Nanohana's constantly questioning her own skills, takes a few losses way too hard, locks up a lot of her feelings away to the point of breaking down when things go wrong and has attempted or thought about two of her own 10-Minute Retirement. Instead, she soldiers on because she has Eri waiting for her at the end of every day.
Cheng's life as a State of Gucun soldier sucked, being full of Training from Hell and superiors believing We Have Reserves. Yet, he soldiers on.
Memetic Mutation: "Another generic bad end", a sarcastic comment said by a player after one gut-wrenching canon's Tear Jerker ending has gone on to be a snarky faux-complaint about missions which do not end in the most ideal way, no matter how thematically appropriate they are.
The ending to mission 68, Red Giant. The mission ends with Cheng learning that he didn't save his family, Mr. Herrera being killed and Christine, once proud and boisterous, reduced to a sobbing wreck thanks to Julia's Unstoppable Rage.
The one-two punch of the Total Canon Kill of the Still Not Safe canon in missions 77 and 79. At least Devon and Laura turned out to be Not Quite Dead. Frank had no such luck though.
The end of the original canon Power Trip, wherein both protagonist Felicita and her antagonist mother reconcile only to die shortly thereafter.
That One Boss: The mod responsible for running Yolanda designed her to be as annoying to fight as he thought he could possibly get away with. Comparisons in style have been made to Anubis.
Wangst: Seems to come in droves between Kamille and Nanohana. Granted, one's an idealistic girl and the other's Kamille.
