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Originally Posted by Triple_R
I'm focusing on more than just the sequence that you're referencing here.
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Context is very important, and I agree with you on the concern. It's certainly there, and if you ignore that you're ignoring an important part of the motivation. But even that concern is ambiguous in some way, partly selfish (in how it reflects back on himself), and partly caring: he needs to protect her from her brain-to-mouth pipeline. In fact, that Chihaya and Arata were talking out there in the rain at all was due to one of those blunders (and one that couldn't be resolved because it was in the middle of class).
Now, Taichi obviously likes Chihaya, and it's very hard to believe that her enthusiasm, kindness and spirit isn't part of why he likes her. But that very aspect also makes her a reputation hazard. It's very clear that Taichi worries a lot about reputation (example: the first thing he says to Chihaya
when they meet at the start of the episode is about what she's called at school). Chihaya is clearly aware that her motor-mouth hurts people, and when Taichi intervenes in those situations, it's actually a welcome opportunity to make amends.
But when it comes to reputation, more precisely in-group membership brownie points (I have to say that, because she
is excited about her sister's frontpage appearance, which is also a form of reputation), she's just oblivious and has no internal understanding why that's important. She can see the results, though. So, Taichi's perspective is valuable to her.
When it comes to Arata, though, there is a clash of priorities. Basically, a trait where they usually complement each other is now a source of conflict, because Arata threatens their reputation (and thus their "place" in class). So when Taichi tries to get Chihaya to abandon Arata, this simply not an option for Chihaya ("I didn't think you were so mean," or something to that effect). I'm pretty sure that deep down Taichi actually agrees with Chihaya, and Chihaya knows that. So she's not taking his threat seriously, when she's telling him "fine".
But Taichi has been primed for rivalvry, ever since the guy also memorised 100 poems. And now he's talking to Chihaya. Is he ursurping his place? Is this the new-comer to kick him out of the life that he treasures? At that moment, Chihaya's reaction must confirm that fear. The emotional reaction is paradox: Arata represents at once the outsider who contaminates them with outsider-weirdness, and the rival outsider who seeks to change places with him. And he has just lost an important (if not decisive) battle. All that frustration lies in that push against Chihaya, who's more suprisded than upset at that - she realises that there are deeper issues than she thought.
Socially speaking, Chihaya is looking outwards, whereas Taichi is looking inwards. This makes it hard for Chihaya to "belong", but easy for her to make individual friends. Taichi is pretty much the opposite. This must have caused awkward situations before (and, I'm sure, they complement each other well, too). But here it broke out first full tilt.
The potential-girlfriend type of jealousy is certainly prominent in the scene - but for Taichi much more is at stake. It's existential.
So what's behind Taichi's behaviour in the rain that day?
1. A sense of belonging threatened by the newcomer, either by being tainted with the mark of the outsider, or by being supplanted by the same. (A paradox and confusing situation)
2. A behavioural pattern between Chihaya and himself, where he balances her socially hazardous impulsivness - which usually benefits her (so why shouldn't it, this time, too?)
3. A fear of losing Chihaya to "the other guy"
(1) is the most abstract, and (3) is the most concrete in that situation. This is why I absolutely agree that the situational motive is jealousy. It's obvious. But I do agree that context is important. Taichi isn't
just being jealous. There's more to it. And concern for Chihaya is certainly part of it (it takes, I think, the shape I summarised in (2) above).
Of course, I have only one episode to go on, and I've only seen it once. So who knows what I've been missing, and what relevant information I don't have?