Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.
The first game
- The death of Iwao Hazuki and the impact it has on pretty much everyone who knew of him. Flashback scenes show that he was a strict but very loving father to Ryo, and it's evident throughout the entirety of both games how much his murder has truly broken his son. In the sequel, newly introduced characters who speak fondly of him learn of his fate, and they're clearly torn by the revelation that their old friend and fellow martial artist who impacted their lives years ago was murdered in a cruel twist of fate.
- A lot of scenes with Nozomi become this when it becomes clear that her love story doesn't end the way she hoped it would. The poor girl is obviously in love with Ryo, but our hero is so obsessed with avenging his father's death and confused about his own feelings that he shuts her out when he's trying to cope with his father's death and comes off as being cold to her at times. She's unable to steer Ryo off his quest for vengeance and her parents force her to go back to Canada against her will, which she's obviously saddened by because she doesn't want to be away from him, and didn't even get to celebrate Christmas together. The song "Wish..." is sung from her perspective, declaring her love for him but knowing that they won't be able to get together. Ryo just comes up short of confessing his feelings if he calls Nozomi the day after he rescues her and Cannot Spit It Out, but it's already too late as Nozomi is set to return to Canada, and she discovers from Fuku-san that he's leaving for Hong Kong as well. The final scene between them where she gives him the amulet is the real kicker, as Ryo has probably realized his feelings a bit too late and fate has prevented them from getting together.Nozomi: We're both leaving Japan. I wish we had more time.
- Poor Mark. Not only is he harassed by the Mad Angels regularly and beaten up to draw out Ryo, but he also reveals that he had a younger brother about Ryo's age that's gone missing, but doesn't know if the Mad Angels killed him or not after he leaked important information on them. He still believes his brother is alive, but we may never know the truth.
- Towards the end of the first game, Tom tells Ryo to drop by later. If Ryo goes back to Dobuita, a lot of people are worried about him and notice he's looking depressed. Tom later reveals that he's going back to the US the following day, a sudden revelation that shocks Ryo. Tom tells him that despite how far away they are from each other, they're still best friends. When Ryo sees Tom's plane in the sky, he's obviously saddened by his friend's departure.
- The first chapter in the saga ends with Ryo making the difficult decision to leave Japan and follow Lan Di to Hong Kong. It's clear that the emotions are high as he's leaving the house he was raised in and the people he has known for so many years, essentially leaving his entire life in Japan behind as he pursues the truth of his father's murder and his killer. The slow, pensive Vertigo Effect as Ryo walks down Dobuita street for the last time conveys just how bittersweet the experience is for him.
Anime
- Unlike the first game, where Nozomi has to return to Canada against her own wishes, she makes the decision for herself to go back after she overhears that Ryo is still determined to go to Hong Kong right after she's saved from the Mad Angels. In the series, she also doesn't tell Ryo about going back to Canada, leaving him completely unaware that they're both leaving Japan, with the implication that she won't be there when he returns.
