speaking of ships though, i think because i’m older that i finally see why daisuke and hikari would make a nice pair.
yes, he has his crush but he does grow out of it/stops idealizing her as 02 progressed, and she does tease him a lot, which can be annoying at times but tbh, she isn’t really comfortable being playful with just anybody. she’s probably one of the most reserved characters in the series, so for her to actually speak her mind to him and not tolerate everything from him, it’s so?? refreshing??
to me, it works because in order to be taken seriously, dai has to give hikari the respect that she should have rather than just claiming her just because of his own feelings. there’s so much value in that lesson. nonetheless, hikari already being aware that she doesn’t need daisuke (like not in a mean-spirited way, but she can be independent from him) is a great foundation for her because she’s able to set boundaries and learn what she really needs/deserves. if they ever did indulge in a romance, they’re able to be two separate beings that come together rather than two halves that are just that.
plus, daisuke sincerely cares for her opinion and i’m not saying that the others don’t, but hikari’s hardly in a situation where people even bother to ask since she’s usually agreeable. and oddly, even though everyone sees how alike taichi and dai are, hikari knows the differences. it seems like a negative thing initially, but she would also know dai’s strengths versus her brother’s weaknesses even when people praise the latter. he literally has an unconflicted heart of gold (when he’s not being petty jealous, fine) that’s not shy to express what he feels and i think that would appeal to her the best.