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.
The beach was not a place that Eugene expected to find Jesse at.
Well, maybe at a white sandy beach with pristine blue water and a strawberry daiquiri in hand—not this messy beachfront with patches of tall wild grass, broken pieces of driftwood scattered across the sand, and waves that lapped up the coast in a dark blue murky haze, spitting up seaweed in clumps along the wet shore. It had character, and was pretty in its own right, but it didn’t really fit the image Eugene had of Jesse inside his own head.
Speaking of said crush, there he was. Standing along a little ways off by the water while the wind swept through his hair.
Eugene wanted to go up to Jesse and say hi, but then he saw the way the blond boy looked at Seiji who had approached the edge of the sea just then, toes in the sand, but just far enough away that the water wouldn’t lap at his feet.
He saw Jesse look at Seiji with an emotion that looked vaguely like longing mixed with something else, and felt a nasty twist in his gut. The point of an épée right under his rib, pushing and pressing through the ache of his soul.
Eugene wasn’t dumb. He could glean that there used to be something there. Platonic. Romantic. It didn’t matter. He did know that the two had spent years together—childhood friends with a burning rivalry. And maybe there was something more there, something worth a label. But Eugene wouldn’t know. Eugene didn’t know. It wasn’t his story to tell, or to know for that matter. He could respect that.
But still, he couldn’t help the way that it made him feel. It was as though one of his siblings took a marker and scribbled it over his brain, over his skin, ending in a concentrated tangle of lines over his heart.
His chest ached.
He stared at Jesse for a moment longer; tall and broad-shouldered, a defined jawline, his for-once-bare-forearms—the sleeves of his linen shirt rolled neatly up to reveal some impressive muscle—his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his cargo shorts.
He wondered what it would be like to be arm wrestle Jesse. To hold his hand before winning a match of brawns—or perhaps he’d lose… having lost the moment Jesse held Eugene’s hand in his.
Not that Jesse would ever do such a thing. He didn’t seem like the physical type, but then the memory of Jesse absentmindedly offering his hand to one of the Levantis twins after a fencing bout for a hand massage flashed through his mind. But maybe he permitted such a casual touch for the masseuse on Exton’s team, or maybe he made the exception just for soothing hand cramps.
Eugene wouldn’t know. Eugene didn’t know a lot of things. But he didn’t let that bother him. Usually.
But still, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander and think of dangerous things.
What would it be like for Jesse to hold him? In his arms. Against his chest. Just simply. Being.
Eugene tore his eyes away, staring at the crashing waves of the ocean as a tinge of melancholy seeped into the corners of his mouth. He bit his lip to stave off his wavering emotions.
He didn’t notice the pair of blue eyes looking his way.
"Eugene!"
He snapped his head toward the call of his name.
"Come help me set up!" Nicholas shouted, dragging some beach equipment behind him in the sand.
"I gotchu bro!" Eugene shouted back, turning away from golden sunshine and seaside blue.
Au where Jesse and Seiji are healthy and well adjusted (lmfao) and are happily best friends who promised each other in middle school that if EITHER of them was single by 30, they’d marry each other.
Only, Jesse falls in love with Eugene and as he starts getting closer to 30, his deal with Seiji starts to worry him because Seiji is still single. So he does the only logical thing and sets Seiji up with his annoying little brother.
Think of the chaos. The shenanigans. The absolute bewilderment of the uninvolved parties over the commitment to a middle school pact
