I get why people are reluctant to believe that Kairi can be handled well after they've botched her for so long, and KHIII was what it was, but she honestly has more potential and interesting things about her than any other character in the series. And it always baffles me when people can't see that. I know the argument is that the writers still won't be able to capitalize on that... but for the chance of getting a glimmer of what she can offer, I'll--perhaps foolishly--get back into the ring again. And, yes... while I do think it's going to be a Riku and Kairi (and Yozora?) game, and that's fine, part of me is going to be kind of sad if she never gets her own game. Kairi deserves better. Edit: And I think a Kairi game would sell, because most casuals only play for the gameplay and Disney now (also, oddly enough, TV Tropes says girl Disney fans like Kairi), anyway. Really, only Sora games sell better now. People don't even care about Riku and Roxas like they once did. And casuals seem to like Kairi. And Kairi seems to be becoming more and more popular.
And if the next game is a Riku and Kairi game... I would like to believe that might fix some of Kairi's issues right there. Yes, I imagine that Kairi and Riku will talk about Sora a lot. In fact, it might eclipse the number of times "darkness" was said in Chain of Memories. But if we have even a little focus on their relationship, that's already better right there. Just give me how they were in KHII, and I'll be happy. I want more, of course, but I'd be satisfied with that level of Riku and Kairi friendship--as that was their best game together, imo.
I am also praying that Nomura learned something from writing Aerith and Tifa in the FFVII Remake. But especially Aerith. Because as many people have pointed out, I think she's what they were going for with Kairi.I also wouldn't be opposed to some awesome Kairi writer coming back and helping Nomura. I kind of agree with Black Drazon, that you could tell writers were fighting over Kairi in KHII. One wanted her to go on her own adventure to find the boys, and the other wanted her to wait on the Islands like a good little girl. Nomura was surely the latter. So was Nojima the former? If so, can we get him or whoever it was back?
Also, Eddawiz on YouTube made the good point that Kairi's attacks in Re:Mind sounded like the piano.
...And on the small chance that this is both a singing and Kairi game, I'd be more than fine with that. Both Hayden and Alyson can sing
...Though I still want Hayden back for Kairi, and I'll die on this hill. Even though I have no disrespect towards Alyson and love her as Xion. I think she also had some decent Kairi moments in III--probably better than ever before--and if it is Alyson going forward (which it probably will be), she just needs to practice at it more (and read some of Kairi's lines as sassy, please) and/or have better direction.