It would be wild to me if Square didn't see the Sora X Riku and Axel X Roxas posts, and let's be real, Sora and Riku have more of a connection than Sora and Kairi ever did.
It's really damning when KH3 Remind and MOM also wrote Kairi out of the search for Sora and that Riku has been the one with the reality-crossing dreams connecting him to Sora across time, space, and death lol
Not to mention this is the same guy who:
1) got so jealous of his best friends being close that he destroyed his own home, and tried to take Sora without Kairi lol
2) sacrificed his own happiness and freedom from the darkness to watch over Sora for a yeat
3) sacrificed his physical form to embody the form of his gaslighting bodysnatcher to continue to protect and save Sora
4) followed Sora from a distance and did things in secret to help Sora on his journey in KH2
5) would have stayed in darkness with Sora forever at the end of KH2 had Kairi's letter not arrived
6) became a literal guardian dream eater thing by diving into Sora's heart instinctually because he sensed danger at the beginning of KH3D
7) when his and Sora's hearts are in tune, it is the literal "Dearly Beloved" theme
8) they make a rainbow Keyblade with a literal rainbow behind them when they fight together
9) idk every other thing I failed to mention
I couldn't even begin to make a list of why Sora and Kairi have chemistry even if the games try to sell the idea. I know it's there but it all seems awkward.
And after FFVII Remake and Rebirth I know for certain that Nomura must know what romance actually looks like.