Despite what Ryan implies about his family, I do think they really care about him. Like, all we have to go on is what Ryans says, and that singular flashback, but his parents are doing their best. The kids are chaotic and impatient, which is pretty much how it goes with kids, especially when dealing with siblings, but their mom makes them line up to watch Ryan and Min-Gi’s cookout concert. They scattered soon after, but she seemed like she was trying to watch, the two youngest boys were just causing problems. And his dad is looking over his shoulder smiling until the grill fire flares up and the younger boy runs by him. Like, I think it’s easy to implant Min-Gi’s parents’ reaction (pained disappointment. which like. christ. he is 6) on Ryan’s parents as well, because both Ryan and Min-Gi react the same way: sadly looking at each other, then deciding this is for the two of them anyway, and continuing. And the fact that they’re feeling the same way is why they became such close friends and bonded over music so deeply, but the fact that their hurt is coming from different places is why they got on the train and have to try to understand each other now.
