diff --git a/.idea/.idea.osu.Desktop/.idea/runConfigurations/osu___legacy_osuTK_.xml b/.idea/.idea.osu.Desktop/.idea/runConfigurations/osu___legacy_osuTK_.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ece926b34..0000000000
--- a/.idea/.idea.osu.Desktop/.idea/runConfigurations/osu___legacy_osuTK_.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-<component name="ProjectRunConfigurationManager">
-  <configuration default="false" name="osu! (legacy osuTK)" type="DotNetProject" factoryName=".NET Project" folderName="osu!" activateToolWindowBeforeRun="false">
-    <option name="EXE_PATH" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/osu.Desktop/bin/Debug/net5.0/osu!.dll" />
-    <option name="PROGRAM_PARAMETERS" value="--tk" />
-    <option name="WORKING_DIRECTORY" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/osu.Desktop/bin/Debug/net5.0" />
-    <option name="PASS_PARENT_ENVS" value="1" />
-    <option name="USE_EXTERNAL_CONSOLE" value="0" />
-    <option name="USE_MONO" value="0" />
-    <option name="RUNTIME_ARGUMENTS" value="" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_PATH" value="$PROJECT_DIR$/osu.Desktop/osu.Desktop.csproj" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_EXE_PATH_TRACKING" value="1" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_ARGUMENTS_TRACKING" value="1" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_WORKING_DIRECTORY_TRACKING" value="1" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_KIND" value="DotNetCore" />
-    <option name="PROJECT_TFM" value="net5.0" />
-    <method v="2">
-      <option name="Build" />
-    </method>
-  </configuration>
-</component>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestSceneHoldNoteInput.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestSceneHoldNoteInput.cs
index 596430f9e5..7ae69bf7d7 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestSceneHoldNoteInput.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestSceneHoldNoteInput.cs
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using NUnit.Framework;
 using osu.Framework.Screens;
+using osu.Framework.Testing;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps.ControlPoints;
 using osu.Game.Replays;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Judgements;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Replays;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Scoring;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects;
@@ -345,6 +347,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
 
             AddUntilStep("Beatmap at 0", () => Beatmap.Value.Track.CurrentTime == 0);
             AddUntilStep("Wait until player is loaded", () => currentPlayer.IsCurrentScreen());
+
+            AddUntilStep("wait for head", () => currentPlayer.GameplayClockContainer.GameplayClock.CurrentTime >= time_head);
+            AddAssert("head is visible",
+                () => currentPlayer.ChildrenOfType<DrawableHoldNote>()
+                                   .Single(note => note.HitObject == beatmap.HitObjects[0])
+                                   .Head
+                                   .Alpha == 1);
+
             AddUntilStep("Wait for completion", () => currentPlayer.ScoreProcessor.HasCompleted.Value);
         }
 
@@ -352,6 +362,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
         {
             public new ScoreProcessor ScoreProcessor => base.ScoreProcessor;
 
+            public new GameplayClockContainer GameplayClockContainer => base.GameplayClockContainer;
+
             protected override bool PauseOnFocusLost => false;
 
             public ScoreAccessibleReplayPlayer(Score score)
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHoldNoteHead.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHoldNoteHead.cs
index 75dcf0e55e..35ba2465fa 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHoldNoteHead.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHoldNoteHead.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 // Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
 // See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
 
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
+
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables
 {
     /// <summary>
@@ -25,6 +27,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables
             LifetimeEnd = LifetimeStart + 30000;
         }
 
+        protected override void UpdateHitStateTransforms(ArmedState state)
+        {
+            // suppress the base call explicitly.
+            // the hold note head should never change its visual state on its own due to the "freezing" mechanic
+            // (when hit, it remains visible in place at the judgement line; when dropped, it will scroll past the line).
+            // it will be hidden along with its parenting hold note when required.
+        }
+
         public override bool OnPressed(ManiaAction action) => false; // Handled by the hold note
 
         public override void OnReleased(ManiaAction action)
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyHitExplosion.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyHitExplosion.cs
index 73aece1ed4..e4d466dca5 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyHitExplosion.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyHitExplosion.cs
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Skinning.Legacy
 {
     public class LegacyHitExplosion : LegacyManiaColumnElement, IHitExplosion
     {
+        public const double FADE_IN_DURATION = 80;
+
         private readonly IBindable<ScrollingDirection> direction = new Bindable<ScrollingDirection>();
 
         private Drawable explosion;
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Skinning.Legacy
 
             (explosion as IFramedAnimation)?.GotoFrame(0);
 
-            explosion?.FadeInFromZero(80)
+            explosion?.FadeInFromZero(FADE_IN_DURATION)
                      .Then().FadeOut(120);
         }
     }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyKeyArea.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyKeyArea.cs
index 78ccb83a8c..10319a7d4d 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyKeyArea.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Skinning/Legacy/LegacyKeyArea.cs
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Skinning.Legacy
         {
             if (action == column.Action.Value)
             {
-                upSprite.FadeTo(1);
-                downSprite.FadeTo(0);
+                upSprite.Delay(LegacyHitExplosion.FADE_IN_DURATION).FadeTo(1);
+                downSprite.Delay(LegacyHitExplosion.FADE_IN_DURATION).FadeTo(0);
             }
         }
     }