i think what gets me most about aoki’s death is that it is the perfect allegory for how rgg treats its antagonists: even if the antagonist is willing to change or implies they’re ready to start over, even if the protagonist is ready to accept them and help them move forward, even if it’s the very last second before the start of their redemption can begin, rgg has to throw in the BIGGEST Fuck You and stop any kind of progress from happening and kill them off before they can either change for the better, or justly face the consequences of their actions and get their comeuppance

ironically it’s like a stab in the back- like even if you want to change for the better, you’re doomed to the path you set out on and there’s nothing you can do to stop that now no matter how earnest you are in wanting to change and no matter who’s there to guide you to a better future (or at least get you to jail)