Yutaka Zaito, a Captain and fighter pilot in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, is initially portrayed as a reckless womanizer who openly objectifies female colleagues, particularly fellow pilot Eru Hoshino, through inappropriate remarks and a fixation on physical appearance. Beneath this superficial persona lies a fiercely competitive yet fundamentally decent individual. His dynamic with Hoshino forms a pivotal subplot: when she develops genuine affection for him, he deliberately undermines their connection by escalating his callous behavior, aiming to incite her animosity. This calculated cruelty stems from his belief that her emotional detachment is necessary to preserve her synchronization with her dragon, as romantic entanglements jeopardize pilots’ operational effectiveness. Post-Ritual—a high-stakes mission involving the escort of a massive dragon—the two pilots mend their fractured relationship. Zaito’s prior actions are reframed as a harsh but duty-driven strategy to safeguard both Hoshino’s role and their mission’s success. Their reconciliation highlights gradual maturity, shifting his interactions from objectification to a tempered respect. This arc mirrors overarching themes of toxic behavior’s repercussions and the challenging path toward accountability, emphasizing how personal sacrifices intersect with professional obligations in their high-pressure world.