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alias_sqbrPreviously, the Saito Path:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Background information and links to other reaction posts
And now: Hijikata, the tsundere commander and default love interest.
I don't know if anyone still finds these interesting but I'm having fun, so :)
It only took 5 hours to get through Kyoto Winds this time, now I'm skipping all the scenes I've seen before. And it was good! Hijikata doesn't hit my id as much as a romantic interest but he's very likeable in a gruff way, and having the plot revolve more around the Commander made for a good narrative.
**Spoilers**
Now I can't be spoiled by history I looked up the real history of the Shinsengumi, and they've followed it pretty closely, asides from, you know, the vampires. And ignoring any canonical wives or children. The real Hijikata was actually pretty cute, which is...a little weird to know. (The real Seito wasn't, but that's ok)
This all goes SO MUCH FASTER with skipping seen scenes :D
I assumed running away at the first opportunity gets you killed but looks like Hijikata secretly admires your moxy.
Overall I'm seeing enough new scenes to create a narrative in my head along with my memories of my first playthrough. It's so weird seeing everyone so happy and secure in their kimonos ;_;
Also Iba Hachirou the Hot Love Interest Who Showed Up In One Scene showed up in a different scene! He is the only love interest I can think of where Chizuru was immediately overcome by his hotness and I totally agree.
He stands up to a douchebag Shinsengumi who was shaking down an innocent man for bribes and accusing anyone who didn't do what he wanted of being an Imperial Spy. Which is a side of the Shinsengumi we didn't see before!
Later Iba wistfully says Chizuru reminds him of someone he once knew.
WAS IT THE EVIL TWIN??? :D :D
It's been like...20 minutes and I am done with Chapter One vs last time's SEVEN HOURS. I am definitely not taking 20 hours to get through Kyoto Winds this time.
Time for Iba's other scene! Now with extra content!! Hijikata's defensiveness makes more sense now I know he's the son of a farmer.
OH MY GOD IBA IS CHIRUZU'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND SHE FORGOT?? AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER AGAIN HE WILL VISIT MORE OFTEN???
*ponders switching to the route with the hotter dude*
Hijikata is very blushily pleased by Iba's obvious affection for him which is cutely slashy.
...AND THEN IBA NEVER SHOWED UP AGAIN
Aha! Actually seeing Kazama's introduction scene. STILL A DICK. He calls them peasants >:(
RANDOM SWORD TRAINING SEQUENCE WITH KONDOU???
Does this mean Hijikata's path has her USE HER SWORD????? :D :D
I decided to check where I was with everyone and I already passed through "budding" with Hijikata to "30%" but am "closed" with everyone including hot childhood bff Ibo.
AW YES WALKTHROUGH SAYS I REACH FOR MY SWORD :D
I guess Saito preferred Chizuru to just let him handle stuff? He had that whole knight-and-lady thing going on.
Walkthrough says I don't actually DRAW my sword >:( "Good, let me handle it" says Hijikata. Hmmph.
Now I know what a softie good-guy-demon Amagiri is I've noticed he's always trying to de-escalate conflict. What a sweetie.
Here's the demon warrior trio: badass looking secret pacifist Amaguri, THE WORST Lord Kazama, and Amaguri, aka The Boring One With A Gun, who looks like a prettier Envy from Full Metal Alchemist and has not done anything interesting enough for me to bother mentioning him so far.
Hijikata says he feels like Sanan is his big brother (Hijikata is 30ish so how old is Sanan?) which might explain why he later LETS HIM GO AROUND MURDERING PEOPLE AND DRINKING THEIR BLOOD. (Something he admits ruefully after it "turns out" Sanan is a bad guy. FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EAT CIVILIANS)
HUH. Kazama shows up randomly and asks Chizuru what her relationship is with [her Dad], and only then says "Ha! WELL HE'S WORKING WITH US NOW. Consider that!".
He makes absolutely zero effort to flirt with Chizuru or even mention the "planning to force her to marry him" thing, he just expresses disgust that she's lowering herself to hang with these humans. I find the lack of overt sexual menace from him, or anyone else, refreshing given the genre. STILL AN ASS THOUGH.
As implied by the trailer I'm seeing some Default Love Interest vs Villain Love Interest rivalry which presumably means I'll be seeing EVEN MORE KAZAMI ugh. Adding to the symbolism is the fact that Hijikata's nickname is "The Demon Commander".
Also Hijikata's nickname for Chizuru is "kid" and he literally says "you're a kid let the adults handle it" which is KIND OF WEIRD for someone who is FIFTY PERCENT OPEN CHERRY BLOSSOMS.
They never state Chizuru's age, she gets called "a kid" a lot but is also supposed to only be a few years younger than 20ish year old guys like Saito and Heisuke. So she must be pushing 20 now it's a few years into the game. I guess Japan has/had some "not a legal adult until you're 21" type attitudes?
OOOH I GET TO ACTUALLY SEE HIJIKATA FLIRT WITH THE HOT NINJA LADY
Chizuru is less jealous and more "Wow they are both really hot".
Ninja: teehee you're so handsome, like an actor
Hijikata: yes, I get that a lot ;D
And then there's offscreen drunken....calligraphy??? These samurai know how to party.
A different take on the Demon attack on headquarters, Shimada still gets knocked against a wall but then Kazama grabs Chizuru and she...
ACTUALLY. TRIES. TO. STAB. HIM.
I mean, she fails, and was only trying to be a distraction, but it's something! He almost breaks her wrist and says she needs to be punished for drawing a sword on her future husband but then Hijikata takes advantage of the distraction and rescues her.
Amagiri: Welp, time to give up!
The Boring One: Come on, we can take em
Kazama: ...nah, let's go. The script says we don't have the final confrontation until later. BUT I'LL BE BACK.
And then, Chizuru helps with an assassination!!
Hijikata: Drink up! Enlighten us hicks with your educated wisdom!
Itou: THE THING WITH FOREIGNERS IS THEY'RE TRYING TO STEAL ALL OUR LAND
Chizuru, knowing the alcohol she's pouring is intended to make Itou easier to kill: *shakes*
Itou: Hic?
Hijikata: Ah, that kid, so intimidated by your awesome!
Itou: I see ;D *winks drunkenly at Chizuru*
Chizuru: *calmly pours more sake*
Awww I had to actively avoid hanging out with Saito. I'm sorry Saito, I will always love you ;_;
Hijikata explains a little more of the political situation and god help me but I could have done with even more detail. And it makes sense he talks about it more, he's the Commander, while Saito just wants to follow orders.
Chizuru goes to visit the consumptive Okita in the middle of the night.
Heisuke: Whoa, visiting a guy in the middle of the night, people might get ideas!
Chizuru: You know it nothing like that.
Heisuke: Yeah I guess you're not into that kind of thing.
Chizuru: What sort of thing?
Heisuke: >.>
Then Okita wallows in bitterness about being useless because THAT'S JUST WHAT DISABLED PEOPLE DO APPARENTLY
and then, as if to apologise: NEW PRINCESS SEN SCENE :D
She's come to tell a shocked Hijikata that the Furies are murdering civilians, and then ask Chizuru to come away with her again.
Chizuru: I want to stay here and help Hijikata...I mean...the Shinsengumi.
Sen: I BELIEVE IN YOUR INTERSPECIES LOVE
Chizuru: Our what now
We reached the doomed battle where lovable old man Inoue and ninja Samazaki died defending a building...except this time it caught fire early on and everyone evacuated. The emphasis is less on Swords Are Useless Now (depressing to swordsman Saito) and more on We Lost (depressing to commander Hijikata)
I felt relief as Inoue led Chizuru to the castle where the game ends...except it wasn't that castle.
They got shot at, and Inoue protected Chizuru. She said he reminded her of her dad (...the evil demon but shh) He gave a very sweet speech about how if he'd ever had a daughter, he'd want her to be like Chizuru.
Me: ohh....no....
They go back to Inoue's troops and they are all dead, with FUCKING KAZAMA smirking over the bodies.
Inoue fights bravely but is stabbed and falls to his knees.
Kazama: What's the matter, human, don't you want revenge for your men? >:D
Inoue: Run!! *dies*
Choices: run, get revenge
Walkthrough: Get Revenge
Me: GET REVENGE
Chizuru: REVENGGEEEE KILL KILLL
Kazama: *defeats her and holds a sword to her throat* The advantage of you healing so quickly is it's very convenient for punishment
me: ...so that's how his romance is going to go, huh
And then Hijikata arrives and another Love Interest-vs-Kazama fight ensues, but it's moderately different to Saito's:
Where Saito is motivated by protecting Chizuru and refuses to consider the vampire potion until he is almost dead, Hijikata is motivated by revenge for Inoue and takes it the moment he realises the other option is defeat.
Kazama: Ew, a fake demon, really?
Hijikata: Everyone always told me I couldn't be a real warrior. WHO SAYS I CAN'T BE A REAL DEMON TOO >:D *STAB STAB STAB*
Kazama: YOU CUT MY FACE. NOONE CUTS MY FACE!!!
Hijikata's actually doing better than Saito did, but still losing. Just when Kazama is about to win...ninja Yamazaki shows up and throws himself in front of the blade ;_;
And then once again Good Guy Demon Amaguri shows up to do his "It's not that I don't want you to kill these humans, it just that we have sensible reasons to be elsewhere" shtick, and they leave.
And THEN the good guys make it to the ACTUAL castle.
Further examples of Hijikata being a little less stoic than Saito:
Chizuru: Doesn't being in sunlight cause you horrible pain?
Hijikata: Not yet! Better enjoy it while I can!
Chizuru: What about the upsetting political...
Hijikata: AHHHHHHH *kicks tree*
And then Yamazaki gets a tragic death scene and and uses his final breath to tell Hijikata what an honour it was to serve him ;_;
It occurs to me that while the way to woobify an honour-bound character like Saito was to make him question his place in the world, the way to woobify a commander like Hijikata is to kill those he feels responsible for D:
I was expecting more romantic content from Hijikata by now but it's all been pretty platonically respectful on his part. Of course, the blood drinking hasn't started yet ;)
The game ends with him vowing success for the Shinsengumi as he and Chizuru look towards the sunrise.
Next: Hijikata Part 2
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Background information and links to other reaction posts
And now: Hijikata, the tsundere commander and default love interest.
I don't know if anyone still finds these interesting but I'm having fun, so :)
It only took 5 hours to get through Kyoto Winds this time, now I'm skipping all the scenes I've seen before. And it was good! Hijikata doesn't hit my id as much as a romantic interest but he's very likeable in a gruff way, and having the plot revolve more around the Commander made for a good narrative.
**Spoilers**
Now I can't be spoiled by history I looked up the real history of the Shinsengumi, and they've followed it pretty closely, asides from, you know, the vampires. And ignoring any canonical wives or children. The real Hijikata was actually pretty cute, which is...a little weird to know. (The real Seito wasn't, but that's ok)
This all goes SO MUCH FASTER with skipping seen scenes :D
I assumed running away at the first opportunity gets you killed but looks like Hijikata secretly admires your moxy.
Overall I'm seeing enough new scenes to create a narrative in my head along with my memories of my first playthrough. It's so weird seeing everyone so happy and secure in their kimonos ;_;
Also Iba Hachirou the Hot Love Interest Who Showed Up In One Scene showed up in a different scene! He is the only love interest I can think of where Chizuru was immediately overcome by his hotness and I totally agree.
He stands up to a douchebag Shinsengumi who was shaking down an innocent man for bribes and accusing anyone who didn't do what he wanted of being an Imperial Spy. Which is a side of the Shinsengumi we didn't see before!
Later Iba wistfully says Chizuru reminds him of someone he once knew.
WAS IT THE EVIL TWIN??? :D :D
It's been like...20 minutes and I am done with Chapter One vs last time's SEVEN HOURS. I am definitely not taking 20 hours to get through Kyoto Winds this time.
Time for Iba's other scene! Now with extra content!! Hijikata's defensiveness makes more sense now I know he's the son of a farmer.
OH MY GOD IBA IS CHIRUZU'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND SHE FORGOT?? AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER AGAIN HE WILL VISIT MORE OFTEN???
*ponders switching to the route with the hotter dude*
Hijikata is very blushily pleased by Iba's obvious affection for him which is cutely slashy.
...AND THEN IBA NEVER SHOWED UP AGAIN
Aha! Actually seeing Kazama's introduction scene. STILL A DICK. He calls them peasants >:(
RANDOM SWORD TRAINING SEQUENCE WITH KONDOU???
Does this mean Hijikata's path has her USE HER SWORD????? :D :D
I decided to check where I was with everyone and I already passed through "budding" with Hijikata to "30%" but am "closed" with everyone including hot childhood bff Ibo.
AW YES WALKTHROUGH SAYS I REACH FOR MY SWORD :D
I guess Saito preferred Chizuru to just let him handle stuff? He had that whole knight-and-lady thing going on.
Walkthrough says I don't actually DRAW my sword >:( "Good, let me handle it" says Hijikata. Hmmph.
Now I know what a softie good-guy-demon Amagiri is I've noticed he's always trying to de-escalate conflict. What a sweetie.
Here's the demon warrior trio: badass looking secret pacifist Amaguri, THE WORST Lord Kazama, and Amaguri, aka The Boring One With A Gun, who looks like a prettier Envy from Full Metal Alchemist and has not done anything interesting enough for me to bother mentioning him so far.
Hijikata says he feels like Sanan is his big brother (Hijikata is 30ish so how old is Sanan?) which might explain why he later LETS HIM GO AROUND MURDERING PEOPLE AND DRINKING THEIR BLOOD. (Something he admits ruefully after it "turns out" Sanan is a bad guy. FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EAT CIVILIANS)
HUH. Kazama shows up randomly and asks Chizuru what her relationship is with [her Dad], and only then says "Ha! WELL HE'S WORKING WITH US NOW. Consider that!".
He makes absolutely zero effort to flirt with Chizuru or even mention the "planning to force her to marry him" thing, he just expresses disgust that she's lowering herself to hang with these humans. I find the lack of overt sexual menace from him, or anyone else, refreshing given the genre. STILL AN ASS THOUGH.
As implied by the trailer I'm seeing some Default Love Interest vs Villain Love Interest rivalry which presumably means I'll be seeing EVEN MORE KAZAMI ugh. Adding to the symbolism is the fact that Hijikata's nickname is "The Demon Commander".
Also Hijikata's nickname for Chizuru is "kid" and he literally says "you're a kid let the adults handle it" which is KIND OF WEIRD for someone who is FIFTY PERCENT OPEN CHERRY BLOSSOMS.
They never state Chizuru's age, she gets called "a kid" a lot but is also supposed to only be a few years younger than 20ish year old guys like Saito and Heisuke. So she must be pushing 20 now it's a few years into the game. I guess Japan has/had some "not a legal adult until you're 21" type attitudes?
OOOH I GET TO ACTUALLY SEE HIJIKATA FLIRT WITH THE HOT NINJA LADY
Chizuru is less jealous and more "Wow they are both really hot".
Ninja: teehee you're so handsome, like an actor
Hijikata: yes, I get that a lot ;D
And then there's offscreen drunken....calligraphy??? These samurai know how to party.
A different take on the Demon attack on headquarters, Shimada still gets knocked against a wall but then Kazama grabs Chizuru and she...
ACTUALLY. TRIES. TO. STAB. HIM.
I mean, she fails, and was only trying to be a distraction, but it's something! He almost breaks her wrist and says she needs to be punished for drawing a sword on her future husband but then Hijikata takes advantage of the distraction and rescues her.
Amagiri: Welp, time to give up!
The Boring One: Come on, we can take em
Kazama: ...nah, let's go. The script says we don't have the final confrontation until later. BUT I'LL BE BACK.
And then, Chizuru helps with an assassination!!
Hijikata: Drink up! Enlighten us hicks with your educated wisdom!
Itou: THE THING WITH FOREIGNERS IS THEY'RE TRYING TO STEAL ALL OUR LAND
Chizuru, knowing the alcohol she's pouring is intended to make Itou easier to kill: *shakes*
Itou: Hic?
Hijikata: Ah, that kid, so intimidated by your awesome!
Itou: I see ;D *winks drunkenly at Chizuru*
Chizuru: *calmly pours more sake*
Awww I had to actively avoid hanging out with Saito. I'm sorry Saito, I will always love you ;_;
Hijikata explains a little more of the political situation and god help me but I could have done with even more detail. And it makes sense he talks about it more, he's the Commander, while Saito just wants to follow orders.
Chizuru goes to visit the consumptive Okita in the middle of the night.
Heisuke: Whoa, visiting a guy in the middle of the night, people might get ideas!
Chizuru: You know it nothing like that.
Heisuke: Yeah I guess you're not into that kind of thing.
Chizuru: What sort of thing?
Heisuke: >.>
Then Okita wallows in bitterness about being useless because THAT'S JUST WHAT DISABLED PEOPLE DO APPARENTLY
and then, as if to apologise: NEW PRINCESS SEN SCENE :D
She's come to tell a shocked Hijikata that the Furies are murdering civilians, and then ask Chizuru to come away with her again.
Chizuru: I want to stay here and help Hijikata...I mean...the Shinsengumi.
Sen: I BELIEVE IN YOUR INTERSPECIES LOVE
Chizuru: Our what now
We reached the doomed battle where lovable old man Inoue and ninja Samazaki died defending a building...except this time it caught fire early on and everyone evacuated. The emphasis is less on Swords Are Useless Now (depressing to swordsman Saito) and more on We Lost (depressing to commander Hijikata)
I felt relief as Inoue led Chizuru to the castle where the game ends...except it wasn't that castle.
They got shot at, and Inoue protected Chizuru. She said he reminded her of her dad (...the evil demon but shh) He gave a very sweet speech about how if he'd ever had a daughter, he'd want her to be like Chizuru.
Me: ohh....no....
They go back to Inoue's troops and they are all dead, with FUCKING KAZAMA smirking over the bodies.
Inoue fights bravely but is stabbed and falls to his knees.
Kazama: What's the matter, human, don't you want revenge for your men? >:D
Inoue: Run!! *dies*
Choices: run, get revenge
Walkthrough: Get Revenge
Me: GET REVENGE
Chizuru: REVENGGEEEE KILL KILLL
Kazama: *defeats her and holds a sword to her throat* The advantage of you healing so quickly is it's very convenient for punishment
me: ...so that's how his romance is going to go, huh
And then Hijikata arrives and another Love Interest-vs-Kazama fight ensues, but it's moderately different to Saito's:
Where Saito is motivated by protecting Chizuru and refuses to consider the vampire potion until he is almost dead, Hijikata is motivated by revenge for Inoue and takes it the moment he realises the other option is defeat.
Kazama: Ew, a fake demon, really?
Hijikata: Everyone always told me I couldn't be a real warrior. WHO SAYS I CAN'T BE A REAL DEMON TOO >:D *STAB STAB STAB*
Kazama: YOU CUT MY FACE. NOONE CUTS MY FACE!!!
Hijikata's actually doing better than Saito did, but still losing. Just when Kazama is about to win...ninja Yamazaki shows up and throws himself in front of the blade ;_;
And then once again Good Guy Demon Amaguri shows up to do his "It's not that I don't want you to kill these humans, it just that we have sensible reasons to be elsewhere" shtick, and they leave.
And THEN the good guys make it to the ACTUAL castle.
Further examples of Hijikata being a little less stoic than Saito:
Chizuru: Doesn't being in sunlight cause you horrible pain?
Hijikata: Not yet! Better enjoy it while I can!
Chizuru: What about the upsetting political...
Hijikata: AHHHHHHH *kicks tree*
And then Yamazaki gets a tragic death scene and and uses his final breath to tell Hijikata what an honour it was to serve him ;_;
It occurs to me that while the way to woobify an honour-bound character like Saito was to make him question his place in the world, the way to woobify a commander like Hijikata is to kill those he feels responsible for D:
I was expecting more romantic content from Hijikata by now but it's all been pretty platonically respectful on his part. Of course, the blood drinking hasn't started yet ;)
The game ends with him vowing success for the Shinsengumi as he and Chizuru look towards the sunrise.
Next: Hijikata Part 2
no subject
Date: 2018-06-30 08:58 am (UTC)Is "let's not kill these people because reasons" Amaguri a romance option?
no subject
Date: 2018-06-30 09:43 am (UTC)I think I have to romance Kazama eventually, I am SUPER curious.
And sadly, Amaguri is not romanceable. I kind of ship him with Saito, maybe I'll imagine they go off into the sunset together.