I like that this time-skip was basically a way to switch up Aoba's dynamic (he can't be a pro fighter at like 17 or else he's a genius like Kenshin) and I'm really glad the author didn't just make him a bit bigger and buffer, but show that he's both matured and grown but is also still the same vengeful, petty, and vicious bastard.
This time skip wasnt perfect, but holy shit it's so much better and makes so much more sense than ones in other manga both narratively and logistically.