People need to realize how much cuter thus scene is. Of course we all know, the stone-head saiki who swore he will never say OFFU because of her is saying it. Yes, he may say it already before this scene in bitter expressions or contexts.
But we all know that this different: offu in general is an expression used to show awe and admiration towards teruhashi, and thats what she aims for saiki to express. Right after teruhashi gains confidence, and boldly claim that saiki LIKES somebody who's confident on herself JUST LIKE HER...... HE SAIS OFFU 😩
Not only HE saying it solidifies what teruhashi claims, it shows how saiki was caught off guard at what she thinks. He probably just realized right there and then that, oh, yeah, maybe i do like people who's confident in themselves. And yeah, teruhashi is *that* confident people. Cause, we witness throughout the show that saiki canonically admired her will and effort to be herself. He never countered the fact that she thinks she on top of this world, because it's merely objective. Teruhashi is a person who knows her worth. Saiki knows that. But saiki only just found out that HE likes a person who knew their own worth. And connecting the dots between that and teruhashi induced an OFFU. Man. Saiteru shipper is always annoying about this??? OF COURSE WE WOULD.
BECAUSE I WANNA PROPOSE ANOTHER POINT: the fact that teruhashi LONGED for saiki to say offu, but THE ONE TIME HE ACTUALLY SAID IT WITH HIS MOUTH, NOT TELEPATHICALLY, SHE BRUSHES IT OFF THINKING IT WAS HER OWN IMAGINATION
Teruhashi, who's so full of herself, who thinks what saiki does is or SHOULD be central towards her, IS SELFLESS THE MOMENT HES ACCIDENTALLY GIVING IN. The one time shes actually right, AND have the right to be cocky about it (since diva really WINNING it that day), she was humble. SHE WAS HUMBLE ABOUT IT.
DO YOU GUYS GET ME???? ITS LIKE A SPIN IN THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. The usually stubborn saiki gave in (and doesn't have enough time to stop himself from reacting genuinely), the usually stubborn teruhashi doesnt fall for her own delusion or imagination (when this time; HER DELUSION ACTUALLY HAPPENING and its the most genuine expression he could give)
Teruhashi also doesnt know how much more meaningful saiki saying offu is. Saying it with his MOUTH to be precise. She doesnt know he has powers. She doesnt know he usually communicate telepathically. She doesnt know he knows her in ways others dont. She doesnt know he accepts her in ways that others dont. She doesnt know he hears all things she thought of in her head. She doesnt know he unconsciously agrees to what she thought; or that she made him realize more things about himself. She doesnt know her observation of him means something to him, even if he try to make like its not a big deal acting all nonchalant (kinda a connecting dots to the mixer episode too teehee). She doesnt know the setbacks he faced. And despite all thing saiki have in his life, the limits he put on himself, the usual demeanor he put upfront, it all crumbled in one tiny moment to whisper "oh" that carries THAT MUCH MEANING.
And thus she win, he loses. And only saiki knows how much hes 'losing'. Other than the fact that he says offu, he now realize something he doesnt know about himself: his preference in liking someone. And that happens to be her, apparently. Here, he lose to her twice. Teruhashi always wished for Saiki to come around, and the moment he did, SHE DOESN'T KNOW IT
