoked, at that - while that particular event ends badly. Even in the main mode, he comes across like he’s not very fond of Shuichi at times despite the talk about ‘loving him’ or ‘favourite’.
Which leads me into this: Ouma does throw Shuichi down on the bed for some reason, with a stern expression at that, like he was fully intent on doing... something to him. I have my own reading on that scene- but leaving that aside, he can care for and respect someone’s feelings and person, and still have (very heavy) issues with them at the same time. We’re talking about the same guy whose special ability in meta is Kind Lie, and who talks about lying for the sake of being kind- a noble thing. We’re talking about someone who pretty much has to put himself and his own feelings second as a part of his shtick- hell, being a ‘subtle leader’ is a huge part of his character, so that comes with the territory. Meaning, even in a strange situation like the Love Hotel, he’s not exactly falling to the most base thing, he’s still acting out of restraint.
So true, he could just be joking, or awkward, if that’s how you personally read it, but remember! It’s not a strictly ‘joke’ vs ‘absolute violent hatred’ dichotomy with Ouma, not in the canon nor in extra modes. Danganronpa pretty heavily rejects binary thinking besides, and gives you a lot of room to speculate on what’s going on with Ouma, his relationships as well.
