@Duribu
"Third-wheel characters that exist to disrupt things aren't uncommon either."
this is true
however, people who consume series like this (i.e. wheelspinning fluff for a million chapters) want one of two things
the wheelspinning fluff
or
actual progress that they're deluding themselves might appear
and shitty drama serves neither thing in any practical way. drama is the antithesis of fluff, and it barely serves progress since even if progress is made at the end of it, you've still wasted a bunch of time with drama
I get the idea that romance is more satisfying if it happens despite adversity but I'm not here for that and I don't believe that the significant majority of the audience are either
and yeah, I know that rin is hardly shitty drama, at least compared to other series. but either way she takes up space that COULD be occupied by fluff or progress