Putting it as ‘befriend’ is the kindest way to put it, look at the last panel he’s a complex character but obviously he’s going too far
Nah, he was just trying to befriend Ryoma. Arikado carries a lot of unresolved guilt over being the reason why his parents neglected his brother, which caused him to have a twisted way of thinking. However, despite saying he wants to be ‘ryomas only friend’, his actions don’t reflect it. Instead of isolating him, Arikado places Ryoma in a position where people praise him and work with him. Did Ryoma deserve to be blackmailed? No. But Arikado didn’t have malicious intent and only wanted to befriend him
everyone saying he’s evil when it just seems like he was traumatised when he was younger and is trying to befriend glasses guy cos he reminds him of his brother. It is weird he tried to blackmail him tho