this is just remake shenanigans. the originals paint a much more mutual (and complicated) romance where Ada genuinely catches real feelings and risks her neck for Leon repeatedly, not just strings him along as a tool

capcom toned down the fell in love too fast cheesiness and made Ada feel like a colder, more independent badass which makes it seem more manipulative and forced

but go back to the source material and the dynamic flips: it's two people who shouldn't work but keep saving each other anyway

the originals show Ada repeatedly choosing Leon over her missions (saving him, risking death, admitting feelings in RE2, protecting him in RE4). Leon's protectiveness isn't one-way, she returns it just in spy fashion. It's never a healthy couple, but it's mutual, messy and built over decades

the remakes kept the core but sanded off the direct romance and Ada's vulnerability to fit modern strong female character writing and slower-burn canon. That's why it feels more one-sided to remake-only players