Shimawank continues.
Ujiie, even if he was being a dick, was right. When you're attractive, extroverted and liked you can get away with a lot more than someone who's not as "gifted." Of course he doesn't understand Shima but it's not like Shima or most of the other characters understand him either and it's like the point of the chapter is to just reinforce Ujiie's views about how "hard work" is a privilege of the attractive. You'd think Mitsumi, of all characters, would try and actually talk to him about it but no, she just screams at him about how he's just being such a buzzkill that I'm surprised she didn't hit him with a "learn to read the room."
Yes, Shima has problems but the default starting point for him still puts him way ahead of someone like Ujiie. I'm sure people will point out "but Mitsumi..." but guess what? Despite her success we've still seen that other people look down on her, especially in regards to her closeness with Shima because she's a less attractive nerd which kind of reinforces his point because she's a good student, StuCo president and is still looked at by others as a mediocre dweeb stepping above her station. She's straight up overheard this stuff so you'd think that she, of all characters, would be sensitive to how Ujiie feels. But I guess not because he so heartlessly and cruelly insulted poor Shima-kun so it's better he just shut up and know his place.
Ujiie definitely could have been more tactful but he's right in that they asked for his opinion and he gave it and "but he's working hard" shouldn't invalidate how he feels. Yes he's judgey of popular/attractive people but it's understandable why given what we've seen of him. It will be interesting to see how he grows and I'm hoping we start getting some progress on him and Yasaka and there's obviously interesting interactions he could have with the likes of Yuzu or Mika. Hell, seeing him and Shima actually talk could have been good. But the author just seems more concerned with propping up Shima even if it means bringing down other characters to do it and the more it happens the more it drags down what's an otherwise great series with a great cast.
It's just a shame seeing them all get tossed aside because now everything has to revolve around the Sadboy.