angst central

That's not even to mention how often there's charged, while not entirely explicit scenes, that consistently carry the energy of sexuality with them, of forwardness, of that rebellious sexual energy, yet Nero always rejects, averts, or denies it in any way possible.

Put this in contrast with Dante and Nevan. While Dante isn't a rebel, more of a 'free spirit', he leaned into it, with all his teenage hormones in a behavior that's relatively reasonable. No, he doesn't do anything more than lean into it, but he has distinctly positive reaction.

You can chalk this up to Dante simply being more bold and confident, where Nero is more reserved and almost shy, but that feels a bit diminishing of the difference there. Nero could've at least looked. Looked at the sprites, looked at Gloria, any of it. But he never did. He would've never been punished. But at every turn, he denies, rejects, or ignores.

Every charged interaction Nero is forced with is met with discomfort, distrust, distinct aversion, the only exception being Kyrie, where it's 'neutral' in the sexual context. And Kyrie BLEEDS with want, "She yearns for your touch", GIRL? But that, too, contrasts with Nero. She constantly reaches out, holds that desire, but he never, ever does. His responses to her love and affection are positive- but sexually, they're met neutrally, if not entirely ignored or skimmed over.

"But how does this lead to Nero having sexual trauma?"

Well, simply because I'm drawing parallels to all of this. To Nero being forced into these situations. Again and again. Forced. Pressured into it. He can fight back, but it never really resolves it. He still has to deal with whatever shows it's ugly head... But this is now. When he can fight. When he can scream and throw his weight around and shriek NO, in a way that a child couldn't. A child, at best, would be ignored, at worst, severely punished. And we've never pretended Fortuna was a good place. Maybe not rotten to the core, but for a lost child like Nero, there was no love for him.

There's a reason children, teens, adults, lash out in rage and anger.

And more often than not, it's because they cannot bear the pain of not saying no, so they say it so loud no one can ignore them again.