Kisa

Like, imo that kind of flashback is not even that necessary because whether we know exactly what happened or not doesn't change anything tho??? Didn't Takao himself specifically say that he liked Midorima because of the way he did everything humanly possible? Midorima's attitude toward Takao had already begun to change the moment he heard Takao declaring that he'd practice more than him, and wasn't that enough to explain why he eventually came to trust Takao so deeply? In the end, the only thing Midorima ever needed to know was that even after Teikou had mentally crushed so many opponents during the time of their talent bloom, Takao was still one of the few people who chose not to give up. And Takao had already proved it by staying with Midorima until the he finished practicing every single day, not just through empty words. So why in the world would Midorima need to know every detail of how frustrated Takao felt after losing that match?

Also I don't like the interpretation that Takao's goal of taking revenge on Midorima was completely abandoned simply because they ended up on the same team. Like, does Takao, the same guy who had once reminded us that "this is just high school basketball," and was more aware than most characters in this series that every player is bound to experience defeat, really look like the type to obsess over getting revenge for a defeat out of pure resentment?

I mean, there was a reason why his goal changed from wanting revenge on Midorima to wanting Midorima's recognition and they ending up at the same school wasn't the whole story. At their core, both of Takao's goals were driven by the same desire: to become someone Midorima could never forget. That makes even more sense when Takao himself did explain in the manga the reason why he recognized Midorima in the first place (i.e. it heavily implied why Takao only wanted to be recognized by Midorima and not by any other GoM members), while Midorima in middle school had spent so long taking victory for granted that he didn't even remember playing against Takao's team. And that underlying motivation wouldn't have changed even if they'd ended up at different high schools.

Never been so faithful in my life.

Regarding Akashi, I think most people admire him for his absolute perfection. But truthfully, that "never making a mistake" trait is actually a tragedy. Akashi maintains that omnipotence not just through talent, but through the haunting obsession that he "is not allowed to lose."

When Akashi and his father are together, their conversations revolve solely around achievements and the responsibilities of an heir; there is absolutely no trace of concern for his personal emotions.

When a child grows up under such harsh expectations, receiving love only with conditions, even the smallest mistake is enough to make their safe world collapse.

That is why, when Rakuzan lost to Seirin—regardless of all the debates about fairness—I saw this defeat as a form of "salvation" for Akashi in the long run.

Even though that moment might have caused him to break down (I was deeply puzzled to see Mr. Masaomi disappointed even though his son's team was the runner-up in the Winter Cup—Akashi was "not good enough"?!), it was the exact moment he learned to cherish the value of stumbling.

This failure was an opportunity for Akashi to realize: Even when he is not perfect, he still has teammates by his side.

No one will abandon him just because of one defeat, because he deserves to be loved unconditionally.

Seirin: Wow, so average.

Kuroko: Just once.