one relationship / dynamic that i feel is very under-discussed among tdlosk fans is Saiki & Chono. While yes, he’s only a secondary character and the eps that includes him are more a way to insert grotesque / burlesque humour(+ Nendou’s storyline) into the show, i’ve always found very interesting how it’s also through him that Saiki learns that some events are going to happen without or with him regardless - which questions this burden he has of always having to either interact with fate.
One episode in particular I’m thinking about is the one where Chono has to perform but hurts himself before going on stage so he has to replace him. At the same time Saiki has a vision of a disaster happening and tries his best to prevent it - but it happens anyways. At the end of the episode, he concludes that he wasn’t necessarily needed there.
I always found this episode quite odd narrative wise - at the end, everything Saiki did to prevent the catastrophe was presented as completely worthless (even ridiculed a bit with the ‘clown’ bit and toilet humour). But that’s what the narrative built itself around ; some events are going to happen regardless that he’s here to prevent them or not, because that’s just how life works. The most important thing is not to prevent them, it’s to learn how to come out of it, make it less worth - how to rebuild, in general.
And that’s why there’s a pan at the end to Nendo, Shun and everyone present here helping each other out and Chono lifting the wounded’s spirts up. They demonstrate how what happened is less important, what’s highlighted is how they overcome this - and it’s one another. It’s why, at the end, the help Saiki gave through his powers, is not different than the help Chono or Nendou provided. It’s a group effort, not only his.
This is also applicable to his relationship with Midori, in some way. How Saiki has never truly been able to interact or impact their relationship in anyways because it’s up to them, no matter what happens.
Anyways ! Food for thought etc