I think what I like the most about this wonderful parallel is the fact that, the second time around, Zoro doesn’t say or ask anything. Luffy explicitly told Zoro that he needs him, and Zoro’s answer to that was that he will always be with him. “Until the end”. And true to that vow, Zoro is with Luffy here, didn't even hesitate for a moment before he followed him. And he does nothing to feign interest or to push Luffy to talk when he doesn’t want to. Instead he simply waits to see if he is needed in this particular instance or not, getting ready to leave when he thinks it’s the latter but that moment being the exact one Luffy chooses to talk. To be fair, that first issue is something that bothered neither Zoro nor Luffy. But they still made it a point to draw a parallel between these two moments to show the growth of their bond. With one moment, being awkward and almost unnecessary and the other one, emphasizing how poignant their dynamic has gotten. To the point that there are barely any words needed. Just being there is enough.
there’s something so personal about the scene in fantasy high s1e7 where gorgug calls himself stupid & fabian, who up to that point had basically entirely been acting like the bad kids (especially gorgug) were beneath him & had also been the one calling ragh stupid two lines ago, instantly says “okay, do not put yourself down like that. don’t you dare do that to yourself.” like it was obvious he liked the bad kids at that point but the instinct to protect his friends manifesting as an immediate strong refusal of gorgug’s self-deprecating talk kills me. that boy loves his friends so bad oh my god i feel sick.