Xion/Pence, lmao.
That's cruel.
Wait, so we're done with the spoiler boxes?
Honestly, there seems to be a lot of jumping the gun in this situation. I've seen Naminè getting some hate for no reason other than she took the hand Riku offered in what seemed to be a friendly way based on their expressions and behavior as he went around picking everyone up.
But, let's say the intention was to set them up. I don't particularly care for them? It's meh to me. I feel the scene would have been more impactful if Roxas and Kairi showed up, specifically Kairi. She spoke so beautifully of Naminè's right to exist and it amounted to nothing in the end. That just opens Pandora's box on Kairi in general though, so I'll refrain.
The only reason Riku picking Naminè up moved me was because I took it as a symbolic representation of Riku Replica's wish, an act that did quite affect me?
Riku and Naminè themselves don't convince me as a liable ship. While she did save him from falling to a dark place, the two scenes after with them felt pretty distant. She offered to lock in his darkness, he ended up deciding not to, told her she smelled like Kairi, and then proceeded to leave as he stated to look after Sora. There was nothing romantic about it or intimate. Riku takes the rest of the year spying on the Organization/doing his own thing and running around with Xion. The one other scene he and Naminè had can be basically summarized as an impersonal business meeting about the issue concerning Sora's interrupted recovery process. Because really, Sora is Riku's everything, no matter how one chooses to interpret it.
That was it. That was literally the core of their interactions. Naminè didn't share her thoughts, her doubts, something about her that gave the notion that they wanted or were willing to get to know each other more. It's so, so dry. Then we get to KHIII where Naminè isn't even a priority to Riku whatsoever. While I'm sure they are friends, he didn't remember she existed until Riku Replica's sacrifice came in, as well as his last wish. Then he chose to take care of the fight with Xehanort first and leave the vessel until after they were finished. It's not like they couldn't show Riku missing Naminè because they did so with Roxas and Kairi.
I mean, that's already a terrible start, lol. Sora/Kairi left much to be desired, but at least they had foundation since KHI and onwards, whether or not it was good.
The lack of build up, follow up, and overall lack of implementation of showing Riku cared at all is frankly, jarring. I don't buy into it and I can't support it IF this is what they're going for. It was incredibly poorly handled.
If anything, Riku Replica should come back if she has to be with a Riku? He really didn't have to get offed.