The rival.
Especially the douchebag Machiavellian type rivals that the main character ends up friends or teaming up with after the main character 'proves their worth' to them by being stronger. No character growth outside of now they work with the protagonist.
I really want this trope to be subverted one day, like the douchey rival shows up and everyone is just like "Wow what a dickhead" and just relentlessly bullies him until he goes away.
I feel like that reversal happens in Fate/Stay Night.
The bully is a creep and everyone kind of blows him off and he ends up teaming up with the villain.
I might have to watch Fate/Stay Night then
Noooooo don't you'll regret it, F/SN is full of tropes that have aged horribly.
Edit: If you really have to, Unlimited Blade Works (2014) is the least problematic, although personally I'd say Fate/Zero is more interesting... if still problematic.
Anime y u always gotta be problematic?
Syndrome from the incredibles lol