Yes, he knew he was going to be in trouble and still did it.
It's not as it should be, but it's as it is.
Yes, the guys are bullies with everything that comes with it. If he KNOWS that ignoring that will lead to fights ... then by ignoring it and seeking the confrontation ... he is a guy who gets into fights.
Bottom Line: People don't care WHY you do what you do, they only care about the results of your action.
The being there might lead to a verbal confrontation, some harsh words. Sure.
Not that he *knew* it would happen, but certainly a possibility.
*Knew* he would get jumped 4 on 1? MC can see the future and 'knows' that will happen and does it anyway?? No.
And even if he did know. That doesn't make MC the 'guy that starts fights'.
It's still the jocks that start it.
He's just the one to hold his ground. (And, frankly, that's smart. The old wisdom about running from bullies and they will just keep bullying is absolutely true. Standing your ground and giving them something to think about at least opens the possibility they'll rethink things. Or just move on to an easier target.)
Now, you're right about people often looking at the end result and not the cause. So the girls comments aren't exactly surprising.
But back in my post that started this discussion I said I was
annoyed by it, didn't say
surprised
The part about that scene that felt off to me was there wasn't an option for the MC to reply and, rather forcefully, remind the girls that it was the jocks that start shit so they should go talk to them.
Something along the lines of: "Ya know, I'm getting really sick of getting blamed for that shit. They're the ones that attacked me. So go tell them I'm here and not to start any fights."