It's been a while that it was "bothering" me, so to speak, that inori was getting more and more into the mindset of "i need to win because of others, because of guilt, because i owe it to others" and im glad the story is responding in kind by making her struggle more and more, WITHOUT her or tsukasa coming to a realisation of this problem
I think that is probably the point being made, that jun yodaka was unparalleled in freedom and self-definition, he was winning non-stop while only ever needing himself (is what we are seemingly told) the unparalleled freedom is what hikaru is trying to show to inori as well with her "im skating for you" performance. It's also in line with tsukasa's "sacrifice for the sake of it is against my values" and his belief that inori can win without it.
of course there is also the major point that medalist has made, really realistic, that "nothing is absolute on the ice", everything is a gamble, so no amount of self-definition is going to guarantee a win. but it still seems inori is narrowing her chances, by trying to make things into an absolute. i have to win this, because i ended tsukasa's dream, etc.
i also think it's normal that neither inori and tsukasa come to realise the problem of how shackled her mind has become, because inori's vision is being "narrowed" as an athlete, something that is normal and that she herself wont notice. she is also still growing, only 13. she still relies on adults for many many things. meanwhile, tsukasa doesnt have the full insight into the thing weighing down on her, she never tells him the full extent of her guilt. there is only a subtle difference between her ambition, which she always had, and her obsession She also has her surface level brightness as a kid that serves as a façade even if she is genuine with it
but hikaru with her own self-liberation, can shine a light on inori with a much more direct and simple way than trying to explain and analyse the weights on her mind. "i want to do that too. i want to be limitless and unstoppable on the ice like that too. i want i want *i* want" that's the raw feeling she can give inori and paradoxically help her break free from skating for guilt
At least thats one direction i see for the story
