alias_sqbr (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alias_sqbr) wrote2018-07-01 07:55 am
alias_sqbr) wrote2018-07-01 07:55 am
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**
Uuurgh I can't skip through the summary but it's almost identical. Having to change games halfway through the story every time is a pain, too.
OH HEY IT'S IBA.
So far the basic plot is the same but the actual scenes are all different.
Chizuru: have you seen Evil Vampire Sanan?
Cinnamon Roll Vampire Heisuke: Oh, he went out on patrol
Chizuru: But...you don't do patrols in this city...
Heisuke: Um. Maybe he's investigating the, uh, recent spate of mysterious deaths...
Chizuru: That's nice of him!
Heisuke: Mmm >.>
They have the "So how does vampirism work exactly" conversation but this time she asks him if he drinks blood and he's all "You can't just ask that!". Poor baby cinnamon roll vampire ;_;
Hijikata is doing exactly the same "overwork himself and pretend he is not consumed with bloodlust" thing Saito did, and is clearly bothered by how INCREDIBLY DISHONOURABLE it is to be drinking a girl's blood, but afterwards he's calmly resigned. "If I have to become a monster to win this war so be it." Which makes me VERY INTERESTED to see what the dynamic will be next time.
It's made explicit that Hijikata suspects Sanan of murdering civilians, and that he and Heisuke are trying to run interference.
At the next key battle Chizuru offers to help by guarding the chief, Kondou, since she's hard to kill. Hijikata has a visible internal moment of "this is so fucked up but everything is fucked up these days" then says yes. And then he has them both make a samurai oath on their crossed swords to not die, even though "neither of us are technically samurai".
I guess it makes sense that with the guy who cares about obedience and honour, Chizuru is comparatively sentimental and passive, but with the pragmatic badass she is more pragmatic and badass. And since he's a much older authority figure I like that he's not so obvious with the pining, assuming it does ramp up eventually.
Thus far there has been no sign of stabdad and his scalpels of death. Instead, Chizuru is forced to drag a depressed Kondou away from a crushing and entirely mundane defeat.
They are stopped by Amaguri. Understandably, Kondou and Chizuru prepare for a fight.
Me: Aw, it's ok you guys, he's nice!
Amaguri: Don't worry, I'm not after the Shinsengumi. I'm here to deal with Kazama's stupid obsession with Chizuru.
Me: By working together against Kazama?
Amaguri: By murdering Chizuru *takes fighting stance*
Me: NOOO AMAGURI I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS
Chizuru draws her sword, knowing she is doomed, and tells Kondou to run and save himself. He refuses...and so Amaguri knocks him out.
Amaguri: Don't worry, he'll be fine. *punches Chizuru in the face*
They have an ACTUAL FIGHT. I mean, she loses, but does at least make some swings and dodges before being beaten to the ground.
Just as she's offering a silent apology to Hijikata for failing her mission, he appears!
Eventually he manages to impress Amaguri, who stops fighting. He says some cryptic things about demons, even fake ones, needing to stay in the shadows, and explains about the way vampire powers sap lifespan.
Hijikata laughs and says that sounds about right.
Back at headquarters he tells Sanan and Heisuke, and says they should stop making new vampires, and use the ones they have as little as possible. Sanan is horrified to find out but thinks they should still keep going. I BET YOU DO YOU BASTARD I HOPE YOU TURN INTO DUST.
Afterwards, Chizuru tells Hijikata not to use his powers either, and he says she reminds him of implacable Edo girls like his older sister so he has no choice but to obey :D
He's still super self hating about the blood drinking, in an understated way, and with an edge of "THIS SHOULD NOT BE HOT". (Chizuru is pretty comfortable with finding it hot) When she says he shouldn't hesitate he says "Kid, don't say stuff like that, someone will drain you dry" and she quietly thinks she wouldn't mind if it was him.
I have to say the blood-drinking (and kissing) CGs so far have been an exception to the otherwise great art, the artist is good at action and relatively distant shots of people talking etc, but once it's closeups at weird angles everything looks a bit off. LOOK IT'S A VAMPIRE DATING SIM THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT OK.
They're super minor characters, but there's two adorable page characters, one of whom is one of the new "blink and you'll miss it" love interests, and I just noticed they call Chizuru "Yukimura-sempai" :D (Her cover story is that she's Hijikata's page, but even on his route it's only come up once or twice)
AHHHHHHHH
So you get more depth to Kondou and Hijikata's friendship, going from two country boys starting a tiny dojo to heads of the Shinsengumi.
And then the building they're in gets attacked and Hijikata is going to sacrifice himself but Kondou orders him to take everyone while he turns himself in to save them and it is. SO SAD.
Hijikata is all WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR? EVERYTHING I DID WAS SO YOU COULD BE A WARRIOR FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ME IF YOU ARE DEAD????
And then he goes to prepare their escape and it's just Chizuru and Kondou. Kondou says he's sorry she got dragged into all this, and hands her a bag of money.
Kondou: I'm sorry this is all I can do for you. But: Run away. Find a nice man and settle down. Escape this mess.
Chizuru: I will stay on, because...because I'm Hijikata's page.
Kondou: Then look after him for me.
I AM CRYING JUST WRITING IT DOWN ;_; ;_;
And then they have to live on. Kondou doesn't even die right away, he rots in prison leaving them with faint, painful hope. Hijikata throws himself into battle with increasingly uncontrolled bloodlust and while he takes comfort in Chizuru's support and faith in him, he is still a mess. He also...never actually tells her he takes comfort in it.
There's no indication that anyone betrayed their location, or that Sanan has allied with the bad guys. But there's also no proof he didn't, even if noone suspects him because unlike me they haven't played Saito's route.
There's another abortive fight between Kazama and Hijikata but Amaguri just sits and watches this timebecause he's not in love with Hijikata like he was with Saito. Kazama basically ignores Chizuru completely and is totally focussed on revenge against Hijikata.
AND THEN I PLAYED STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE END AND HOLY CRAP
I HAVE SO MANY FEELS
DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN THESE RECAPS WERE FUNNY AND NOT PAINFULLY SINCERE
Ok, so. As in his romance, Saito stays behind to defend the Ainzu in a doomed last stand. Vampires Sanan and Heisuke are sent ahead to try and find allies in the next city.
Hijikata and Chizuru get to the city and...Sanan and Heisuke are nowhere to be found. And...there's been all these mysterious deaths lately...
Everyone, including me, prepares for Hijikata having to murder his old friend Sanan.
And then...Heisuke shows up! He explains that they had no luck getting aid but Sanan had Other Mysterious Plans. Heisuke followed him and found him secretly working with....
STABDAD.
WHO THEN SHOWS UP. WITH A BUNCH OF HIS NEW SUPER-VAMPIRES.
Stabdad: I did all of this for you, Chizuru! To make our clan great again!
Me: But isn't she...adopted? And you did all this...to make a good bride for Kazama??
I have since decided the Saito and Hijikata routes only make sense as distinct alternate universes that happen to have certain events in common, rather than split timelines from the same base universe. Which is a little disappointing to be honest, I was hoping everything would form a single story, but must admit this would have been MUCH easier to write, especially since they had multiple writers.
But she refuses to join him so he PUNCHES HER IN THE STOMACH.
She wakes to him being all concerned as if he hadn't just punched his own daughter in the stomach.
And with him is...Sanan.
Chizuru: But where's Heisuke?
Stabdad: Considering how many vampires he was facing, dead.
Heisuke, appearing dramatically: STOP TELLING PEOPLE I'M DEAD
Hijikata: Sanan how can you be working with an Imperialist?
Stabdad: But I hate the Imperialists too (*cough* and all other humans *cough*) I have all the vampires in Japan in this one building, and with them we can form our own army and destroy the Imperialists!
Sanan: With you, Hijikata, as it's Commander!
Stabdad: And Chizuru as DEMON QUEEN OF JAPAN
I am briefly overcome by the mental image of Chizuru as Demon Queen and Hijikata her loyal captain.
Hijikata and Chizuru: That's...a sweeter motivation than I was expecting....but no.
Sanan: I knew you'd say that *brings out sword*
Me: SANAN YOU BASTARD I HATE YOU SO MUCH
Sanan: Which is why I'm going to help you kill all the vampires!
Stabdad: What?? That makes no sense!!
Me: I, for once, am with stabdad
But regardless, Sanan, Hijikata and Heisuke kill their way through the vampires.
Stabdad: No but seriously, this doesn't make any sense??? Why did you help me MAKE vampires if you were just going to kill them all???
Hijikata: You have historically been pretty pro vampire
Sanan: I was, until I realised they all died so young. I must admit..I sullied myself in my attempts to find a way to make their lives easier, but eventually I had to admit. We are a failed experiment. One I lack much time...to correct...
Chizuru: Aww, everything he did was to protect his fellow vampires ;_;
Me: NICE MOTIVE STILL A SERIAL KILLER. Also it was ok turning your own men into mindless killing machines, as long as they weren't going to die of old age too soon??
But then: A stray vampire is about to kill Chizuru when her dad throws himself in front to save her.
Stabdad: I love you...Chizuru *dies*
Me: ;_; I know you suck at emotional support, Hijikata, but you better cheer Chizuru up right now.
Sanan and Heisuke: *die of being vampires too long*
Hijikata: D: D: D:
Me: ;_; ;_; Ok maybe not RIGHT now
And then we see Hijikata and Chizuru not long afterwards, working hard, and Chizuru collapses from overwork and Hijikata has to give her a talking to about looking after herself with some awkward "your dad did just die, maybe cut yourself some slack. Dumbass".
And then Saito DIES. OFF. SCREEN.
HE SURVIVED UNTIL 1915 YOU BASTARDS. IT'S CANON.
He was really sweet on this route, in his understated way, always standing by Hijikata and being quietly kind to Chizuru. AND THEN HE WAS QUIETLY KIND TO HIS MANY GRANDCHILDREN.
Hijikata is increasingly like "No but seriously if you stick with me you will die. I know like 5 different close friends told you to look after me just before they died but you HAVE looked after me and now you should go do something NICE very very far away from here."
She keeps trying to explain that she wants to stay with him and what's left of the Shinsengumi come what may but he's not convinced and eventually orders her to stay behind.
Luckily this happens to be seen by Hijikata's commanding officer, a really sweet military history nerd who has a nice arc about becoming an actual military officer. He tells her to stay behind for now, but he'll send for her once things settle down.
And so after 3 months of pining, Chizuru comes to the lovely new republic they've created using this exotic American idea called "elections".
Me: This place seems very nice but I am pretty sure that if it had lasted for more than thirty seconds I'd have heard of it D:
She goes to find Hijikata and he's all "NOPE NO GO BACK this republic is going to last like thirty seconds before we all die" and she SHOUTS AT HIM AT LENGTH about what an ASS he is and he pulls her into THE WORLD'S MOST EPIC HUG.
His voice goes into this rough, passionate whisper about how he's realised Some Things without her, about how she's supported him all this time and how much he needs her. "Stay with me" he murmurs, and it fades to black.
I then spent the next like 20 minutes trying to figure out if they had sex. Or got married. Or...really did just hug. IT WAS NOT CLEAR.
Instead they just walked that line where they were super comfortable and affectionate with each other and either in an understated relationship or had RIDICULOUS UST. It was like reading a Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye fanfic. Plus he kept calling her Chizuru in a way that made me very glad I kept the default name since that's the only way to have it voiced.
(OMG I LOOKED I UP AND IT'S LITERALLY THE ROY MUSTANG VOICE ACTOR FROM BROTHERHOOD)
She still calls him Hijikata but she and Saito were still using surnames when they were about to have sex, so. She's all "I, as a woman, could not be happier, now that I know my purpose is supporting this wonderful man". But what can you do.
Just when I'd decided they had, in fact, gotten married off screen, they ACTUALLY got together and it was GREAT.
Like, I was intellectually very supportive of Saito deciding that instead of following the way of the samurai he would follow his own judgement. But deep down I wanted a "NOW MY REASON FOR LIVING IS YOU" scene and that's what I got :D
I somewhat spoiled myself by seeing a CG with a bloodsoaked kiss, which didn't help the worry from all the CONSTANT DEATH FLAGS as their little republic lost to the Imperial army over and over again and the remaining Shinsengumi were whittled down even further.
And then Hijikata was shot in the gut D:
Even his vampire powers aren't fixing it and he's refusing to drink Chirizu's blood so she cuts herself and sucks mouthfuls of her own blood and kisses him and it was. Um. Certainly something.
And then, just as he's recovered, and they're staggering away under the cherry blossoms up pops FUCKING KAZAMA.
His YOU ARE MY ARCHNEMESIS-ing has crossed that line where it feels like he wants Hijikata to be his demon bride now. He actually gives Hijikata a "demon name": Hakuoki, which afaict translates to "fleeting sakura blossom ghost/demon". And then Hijikata stabs him and Kazama dies looking kind of...into it.
And then Chizuru gives this past tense narration implying Hijikata didn't live super long after this, but the game ends with the two of them looking forward to spending what time they have together under the fleeting cherry blossoms.
THE END
;_;
Now I know that the cherry blossoms motif is a metaphor for the beautiful but doomed nature of the Shizengumi in a world with no room for samurai, just thinking about the user interface is making me sniffle a little.
Also I've realised that I am probably going to have to watch Inoue and Kondou die TEN MORE TIMES. And Yamazaki nine times, assuming he doesn't die in his own route, which I noticed from the menus has suspiciously few scenes :/
I feel like doing Heisuke next because he keeps breaking my heart even on other people's routes, but since he's always a vampire this will mean knowing EXACTLY how much he would benefit from having blood to drink and then never being able to give it to him again.
The next in the game's list is Obita, but (a) I hate him and (b) Afaict he dies of consumption even on his route and I am not sure I am in a "your partner dies of illness" place right now.
And the one after that in the list is...Heisuke. Hmm.
Also I looked up suggested play order and didn't get much asides from doing Kazama after the central Shinsengumi. But I found a review which said that while the new routes are as underwritten as I feared, at least in Kyoto Winds, the page Souma who calls Chizuru sempai spends most of the pre-path section thinking she is a boy. Which sounds relevant to my interests.
Also from them: childhood bff Iba has the voice actor for Tamaki from Ouran, and Souma is Eren Jaeger haha. I'm really glad I played this PC version, it sounds like I wouldn't have enjoyed the original as much.
Oh also: there were a few random moments in the game where for some reason it felt like the characters were talking to/about ME rather than Chizuru and I know some people are into that but it freaks me out, I don't want to date these dudes as me. But then something would make it clear it was about Chizuru the demon doctor's daughter from the 19th century and I felt better again.
Heisuke Part 1
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**
Uuurgh I can't skip through the summary but it's almost identical. Having to change games halfway through the story every time is a pain, too.
OH HEY IT'S IBA.
So far the basic plot is the same but the actual scenes are all different.
Chizuru: have you seen Evil Vampire Sanan?
Cinnamon Roll Vampire Heisuke: Oh, he went out on patrol
Chizuru: But...you don't do patrols in this city...
Heisuke: Um. Maybe he's investigating the, uh, recent spate of mysterious deaths...
Chizuru: That's nice of him!
Heisuke: Mmm >.>
They have the "So how does vampirism work exactly" conversation but this time she asks him if he drinks blood and he's all "You can't just ask that!". Poor baby cinnamon roll vampire ;_;
Hijikata is doing exactly the same "overwork himself and pretend he is not consumed with bloodlust" thing Saito did, and is clearly bothered by how INCREDIBLY DISHONOURABLE it is to be drinking a girl's blood, but afterwards he's calmly resigned. "If I have to become a monster to win this war so be it." Which makes me VERY INTERESTED to see what the dynamic will be next time.
It's made explicit that Hijikata suspects Sanan of murdering civilians, and that he and Heisuke are trying to run interference.
At the next key battle Chizuru offers to help by guarding the chief, Kondou, since she's hard to kill. Hijikata has a visible internal moment of "this is so fucked up but everything is fucked up these days" then says yes. And then he has them both make a samurai oath on their crossed swords to not die, even though "neither of us are technically samurai".
I guess it makes sense that with the guy who cares about obedience and honour, Chizuru is comparatively sentimental and passive, but with the pragmatic badass she is more pragmatic and badass. And since he's a much older authority figure I like that he's not so obvious with the pining, assuming it does ramp up eventually.
Thus far there has been no sign of stabdad and his scalpels of death. Instead, Chizuru is forced to drag a depressed Kondou away from a crushing and entirely mundane defeat.
They are stopped by Amaguri. Understandably, Kondou and Chizuru prepare for a fight.
Me: Aw, it's ok you guys, he's nice!
Amaguri: Don't worry, I'm not after the Shinsengumi. I'm here to deal with Kazama's stupid obsession with Chizuru.
Me: By working together against Kazama?
Amaguri: By murdering Chizuru *takes fighting stance*
Me: NOOO AMAGURI I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS
Chizuru draws her sword, knowing she is doomed, and tells Kondou to run and save himself. He refuses...and so Amaguri knocks him out.
Amaguri: Don't worry, he'll be fine. *punches Chizuru in the face*
They have an ACTUAL FIGHT. I mean, she loses, but does at least make some swings and dodges before being beaten to the ground.
Just as she's offering a silent apology to Hijikata for failing her mission, he appears!
Eventually he manages to impress Amaguri, who stops fighting. He says some cryptic things about demons, even fake ones, needing to stay in the shadows, and explains about the way vampire powers sap lifespan.
Hijikata laughs and says that sounds about right.
Back at headquarters he tells Sanan and Heisuke, and says they should stop making new vampires, and use the ones they have as little as possible. Sanan is horrified to find out but thinks they should still keep going. I BET YOU DO YOU BASTARD I HOPE YOU TURN INTO DUST.
Afterwards, Chizuru tells Hijikata not to use his powers either, and he says she reminds him of implacable Edo girls like his older sister so he has no choice but to obey :D
He's still super self hating about the blood drinking, in an understated way, and with an edge of "THIS SHOULD NOT BE HOT". (Chizuru is pretty comfortable with finding it hot) When she says he shouldn't hesitate he says "Kid, don't say stuff like that, someone will drain you dry" and she quietly thinks she wouldn't mind if it was him.
I have to say the blood-drinking (and kissing) CGs so far have been an exception to the otherwise great art, the artist is good at action and relatively distant shots of people talking etc, but once it's closeups at weird angles everything looks a bit off. LOOK IT'S A VAMPIRE DATING SIM THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT OK.
They're super minor characters, but there's two adorable page characters, one of whom is one of the new "blink and you'll miss it" love interests, and I just noticed they call Chizuru "Yukimura-sempai" :D (Her cover story is that she's Hijikata's page, but even on his route it's only come up once or twice)
AHHHHHHHH
So you get more depth to Kondou and Hijikata's friendship, going from two country boys starting a tiny dojo to heads of the Shinsengumi.
And then the building they're in gets attacked and Hijikata is going to sacrifice himself but Kondou orders him to take everyone while he turns himself in to save them and it is. SO SAD.
Hijikata is all WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR? EVERYTHING I DID WAS SO YOU COULD BE A WARRIOR FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ME IF YOU ARE DEAD????
And then he goes to prepare their escape and it's just Chizuru and Kondou. Kondou says he's sorry she got dragged into all this, and hands her a bag of money.
Kondou: I'm sorry this is all I can do for you. But: Run away. Find a nice man and settle down. Escape this mess.
Chizuru: I will stay on, because...because I'm Hijikata's page.
Kondou: Then look after him for me.
I AM CRYING JUST WRITING IT DOWN ;_; ;_;
And then they have to live on. Kondou doesn't even die right away, he rots in prison leaving them with faint, painful hope. Hijikata throws himself into battle with increasingly uncontrolled bloodlust and while he takes comfort in Chizuru's support and faith in him, he is still a mess. He also...never actually tells her he takes comfort in it.
There's no indication that anyone betrayed their location, or that Sanan has allied with the bad guys. But there's also no proof he didn't, even if noone suspects him because unlike me they haven't played Saito's route.
There's another abortive fight between Kazama and Hijikata but Amaguri just sits and watches this time
AND THEN I PLAYED STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE END AND HOLY CRAP
I HAVE SO MANY FEELS
DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN THESE RECAPS WERE FUNNY AND NOT PAINFULLY SINCERE
Ok, so. As in his romance, Saito stays behind to defend the Ainzu in a doomed last stand. Vampires Sanan and Heisuke are sent ahead to try and find allies in the next city.
Hijikata and Chizuru get to the city and...Sanan and Heisuke are nowhere to be found. And...there's been all these mysterious deaths lately...
Everyone, including me, prepares for Hijikata having to murder his old friend Sanan.
And then...Heisuke shows up! He explains that they had no luck getting aid but Sanan had Other Mysterious Plans. Heisuke followed him and found him secretly working with....
STABDAD.
WHO THEN SHOWS UP. WITH A BUNCH OF HIS NEW SUPER-VAMPIRES.
Stabdad: I did all of this for you, Chizuru! To make our clan great again!
Me: But isn't she...adopted? And you did all this...to make a good bride for Kazama??
I have since decided the Saito and Hijikata routes only make sense as distinct alternate universes that happen to have certain events in common, rather than split timelines from the same base universe. Which is a little disappointing to be honest, I was hoping everything would form a single story, but must admit this would have been MUCH easier to write, especially since they had multiple writers.
But she refuses to join him so he PUNCHES HER IN THE STOMACH.
She wakes to him being all concerned as if he hadn't just punched his own daughter in the stomach.
And with him is...Sanan.
Chizuru: But where's Heisuke?
Stabdad: Considering how many vampires he was facing, dead.
Heisuke, appearing dramatically: STOP TELLING PEOPLE I'M DEAD
Hijikata: Sanan how can you be working with an Imperialist?
Stabdad: But I hate the Imperialists too (*cough* and all other humans *cough*) I have all the vampires in Japan in this one building, and with them we can form our own army and destroy the Imperialists!
Sanan: With you, Hijikata, as it's Commander!
Stabdad: And Chizuru as DEMON QUEEN OF JAPAN
I am briefly overcome by the mental image of Chizuru as Demon Queen and Hijikata her loyal captain.
Hijikata and Chizuru: That's...a sweeter motivation than I was expecting....but no.
Sanan: I knew you'd say that *brings out sword*
Me: SANAN YOU BASTARD I HATE YOU SO MUCH
Sanan: Which is why I'm going to help you kill all the vampires!
Stabdad: What?? That makes no sense!!
Me: I, for once, am with stabdad
But regardless, Sanan, Hijikata and Heisuke kill their way through the vampires.
Stabdad: No but seriously, this doesn't make any sense??? Why did you help me MAKE vampires if you were just going to kill them all???
Hijikata: You have historically been pretty pro vampire
Sanan: I was, until I realised they all died so young. I must admit..I sullied myself in my attempts to find a way to make their lives easier, but eventually I had to admit. We are a failed experiment. One I lack much time...to correct...
Chizuru: Aww, everything he did was to protect his fellow vampires ;_;
Me: NICE MOTIVE STILL A SERIAL KILLER. Also it was ok turning your own men into mindless killing machines, as long as they weren't going to die of old age too soon??
But then: A stray vampire is about to kill Chizuru when her dad throws himself in front to save her.
Stabdad: I love you...Chizuru *dies*
Me: ;_; I know you suck at emotional support, Hijikata, but you better cheer Chizuru up right now.
Sanan and Heisuke: *die of being vampires too long*
Hijikata: D: D: D:
Me: ;_; ;_; Ok maybe not RIGHT now
And then we see Hijikata and Chizuru not long afterwards, working hard, and Chizuru collapses from overwork and Hijikata has to give her a talking to about looking after herself with some awkward "your dad did just die, maybe cut yourself some slack. Dumbass".
And then Saito DIES. OFF. SCREEN.
HE SURVIVED UNTIL 1915 YOU BASTARDS. IT'S CANON.
He was really sweet on this route, in his understated way, always standing by Hijikata and being quietly kind to Chizuru. AND THEN HE WAS QUIETLY KIND TO HIS MANY GRANDCHILDREN.
Hijikata is increasingly like "No but seriously if you stick with me you will die. I know like 5 different close friends told you to look after me just before they died but you HAVE looked after me and now you should go do something NICE very very far away from here."
She keeps trying to explain that she wants to stay with him and what's left of the Shinsengumi come what may but he's not convinced and eventually orders her to stay behind.
Luckily this happens to be seen by Hijikata's commanding officer, a really sweet military history nerd who has a nice arc about becoming an actual military officer. He tells her to stay behind for now, but he'll send for her once things settle down.
And so after 3 months of pining, Chizuru comes to the lovely new republic they've created using this exotic American idea called "elections".
Me: This place seems very nice but I am pretty sure that if it had lasted for more than thirty seconds I'd have heard of it D:
She goes to find Hijikata and he's all "NOPE NO GO BACK this republic is going to last like thirty seconds before we all die" and she SHOUTS AT HIM AT LENGTH about what an ASS he is and he pulls her into THE WORLD'S MOST EPIC HUG.
His voice goes into this rough, passionate whisper about how he's realised Some Things without her, about how she's supported him all this time and how much he needs her. "Stay with me" he murmurs, and it fades to black.
I then spent the next like 20 minutes trying to figure out if they had sex. Or got married. Or...really did just hug. IT WAS NOT CLEAR.
Instead they just walked that line where they were super comfortable and affectionate with each other and either in an understated relationship or had RIDICULOUS UST. It was like reading a Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye fanfic. Plus he kept calling her Chizuru in a way that made me very glad I kept the default name since that's the only way to have it voiced.
(OMG I LOOKED I UP AND IT'S LITERALLY THE ROY MUSTANG VOICE ACTOR FROM BROTHERHOOD)
She still calls him Hijikata but she and Saito were still using surnames when they were about to have sex, so. She's all "I, as a woman, could not be happier, now that I know my purpose is supporting this wonderful man". But what can you do.
Just when I'd decided they had, in fact, gotten married off screen, they ACTUALLY got together and it was GREAT.
Like, I was intellectually very supportive of Saito deciding that instead of following the way of the samurai he would follow his own judgement. But deep down I wanted a "NOW MY REASON FOR LIVING IS YOU" scene and that's what I got :D
I somewhat spoiled myself by seeing a CG with a bloodsoaked kiss, which didn't help the worry from all the CONSTANT DEATH FLAGS as their little republic lost to the Imperial army over and over again and the remaining Shinsengumi were whittled down even further.
And then Hijikata was shot in the gut D:
Even his vampire powers aren't fixing it and he's refusing to drink Chirizu's blood so she cuts herself and sucks mouthfuls of her own blood and kisses him and it was. Um. Certainly something.
And then, just as he's recovered, and they're staggering away under the cherry blossoms up pops FUCKING KAZAMA.
His YOU ARE MY ARCHNEMESIS-ing has crossed that line where it feels like he wants Hijikata to be his demon bride now. He actually gives Hijikata a "demon name": Hakuoki, which afaict translates to "fleeting sakura blossom ghost/demon". And then Hijikata stabs him and Kazama dies looking kind of...into it.
And then Chizuru gives this past tense narration implying Hijikata didn't live super long after this, but the game ends with the two of them looking forward to spending what time they have together under the fleeting cherry blossoms.
THE END
;_;
Now I know that the cherry blossoms motif is a metaphor for the beautiful but doomed nature of the Shizengumi in a world with no room for samurai, just thinking about the user interface is making me sniffle a little.
Also I've realised that I am probably going to have to watch Inoue and Kondou die TEN MORE TIMES. And Yamazaki nine times, assuming he doesn't die in his own route, which I noticed from the menus has suspiciously few scenes :/
I feel like doing Heisuke next because he keeps breaking my heart even on other people's routes, but since he's always a vampire this will mean knowing EXACTLY how much he would benefit from having blood to drink and then never being able to give it to him again.
The next in the game's list is Obita, but (a) I hate him and (b) Afaict he dies of consumption even on his route and I am not sure I am in a "your partner dies of illness" place right now.
And the one after that in the list is...Heisuke. Hmm.
Also I looked up suggested play order and didn't get much asides from doing Kazama after the central Shinsengumi. But I found a review which said that while the new routes are as underwritten as I feared, at least in Kyoto Winds, the page Souma who calls Chizuru sempai spends most of the pre-path section thinking she is a boy. Which sounds relevant to my interests.
Also from them: childhood bff Iba has the voice actor for Tamaki from Ouran, and Souma is Eren Jaeger haha. I'm really glad I played this PC version, it sounds like I wouldn't have enjoyed the original as much.
Oh also: there were a few random moments in the game where for some reason it felt like the characters were talking to/about ME rather than Chizuru and I know some people are into that but it freaks me out, I don't want to date these dudes as me. But then something would make it clear it was about Chizuru the demon doctor's daughter from the 19th century and I felt better again.
Heisuke Part 1