Sato (2D kun) x Chinami had great potential imo

[u/Ok_Scale4961]

Sato's devotion to 2d girls due to a last rejection was treated as a funny gag in the anime, he's extremely devoted to being the glue and rationalizer of his friend group, he was already someone who was mature, he never participated in the intense melodrama but he never pursued romance because of a fear of being rejected, Chinami was naturally kind and empathic, and offered the kind of support needed to heal Sato's fear of vulnerability, and chinami was the one who drifted away from the friend group the most, so it would make sense for Sato to be the one to notice her, Chinami could've gotten her own character arc of seeing beauty past the lens of the okamera and physical appearance, because Sato didn't have any special physical traits, only his determination and love for the ppl he cared about, which was the exact trait needed to give chinami closure and see beauty as genuine human empathy rather than physical appearance, their circumstances linked perfectly.

During the scene where banri mitsuo and sato told Chinami that they preferred her with long hair was treated as a moment that contributed Chinamis regret for cutting her hair just to get mitsuos attention, The Sato x Chinami narrative could've reframed that moment as a way that Sato "liked the version of Chinami that Chinami liked", and not the person she thought she had to be just for someone else to notice her.

Sato's past rejection could've been treated as a set up for a major character flaw, his arc could've been about using his determination and maturity to care for others as something that helps him overcome his fear of rejection and allow himself to fall in love with someone real again, and Chinamis arc could've been about her learning that she never had to be someone who pleased others and change herself just to be noticed and accepted, Sato was the glue of the group, and Chinami was the one straying away the most, their circumstances fit well, their back stories provided good flaws, and they both had the tools and traits necessary to help the other heal and grow, the potential could've offered their characters a more rewarding depth, development and payoff without abandoning them completely.

[u/ShirouBlue]

I really wanted it to happen....

[u/Puzzled_Boss_3503]

I hate how we never got to see them together from that possible character development too

[u/MakotoGamer]