What are your “this is a red flag but I like him anyway” LIs?

Gyte · May 5, 2026

Okay I KNOW there have probably been posts like this before, but something like this just happened to me and I need to not feel alone lol

So I recently started translating Diabolik Lovers Grand Edition into my native language, and I already knew people have... very strong opinions about this game. But while I was translating, I kept catching myself thinking: "wait... why do I actually like this???"

Like...Ayato and Kanato somehow got me

especially in the first game.
Ayato with his whole bad boy / kinda yankee vibe... I hate that I'm into it lol
And Kanato?? It's that whole contrast, he looks so soft but then he's... Like That. Not reducing them to just that obviously, but yk, first impressions and all. (still rf)

And I kept going "what is wrong with me" while translating their lines lmao

At this point I'm just accepting they're my personal "character deviation" (aka my questionable taste

). I know there are WAY worse ones out there too, like LIs who are literally related to the MC or treat her like trash and people still love them (no judgment... maybe a little

)

So yeah, I wanted to ask. who are YOUR "I know this is bad but I still like him" LIs??

satory · May 5, 2026

I don't think there is anything bad with liking any kind of characters - no matter what they do, they are all fictional. There can be questionable taste in real life, but not in pixels on screen, everyone likes what they like and it's normal

And as for red flags LI's, I like Alvaro from Wand of Fortune. He is a horrible person, but I like his face

Gyte · May 5, 2026

satory said:
I don't think there is anything bad with liking any kind of characters - no matter what they do, they are all fictional. There can be questionable taste in real life, but not in pixels on screen, everyone likes what they like and it's normal

And as for red flags LI's, I like Alvaro from Wand of Fortune. He is a horrible person, but I like his face

That actually makes me feel a lot better

sometimes I'm like '???' about my taste in characters, but the fact that it's all fictional really takes the pressure off. And I didn't even know that character or the game before, but I just looked him up... and yeah, he's kinda hot lol

Yashalun · May 5, 2026

Red flags? Heh, honestly, there are plenty

Since I always go for yandere characters, I'm surrounded by red flags—and I love them—but if I had to pick two, they'd be:

1. Diabolik Lovers

To start with, this game is a walking red flag, and I've only played the first two versions (due to time constraints), but even so, I can say that in the first game, my favorites were Shu and Ayato, and in the second game, Ruki, Azusa, and Subaru... (leaving out Azusa, Shu, and Subaru, who, despite being red flags, are the best of the worst) the other routes make me ask myself every day, "How could I have liked them?"

But there's another game that I consider a seriously bad choice

2. Kankinkon (+18)

Well, this one goes beyond just being a red flag and toxic—my favorites are Touji and Hikaru, and I'm aware that it's really bad (beyond bad) that I like these two, but I can't help it. So no comments on this game.

The only reason I tolerate it at that level of toxicity is because they're fictional; in real life, that's a death sentence.

YummyYum · May 5, 2026

Probably Laito from Diabolik Lovers, and Demento from Period Cube. They're both bad, but hey this is fiction lol. I would also add in Toma from Amnesia if he counts, because he doesn't seem like a red flag at first

Gyte · May 5, 2026

Yashalun said:
Red flags? Heh, honestly, there are plenty Since I always go for yandere characters, I'm surrounded by red flags—and I love them—but if I had to pick two, they'd be:

1. Diabolik Lovers

To start with, this game is a walking red flag, and I've only played the first two versions (due to time constraints), but even so, I can say that in the first game, my favorites were Shu and Ayato, and in the second game, Ruki, Azusa, and Subaru... (leaving out Azusa, Shu, and Subaru, who, despite being red flags, are the best of the worst) the other routes make me ask myself every day, "How could I have liked them?"

But there's another game that I consider a seriously bad choice

2. Kankinkon (+18)

Well, this one goes beyond just being a red flag and toxic—my favorites are Touji and Hikaru, and I'm aware that it's really bad (beyond bad) that I like these two, but I can't help it. So no comments on this game.

The only reason I tolerate it at that level of toxicity is because they're fictional; in real life, that's a death sentence.

I've never heard of Kankinkon before, but the aesthetic and the way you described it definitely caught my attention. I'm curious about it now (taking notes

)And I agree with you about the fiction vs reality separation. Some of these stories only really work within that boundary

Gyte · May 5, 2026

YummyYum said:
Probably Laito from Diabolik Lovers, and Demento from Period Cube. They're both bad, but hey this is fiction lol. I would also add in Toma from Amnesia if he counts, because he doesn't seem like a red flag at first

I see a pattern with Diabolik Lovers

Laito fits perfectly here. And yeah, I think Toma definitely counts too...even if it's "with the best intentions", locking the MC in a cage doesn't exactly scream green flag lol

xopeachy · May 5, 2026

Yashalun said:
Red flags? Heh, honestly, there are plenty Since I always go for yandere characters, I'm surrounded by red flags—and I love them—but if I had to pick two, they'd be:

1. Diabolik Lovers

To start with, this game is a walking red flag, and I've only played the first two versions (due to time constraints), but even so, I can say that in the first game, my favorites were Shu and Ayato, and in the second game, Ruki, Azusa, and Subaru... (leaving out Azusa, Shu, and Subaru, who, despite being red flags, are the best of the worst) the other routes make me ask myself every day, "How could I have liked them?"

But there's another game that I consider a seriously bad choice

2. Kankinkon (+18)

Well, this one goes beyond just being a red flag and toxic—my favorites are Touji and Hikaru, and I'm aware that it's really bad (beyond bad) that I like these two, but I can't help it. So no comments on this game.

The only reason I tolerate it at that level of toxicity is because they're fictional; in real life, that's a death sentence.

can i ask you if kankinkon is good? i like a red flag romantic interest in an 18+ game

and i tried to download kuro to kin no akanai kagi a while ago from this forum, but it didn't work at all on my computer, i was interested in the romance with the stepbrother

:boys_sigh:

Yashalun · May 5, 2026

Gyte said:
I've never heard of Kankinkon before, but the aesthetic and the way you described it definitely caught my attention. I'm curious about it now (taking notes )And I agree with you about the fiction vs reality separation. Some of these stories only really work within that boundary

Good luck with that

. Here's the link to VNDB: https://vndb.org/v25698 Touji-hen is the one for Touji, and Yamana Gakuen is the one for Hikaru.
The only thing I can tell you is that it's not because they insult you or act tsundere—it's because they're yandere on a level beyond extreme. Plus, it's 18+, so it feels more like a bad ending than a story.

Gyte · May 5, 2026

Yashalun said:
Good luck with that . Here's the link to VNDB: https://vndb.org/v25698 Touji-hen is the one for Touji, and Yamana Gakuen is the one for Hikaru.
The only thing I can tell you is that it's not because they insult you or act tsundere—it's because they're yandere on a level beyond extreme. Plus, it's 18+, so it feels more like a bad ending than a story.

thanks for the recommendation!

I saw it's marked as "short" on VNDB, so I'll definitely give it a try. Really appreciate the heads-up too!

Yashalun · May 5, 2026

xopeachy said:
can i ask you if kankinkon is good? i like a red flag romantic interest in an 18+ game and i tried to download kuro to kin no akanai kagi a while ago from this forum, but it didn't work at all on my computer, i was interested in the romance with the stepbrother

Kuro to Kin no Akanai Kagi—phew, I actually liked it, and my favorite route was Ikuto's (the yandere brother), but even so, it's not the most toxic route in that game; there's another one that's really something else. I downloaded it from here too and was able to play it on a low-spec PC. Give it a try or check the comments to see what happens—maybe you'll manage to get it to work this time.
Kankinkon isn't exactly good—it's more of a guilty pleasure for me. I can't really explain it in broad terms, but 98% of all the routes are yandere, and it's also very toxic and psychologically dark. It's not horror, but it is very dark. I'd describe it as feeling like a deep pit or like a bad ending replaced by a story, and none of the routes are bad because the protagonist is treated like a sack of potatoes—in this one, it's actually the opposite; it's very different.

Here it is on VNDB—give it a read and see if it wins you over: https://vndb.org/v25698
If you like yandere stories, I can recommend a few, but they're 18+: PersonA -Opera Za no Kaijin-, Koezaru wa Akai Hana, Trick or Alice, and Hana Awase (the last one isn't 18+ but does have ecchi and yandere elements).

xopeachy · May 5, 2026

Yashalun said:
Kuro to Kin no Akanai Kagi—phew, I actually liked it, and my favorite route was Ikuto's (the yandere brother), but even so, it's not the most toxic route in that game; there's another one that's really something else. I downloaded it from here too and was able to play it on a low-spec PC. Give it a try or check the comments to see what happens—maybe you'll manage to get it to work this time.
Kankinkon isn't exactly good—it's more of a guilty pleasure for me. I can't really explain it in broad terms, but 98% of all the routes are yandere, and it's also very toxic and psychologically dark. It's not horror, but it is very dark. I'd describe it as feeling like a deep pit or like a bad ending replaced by a story, and none of the routes are bad because the protagonist is treated like a sack of potatoes—in this one, it's actually the opposite; it's very different.
Here it is on VNDB—give it a read and see if it wins you over: https://vndb.org/v25698
If you like yandere stories, I can recommend a few, but they're 18+: PersonA -Opera Za no Kaijin-, Koezaru wa Akai Hana, Trick or Alice, and Hana Awase (the last one isn't 18+ but does have ecchi and yandere elements).

thank you for responding and for the recommendations, seriously

i'll be saving it in my notes

:alice_glitter:

usagi-k · May 5, 2026

... i have an entire list for this category :]

fr4pp3cinn · May 5, 2026

I'm a big yandere lover, so all of them lol I'm also into older brother routes ;b
In DiaLovers my favorites were Shuu and Subaru, but I really liked Kanato's and Azusa's routes too! As for Toma... his route kinda got me hooked on yandere routes in my early otome days lol (with Jumin Han as well)
I also like the LIs in Chou no Doku (and there's different flavors of toxic there lmao)

YummyYum said:
Probably Laito from Diabolik Lovers, and Demento from Period Cube. They're both bad, but hey this is fiction lol. I would also add in Toma from Amnesia if he counts, because he doesn't seem like a red flag at first

Demento is such a good character, I really wish he had an actual route instead of being a branch route!

Nihilistic · May 5, 2026

Honestly I adore red flag characters especially if they are written well. If they are just straight up abusive and the protagonist takes it without fighting, I don't like it. If the protagonist is someone with a backbone and can be ruthless back; I love it. Diabolik lovers is a red flag paradise but some endings when you can get revenge are *chefs kiss"

Gyte · May 5, 2026

usagi-k said:
... i have an entire list for this category :]

View attachment 98217

What a blessed list

scorpies · May 5, 2026

Gyte said:
Ayato with his whole bad boy / kinda yankee vibe... I hate that I'm into it lol

i actually didn't expect to like ayato too. tbh his stupid cat face might be the biggest factor, i cannot take him seriously lol. it got even better in the second game, he looks so dumb GWHJKGHJKJAJKL

i didn't really like any of his ends in the first game actually and i haven't finished him in more blood yet (i just started and left the game afterwards actually) but maybe more blood will make it up for the first game?

i liked shu too. he likes to sleep and lowkey does nothing and

i liked his crying a lot, i repeated it a few times lol. his VA did a really good job actually, after learning his fear AND hearing him like that upped my enjoyment like %200 GWVHJJAGAJKHAJ i was like do it again lol.

he actually ticks a lot of the boxes for me

shu didn't really do anything though. i guess you cant compare him to ayato. but tbh i cant really take anyone on dialove that seriously. i feel like either nothing happens or it happens too quickly?

and yes although i lean towards nicer li. i rather them be a red flag than be boring. at least it keeps things more interesting

:akazukin_tehee:

Fruitcup · May 5, 2026

So many red flags with Scien from Virche Evermore but hes voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya; so I just looked past them hehe.
(´つヮ⊂)

Leviathan_01 · May 6, 2026

Despite them being terrible, I also like all the guys from DiaLovers (except for Ruki, I really hate him ಠ⁠,⁠_⁠｣⁠ಠ), my favorites are Kanato, Subaru Azuza and Kou. Another red flag character I really like is Yang from Piofiore

Leviathan_01 · May 6, 2026

scorpies said:
i actually didn't expect to like ayato too. tbh his stupid cat face might be the biggest factor, i cannot take him seriously lol. it got even better in the second game, he looks so dumb GWHJKGHJKJAJKL

View attachment 98219

i didn't really like any of his ends in the first game actually and i haven't finished him in more blood yet (i just started and left the game afterwards actually) but maybe more blood will make it up for the first game?

i liked shu too. he likes to sleep and lowkey does nothing and

i liked his crying a lot, i repeated it a few times lol. his VA did a really good job actually, after learning his fear AND hearing him like that upped my enjoyment like %200 GWVHJJAGAJKHAJ i was like do it again lol.

he actually ticks a lot of the boxes for me

shu didn't really do anything though. i guess you cant compare him to ayato. but tbh i cant really take anyone on dialove that seriously. i feel like either nothing happens or it happens too quickly?

and yes although i lean towards nicer li. i rather them be a red flag than be boring. at least it keeps things more interesting

Seeing you mention that Ayato looks like a cat, it finally made me want to confess what I've thought for years since I first saw him, lol. I've always thought Ayato looked like Tom from Tom & Jerry, and sometimes idk why but I mentally hear Tom's scream whenever I see him smirking

it looks exactly like Tom when he's planning something lol

What are your “this is a red flag but I like him anyway” LIs?

New member

Active member

New member

New member

Active member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

Member

Active member

Active member

New member

New member

Member

Trusted Member

Trusted Member