Discuss Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest (Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou) is an isekai type anime. Students brought from modern day Japan to a fantasy world that is in dire need. As with most isekai, the visitors have extraordinary abilities the common folk of the fantasy world do not possess. And they are designated to be the world's saviors under the premise of being the Summoned. Anywho, while on a group mission to clear a dungeon/labyrinth, one of the non-combantant students, the protagonist, is betrayed by the resident bully among his classmates because the protagonist is liked by one of the more attractive and well-liked girls among the students. The protagonist survives the assassination attempt, but only barely, as he looses an arm to one the many dangerous enemies inhabiting the labyrinth caverns in which the protagonist is now trapped. Using ingenuity and his ability to "transmute" solid objects into other types of solid mass, he quickly discovers he can survive by making himself weapons, and by devouring defeated foes to gain their abilities.
Being a person of the modern world, the protagonist makes himself modern weapons to fight the enemies in the labyrinth.
HERE's where I have a problem with this anime. The protagonist combines his will to survive at any cost (on his own and with only one arm) with a grievance against his fellow classmates and the rest of the fantasy world due to his predicament. In short, it is somehow all his classmates' fault for the attempt on his life. When he finally makes it out of the labyrinth and circumstances cause him to run into his classmates again, he is constantly saying he's seperate from them-- their cause to save the fantasy world is no longer his cause --, yet the protagonist takes every excuse to help them when they need it, as his skill in clearing the labyrinth by himself, and devouring strong enemies has made him far stronger than the strongest of his classmates.
The other thing about the show, that is particulary "cringy" to the Nth degree, is that the protagonist (a 17 year old boy) rescues a young (middle-school, 7th & 8th grade) female tween trapped at the bottom of his first labyrinth. They travel together and become lovers, though the girl is a vampire that is over 300 years old. She just doesn't seem, physically, a day over 12 years old; while the attractive girl from the student class is much more a physical match (and age appropriate) to the protagonist. It doesn't make sense, at least not to me, why the writers/creators would go that route. I mean, as a man, I know exactly why the male character would choose the "girl" over his more womanly classmate but that sends that "cringe vibe" through the effing roof and into the stratosphere when it's thought in those terms.
I know certain things in Japan's culture are considered risque by American standards. That same taboo-ish cringy vibe came about watching the Seven Deadly Sins anime series, talking about the character who couldn't die - Ban, and his love interest - Elaine, sister to his teammate the Fairy heir apparent - King. The "ick" comes in because Ban seems to be a 24 - 27 year old man, while Elaine is (physically) a tween female (12 - 14 years old). Ofcourse storywise there is no telling how old either of them are, but it is clear they are both at least a century in age; Ban 70yrs +, and Elaine a few centuries, being a fairy. I'm never one to complain about fan service, but-taaah....there are lines that will give me the "heebee-jeebees" if you get too close to them. And this is definitely one of them. lol

Good Luck in your viewing, - Bob -

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