i found riko's death pretty horrifying, actually.
yes, i understand what he did to kevin, jean, neil, and everyone else that crossed his path. i understand that there was no real hope for changing him, and that his death was the only way to end his reign but. he's still very human. he was barely an adult, never really got to be a kid but never really allowed to mature either. he lived underground too, under threat of violence. all he wanted was for his father to love him (not even love, just acknowledge). he wanted to prove that he was worthy of his #1 - desperately, dangerously so. he needed to be #1 the same way kevin did - he was just as much of an object as any other player on the team. yes, he was cruel, and horrible, and he enjoyed it, but on the other hand. what other choice did he have? he was born to be evil and taught it was the only way to win, and winning was the only way to live. he'll never know there were any other options, because he lost his usefulness, acted out too much, and was disposed of casually, by his brother who he never got to meet. riko was doomed from the moment he was born, and he spent every waking moment trying to prove himself worthy to live.
he's so human. he screams when he's in pain, he's upset when people say mean things to him, but those things arent allowed for a raven, much less a moriyama. his body jerks a little when the bullet enters his brain.
