Hakuoki: Hijikata pt 2

Background information and links to previous reaction posts

Hijikata Part 1

HOLY CRAP THAT WAS AMAZING.

SEVEN HOURS OF WAR AND SACRIFICE AND SLOW BURN ROMANCE

I...think I liked it more than Saito's romance?? I'M SORRY SAITO I STILL LOVE YOU TOO.

Mainly I think because it's two hours longer and suitably epic, following the path of the Shinsengumi and it's commander to the very end of the war. The downside to that is that all the other romances (except maybe Kazama, as Villain) will probably be less epic again, so I might wait a little before playing the next one.

Also, to anyone thinking of playing who doesn't want spoilers: use the default name, because then it's voiced and the Hijikata voice actor (LITERALLY ROY MUSTANG) says it VERY WELL.

( Spoilers, images of blood, homestuck references )

So what is this Hakuoki thing I keep nattering on about

Since I have made so many of these reaction posts without meaning to I thought it would be good to write an introduction I can link to at the top. (How did this take me all day it was supposed to make my life easier...)

Introduction
About the games
Characters
My reaction posts, and brief reviews of each route
Notes

Introduction:

So! Hakuoki (or Hakuouki) is a Japanese series of games and anime set in the 1860s about the real 19th century Japanese samurai group The Shinsengumi, but with added supernatural elements. It covers the period of history during which it became clear that samurai weren't really going to be a thing any more. This post is primarily about the visual novel/dating sim contained in the games "Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds" and "Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms".

The protagonist of these games, Yukimura Chizuru, is a doctor's daughter in her late teens looking for her missing dad. She gets tangled up with the Shinsengumi and ends up living with them and becoming part of their lives during this bittersweet time, eventually falling in love with one of twelve men involved in the story (or not), depending on what choices the player makes.

It starts out kind of slow, with a heavy emphasis on the politics and real battles of the period, and then becomes INTENSE AND TROPEY AND AMAZING. I started out writing these summaries to share my reaction to some of the more bizarre plot twists but am now MADLY IN LOVE WITH ALL OF IT.

Ok, most of it, it's pretty heteronormative and ableist and the plot twists continue to be a little silly sometimes.
( Cut for length, no major spoilers )

Who should I romance next in Hakuoki?

Feel free to vote even if you have no idea who these people are :D Votes via comments welcome from people without dreamwidth accounts.

Note, since I can't edit the poll: Amagurui is not actually romanceable!

Poll #20166 Non Binding Hakuoki Romance Poll

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 12

View Respondents

Who should I romance next in Hakuoki?

View Answers

Harada the charming flirt
0 (0.0%)

Heisuke the put-upon cinnamon roll
4 (33.3%)

The villainous Lord Kazama
3 (25.0%)

Okita the "just joking" jerk
0 (0.0%)

Shinpachi the loveable lug
1 (8.3%)

Yamazaki the mullet ninja
1 (8.3%)

Sanan the creepy scientist
1 (8.3%)

Souma the page who thinks you're a boy
4 (33.3%)

Ibo the princely childhood friend
2 (16.7%)

Sakamoto the...guy???
0 (0.0%)

Amaguri the surprisingly pacifistic villain
2 (16.7%)

Just romance Saito and/or Hijikata again noone else can compare
0 (0.0%)

A GIRL. MAKE A MOD OR SOMETHING.
4 (33.3%)

Other
1 (8.3%)

If "Other" then who?

View Answers

( Images of most of these guys under the cut )