Dungeon Meshi 17 Early Access - Course Before Heart

I think this is the point in the story that confirms without a shred of a doubt that Laios is most probably neurodivergent, and most of the problems he faces is because he thinks differently from the standard person. Although in many ways, his thinking process contains its own genius. That secret resentment Shuro always harbored towards Laios when he was just trying to be friendly is tragic though, and something I think I went through a lot as a weird (possibly undiagnosed neurodivergent?) kid. This is also probably where some of the more deeper thematic comparisons between Dunmeshi and Frieren come into play. "Main protagonist who just doesn't get others because they're wired differently", but executed in vastly different ways here.

Your wandering monster encounter just got interrupted by THE REAL ENCOUNTER!