14, 16, 32!
14. What do they care deeply about? What kind of loyalties, commitments, moral codes, life philosophies, passions, callings, or spirituality and faith do they have? How do these tend to be expressed?
Having fun, for one thing. What’s the point of being super successful at things if you’re miserable the whole way through? That being said, that kind of attitude can only get you so far, which I think Takao has learned and is more mature about than he used to be. After seeing his teammates on Shuutoku practicing with all their hearts, he knew that he couldn’t take things as casually as he used to and still expect to be noticed. So now he begrudgingly accepts the merits of hard and grueling work, even if it’s not fun sometimes.
In terms of spirituality/faith, Takao like many people in Japan isn’t actively religious, but will call upon prayer if the situation is very dire and he has nothing else to turn to. Midorima’s ideas of fate and luck have only partially rubbed off on him, and while he does believe in both to some extent, he can’t help but continue to be skeptical. However, seeing Midorima’s ridiculous luck in action has confused his logical sensibilities to the point where he’s not sure what to think anymore.
16. Do they dream? What are those dreams like?
About the future? I’d say no, not really. Takao’s more of a “live in the moment” kind of person, and thoughts about the future stress him out anyway. I suppose he has some intangible dreams about wanting to be happy and in love and secure in the future, but he never really lets himself dare dream about specifics. In terms of daydreaming, though, Takao’s terrible about that, and oftentimes his mind just bounces around all over the place. Then he’ll blurt whatever he’s thinking from a very twisted and convoluted train of thought, and sound extremely nonsensical, and hence Takao not being taken seriously.
32. Do they have any “props” that are a significant part of their life, identity, activities, or self-presentation somehow? What are they, how are they used, and why are they so significant? How would these props’ absence impact them, how would they compensate, and why?
Unfortunately, I’d probably have to go with the rickshaw on this one... even if it’s not directly a sense of Takao’s identity, it definitely impacts how others see him, and it’s become sort of a... joke prop? It helps him in some extent to get exercise and help the person he cares about the most, but it’s also turned him into a running gag, which irks him a bit. But I suppose if that arrangement was suddenly gone, Takao would probably worry that he wasn’t doing enough to keep Midorima hanging around him. Which... is pretty sad. But they’d also probably talk it out and get over it pretty fast, so whatever.
