Brain is currently rotting...

You mean to tell me months—if not YEARS—of development. …and your solution was to throw the ENTIRE SIXTH LOVE INTEREST into the trash?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I'm not saying people shouldn't have been angry about the 731 reference. They absolutely had every right to be. Unit 731 is one of the darkest chapters in history and if that reference was made carelessly, then yes, people deserved an apology and an explanation.

But explain to me how Valko became the sacrificial lamb here.

Who exactly does this help? The people who were hurt by the reference? They still deserve accountability.

The people who were excited for Valko? Congratulations, you just told them to go fuck themselves.

The developers who spent who knows how long creating an entirely new LI? Their work gets deleted overnight.

So what was the goal here?

Because this doesn't feel like taking responsibility. It feels like corporate damage control.

Fix the story.

Rewrite the chapter.

Delete the offending reference.

Delay the release.

Fire whoever thought using 731 and 611 was acceptable if you have to.

But deleting an ENTIRE CHARACTER because of a mistake in ONE PART OF THE GAME is such an absurd overreaction that I genuinely can't wrap my head around it. I'm just so unbelievably disappointed. because Infold's response was somehow even worse than the original mistake.

We lost a character.

The developers lost their work.

600 year ago young blood Elder (Yes, he's a pretty big guy even then) and Crushed Leaves and Earth.

Least bothered when human falls asleep on him and he can't move for a bit. Goes with the flow.

octopus

sylus, of course, had simply nodded. “if that’s what you want.”

now he’s standing beside you, too straight, too still, like he’s been positioned there for inspection. you glance over and immediately sigh.

“you look like you’re about to interrogate the camera."

“im standing,” he replies calmly.

“that’s not the issue.”

you step closer before you can overthink it, fingers catching the front of his coat as you gently tug him down. He follows without resistance, but now he’s too close... close enough that your breath catches.

you ignore your rapid heartbeat, lifting your phone. “just, look at the camera. and maybe… try smiling?”

“i am.”

“you’re not.”

“this is my neutral expression.”

“that’s worse.”

before the awkwardness can swallow you whole, you act on instinct, leaning in and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek just as the camera clicks. you pull back, already reaching to check the photo, then pause. sylus hasn’t moved.

his eyes are on you now, not the phone, not the camera, just you. something in his expression has shifted, composure slipping just enough to make your chest tighten.

“…what was that?” he asks quietly.

“a kiss?” you say, suddenly very aware of how close you still are.

“i’m aware.” his gaze flickers briefly to your lips, then back to your eyes. “…why?”

“it’s normal,” you mumble. “couples do that in photos.”

he goes quiet for a second, like he’s processing that. then his hand comes up, slow and deliberate, fingers brushing your jaw as he tilts your face toward him.

“stay still.”

your heart stutters. he leans in, close enough that you think, this is it... click. you blink.

“…did you just...”

he tilts the phone toward you. the photo shows you completely flustered, him closer than before, hand still on your face, except he’s not looking at the camera. he’s looking at you.

“…you didn’t even face the camera,” you mumble.

“…why would I,” he says softly, “when you’re right here?”

your face burns instantly.

“…take another one,” he adds.

you glance up. “…you want another?”

“yes.”

this time, when you lift the phone, he doesn’t need guidance. his arm comes around you naturally, pulling you closer like it belongs there.