I just realized something after trying to summarize this... when Daguchi confessed, he didn't try to court Onoda at all. It was a quick yes or no moment which he drops upon receiving an insincere rejection. But there's also Onoda who was too lost in his own indecisiveness that he tries to make things normal...like I understand Onoda, it's always easier to notice things as an outsider but always a little more difficult to figure things out alone—especially for him who just noticed his feelings for Shima while also dense with his jealousy upon realizing that Daguchi's sex life.
and yeah! that, too... Daguchi never really planned to confess so he couldve tried to douse it thru casual sex... and it wasn't really clear if he still had casual sex after he confessed. coz that would be a problem, he already confessed which reserves a sense of devoted waiting. to be honest, i still liked the complexity of their relationship coz none of them is ever completely right or wrong —a total grey area of being wrong about something and their conflict is just the consequences of it.
But in terms of emotional impact or poetic execution, definitely shima and Togawa. Onoda and Daguchi are more of candidly written, the type you'd actually witness irl cause everything unravels in verbal communication.
the thing i love the most is how they can confront their fears because of how strong their feelings are. there's a mix of maturity and immaturity here. I especially relate to Shima's fear but also Daguchi's playful way of confessing. like, as long as i can slide it off as a joke as a way to test the waters but also fear that it wouldn't last because I may not be enough anyway.
plus, I like what Togawa said regarding the fluidity of sexuality. Just like those we assume to be straight can be homosexual, what's stopping homosexuals from falling in love with the opposite sex? and NO, NO, im not talking about conversion therapy and "well shit, they can be noRmAL" bullshit. It's that spectrum of bisexuality where you lean on one sex preference but meeting a person who just makes you fall in love.