So Uhm... are they saying that that red-haired guy is that blind kid from before?

I think... no?
Because the name's change. 182's friends name is "Sky seer" and that guy was called "Red Reverie" So maybe MAYBE not... Just maybe?

Because bro just changed hair style and based on 182's flashbacks in the past chapter, he thinks of that 'Friend again' and in that Flashback the friend was tied to a chair and their head were huge and bulging... Maybe that friend did died.

Also doesnt that bulging head kinda looks like a hollow or maybe i saw it wrong