While I like Akira/Ren as a character just as much as everyone else…there’s a reason why I think Ryuji’s role in his personal growth should be taken more seriously.
In fact, it’s why I think a lot of people ship Ryuji with Akechi too (or all three lol)!
The game devs clearly didn’t see Ryuji as a victim and that includes being a victim of Akira/Ren’s inaction in the face of his continued abuse.
In my head, it’s kind of why Akira/Ren is drawn to both Ryuji AND Akechi.
I don’t believe for a second that Akechi would have just stood there watching a bunch of students beat up Ryuji, allow him to get perved on, etc. He’d probably go so far as to call Ryuji out on his own willingness to be a punching bag on top of all that. Ryuji himself has done the same thing when he’s not the one getting dunked on all the time.
Akechi is an insane asshole, but he knows what suffering looks like. It’s probably why Akira/Ren respects (simps more like) him so much…and why he (and honestly Akechi too) adore Ryuji so much as well.