Hakuoki: Harada pt 2
Jul. 5th, 2018 06:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrBackground information and links to previous posts
Part 2 of Harada Sanosuke!
I didn't like this second half as much as the first, the "benevolent" sexism got dialled up pretty high. But there were some cool moments.
** Spoilers**
UH OH the summary of the previous game specifically mentions Sanan hassling Chizuru about helping with his vampire research, which I don't think came up on the summaries for the other paths.
Harada and Nagakura are taking some of the new recruits out drinking.
Chizuru: Can I come too?
Harada: Sorry, men drinking can be a bit unsavoury. I'll take you out another time, ok?
The true villain of this path is BENEVOLENT SEXISM >:(
Uuuurgh here we go. Sanan starts pressuring her to help with his research.
Chizuru: But you don't know if it will help. It could make things worse!
Sanan: It was your father's research that brought this vile serum to the Shinsengumi. You must acknowledge you have a responsibility to help.
SANAN YOU MANIPULATIVE ASSHOLE YOU LOVE VAMPIRISM
*has unpleasant flashbacks to the Heisuke path*
And then, as Sanan creeps closer, comes...
Saito! Saittoooooo <3
But he doesn't seem to realise what's going on, and just scolds them both for talking so loudly about vampires. Saito ;_;
Looks like Harada is in charge while Kondou and Hijikata are away. Before Chizuru can tell Harada about Sanan, a new recruit asks Harada for some advice. Turns out he wants to leave, and since Hijikata's not around (to approve it?) that would mean suicide. Harada takes him out for dinner to talk him around.
It occurs to me that all these new recruits Harada is buoying up are about to die horribly because of Kondou's bad decisions.
Chizuru waits for night to fall, with noone to protect her from Sanan (EXCEPT SAITO?? TALK TO SAITO. Hell, talk to Nagakura!)
Night falls. Sanan steps closer. Chizuru steps back.
Chizuru: Um, like I said last night, I don't think...
Sanan: I'm worried about Heisuke. His bloodlust has started to manifest.
Me: Ohhhh nooooooooo
Sanan: Soon he will lose his mind :(
Chizuru: Is there nothing we can do?!
Sanan: Well. If you helped with my research... :D
I haven't hit any choices yet and am deliberately not looking at a walkthrough to avoid being spoiled but OH GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OH NO
Chizuru: ...ok :(
Sanan: :D :D Oh, and don't tell Harada. He sees Heisuke as a younger brother, and might become so overprotective he leaves the Shinsengumi in anger.
Harada: Hey, Sanan, what's up with all these vampire serial killings???
Sanan: I had no idea! How terrible!
Harada: Sure you didn't >:/
Sanan leaves in a huff.
Harada: Chizuru, what was Sanan saying to you? Is it to do with why you wanted to talk to me before?
Chizuru: UMMMMMMmmmmmm.... *runs away*
JUST TELL HIM SANAN'S BEING CREEPY WITHOUT BRINGING UP HEISUKE
So Harada gets pouty and avoids talking to her, and Chiruzu feels sad and alone. I'm so tense I look up the walkthrough after all and...yep, Harada isn't a vampire! This is the kind of straightforward, relatively mundane "date a samurai" path I was expecting when I bought the game. It's feeling more stereotypically romance-y in terms of emotional arcs than the others too, what with the BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.
*adjusts expectations and keeps playing*
Sanan: So, blood noaw? :D
Chizuru: Sorry but no, I'm not convinced it won't just make things worse.
Sanan: SO YOU WANT US TO DIE THEN. BECAUSE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US AT ALL. AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FOR YOU.
Chizuru: No, I just... ;_;
Sanan: What with you attracting demons and being useless as a warrior, I'd have thought you'd want to help out. But no, you're a selfish waste. Don't think the Shinsengumi has infinite patience for those who cause us trouble and never give anything back >:(
Me: Manipulative and cruel, yes, but there was no attempted violence or plans to take over Japan with an army of vampires. I give it an evil rant 6/10.
Chizuru decides to run away. But who should meet her at the gate, but....
Harada: Look, if you want to run away, I'll help, but not like this. It would kill me to find out you'd gone with no warning. Please, just tell me what's wrong.
Chizuru: ...
Harada: Was someone mean to you?
Chizuru: ...
Harada: Or did...
Chizuru, shouting and crying: IT'S ALL MY FAULT BECAUSE OF MY DAD INVENTING VAMPIRES AND I KEEP ATTRACTING DEMONS AND I CAN'T FIGHT AND I'M A SELFISH WASTE AND AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALL DONE SO MUCH AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HEISUKE I SWEAR AND I REALLY DO WANT TO REPAY YOU ALL BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE I CAN COOOPERATE WITH THE VAMPIRE CORPS SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME DO IT NOW
Harada: ...
Harada: *kisses her*
Chizuru: Oh.
Harada: Um. Sorry. That's the only way I know to silence a crying woman.
Me: Wait, instead of dubcon blood drinking are we going to have dubcon kisses? I...I'm not sure how I feel about that...? That was a pretty hot dubcon kiss... >.>
Harada: I thought you didn't like me any more ;_; I mean, uh...don't let that stuff get you down! No matter what anyone's said to you, you have no reason to feel bad. Okay?
Chizuru: Okay :)
Chizuru feels good for about ten seconds.
Chizuru's brain: YOU JUST MADE OUT WITH HARADA.
Chizuru: FUCK. I DID.
Chizuru's brain: DOES THAT MEAN HE LIKE LIKES YOU?
Chizuru: OH GOD. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN HE KISSES GIRLS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE IT REALLY WAS JUST TO STOP ME CRYING???
Harada: You ok there?
Chizuru: YEP. TOTALLY FINE.
Me: hahaha omg this is just straight up shoujo isn't it? Good thing I love shoujo.
And then she FINALLY explains everything about Sanan. PHEW. Harada tells her not to worry and that he'll take care of it.
Chizuru eavesdrops on Harada giving Sanan a piece of his mind. "Is this what the Shinsengumi does, now? She's been under house arrest for four years, doing her best to help out as much as she can, and this is how we should repay her? She may be a demon but she's a fucking human being!"
Harada is about to bump into Chizuru's hiding spot when Heisuke pulls her into his. She asks if what Sanan said about him is true and Heisuke says he's had some unpleasant side effects but isn't ON THE VERGE OF MADNESS or anything. They agree that Sanan is the worst.
Kondou returns from his convalescence having been promoted to feudal lord, and full of plans for the Shinsengumi to win Big Prestigious Battles. "Those who work hard may be promoted to being my retainer!"
Nagakura is PISSED, and Harada not very happy either.
Chizuru: So what do you want out of all this?
Harada: *blushing* oh, you know, the same thing as anyone else?
Chizuru: ...glory in battle?
Harada: No...um...you promise not to tell Heisuke and Nagakura?
Chizuru: Of course!
Harada: I want to find a beautiful woman, get married, have kids, and live a quaint life. I'm not sure it'll ever happen though.
Chizuru: o.O Um. Well, you're a wonderful man, and I'm sure whoever you married would be very happy.
Harada: ...are you coming on to me?
Chizuru: Huh?
Harada: ...goes right over you head, doesn't it? Never mind. *pats her head*
Chiruzu angsts that there is no way Harada would ever want WEIRD HALF DEMON BABIES, something it never occurred to her to worry about with any of the other dudes.
Harada: So what do you think of these new uniforms?
Chiruzu: Very. Um. Flattering.
Harada, managing to do a kabedon in the middle of a forest: Really? I find it a bit...tight. Might have to...pop open some of these buttons...
Chiruzu: *dies*
Saito: Commander, I have bad news.
Hijikata: What is it?
Saito: Although Chizuru and Harada are in a fluffy romance, the rest of us appear to still be a in a tragic war story.
Hijikata: *clenches teeth manfully* Damn it! Prepare the troops.
Harada: Are you cold, Chizuru? Do you want to sit closer to me?
Chizuru: A little but, uh...I was thinking we could discuss the war?
Harada: Has anyone ever told you you're adorable?
My problem with this romance is that Harada likes himself too damn much. Where is the seething self hatred I have come to rely on from you, game?
Watching everyone try to persuade Kondou this Big Prestigious Mission is suicide and having him ignore them is getting a LITTLE DEPRESSING by the 4th time around, especially since I know this is the thing that drives Harada and Nagakura to leave.
Instead I'm just going to be amused at how tiny and buttoned up Saito looks compared to everyone else, and wonder where the plot will go once it stops following the Shinsengumi.
Harada: So what do you want after the war?
Chizuru: Oh, um. I also want a quiet life.
Harada: So...if I married you, both our dreams would come true?
Chizuru: STOP TEASING ME
Me: STOP TEASING HER
Harada: I'm not teasing. Now all we have to do is survive :)
Chizuru: but...
Me: ...but it's chapter 2 of 5!
And so...TIME TO IGNORE THE ROMANCE COMPLETELY AND GET BACK TO WAR.
The battle is lost, and Harada's division is left to cover the retreat. Just as he is preparing to wish Chizuru goodbye as she leaves with the main group...
Shiranui appears!
He and Hirada spar, and Harada does much better this time. Shiranui is happy to see his hatefriend doing so well.
But then...
DAYLIGHT VAMPIRES
Harada sends Chiruzu to hide in the forest and cover her eyes because a lady shouldn't see such violence. Bit late for that, dude.
Harada: Did you summon these??
Shiranui: Me? No! I only know of one man who can control them.
That's right! It's time for the return of....
STABDAD!!!
Shiranui: Why the hell did you summon these creatures?
Stabdad: 'Creatures'? Do not insult my beautiful children! Soon they will surpass both humans and demons!!
Shiranui: Kazama is going to be PISSED.
Stabdad: Ah, yes, Kazama, I remember an annoying demon by that name >:D
Me: IS KAZAMA DEAD?? ...wait. Would that be good or bad?
Shiranui and Harada team up, but the vampires just keep coming!
Stabdad: Do you expect me to tremble at the woeful pairing of a human and a demon coming to challenge me?
Me: IT'S A VERY GOOD PAIRING ACTUALLY
Shiranui: Hey, Harada, hows about I distract the vampires and you and yours escape?
Harada: But..you might...
Shiranui: As if I would let those fakes touch a hair of my pretty head ;) Now go!
Me: Such a good pairing ;_;
Harada and Chizuru escape.
Shiranui, as the vampires surround him: You better look after that Demon girl, Harada!
Me: *Sigh*
As they wait to talk to Kondou, Nagakura vents his frustration at Harada. If only Kondou would focus less on status and more on the practicalities of battle they might actually make it.
When Kondou arrives and Nagakura pulls him aside to talk, Harada asks Hijikata if he thinks there's any chance of compromise.
Hijikata: Let me put it this way: Kondou just spent our funds on a bunch of expensive, cool looking armour.
Harada: Ah. Hijikata, surely you can see that if we keep going like this there's nothing that can save us from defeat.
Hijikata: Well...I've heard there's a way of making vampires that can fight in sunlight...
Harada: But we don't have Stabdad. How would we...
Hijikata: *looks at Chizuru darkly*
HIJIKATA NOOOOOOOO
...ok I thought I was following the conversation but then it turned out Hijikata was actually warning Harada that Sanan was not to be trusted with Chizuru's location, so Harada and Chizuru should escape in secret.
PHEW. DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT HIJIKATA.
A door slams.
Nagakura: FUCK ORDERS. THE ONLY PERSON WHOSE ORDERS I FOLLOW FROM NOW ON IS NAGAKURA SHINPACHI. Don't try to persuade me, Harada! I am DONE.
Harada: Great. Us too :D
Nagakura: Wait, what?
Chizuru: Should we say goodbye to Heisuke?
Harada: I left him a letter.
Heisuke, running towards them: A letter? With your handwriting?? Give me a proper goodbye!
Harada: I did! In my letter!
Heisuke: WHICH WAS UNREADABLE.
Nagakura: Come join us, Heisuke!
Heisuke: No I...should stay and keep an eye on Sanan. But good luck you guys. Don't die before me :)
Heisuke ;_;
They get to Edo.
Harada: Welp! Time for me and Nagakura to go out and get drunk all night ^_^
Chizuru: ...oh. Ok :(
Me: Wait, is the game going ....criticise Harada's sexism???
Chizuru: I guess I have no place in Harada's life...because I am a demon with an evil father who has created an unkillable army of vampires ;_; I should just leave ;_;
Me: Never mind.
Chiruzu and Harada have another round of "please tell me why you are sad" "Me, sad? I'm not... OH GOD I AM SO SAD" and he forbids her to go out and deal with her father because she'll just get herself killed. And I mean, he's right, but I resented it anyway.
Harada: How could I let the woman I love go out and get herself killed?
Chiruzu: The whosa-what now?
Harada: Did I not...mention that?
So they have a romantic hug and mutual declaration of feelings. It's mostly pretty cute.
Objective brain: The fact that these paths are not all the same is a good thing. There is a perfectly valid genre of romance, which this path is an example of, where the protagonist is a self hating mess and the love interest is Perfect And Loving and Knows Best, and the arc is one of the protagonist slowly learning to accept that love.
Subjective brain: WHY IS HE NOT MORE LIKE SAITO
Also, like...I noticed the points in the previous paths where the narrative ground to a halt to hit The Emotional Button Of The Path but it was more fun when I liked that button :/
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE WAR
Edo has been occupied. Nagakura has escaped to keep fighting with a new company, Harada as always took rear guard, and so was left stuck in the city.
As Harada and Chizuru try to find a way out they encounter...Shiranui!
Shiranui: Hey, demon girl, WHERE'S YOUR DAD????
Chizuru: Oh no what has he done now?
Shiranui: Made a vampire army for the Imperialists. And an army of vampires needs an army of blood.
He uses a lot of Spreading Sickness imagery. I'm not in the mood for sickness metaphors right now Shiranui! *sneezes*
Harada: Wait, are you saying he coordinated this whole war in order to feed the corpses to his army? That's obscene! Samurai have dedicated their lives to protecting women and children!
I share your horror, Harada, but you know that's not the main thing Samurai did.
Shiranui: It won't end here either. There's plenty of enemies upon whom the Empire of Japan can exact it's brand of justice: Britain, France, Russia...
Harada: I thought you people just wanted to remove the Shogun, but...THIS is what you've been fighting for? THIS is the country you wanted to build?!
Shiranui: Of course not! This is not the world I was promised!
TURNS OUT THE VILLAIN WAS IMPERIALISM THE WHOLE TIME.
This version of Stabdad is pretty evil, but he hasn't mind controlled any women into marrying him yet. *Sanan smugly holds onto his The Worst crown*
Shiranui: So how about I help you guys escape? :D
Harada: No offence but don't you hate us?
Shiranui: Hate you? I- ;_;
Shiranui: *muttering* My body be damned. Let it rot in the land of Musashino. My spirit will live on forever.
Harada: Um?
Shiranui: Something a friend of mine said before he died.
Shiranui: It's stupid! The afterlife is a feeble lie humans tell themselves to cope with life's harshness.
Shiranui: ...this conversation is over. Accept my help or don't >:/
UGH my choices are "I think we can trust him" and "I leave it up to you Harada". GUESS WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE >:/
Shiranui shoots his gun in the air to attract the guards.
Guard: Wait, aren't you the one who used to guard Takasugi?
Shiranui: Yes, but now I HATE YOU ALL. COME AND GET IT!! >:D
Shiranui: Hey Chizuru! Consider this an act of kinship between demons!
Aw, I think this is the first time any of the demon trio have actually used her name.
They have a lead on where Stabdad is, but it's far from where Nagakura is fighting. If Harada goes to fight Stabdad, he and Nagakura may never see each other again. Harada puts a brave face on it but Chizuru can tell he's worried about his friend.
They meet up with Nagakura at his company's castle. He is SUPER happy to see them.
Harada: Hey, Nagakura, I have to talk to you about something...
Nagakura: FIRST WE PARTY :D :D
Harada: Maybe just one drink...
Nagakura: Do you remember that time Okita found Hijikata's secret book of haiku? They were so bad!!
Eventually, after much drunken reminiscing, Harada asks Nagakura what's up.
Nagakura: Last night I dreamt I saw Kondou. I was giving him a piece of my mind, but he didn't say anything. Then he just bowed and said he was sorry.
Nagakura: I woke up and...got the feeling I'll never see him again.
Nagakura: ...Harada, you're the only one who's always stayed by me.
Harada: It is my blessing and my curse.
Nagakura: Ha! Right back at you! You know, Harada, hows about you and I.....zzzzzzzz
Harada and Chizuru carry Nagakura to his room. Harada tells her that he also dreamed of Kondou. Something bad is happening to the Shinsengumi, and there's nothing any of them can do.
Chizuru goes to check on Nagakura and finds he is awake. He cheerfully squees about how great it will be to fight with Harada, how there's noone else he'd trust to have his back.
Chizuru: Haha yeah. Yay! ;_;
She finds Harada and tell him she will confront her father alone while Harada goes off with Nagakura, that they will be together again once those tasks are done.
Harada: Can you honestly tell me you think either of us would survive to see each other again?
Chizuru: ...no. But if you go with me, you'll never see Nagakura again. I can't do that to you.
Harada: You know what I want: a beautiful lady, a house, peace and quiet. Is peace even really possible for a warrior like me? I've had plenty of chances to achieve that dream, other women I thought would be my future wife. But I never took that step.
Harada: You're right, I have to choose between being with you, or staying by the side of my best friend. I can't have both.
Chizuru: And?
Harada: And I choose you. I can't pretend I haven't had my doubts, but now I am certain. I love you. I will always choose you. Do you choose me?
Chizuru: ...yes.
And then they have (implicit and flowery) sex and it's very passionate and bittersweet and OK GAME YOU GOT ME I AM HAVING FEELS
Also even though this has been the most "dominant dude/submissive woman" of the paths (Hijikata is more domineering but that Chizuru pushes back) and there's been lots of dubconny hugs and that one dubconny kiss, the sex is definitely consensual in a "Harada takes charge and Chizuru is super into it" kind of way. This makes me less nervous about Kazama's path, since "Demon lord who kidnaps the protagonist in order to force her to be his bride" is not the kind of premise which generally leads to super consensual romances. That and what an adorable goober he was on Heisuke's path.
AWWWW and now Chizuru's internal narration refers to Harada by his first name, Sanosuke. I'm going to keep calling him Harada, though. I'm not dating him ;)
Oh nooooo Harada is telling Nagakura he's leaving and he's HEARTBROKEN.
OH NO THEY'RE FIGHTING.
Nagakura aims his sword right at Harada's throat, giving him no choice but to fight back to the best of his abilities. This is no harmless sparring match.
But as they continue, Chizuru realises they know each other's styles perfectly, and are smiling as they engage in a mutual admiration of each other's abilities. In the end, Harada knocks Nagakura to the ground, blade to his throat, and looks at him with tender affection.
Nagakura: We could have been so great together on the battlefield ;_;
But then he hugs them and sends them on their way in good cheer.
Chizuru dreams of her father: happy times, but the dream leaves her crying out in fear.
She admits her worries to Harada, and he admits he is afraid too. They comfort each other with kisses and talking about their feelings.
HEY IT'S ARTIST FRIEND IBUKI AND HIS WIFE SHIZU
*takes note of their names this time*
Harada: Hey, I remember you from the red light district!
Shizu: Ah, yes! Thank you for your patronage ^_^
Ibuki: Ha, so, Chizuru, you're stuck dating this jerk?
Shizu: Actually, Harada knows how to treat women, right Chizuru?
Chizuru: >.>
(The implication is really just that he was respectful and kind, but it still amused me)
Chizuru eavesdrops on Harada and Ibuki talking.
Ibuki: Do you really think you can survive this?
Harada: Does it matter? She's not the kind of woman who can stand by while her father does evil, and what she wants, I want.
Imperial forces have just recently defeated the last stronghold of anti-Imperial holdouts, leaving a battlefield strewn with corpses. Chizuru and Harada sit and wait for the vampires to descend.
Stabdad is surrounded by vampires, seemingly impossible to get to. (I mean...I have no idea what their plan is anyway? Assassinate him, I guess?)
But then...
..gunshots! IT'S SHIRANUI!
Stabdad: Ah, Lord Shiranui! Except it's not "Lord" any more, is it?
Huh! He was a lord?
Shiranui says Stabdad (look, I know it's a silly name, but I'm sticking with it) is corrupting the country. Despite his earlier protestations, Shiranui obviously does still feel some loyalty to the Imperialist human domain he used to work with. Stabdad says he's just preparing Japan for the oncoming threat from England, the US etc.
Shiranui: Ok, yes, I've heard about what the West is doing in China, and it does sound like we're next unless we rebuild ourselves into something stronger...
Stabdad: Exactly! We need to take over the world while we still have the chance!
Shiranui interrupts Stabdad's rants about the necessity offascism vampires by shooting at him. GO SHIRANUI.
Shiranui rants about how his friend Takasugi also wanted to unite Japan, and then died of what sounds like tuberculosis, proving himself to be exactly the kind of weak human Shiranui despises. But Takasugi would never have done this.
*keeps coming up with things to do instead of playing because of all the death flags attaching themselves to Shiranui*
Stabdad's a demon, but not one who's had much training in fighting, and Shiranui has a GUN POINTED RIGHT AT HIM. JUST SHOOT HIM. But no.
Stabdad's vampires circle Shiranui. All seems lost, when...
Harada saves him! The two fight-flirt and Shiranui says Harada reminds him of Takasugi.
I got the feeling he was a real person and sure enough he was. The wikipedia page doesn't mention the demon boyfriend, but it's implied.
Stabdad calls out to Chizuru, and she comes out from her hiding place. She tries to reason with him but it's hopeless. Grimly, she unsheathes her sword, and stabs him, twisting the blade in his gut.
She pulls it out...and there is no wound. Her father laughs.
Stabdad: BEHOLD THE POWER OF A PURE VAMPIRE :D
Chizuru: Well crap.
Harada, drawing his spear: Let me handle this. You're not a murderer. Close your eyes.
HARADA. SHE IS SURROUNDED BY BLOODTHIRSTY VAMPIRES. CLOSING HER EYES MIGHT BE A BAD IDEA.
(Killing her dad for her, I am more ok with, she probably would find it pretty traumatic to succeed, even if she already gave it her best shot)
Chiruzu: I am keeping my eyes open, Harada should not do this alone.
ALSO. VAMPIRES.
Stabdad reaches into his pocket and pulls out...HIS TRUSTY SCALPELS. Thwip thwip thwip!
A reminder of Stabdad's final form:
Harada is injured, but dauntless.
Stabdad: You know, you're not bad for a human. Want to join our ranks?
Literal game quote: "But it would take more than Father's taunting to convince him to turn to the dark side."
Stabdad continues to be a shitty fighter, and Harada gets a few good stabs in with his spear. Unfortunately, they heal immediately, and Stabdad just keeps laughing as his regenerating body becomes covered in his own blood.
But then...Harada aims just right, and stabs Stabdad in the heart.
Harada: You kill vampires by stabbing them in the heart, right? Given your powers, I might be here a while, but I'll stand here until my spear rusts if I have to.
Stabdad: Chizuru...you would do nothing while your father dies?
Chiruzu: ... ;_;
Harada: *stabs stabdad a few more times* Don't you dare place any guilt on her! I am the one who killed you! And you no longer get to call yourself her father. She deserves better.
And at last, he dies. Chizuru collapses in grief, and Harada holds her in his arms.
Shiranui comes back from having murdered the last of the vampires.
Chiruzu: I know you don't believe in souls, Shiranui, but I think you must have one.
Shiranui: Hmmph. You still planning on spending the rest of your life with this feeble, delicate human?
Chiruzu: Yes ^_^
Harada: Maybe we are feeble, and our lives meaningless, but that just means we need to live life to the full while we have it.
Shiranui: Yeah but it's not so great for the ones you leave behind ;_; I MEAN I HATE HUMANS I'M JUST SAYING.
And then there's some metaphysical conversation I didn't take notes on cos I was eating dinner, and Chiruzu and Harada finally go overseas to a little house by the sea and live happily, if heteronormatively, ever after.
And since the game doesn't say: Everyone else was fine, even Kondou. Sanan learned the error of his ways, and developed a cure for vampirism. Shiranui learned to love again, with...Nagakura? Hijikata? Maybe both. Japan became a representative democracy and never invaded anyone ever. And Harada encountered early feminist and became a staunch campaigner for women's rights.
THE END
...wow I just realised there was a bunch of foreshadowing about Sanan Being Up To Something and it never got resolved. Hopefully Hijikata and Heisuke handled it, I guess?
My reservations aside, I did overall enjoy this path. It's definitely my least favourite completed one so far, but Okita is absolutely still in the running for that crown. And Chizuru did get to stab her father, even if it didn't stick.
Now to decide if I want to go back to him or start good old demon lord Kazama...
Next: Kazama Part 1
Part 2 of Harada Sanosuke!
I didn't like this second half as much as the first, the "benevolent" sexism got dialled up pretty high. But there were some cool moments.
** Spoilers**
UH OH the summary of the previous game specifically mentions Sanan hassling Chizuru about helping with his vampire research, which I don't think came up on the summaries for the other paths.
Harada and Nagakura are taking some of the new recruits out drinking.
Chizuru: Can I come too?
Harada: Sorry, men drinking can be a bit unsavoury. I'll take you out another time, ok?
The true villain of this path is BENEVOLENT SEXISM >:(
Uuuurgh here we go. Sanan starts pressuring her to help with his research.
Chizuru: But you don't know if it will help. It could make things worse!
Sanan: It was your father's research that brought this vile serum to the Shinsengumi. You must acknowledge you have a responsibility to help.
SANAN YOU MANIPULATIVE ASSHOLE YOU LOVE VAMPIRISM
*has unpleasant flashbacks to the Heisuke path*
And then, as Sanan creeps closer, comes...
Saito! Saittoooooo <3
But he doesn't seem to realise what's going on, and just scolds them both for talking so loudly about vampires. Saito ;_;
Looks like Harada is in charge while Kondou and Hijikata are away. Before Chizuru can tell Harada about Sanan, a new recruit asks Harada for some advice. Turns out he wants to leave, and since Hijikata's not around (to approve it?) that would mean suicide. Harada takes him out for dinner to talk him around.
It occurs to me that all these new recruits Harada is buoying up are about to die horribly because of Kondou's bad decisions.
Chizuru waits for night to fall, with noone to protect her from Sanan (EXCEPT SAITO?? TALK TO SAITO. Hell, talk to Nagakura!)
Night falls. Sanan steps closer. Chizuru steps back.
Chizuru: Um, like I said last night, I don't think...
Sanan: I'm worried about Heisuke. His bloodlust has started to manifest.
Me: Ohhhh nooooooooo
Sanan: Soon he will lose his mind :(
Chizuru: Is there nothing we can do?!
Sanan: Well. If you helped with my research... :D
I haven't hit any choices yet and am deliberately not looking at a walkthrough to avoid being spoiled but OH GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OH NO
Chizuru: ...ok :(
Sanan: :D :D Oh, and don't tell Harada. He sees Heisuke as a younger brother, and might become so overprotective he leaves the Shinsengumi in anger.
Harada: Hey, Sanan, what's up with all these vampire serial killings???
Sanan: I had no idea! How terrible!
Harada: Sure you didn't >:/
Sanan leaves in a huff.
Harada: Chizuru, what was Sanan saying to you? Is it to do with why you wanted to talk to me before?
Chizuru: UMMMMMMmmmmmm.... *runs away*
JUST TELL HIM SANAN'S BEING CREEPY WITHOUT BRINGING UP HEISUKE
So Harada gets pouty and avoids talking to her, and Chiruzu feels sad and alone. I'm so tense I look up the walkthrough after all and...yep, Harada isn't a vampire! This is the kind of straightforward, relatively mundane "date a samurai" path I was expecting when I bought the game. It's feeling more stereotypically romance-y in terms of emotional arcs than the others too, what with the BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.
*adjusts expectations and keeps playing*
Sanan: So, blood noaw? :D
Chizuru: Sorry but no, I'm not convinced it won't just make things worse.
Sanan: SO YOU WANT US TO DIE THEN. BECAUSE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US AT ALL. AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FOR YOU.
Chizuru: No, I just... ;_;
Sanan: What with you attracting demons and being useless as a warrior, I'd have thought you'd want to help out. But no, you're a selfish waste. Don't think the Shinsengumi has infinite patience for those who cause us trouble and never give anything back >:(
Me: Manipulative and cruel, yes, but there was no attempted violence or plans to take over Japan with an army of vampires. I give it an evil rant 6/10.
Chizuru decides to run away. But who should meet her at the gate, but....
Harada: Look, if you want to run away, I'll help, but not like this. It would kill me to find out you'd gone with no warning. Please, just tell me what's wrong.
Chizuru: ...
Harada: Was someone mean to you?
Chizuru: ...
Harada: Or did...
Chizuru, shouting and crying: IT'S ALL MY FAULT BECAUSE OF MY DAD INVENTING VAMPIRES AND I KEEP ATTRACTING DEMONS AND I CAN'T FIGHT AND I'M A SELFISH WASTE AND AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALL DONE SO MUCH AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HEISUKE I SWEAR AND I REALLY DO WANT TO REPAY YOU ALL BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE I CAN COOOPERATE WITH THE VAMPIRE CORPS SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME DO IT NOW
Harada: ...
Harada: *kisses her*
Chizuru: Oh.
Harada: Um. Sorry. That's the only way I know to silence a crying woman.
Me: Wait, instead of dubcon blood drinking are we going to have dubcon kisses? I...I'm not sure how I feel about that...? That was a pretty hot dubcon kiss... >.>
Harada: I thought you didn't like me any more ;_; I mean, uh...don't let that stuff get you down! No matter what anyone's said to you, you have no reason to feel bad. Okay?
Chizuru: Okay :)
Chizuru feels good for about ten seconds.
Chizuru's brain: YOU JUST MADE OUT WITH HARADA.
Chizuru: FUCK. I DID.
Chizuru's brain: DOES THAT MEAN HE LIKE LIKES YOU?
Chizuru: OH GOD. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN HE KISSES GIRLS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE IT REALLY WAS JUST TO STOP ME CRYING???
Harada: You ok there?
Chizuru: YEP. TOTALLY FINE.
Me: hahaha omg this is just straight up shoujo isn't it? Good thing I love shoujo.
And then she FINALLY explains everything about Sanan. PHEW. Harada tells her not to worry and that he'll take care of it.
Chizuru eavesdrops on Harada giving Sanan a piece of his mind. "Is this what the Shinsengumi does, now? She's been under house arrest for four years, doing her best to help out as much as she can, and this is how we should repay her? She may be a demon but she's a fucking human being!"
Harada is about to bump into Chizuru's hiding spot when Heisuke pulls her into his. She asks if what Sanan said about him is true and Heisuke says he's had some unpleasant side effects but isn't ON THE VERGE OF MADNESS or anything. They agree that Sanan is the worst.
Kondou returns from his convalescence having been promoted to feudal lord, and full of plans for the Shinsengumi to win Big Prestigious Battles. "Those who work hard may be promoted to being my retainer!"
Nagakura is PISSED, and Harada not very happy either.
Chizuru: So what do you want out of all this?
Harada: *blushing* oh, you know, the same thing as anyone else?
Chizuru: ...glory in battle?
Harada: No...um...you promise not to tell Heisuke and Nagakura?
Chizuru: Of course!
Harada: I want to find a beautiful woman, get married, have kids, and live a quaint life. I'm not sure it'll ever happen though.
Chizuru: o.O Um. Well, you're a wonderful man, and I'm sure whoever you married would be very happy.
Harada: ...are you coming on to me?
Chizuru: Huh?
Harada: ...goes right over you head, doesn't it? Never mind. *pats her head*
Chiruzu angsts that there is no way Harada would ever want WEIRD HALF DEMON BABIES, something it never occurred to her to worry about with any of the other dudes.
Harada: So what do you think of these new uniforms?
Chiruzu: Very. Um. Flattering.
Harada, managing to do a kabedon in the middle of a forest: Really? I find it a bit...tight. Might have to...pop open some of these buttons...
Chiruzu: *dies*
Saito: Commander, I have bad news.
Hijikata: What is it?
Saito: Although Chizuru and Harada are in a fluffy romance, the rest of us appear to still be a in a tragic war story.
Hijikata: *clenches teeth manfully* Damn it! Prepare the troops.
Harada: Are you cold, Chizuru? Do you want to sit closer to me?
Chizuru: A little but, uh...I was thinking we could discuss the war?
Harada: Has anyone ever told you you're adorable?
My problem with this romance is that Harada likes himself too damn much. Where is the seething self hatred I have come to rely on from you, game?
Watching everyone try to persuade Kondou this Big Prestigious Mission is suicide and having him ignore them is getting a LITTLE DEPRESSING by the 4th time around, especially since I know this is the thing that drives Harada and Nagakura to leave.
Instead I'm just going to be amused at how tiny and buttoned up Saito looks compared to everyone else, and wonder where the plot will go once it stops following the Shinsengumi.
Harada: So what do you want after the war?
Chizuru: Oh, um. I also want a quiet life.
Harada: So...if I married you, both our dreams would come true?
Chizuru: STOP TEASING ME
Me: STOP TEASING HER
Harada: I'm not teasing. Now all we have to do is survive :)
Chizuru: but...
Me: ...but it's chapter 2 of 5!
And so...TIME TO IGNORE THE ROMANCE COMPLETELY AND GET BACK TO WAR.
The battle is lost, and Harada's division is left to cover the retreat. Just as he is preparing to wish Chizuru goodbye as she leaves with the main group...
Shiranui appears!
He and Hirada spar, and Harada does much better this time. Shiranui is happy to see his hatefriend doing so well.
But then...
DAYLIGHT VAMPIRES
Harada sends Chiruzu to hide in the forest and cover her eyes because a lady shouldn't see such violence. Bit late for that, dude.
Harada: Did you summon these??
Shiranui: Me? No! I only know of one man who can control them.
That's right! It's time for the return of....
STABDAD!!!
Shiranui: Why the hell did you summon these creatures?
Stabdad: 'Creatures'? Do not insult my beautiful children! Soon they will surpass both humans and demons!!
Shiranui: Kazama is going to be PISSED.
Stabdad: Ah, yes, Kazama, I remember an annoying demon by that name >:D
Me: IS KAZAMA DEAD?? ...wait. Would that be good or bad?
Shiranui and Harada team up, but the vampires just keep coming!
Stabdad: Do you expect me to tremble at the woeful pairing of a human and a demon coming to challenge me?
Me: IT'S A VERY GOOD PAIRING ACTUALLY
Shiranui: Hey, Harada, hows about I distract the vampires and you and yours escape?
Harada: But..you might...
Shiranui: As if I would let those fakes touch a hair of my pretty head ;) Now go!
Me: Such a good pairing ;_;
Harada and Chizuru escape.
Shiranui, as the vampires surround him: You better look after that Demon girl, Harada!
Me: *Sigh*
As they wait to talk to Kondou, Nagakura vents his frustration at Harada. If only Kondou would focus less on status and more on the practicalities of battle they might actually make it.
When Kondou arrives and Nagakura pulls him aside to talk, Harada asks Hijikata if he thinks there's any chance of compromise.
Hijikata: Let me put it this way: Kondou just spent our funds on a bunch of expensive, cool looking armour.
Harada: Ah. Hijikata, surely you can see that if we keep going like this there's nothing that can save us from defeat.
Hijikata: Well...I've heard there's a way of making vampires that can fight in sunlight...
Harada: But we don't have Stabdad. How would we...
Hijikata: *looks at Chizuru darkly*
HIJIKATA NOOOOOOOO
...ok I thought I was following the conversation but then it turned out Hijikata was actually warning Harada that Sanan was not to be trusted with Chizuru's location, so Harada and Chizuru should escape in secret.
PHEW. DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT HIJIKATA.
A door slams.
Nagakura: FUCK ORDERS. THE ONLY PERSON WHOSE ORDERS I FOLLOW FROM NOW ON IS NAGAKURA SHINPACHI. Don't try to persuade me, Harada! I am DONE.
Harada: Great. Us too :D
Nagakura: Wait, what?
Chizuru: Should we say goodbye to Heisuke?
Harada: I left him a letter.
Heisuke, running towards them: A letter? With your handwriting?? Give me a proper goodbye!
Harada: I did! In my letter!
Heisuke: WHICH WAS UNREADABLE.
Nagakura: Come join us, Heisuke!
Heisuke: No I...should stay and keep an eye on Sanan. But good luck you guys. Don't die before me :)
Heisuke ;_;
They get to Edo.
Harada: Welp! Time for me and Nagakura to go out and get drunk all night ^_^
Chizuru: ...oh. Ok :(
Me: Wait, is the game going ....criticise Harada's sexism???
Chizuru: I guess I have no place in Harada's life...because I am a demon with an evil father who has created an unkillable army of vampires ;_; I should just leave ;_;
Me: Never mind.
Chiruzu and Harada have another round of "please tell me why you are sad" "Me, sad? I'm not... OH GOD I AM SO SAD" and he forbids her to go out and deal with her father because she'll just get herself killed. And I mean, he's right, but I resented it anyway.
Harada: How could I let the woman I love go out and get herself killed?
Chiruzu: The whosa-what now?
Harada: Did I not...mention that?
So they have a romantic hug and mutual declaration of feelings. It's mostly pretty cute.
Objective brain: The fact that these paths are not all the same is a good thing. There is a perfectly valid genre of romance, which this path is an example of, where the protagonist is a self hating mess and the love interest is Perfect And Loving and Knows Best, and the arc is one of the protagonist slowly learning to accept that love.
Subjective brain: WHY IS HE NOT MORE LIKE SAITO
Also, like...I noticed the points in the previous paths where the narrative ground to a halt to hit The Emotional Button Of The Path but it was more fun when I liked that button :/
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE WAR
Edo has been occupied. Nagakura has escaped to keep fighting with a new company, Harada as always took rear guard, and so was left stuck in the city.
As Harada and Chizuru try to find a way out they encounter...Shiranui!
Shiranui: Hey, demon girl, WHERE'S YOUR DAD????
Chizuru: Oh no what has he done now?
Shiranui: Made a vampire army for the Imperialists. And an army of vampires needs an army of blood.
He uses a lot of Spreading Sickness imagery. I'm not in the mood for sickness metaphors right now Shiranui! *sneezes*
Harada: Wait, are you saying he coordinated this whole war in order to feed the corpses to his army? That's obscene! Samurai have dedicated their lives to protecting women and children!
I share your horror, Harada, but you know that's not the main thing Samurai did.
Shiranui: It won't end here either. There's plenty of enemies upon whom the Empire of Japan can exact it's brand of justice: Britain, France, Russia...
Harada: I thought you people just wanted to remove the Shogun, but...THIS is what you've been fighting for? THIS is the country you wanted to build?!
Shiranui: Of course not! This is not the world I was promised!
TURNS OUT THE VILLAIN WAS IMPERIALISM THE WHOLE TIME.
This version of Stabdad is pretty evil, but he hasn't mind controlled any women into marrying him yet. *Sanan smugly holds onto his The Worst crown*
Shiranui: So how about I help you guys escape? :D
Harada: No offence but don't you hate us?
Shiranui: Hate you? I- ;_;
Shiranui: *muttering* My body be damned. Let it rot in the land of Musashino. My spirit will live on forever.
Harada: Um?
Shiranui: Something a friend of mine said before he died.
Shiranui: It's stupid! The afterlife is a feeble lie humans tell themselves to cope with life's harshness.
Shiranui: ...this conversation is over. Accept my help or don't >:/
UGH my choices are "I think we can trust him" and "I leave it up to you Harada". GUESS WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE >:/
Shiranui shoots his gun in the air to attract the guards.
Guard: Wait, aren't you the one who used to guard Takasugi?
Shiranui: Yes, but now I HATE YOU ALL. COME AND GET IT!! >:D
Shiranui: Hey Chizuru! Consider this an act of kinship between demons!
Aw, I think this is the first time any of the demon trio have actually used her name.
They have a lead on where Stabdad is, but it's far from where Nagakura is fighting. If Harada goes to fight Stabdad, he and Nagakura may never see each other again. Harada puts a brave face on it but Chizuru can tell he's worried about his friend.
They meet up with Nagakura at his company's castle. He is SUPER happy to see them.
Harada: Hey, Nagakura, I have to talk to you about something...
Nagakura: FIRST WE PARTY :D :D
Harada: Maybe just one drink...
Nagakura: Do you remember that time Okita found Hijikata's secret book of haiku? They were so bad!!
Eventually, after much drunken reminiscing, Harada asks Nagakura what's up.
Nagakura: Last night I dreamt I saw Kondou. I was giving him a piece of my mind, but he didn't say anything. Then he just bowed and said he was sorry.
Nagakura: I woke up and...got the feeling I'll never see him again.
Nagakura: ...Harada, you're the only one who's always stayed by me.
Harada: It is my blessing and my curse.
Nagakura: Ha! Right back at you! You know, Harada, hows about you and I.....zzzzzzzz
Harada and Chizuru carry Nagakura to his room. Harada tells her that he also dreamed of Kondou. Something bad is happening to the Shinsengumi, and there's nothing any of them can do.
Chizuru goes to check on Nagakura and finds he is awake. He cheerfully squees about how great it will be to fight with Harada, how there's noone else he'd trust to have his back.
Chizuru: Haha yeah. Yay! ;_;
She finds Harada and tell him she will confront her father alone while Harada goes off with Nagakura, that they will be together again once those tasks are done.
Harada: Can you honestly tell me you think either of us would survive to see each other again?
Chizuru: ...no. But if you go with me, you'll never see Nagakura again. I can't do that to you.
Harada: You know what I want: a beautiful lady, a house, peace and quiet. Is peace even really possible for a warrior like me? I've had plenty of chances to achieve that dream, other women I thought would be my future wife. But I never took that step.
Harada: You're right, I have to choose between being with you, or staying by the side of my best friend. I can't have both.
Chizuru: And?
Harada: And I choose you. I can't pretend I haven't had my doubts, but now I am certain. I love you. I will always choose you. Do you choose me?
Chizuru: ...yes.
And then they have (implicit and flowery) sex and it's very passionate and bittersweet and OK GAME YOU GOT ME I AM HAVING FEELS
Also even though this has been the most "dominant dude/submissive woman" of the paths (Hijikata is more domineering but that Chizuru pushes back) and there's been lots of dubconny hugs and that one dubconny kiss, the sex is definitely consensual in a "Harada takes charge and Chizuru is super into it" kind of way. This makes me less nervous about Kazama's path, since "Demon lord who kidnaps the protagonist in order to force her to be his bride" is not the kind of premise which generally leads to super consensual romances. That and what an adorable goober he was on Heisuke's path.
AWWWW and now Chizuru's internal narration refers to Harada by his first name, Sanosuke. I'm going to keep calling him Harada, though. I'm not dating him ;)
Oh nooooo Harada is telling Nagakura he's leaving and he's HEARTBROKEN.
OH NO THEY'RE FIGHTING.
Nagakura aims his sword right at Harada's throat, giving him no choice but to fight back to the best of his abilities. This is no harmless sparring match.
But as they continue, Chizuru realises they know each other's styles perfectly, and are smiling as they engage in a mutual admiration of each other's abilities. In the end, Harada knocks Nagakura to the ground, blade to his throat, and looks at him with tender affection.
Nagakura: We could have been so great together on the battlefield ;_;
But then he hugs them and sends them on their way in good cheer.
Chizuru dreams of her father: happy times, but the dream leaves her crying out in fear.
She admits her worries to Harada, and he admits he is afraid too. They comfort each other with kisses and talking about their feelings.
HEY IT'S ARTIST FRIEND IBUKI AND HIS WIFE SHIZU
*takes note of their names this time*
Harada: Hey, I remember you from the red light district!
Shizu: Ah, yes! Thank you for your patronage ^_^
Ibuki: Ha, so, Chizuru, you're stuck dating this jerk?
Shizu: Actually, Harada knows how to treat women, right Chizuru?
Chizuru: >.>
(The implication is really just that he was respectful and kind, but it still amused me)
Chizuru eavesdrops on Harada and Ibuki talking.
Ibuki: Do you really think you can survive this?
Harada: Does it matter? She's not the kind of woman who can stand by while her father does evil, and what she wants, I want.
Imperial forces have just recently defeated the last stronghold of anti-Imperial holdouts, leaving a battlefield strewn with corpses. Chizuru and Harada sit and wait for the vampires to descend.
Stabdad is surrounded by vampires, seemingly impossible to get to. (I mean...I have no idea what their plan is anyway? Assassinate him, I guess?)
But then...
..gunshots! IT'S SHIRANUI!
Stabdad: Ah, Lord Shiranui! Except it's not "Lord" any more, is it?
Huh! He was a lord?
Shiranui says Stabdad (look, I know it's a silly name, but I'm sticking with it) is corrupting the country. Despite his earlier protestations, Shiranui obviously does still feel some loyalty to the Imperialist human domain he used to work with. Stabdad says he's just preparing Japan for the oncoming threat from England, the US etc.
Shiranui: Ok, yes, I've heard about what the West is doing in China, and it does sound like we're next unless we rebuild ourselves into something stronger...
Stabdad: Exactly! We need to take over the world while we still have the chance!
Shiranui interrupts Stabdad's rants about the necessity of
Shiranui rants about how his friend Takasugi also wanted to unite Japan, and then died of what sounds like tuberculosis, proving himself to be exactly the kind of weak human Shiranui despises. But Takasugi would never have done this.
*keeps coming up with things to do instead of playing because of all the death flags attaching themselves to Shiranui*
Stabdad's a demon, but not one who's had much training in fighting, and Shiranui has a GUN POINTED RIGHT AT HIM. JUST SHOOT HIM. But no.
Stabdad's vampires circle Shiranui. All seems lost, when...
Harada saves him! The two fight-flirt and Shiranui says Harada reminds him of Takasugi.
I got the feeling he was a real person and sure enough he was. The wikipedia page doesn't mention the demon boyfriend, but it's implied.
Stabdad calls out to Chizuru, and she comes out from her hiding place. She tries to reason with him but it's hopeless. Grimly, she unsheathes her sword, and stabs him, twisting the blade in his gut.
She pulls it out...and there is no wound. Her father laughs.
Stabdad: BEHOLD THE POWER OF A PURE VAMPIRE :D
Chizuru: Well crap.
Harada, drawing his spear: Let me handle this. You're not a murderer. Close your eyes.
HARADA. SHE IS SURROUNDED BY BLOODTHIRSTY VAMPIRES. CLOSING HER EYES MIGHT BE A BAD IDEA.
(Killing her dad for her, I am more ok with, she probably would find it pretty traumatic to succeed, even if she already gave it her best shot)
Chiruzu: I am keeping my eyes open, Harada should not do this alone.
ALSO. VAMPIRES.
Stabdad reaches into his pocket and pulls out...HIS TRUSTY SCALPELS. Thwip thwip thwip!
A reminder of Stabdad's final form:
Harada is injured, but dauntless.
Stabdad: You know, you're not bad for a human. Want to join our ranks?
Literal game quote: "But it would take more than Father's taunting to convince him to turn to the dark side."
Stabdad continues to be a shitty fighter, and Harada gets a few good stabs in with his spear. Unfortunately, they heal immediately, and Stabdad just keeps laughing as his regenerating body becomes covered in his own blood.
But then...Harada aims just right, and stabs Stabdad in the heart.
Harada: You kill vampires by stabbing them in the heart, right? Given your powers, I might be here a while, but I'll stand here until my spear rusts if I have to.
Stabdad: Chizuru...you would do nothing while your father dies?
Chiruzu: ... ;_;
Harada: *stabs stabdad a few more times* Don't you dare place any guilt on her! I am the one who killed you! And you no longer get to call yourself her father. She deserves better.
And at last, he dies. Chizuru collapses in grief, and Harada holds her in his arms.
Shiranui comes back from having murdered the last of the vampires.
Chiruzu: I know you don't believe in souls, Shiranui, but I think you must have one.
Shiranui: Hmmph. You still planning on spending the rest of your life with this feeble, delicate human?
Chiruzu: Yes ^_^
Harada: Maybe we are feeble, and our lives meaningless, but that just means we need to live life to the full while we have it.
Shiranui: Yeah but it's not so great for the ones you leave behind ;_; I MEAN I HATE HUMANS I'M JUST SAYING.
And then there's some metaphysical conversation I didn't take notes on cos I was eating dinner, and Chiruzu and Harada finally go overseas to a little house by the sea and live happily, if heteronormatively, ever after.
And since the game doesn't say: Everyone else was fine, even Kondou. Sanan learned the error of his ways, and developed a cure for vampirism. Shiranui learned to love again, with...Nagakura? Hijikata? Maybe both. Japan became a representative democracy and never invaded anyone ever. And Harada encountered early feminist and became a staunch campaigner for women's rights.
THE END
...wow I just realised there was a bunch of foreshadowing about Sanan Being Up To Something and it never got resolved. Hopefully Hijikata and Heisuke handled it, I guess?
My reservations aside, I did overall enjoy this path. It's definitely my least favourite completed one so far, but Okita is absolutely still in the running for that crown. And Chizuru did get to stab her father, even if it didn't stick.
Now to decide if I want to go back to him or start good old demon lord Kazama...
Next: Kazama Part 1
