A lot of people actually bashed Taichi immediately after the episode was released, I couldn't find many comments regarding that on reddit but I did on other platforms atleast. Personally, I am Team Taichi, but I agree with most of their points. And honestly I feel this is what makes Taichi more real. Like Arata is the kind of person we all aim to be but I cant help but relate more to Taichi. Being strong is difficult and honestly how many of us can say that they havent been like Taichi at some point? Yes he's a coward, yes he isn't completely honest at times but that's what makes him human. Like if I personally were put situations that Taichi was in, would I have acted differently? Mostly no. And the fact that he himself realised how much of a coward he is and despises Arata cause he envies the fact that he can't be like him. Yes Taichi is great in a lot of other things, he's rich, he had a sheltered upbringing and is a model student with many fangirls but just cause of that, he no longer has the right to be jealous? Its human tendency to want something you don't have. Taichi knew he is a coward, he knew he couldn't be Arata but he didn't stop trying. He invested so much in Chihaya, he clung to the tiny hope of her liking him back even he knew she actually likes Arata he still clung to that little hope. So the fact that that tiny hope was destroyed I don't blame him for being as broken as he is and for running away. As for the last kiss, it was wrong for him to do that and I won't deny it. But he is still my favourite character as I personally feel like I can relate to him. Even though I totally understand why some people hate him I just feel like characters as real as Taichi are rare to find and I just wanted to appreciate the fact that he is the way he is.