The anime certainly plays that day as an us-against-the-jerks thing, but I saw that particular gesture as such a father-son thing, in the manga, that it really struck me when Ryouma used it.

*thoughtful* It's not that I think Nanjirou is total scum. Nor that he's deliberately fucking with Ryouma's head. More that he's managing the effect despite not meaning it. And, while I could forgive that in an opponent, when it happens in a parent it makes me see red.

Midoriyama is the team whose coach also has his son in the lineup. That's actually one of the places that gets my hackles up again, for Nanjirou's remark that kids are there for parents to toy with. Again, I don't think he's entirely serious, but I don't think he's entirely joking, either.

*grins* Obssessing about the manga is a perfectly good thing. Glad you're liking this branch! More on the way.