Horror games are supposed to make you scream. But in Silent Hill f, players are screaming not because they’re scared — but because they’re swooning. Fox Mask, the mysterious figure garbed in traditional Japanese attire who guides the protagonist Hinako, has completely taken over social media. Fans are openly thirsting, turning Konami‘s latest psychological nightmare into something out of a dating sim.
Amidst a flood of fan art on X depicting Hinako being embraced by Fox Mask, Japanese players are absolutely losing it online. “The Fox Mask got me losing my mind,” wrote @piyokoy_.
“The more I learn about him, the more I like the Fox Mask,” gushed @zweimond. “I love a gentle and polite guy, yet insanely possessive.”
@rie_kanekochan confessed, “He really made me swoon […] when he’s gazing at Hinako with an incredibly affectionate smile as she messes up the ring ritual.”
Even those who’ve never touched Silent Hill before are being lured by Fox Mask’s aura. “I’m way too interested in him, but I can’t handle horror,” remarked @kirarimikan.
It’s clear that this fox guy has no business being this smooth, especially in a horror game, but it’s easy to see why. The tall, white-haired man is soft-spoken, mysterious, elegant, and comes with just the right amount of danger. Fox Mask basically oozes what Japanese Silent Hill fans call ‘mero’ — short for mero-mero, or ‘being completely lovestruck.’
Funny enough, Western fans on TikTok are just as down bad. “omg that fox mask is straight-up hot — so mysterious and sly, like a real fox,” said rcz1_edit8. Meanwhile, vamplette admitted, “Fox daddy? 👀 I mean Fox mask? I mean Kotoyuki? I never play horror games but I played Silent hill f JUST FOR HIM 🤤”
Cuts of him calmly guiding Hinako or speaking in that deep, soothing tone are pulling in thousands of likes. Even with his face hidden, Kotoyuki has somehow become horror’s latest heartthrob.
At one point, Konami revealed the man behind the original voice and looks — actor Kazuaki Yasue. A dancer and an acrobat, Yasue is quite well-known in the Japanese nerdom. He most famously played the role of Kanata Irie in the stage musical adaptation of The Prince of Tennis II anime.
Nevertheless, the thirst didn’t stop. It simply evolved. “Please do a cosplay as Fox Mask,” Japanese fan @e4bpo begged. While @JenosonTweet posted, “Oh… he fine af hol up.”
What was meant to be a descent into the horrors of psychological trauma has turned into a full-blown love spiral. Forget the fog, forget the monsters. The real danger of Silent Hill f might just be catching feelings.
