First, I’d like to clarify:
My words were polished with a translation tool, so they might come across as a bit harsh, or the meaning could be slightly misrepresented. Please kindly understand!
I have never opposed anyone who ships romantic relationships between the clowns; it’s just something I personally cannot accept. That said, I only quietly block such content and have never criticized others or told anyone, "You can’t ship this pair."
Now I’d like to share my thoughts:
This is a reply under the post I shared earlier. The commenter is a friend of Neko's — I just listened to what he said and am sharing my thoughts in response.
As ordinary players, we have no right to dictate what others should like. The only thing we can do is manage our own experience and proactively avoid content that makes us uncomfortable — this is something everyone can do.
Regarding your plan to add a romantic storyline between Pierrot and Harlequin in the game’s ending, I sincerely hope you will not go through with it.
Here’s why: Do you remember your game was initially targeted at a female audience? Your friend mentioned you’re just telling a story, not selling a product, but the truth is you’ve gained substantial support through this game — monthly voluntary donations from fans who love your work on Patreon and Ko-fi, plus income from official game merchandise. Since you’re profiting from the game’s popularity, I truly hope you can consider all players’ perspectives, instead of dismissing our concerns with "donations are voluntary".
Do you still remember why you received those malicious private messages before? I’m sorry to bring this up again… but your game has grown extremely popular now, and the previous controversy clearly shows most players cannot accept romantic relationships between the male leads. I urge you to think this through carefully; online backlash can be terrifying, and I don’t want you to go through that kind of harm again.
I defended you on both domestic and international platforms back then, and you told me you only supported fan-made content — I trusted you, so I sincerely hope you won’t let me down…😭
You need to understand that for many people, it’s really hard to accept their favorite "romantic interest" having a romantic bond with his close companion who’s by his side every day.
If you’re going to say, "I’m just adding one extra ending; you don’t have to play this route", I’d like to ask: To set the groundwork for this ending, won’t you have to design plots that showcase the past romantic feelings between Pierrot and Harlequin? That would mean all players will inevitably come across such content, which will be extremely distressing and hurtful for those who dislike it…💔
If you’re really eager to create romantic storylines between the clowns, could you please consider not including them in the main game? You could make them into side stories, bonus content, or short comics with clear warnings before release, so people who dislike such content can actively avoid it and everyone can enjoy your work more peacefully.
Besides, there’s no doubt they are not blood-related. Based on the current game plot, I’d rather interpret their past bond as "family-like affection", especially between Pierrot and Harlequin. I’ve seen posts saying Harlequin once had a secret crush on Pierrot, but Pierrot liked Columbina — that’s why Harlequin tried to seduce Columbina. What’s more, you mentioned there might be a love triangle ending featuring Pierrot×MC×Harlequin. I assumed it meant both Pierrot and Harlequin like MC — please don’t tell me the actual meaning is Harlequin likes Pierrot while Pierrot likes MC, and the player in this plot doesn’t mind their feelings for each other… I want to say something more explicit, but it’s just too terrifying for me. I’m sorry… I really can’t accept it… It’s so frightening😞😞
What’s worse, the reason you’re not making this plot happen is because the coding would be too difficult, not because you’re considering the players. If you really just want to create your own story, you shouldn’t charge for it or profit from this IP — that’s hard to justify.
I’m saying all this because I truly love this game and the character Pierrot. I’ve donated to you, bought two official Pierrot plush toys, created nearly 600 artworks for him, made a figure, plus many videos and comics since July 26, 2025. I sincerely want this game to keep getting better.
Actually, I faintly noticed some ambiguous hints between Pierrot and Harlequin in Jester’s story on Day 2, but I chose to overlook them because I want to believe we players are not treated as mere tools by the clowns… The game is still unfinished, so there’s still room for adjustment. I just hope you’ll think this through thoroughly.
The following are the words my friend would like to say.
Hey everyone! I’ll be updating my works one after another—follow me if you like them! 📝I’m a writer from China, currently obsessing over cre
Do you realize the consequences of this decision? So many people who love these characters individually will be hurt by this storyline. Right now, there are already many players who openly oppose this ship, and if this plot is added, all the pent-up conflicts will erupt at once. Those who support the ship will use your official response to attack those who don’t, and the entire community will be torn apart. The game—and you—will never know peace again.
I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, and I don’t know your personal thoughts, but I was deeply hurt by the response from your friend, who speaks as if they represent the official stance. And I’m truly worried about you—this path will lead to terrible outcomes.
This is no longer just a game you made for fun. It has become a community built by all of us who create, share, and love it together. We’ve poured our time and passion into this, and that’s what made it the warm, connected family it is today.
Neko, I know you’re a gentle, thoughtful person, and I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now, with so many voices telling you what you shouldn’t do. You’re torn between making the game you want to make and the expectations of others. But I need to tell you: the moment you gained a large following, started charging for Q&As, and released merchandise, you took on a new identity—not just a hobbyist, but the official creator of this game. Its popularity has exceeded your wildest dreams, and so many people love it—including me. I’ve written long analytical posts about the game, the five circus members, and the plot, and even created fanfiction for them.
I truly adore you and your game because I can see how much heart and effort you’ve put into it. Even though my analyses are full of my own subjective views, I know you’ve crafted these characters with immense care. The game is so rich with details that I’ve been able to uncover so much, and that level of dedication to what you love is why I respect you so much.
But with this popularity comes praise—and also responsibility. You can no longer create just for yourself. I’m sorry to say this, but it was the selfless creators in our community who promoted and built this game’s audience; that’s why TFC became so popular. I myself discovered it through their work, was moved by it, and joined in creating content too.
I know you feel constrained, even confused about your original vision. I don’t want to stop you from pursuing what you want—I just want to warn you: Are you truly prepared for the consequences? For the heartbreak and betrayal that so many of your fans will feel? This will leave a wound that no one will forget.
That’s all I want to say. Please keep the discussion rational and respectful🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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