Nameless: Yeonho Route
Nov. 26th, 2018 04:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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OK SO I LOOKED UP A WALKTHROUGH THIS TIME
Overall I enjoyed Yeonho's route a lot! It's basically Toy Story: The Dating Sim but hey, Toy Story had a lot of feels. And under the tropeyness is an affecting story of dealing with trauma.
It gets PRETTY TROPEY though.
(Also wow scrolling through this I wrote...a lot...)
***Content Note: physically and emotionally abusive relationships. Also worse things in the bad ends but they're at the end and get their own content warning***
The walkthrough image is Yeonho and Eri on a merry-go-round which feels a little ominous now.
Looks like I was mainly on the right track, the differences are (a) Some choices relating to other LIs (b) Choose to save Yeonho.
At some point I realised Yeonho looks like Carol Brady and I am trying my hardest to unsee it.
ANYWAY let's go!
I choose to save Yeonho from being dissected by creepy Nurse Yujin.
Yeonho: Are you sure my body is good enough? I have a lot of sc-scars...
Eri thinks about how Yeonho was a second hand doll who came with scars from his previous owner?? YEONHOOOOO ;_;
Eri, internally: Yeonho, you should be caring more about saving yourself! I need to say something...
Male classmate, crying: DON'T HURT HIM
Female classmate: He's sick, how can you be so cruel??
Mr Yujin: Yes, I suppose dissecting a scarred body would be discourteous. I'll just dissect the other one ^_^
Lance: I refuse >:/
Yeonho: Lance, no! If...if you are satisfied with this body...*starts to undo his shirt collar with trembling hands*
Soi: No ;_; I'm class president, cut me! *lays herself over the podium dramatically*
Mr Yujin: I'm not interested in your bones >:/
And then class ends and nobody is murdered, hooray!
(SO SILLY)
The stuff with the cat John happens the same as before.
Eri writes in her diary and DOESN'T black out.
AND NOW I AM ON THE YEONHO ROUTE HOORAY
Yeonho is quietly accepting of the idea that Eri will hate him for running off and is happily surprised when she's just WHAT NO ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT YOU ARE SAFE.
Awww Tei took John to the cafe where he was adopted by the manager.
Eri said taking a cab every day was excessive and made Yuri catch the bus...which he found so unpleasant that he turns up the next day with a LIMOUSINE.
Eri: HOW THE HELL DID YOU PAY FOR-
Yuri: Shhh. Trivial details.
Everyone goes in the limo...except Lance, who'd rather catch the bus alone. Unfortunately this means all the boys get surrounded by girls when they arrive so Eri can't ever got to class with them.
OOH I HAVE A PHONE IN MY MENU NOW. It shows text conversation history. I guess this is the precursor to the 100% phone-based Mystic Messenger that Cheritz made next.
Eri: Urgh, maths is the worst.
Soi: So you'll be joining me at the bottom of the class again, Eri? Friends should go to hell together :D
Shinbi: Hey, Eri.
Eri: She's...so handsome...
Shinbi: Uh. The chick is crying.
(That's everyone's nickname for Yeonho. I don't know if it has gendered connotations in Korean)
Yeonho, clutching his maths textbook: ;_;
Male classmate: Don't worry Yeonho, I'll take care of you. Compared to the witches in this class you're way pretti...OW WHO THREW A BOOK AT ME
Soi: WHO MADE MY PROPERTY CRY???
Yeonho makes a stuttering attempt to explain to Eri why he's upset, and my options are "Ask what's up" and "Since he looks cute hesitating, ignore him"
And the walkthrough says to pick the second option??? THAT'S MESSED UP, GAME. *picks it while grumbling*
So he gets even more upset and wails and hugs her. Now everyone is looking at them and Eri feels self conscious. AS YOU DESERVE, ERI.
Turns out he's upset because...he's really bad at maths.
Soi: SO THIS MATHS BOOK IS THE VILLAIN. I WILL DESTROY IT!!! RAAAARRRR *tears maths book in half*
Eri: That's...not helpful. The villain is maths itself! It's ok Yeonho, everyone finds maths hard. Even Lance!
Yeonho: Really??
Lance: Maths is simple and if you can't do it you're stupid.
Eri: Um. He doesn't mean it that way!
Girls: Did you see how he stared at us like insects? HOT.
Aw meanwhile Shinbi cheers Yeonho up by saying there's more to life than grades.
The class starts arguing about who should get to tutor Yeonho and Eri thinks that as much as she enjoys Yeonho sticking to her side it's for the best that other people like him so much and that she gets pushed away sometimes. But she feels sad...for some reason...
Soi and Shinbi explain "twinter" to Eri and Yeonho and Yeonho gets very excited to be everyone's "friend".
This path could stand to push a little less hard on the shota-ish vibes about Yeonho's tiny hands and childlike cuteness. Though I get the feeling he's having a maturity arc. Also, for all that Eri keeps thinking about how tiny he is, he's actually a little taller than her.
Yeonho: So, the cafeteria gets really crowded at lunch and I was thinking you might like to, uh....
Eri: Oh I am going to eat by myself in the classroom. Because being alone. Is so great! Haha!
Yeonho: Oh you'd...rather eat alone. Ok :(
Girls: Hey Yeonho, come out with us for icecream!
Yeonho, looking at Eri: Uh....?
Eri: You look tired, let's just go home.
Girls: ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YEONHO ALONE?? GRRR >:(
Yeonho: D: I'll go get icecream!
Eri: Oh ok. Bye Yeonho :(
Yeonho: Bye Eri :(
As she's falling asleep Yeonho comes in and pulls a blanket over her, and says he hopes she will always stay by his side.
We see what's either a dream or a flashback of Yeonho's former owner telling him that as long as he's good, he won't be given more scars and she'll stay by his side forever. She sounds like a young girl and is cruel and petty.
Eri wakes to a string of texts from Yeonho about him having made her fried eggs. He gets angry if it looks like anyone else might eat them.
...actually maybe instead of a maturity arc he's going to go all yandere...
Oh nooo one of the gifts he gets from girls at school is a children's book called "The Abandoned Toy" /o\ Eri is uncomfortable with the extent to which they treat him like a child.
Yeonho joins her in the classroom at lunch but has no food of his own. She offers to share but he says he's full just watching her eat. My options are "ok, if you're not hungry" and "Force him to hold the chopsticks" which, uh, ok.
Eri: Eat! Or you'll get sick!
Yeonho: I don't mind getting sick.
Eri: I'll worry!
Yeonho: Really??
Eri: Yes! I'd stay by your side and nurse you until you got better!
Yeonho: Stay...by my side... *.*
Me: OH NO
He shows her a page from the picture book: a girl riding a merry go round in the "land of dreams". I'm glad I got that bad end now, I recognise the foreshadowing.
Eri reminisces about going on a merry-go-round one time with her grandad. She asks if Yeonho would like to go on one with her and he gets VERY EXCITED. She feels guilty that she does so little to make him happy (and is...still pretty oblivious to him being happy about it being time with her, not about the merry-go-round itself)
haha oops there's a background character with a name like "Girĺ‚¼"
A bunch of girls see them eating lunch together and later Soi and Shinbi say she should stick to hanging around them to avoid getting into trouble with jealous girls. I am not a fan of this trope, sigh.
He comes home late one day with cake from Tei's cafe.
Eri: This tastes sweeter because it's from you :)
Yeonho: Am I...good?
Eri: Yes?! You're kind and sweet and very good.
Yeonho: If Master can smile...*mutter* my body can be crushed and burned and turned to ash. *mutter*
Eri: Wait what
Yeonho: Enjoy your cake ^_^
Yeonho has been staying late with Tei and bringing back cake every day for some time. Pretty sure he has a waiter job but Eri is just confused and Tei and Yeonho are evasive.
One weekend Yeonho takes Eri out to a surprise- the amusement park from her childhood memory! He refuses to explain how he paid for day tickets and just wants to go on the merry-go-round. He seems happy but then mutters to himself "This is the place of Master's memory...I must be happy".
Ok twice the merry go round image glitched and I can't tell if it's a bug or something sinister and it's weirding me out /o\
Eri: So, what next?
Yeonho: Whatever Master wants!
Eri: But what do YOU want?
Yeonho: ...does not compute...
Eri: Ok then lets go on a rollercoaster! They're scary and fun!
Yeonho: ...scary? Um. Yay!
Five minutes later:
Eri: oh man, I am so sorry
Yeonho: I'M FINE. I can go on...all the rides...you want...
Eri: You can barely stand >:/
Yeonho: OH NO I MADE MASTER ANGRY I'M SORRY I RUINED EVERYTHING
Eri: What? No, I just worry about you. Let's get you home.
Yeonho: D: D:
She makes repeated attempts to convince him to value himself and eventually gives up and just sits by him as he drifts off to sleep in her bed. She falls asleep at her desk and Yeonho wakes and promises her he'll be better, a good boy, so she never leaves.
New chapter: Obsession
Well that...bodes...well...
We get a flashback to when Eri got the Yeonho doll. She is horrified to see that he was wrapped in a dirty cloth and sent in a dusty box, and smooths his tangled hair as she greets him.
Breakfast! Yeonho leans closer and closer while Eri eats the breakfast he made her, and she feels a bit weird. Lance and the others point out that she's uncomfortable and Yeonho backs off a little. They also point out that Yeonho's been sticking to her too closely at school lately, spending ALL his time with her, and it'll damage his reputation (?)
Yeonho: I don't care! You're just jealous because Master likes me best. Are you uncomfortable, master?
Eri, not wanting to hurt his feelings: Um...
Yeonho hurries Lance out the door and delays Eri so he can go on the bus alone with her. He also gets angry at Tei when he interferes with Yeonho's plan to share an umbrella with Eri and is generally...a bit...weird. He mutters to himself about wanting her to look only at him.
At school he entirely ignores all the other girls, and they are quietly pissed. Eri worries that he's distant from his friends, but I have mixed feelings: obsessiveness is not great, but they're kind of shitty "friends". He ignores the teacher too and just stares at Eri during class.
While he's in the bathroom, Soi and Shinbi say they never get to talk to her any more, and that if things keep going like this all the girls will hate Eri, and Yeonho will get a reputation for rudeness.
Shinbi: The chick...it's like you're his mom. He may not realise it but he's obsessing over you.
Sio: It doesn't matter how cute he is, he better not hurt you!
Eri sadly thinks about how there's no use trying to talk to Yeonho about it, these days it feels like he's focussed on something and she can't communicate with him.
Sio: You baby him too much. You both need some distance, come study with us today.
Eri: That's actually good advice.
Sio: Great! So now that you owe me a favour, persuade Lance to join us ;)
Eri: Uh. Lance? Would you...uh...
Lance: No. *leaves*
Yionho: You're studying together? Can I come?
Shinbi: Sorry, chick, you're on cleaning duty today.
Eri: We'll go together another time!
Yeonho: *blank eyed stare*
Eri: He'll... be fine...
Soi has become friends with Hobin, the manager of Hot Boy Cafe. She says she's there to ogle eye candy and he gives her free cake.
Eri is briefly dazzled by how hot all the guys are. She feels her phone vibrate and is sure it's Yeonho. She ignores it.
A little later she goes to the bathroom and checks her phone where the others can't see. Yep, it's Yeonho saying he misses her.
Eri: Should I call Yeonho...
Hobin: Yeonho? Who used to work here part time?
Eri: Wait what?
Hobin: He was smart and a good worker!
Me: Aw, someone thinks Yeonho is smart.
Eri confronts Tei but he says Yeonho begged him to keep it secret. Eri tries to understand Yeonho's motivations and feels bad that he kept things from her.
She checks her phone and sees his last text was from half an hour ago. She realises she has the umbrella and wonders if he's gone home yet. She tries calling but he doesn't pick up.
KEY CHOICE FOR BAD ENDS: "Go back to school and check" vs "Ah, he's probably gone home". HMMMM LET ME THINK.
She finds him sitting in front of the school gates in the rain, shivering and feverish.
Yeonho: I thought you didn't need me any more, so I should sit in the rain and disappear. But I knew...you'd come for me...
I am having a little more trouble connecting to these characters' voices than those in English or even Japanese, since I know ZERO Korean, but Yeonho's voice actor is really selling the cold, sick, sad thing ;_;
She gets him home. He's shivering but begs her not to leave him, even to get blankets. So she gets into bed to keep him warm. He sits up and clutches her to him, and she is surprised at how tiny yet strong he is, and can hardly breathe. She feels this is all her fault for leaving his side, and promises never to leave him again, and doesn't let her discomfort show in her voice.
I'm not sure where this path is going but it's certainly...something. This reminds me of the passionate self sacrificing intimacy of the blood drinking in Hakuoki. I thought we were heading for "Boundaries are good" but we may in fact be heading for "Boundaries are bad! Hooray for codependency!". Which I could live with now that the game has at least lampshaded it.
She sees the scars on his arms and thinks about how they look deliberate. She wonders about his previous master, and vows to look after him better.
He falls asleep in her arms and she drifts off not long afterwards. There is zero self consciousness on her part about sharing a bed with a boy, I'm not sure it's even occurred to her to think of Yeonho that way. I'm not sure if he's attracted to her, either, though he has described her as pretty, and in an earlier scene was worried about seeming to be sexually creepy (eg, like Yuri, lol) so he's not 100% unaware of such things. But mostly it's just intense F/m smarm. NO COMPLAINTS HERE.
The next morning comes and- well! The weird obsessive air of the last few days is gone. He blushes and says he's realised he wants to be a man who can stay by her side. She feels like he's aged 5 years overnight and is acting like an adult for the first time.
New Chapter: Breakthrough
Flashback to "child me" refusing to let go of an old worn out toy, much to her mother's annoyance.
Girl1: Yeonho! Do you want this bread? It's shaped like a chick!
Yeonho: No thank you :)
Girl1: ;_;
Girl2: I preferred when Yeonho was cute and never set boundaries >:(
Shinbi: ...that bread looked tasty...
Yeonho: Sorry, next time I'll give it to you!
Sio: That would break their hearts even more...but yes, give us all your presents ^_^
Aw. So Yeonho doesn't outright IGNORE other girls any more, but he's not very friendly to them, he's moderately nice to Shinbi and Soi but otherwise only has eyes for Eri.
It turns out he banished a spirit that was pestering the president of the Mystery Study Club and she wants him to read tarot cards for the school festival. Yeonho would rather spend time with Eri, but when Eri says she'd like to see him read tarot cards he becomes determined to do that instead. She worries that she inadvertently forced him into it.
They come home to an empty house because everyone else happens to be out.
Eri: it's kind of lonely when it's this quiet...
Yeinho: You're lonely? I'm not enough for you? :(
Eri: I was only really lonely after grandad died, and before you guys arrived in my life.
Yeinho: You still care a lot about your grandad don't you?
Eri: Yes.
Yeinho: Because he's...family. Hmm :/
Eri's researcher mum rings from the United States to say that, once again, her project is running over time and she can't visit like she said she would. Eri was kind of expecting this, and pretends not to be sad.
I like that she has her own more subtle and mundane abandonment issues.
Exam time!
WTF I HAVE TO DO AN EXAM?? REQUIRING FAST REACTION TIMES???
*gets a C+ and goes back to my most recent save*
*Takes the exam like 8 times before I manage an A+*
(It's mostly easy questions about the characters mixed with general knowledge, but you have to be SUPER FAST so I could only manage to get questions right if I'd seen them before)
Soi: EXAMS ARE MY ENEMY
Me: MINE TOO
Eri tells Tei she's going to go home and do housework and he passive aggressively needles her about being crappy at it. SCREW YOU TEI.
Haaa and then Eri's mum rings.
Mom: Where are you?
Eri: At home?
Mom: Great I'll see you soon!
Eri, looking at house full of boys: D: D: D:
Mom: Sadly we don't have time to leave the hotel before our flight back but I'll send a cab to pick you up.
Eri: THAT'S FINE
Yeonho: I'd like to go but it would cause trouble, right?
Eri: Yeah, sorry, it's a family dinner.
Yeonho: Family...so they're precious to you...
Countdown to him proposing marriage...
Eri's parents reminisce about her First Doll, supposedly kept in storage, and Eri is weirded out that she can't remember it. But she does remember Yeonho talking about dolls being abandoned, and finds herself apologising out loud.
...is this the secret LI? "The one thing you must recall"? Kept in a box in the dark for 10 years?? o.O That's some hardcore "forgotten childhood best friend with deep trauma"
Mom: I guess you outgrew it! Speaking of which, do you still collect those heavy dolls that look like people?
Eri: Mmm.
Eri, internally: They're called Ball Jointed Dolls, MOM
OH MAN SO. She goes home and Yeonho is sitting waiting for her by the door in the cold. And he just...freaks out and talks about how he cares about her so much and has tried so hard for so long but he'll never mean as much to her as she does to him. He can't even compete with her DEAD family members, and wants to be family to her so she'll remember him even when he's gone. He says he'll do absolutely anything, she just needs to tell him what to do.
She feels for him intensely, but wonders if she's ever really understood him, and whether what she feels for him is affection or pity.
I am given the choices "I will always stay by your side" and "I don't expect anything from you" and apparently...should pick option 2??
Aw, ok, it's her saying he is enough, he doesn't need to TRY to keep her with him. She says some very sweet and reassuring things and they hug and say they want to stay together forever.
And then an unknown male voice, ???, says some dark things about how Eri taught him the only way to get anything is to snatch it from others for yourself and a new chapter begins.
Chapter: Festival
The next thing on the walkthrough is "Get A+ on Card Game" which sounds like a bit much for my brain as we approach 1am, especially with scary ???s saying ominous things. There's only one more choice after that, I guess I'm approaching the end!
Flashback!
Crobidoll: Buy our new Yeonho prototype! Make him be whatever you want!
...is Cheritz going to have a canon voice next...
Yeonho reminisces about sitting in the store excited to know what his owner will be like. Is the implication really that ALL dolls have souls, because that is quite horrifying.
We flash forward to his previous owner failing to persuade her mother to raise her allowance to buy a new dress, and going "Eh, I'll just sell off this old scarred doll I don't care about any more", much to Yeonho's confusion and distress.
I fell asleep again and had a dream about a literal talking bird with an Evil Phd Supervisor because apparently that's my subconscious's best approximation to an owner.
Present day!
Soi joined the school government because it seemed like an easy ride, but she's in charge of the upcoming autumn festival and is so stressed she's punching random objects in frustration. Lance is on the discipline committee so I'm expecting more of these shenanigans on his route.
Eri: Shinbi, you're class vice president, are you stressed too?
Shinbi: Nah, I'm good.
Girls: SHINBI WE HAVE DONE ALL YOUR WORK FOR YOU WE LOVE YOU
Shinbi: Thanks ;)
Girls: *squeal*
Haha I happened to check the diary. "Studied while rolling around on the bed with Yeonho. He's always felt like a little brother, but I'm starting to feel a bit different these days. He's still growing, right?"
Yeonho teases Eri with a joke and she reflects on how him being honest and more himself around her these days makes him shine brightly.
Yeonho, leaning in: Eri, are you ok?
Eri: AHH SO CLOSE *falls over*
*Yeonho grabs her hand so she doesn't fall*
Eri: Wow his hand is really...strong...and masculine...OMG YEONHO IS A BOY
Yeonho: I'll hold your hand so you don't fall again ^_^
Eri: AHHHHHHHHH??? FFEEELINGS???
Eri: Um. Yeonho, we don't see each other much these days what with your club activities and girls surrounding you again, and, uh...
Eri, internally: What if he's lonely and pretending to be fine?
Yeonho: Master, are you lonely?
Eri: Me? AHAHA no I'm FINE.
Yeinho gives her a smile, but it feels a little lonely. She wonders if this is the real face he has been hiding from her all this time.
Yeonho: Can we meet my friend? He's going to help me get better at tarot cards!
Eri: Yeah! Who is he?
Yeonho: An old man who lives on a telephone pole ^_^
Eri: D: D: D: CALM DOWN ERI. If he's friends with Yeonho he's a nice ghost.
Yeonho, to a seemingly empty telephone pole: Hello Grandpa!
Eri: *literally screams*
Yeonho, gently: Don't worry, I'm here.
Eri and me: *wibble*
Eri: You know, Yeonho being able to talk to spirits is cool, but it's weird, because Crobidoll never mentioned it in his packaging
Yes, Eri, that's the weird part of all this.
She mentions that parts of her diary have become mysteriously smudged, but the version on the sidebar seems fine.
Mr Principal (or, as the dialogue says, "Mr Principle". There's a lot of spellcheck errors but I find them endearing) says some stuff that implies he knows about her and Yeonho and approves. Also it suddenly occurs to me to ship him with Eri's grandad, eg the dude whose house he shared and whose granddaughter he seems to feel very parental towards.
Red and Tei have ducked out of the cafe their class is running. Red talks about how Tei had to do some Yuri-esque manipulative flirtation to get away from all the girls who wanted him to be their waiter and Tei is very ahahaha SHHH. I am very curious to see what kind of dude he actually is. I hope his endearing protectiveness of Yeonho is sincere, but if he turns out NOT to be villainous at all I'm going to be disappointed.
Aw Yeonho starts his cute Mysterious Fortune Teller shtick before realising it's Eri.
Ahaha the fortunes are going well but everyone wants to know if they're partners are cheating on them and the ghost happily goes into detail.
*saves on the assumption this "card game" will be as annoying as the exam*
THANK GOD. IT WAS MEMORY. I AM GOOD AT MEMORY. *gets A+ on my first try*
Eri: Well I don't have a boyfriend so tell me my horoscope for today!
Yeonho: Um. Why don't you have a boyfriend? You're so sweet and nice. Do you...want one?
Eri: UM WELL. Noone...likes...me? I'm pretty ordinary.
Yeonho: WELL I COULD, UH...
Eri: Gosh is it hot in here all of a sudden?
Customer: WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG I WANT MY FORTUNE READ >:(
Yeonho runs out and Eri follows him. (Or...goes home. But even without the walkthrough's help I was pretty sure that was the wrong choice)
He's on the roof having a trauma flashback. She calms him down and he eventually explains that the customer looked like his old owner, and then goes into how abusive she was and how he still always wanted her approval and blamed himself for not getting it. He talks about how messed up he was about being sold, but how happy he has been since meeting Eri.
He and Eri talk about their feelings. She says that to her "family" means her parents: someone she cares about and can rely on, but never really wants much from or asks anything of. She wants Yeonho to be more to her than that. I was too busy wallowing in feels to take note of the specifics after that but he kisses her and it's VERY SWEET.
Given the context, this has actually been a pretty good exploration of someone with an abusive background trying to figure out how to form healthy relationships.
AWWW. The household is the same as before, and Yeonho is acting "like Tei without the smirk", taking care of everyone instead of just Eri. Tei and Yuri have clearly figured out that Yeonho and Eri are dating and think it's adorable.
He's still kind of oblivious to sexual things but Eri finds that endearing. She wonders if he's getting taller. His voice is definitely deeper (and more natural sounding, the voice actor was obviously going higher than normal before), not sure when that changed.
He still calls her Master though ;)
(Yuri calls her "my honey" and Red calls her "heroine", can't remember what the other two use)
Soi tells Eri to be less oblivious to girls hitting on Yeonho: he's called the Phoenix these days and considered both cute and mature, but always says "Sorry, I already have a woman I want to protect forever".
Eri gets so embarrassed she can't speak. Afaict she's still coming to terms with having passionate feelings for Yeonho.
Chapter: Christmas with Yeonho
Eri is excited to go to a Christmas event at the amusement park with Yeonho!
Me: Awww
???: THE MERRY GO ROUND NEVER STOPS
Me: D:
Looks like Christmas in Korea is a romantic holiday like in Japan.
Ahhhh looks like they're not officially dating yet. After going on the merry-go-round Yeonho says Eri's family aren't here so he'll ask her permission for him to make her his. They kiss and the credits roll.
...the singing is sufficiently bad that I assume it's the voice actors and sure enough the credits say it's "Yuri and Yeonho". Also:
???'s name is "Nameless"
Characters from this and Dandelion supposedly run the twitter
The translator's name looks Korean, which makes sense, it has that "fluent ESL speaker" feel, and is a mix of English and American conventions
The Hot Guy Cafe, Banjul, is a real place, which would explain why they kept going on about how tasty the specific teas were. This is one product placement heavy game...
As the credits end, Eri thinks about how happy she is. Yeonho goes off to get her a drink...
...and when he comes back SHE IS GONE.
???: AND SO YOU ARE HERE. DIDN'T I SAY THE MERRY GO ROUND WOULD NEVER END?
THE END????
That was...the good end??
What.
The.
Hell??????
I guess I'm playing all the paths then /o\
I WAS thinking I'd feel bad on other paths that Yeonho doesn't get to feel like his Master's favourite person but...well. Hopefully he gets to work through his issues regardless.
I'm wondering what everyone else's angsty backstories will be...
Tei: second-hand, secretly evil. Anything is possible.
Lance: bought first and mass produced so may have some inferiority issues.
Red: messy feelings about being supposed to be Defender Of The Earth.
Yuri: clearly Hiding Things.
Nameless: KEPT IN A BOX IN THE DARK AND FORGOTTEN
Time to check the unlocked bonus materials!
There's what I am pretty sure is a message from Yeonho's voice actor, sure enough he speaks in a much deeper and more self assured voice but I have no idea what he's actually saying because there's NO TRANSLATION.
Like Hakuoki there's the ability to replay seen chapters which will make writing fic easier if I ever feel like it (not sure I will, the worldbuilding is very silly)
Yeonho's diary! It's voiced but thankfully ALSO HAS A TRANSLATION. Awww this is really sweet. "Yuri drives the limo because he thinks it's cool. Tei rides it because of Master, and Red rides it because of Tei. I watch Master and notice Tei watching me, he watches whoever looks at her. I can tell her likes her very much. I smiled at him. I don't mind her liking other dolls, but I hope she never abandons me."
Ahahaha. Page 2 is a cute thing about cookies. Page 3 is him confusedly reacting to someone (Soi? Yuri?) pinching his cheeks and telling him he's an "M" (Masochist)
There's also still-locked diaries for the other love interests, cafe crew, Soi and Shinbi, and Yujin.
Now to decide if I do Yeonho's bad endings or move on. Thanks to the walkthrough I have these handy bad-ending-setup saves but also...am a sook...
Sigh. OK LET'S DO THIS
**Content Note: BAD ENDS ARE BAD. ABUSE AND IMPLIED RAPE AND BAD**
Bad End 1: "Unforgiven Doll"
Eri, studying and unable to get through to Yeonho, decides he's probably fine and doesn't go back to school to check. I feel bad imagining poor sad Yeonho waiting in the rain. Eventually rings home.
Eri: Hey, has Yeonho come home yet?
Lance: There's a perverted music teacher and a noisy monkey but no Yeonho.
She finds him shivering in the rain and things progress the same. Instead of lying next to him she gets blankets.
Watching him sleep she...feels...twisted???? And rolls up his sleeve to look at his scars...??? WHERE IS THIS GOING????
Eri: Mine. My doll who looks only at me :D
Yeonho: ...Master?
Eri: He'll put up with whatever I do to him, he doesn't expect kindness, only for me to stay by his side.
*The screen goes white*
Yeonho: Master, it hurts!
Eri: I'm like this because of you.
Yeonho: *whimpering sounds of pain*
Uh??
This is not what I meant by wanting more femdom D:
Bad End 2: Competitor
Eri has returned late from seeing her parents and is reassuring an abandoned feeling Yeonho.
Oh no is the competitor her parents?
Eri: I'll always be by your side. I'll be your family.
Yeonho: Really :/
Eri: If that's what you need to be happy!
Yeonho: ...liar
Eri: What?
Yeonho: Nothing ^_^ Let's go inside!
Eri goes to sleep feeling worried.
She wakes to Yeonho on top of her choking her.
Yeonho: Be happy! I've found a way for us to be together forever!
Wow that's...a hella creepy voice.
She struggles in vain, but just as things are going blurry the door opens and Yeonho lets go in surprise.
Tei: So it ends like this :/
Eri: Yay! Tei!
Me: Mmm...
Tei: I'm disappointed.
Yeonho: I don't care! I know you care for her but I won't give in.
Tei: I'm not disappointed in you, I'm disappointed in her. How could you be so easy?
Creepy children's choral music starts playing.
Tei: I respected you as an owner. But if you get hurt that easily, how does that make me feel?
Yeonho: Tei?
Tei: If someone is to hurt you, it should be me ^_^
Tei: If I'd known you put out that easily... I gave up for nothing :(
Yeonho: I KNEW YOU HAD YOUR EYE ON HER
Eri: Uh
Me: UH
Are they...going to fight over who gets to hurt/murder Eri? This is not what I thought Competitor would mean /o\
Tei: I think I'll hurt her much better than you :) Now, it's time to go to sleep...
Yeonho: Do you think I'd give up that easily?? *attacks Tei*
Eri: Oh no, not violence!
Me: Eri, honey
Tei: I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to touch anyone other than my owner. But I have to put you down to have her. I'm sorry.
He approaches the shelf where the doll bodies are. AHHHHHHHH
Tei: We can't have the others hearing. People who make noise need to be silenced.
*he puts his finger over doll!Yeonho's mouth*
Eri: Stop!
Tei: Don't worry it will be over soon :)
Tei: You're a good actor, right? Hiding your hobby from everyone. You'll have to pretend everything is fine tomorrow. But I won't ask you to pretend you love me :)
Yeonho: My head hearts...
Tei: As long as I can touch you that's all I need.
*Yeonho collapses to the ground and Tei steps over his body towards Eri*
Tei: You better stay quiet. Are you ready?
THE END
asdsdqwurytetyr???!!
I guess that...answers the "Is Tei a villain" question o.O
I vaguely recall someone saying one of the characters in this game (or maybe Dandelion) has bad ends so bad it ruined his good end and, well, if this is how Tei behaves on someone else's bad end...
Bad end 3: Disappeared Yeonho
Goddamn what the hell is going to happen in this one. Jesus.
Yeonho has run off at the school festival. Eri goes home instead of looking on the roof.
...and never sees Yeonho again.
THE END
That was...a relief, by comparison.
WELP. I AM DONE AND CAN DO HAPPY ENDS NOW.
Though if they're all going to end with Eri vanishing that's a bit of a downer.
Lance Route (good end)
OK SO I LOOKED UP A WALKTHROUGH THIS TIME
Overall I enjoyed Yeonho's route a lot! It's basically Toy Story: The Dating Sim but hey, Toy Story had a lot of feels. And under the tropeyness is an affecting story of dealing with trauma.
It gets PRETTY TROPEY though.
(Also wow scrolling through this I wrote...a lot...)
***Content Note: physically and emotionally abusive relationships. Also worse things in the bad ends but they're at the end and get their own content warning***
The walkthrough image is Yeonho and Eri on a merry-go-round which feels a little ominous now.
Looks like I was mainly on the right track, the differences are (a) Some choices relating to other LIs (b) Choose to save Yeonho.
At some point I realised Yeonho looks like Carol Brady and I am trying my hardest to unsee it.
ANYWAY let's go!
I choose to save Yeonho from being dissected by creepy Nurse Yujin.
Yeonho: Are you sure my body is good enough? I have a lot of sc-scars...
Eri thinks about how Yeonho was a second hand doll who came with scars from his previous owner?? YEONHOOOOO ;_;
Eri, internally: Yeonho, you should be caring more about saving yourself! I need to say something...
Male classmate, crying: DON'T HURT HIM
Female classmate: He's sick, how can you be so cruel??
Mr Yujin: Yes, I suppose dissecting a scarred body would be discourteous. I'll just dissect the other one ^_^
Lance: I refuse >:/
Yeonho: Lance, no! If...if you are satisfied with this body...*starts to undo his shirt collar with trembling hands*
Soi: No ;_; I'm class president, cut me! *lays herself over the podium dramatically*
Mr Yujin: I'm not interested in your bones >:/
And then class ends and nobody is murdered, hooray!
(SO SILLY)
The stuff with the cat John happens the same as before.
Eri writes in her diary and DOESN'T black out.
AND NOW I AM ON THE YEONHO ROUTE HOORAY
Yeonho is quietly accepting of the idea that Eri will hate him for running off and is happily surprised when she's just WHAT NO ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT YOU ARE SAFE.
Awww Tei took John to the cafe where he was adopted by the manager.
Eri said taking a cab every day was excessive and made Yuri catch the bus...which he found so unpleasant that he turns up the next day with a LIMOUSINE.
Eri: HOW THE HELL DID YOU PAY FOR-
Yuri: Shhh. Trivial details.
Everyone goes in the limo...except Lance, who'd rather catch the bus alone. Unfortunately this means all the boys get surrounded by girls when they arrive so Eri can't ever got to class with them.
OOH I HAVE A PHONE IN MY MENU NOW. It shows text conversation history. I guess this is the precursor to the 100% phone-based Mystic Messenger that Cheritz made next.
Eri: Urgh, maths is the worst.
Soi: So you'll be joining me at the bottom of the class again, Eri? Friends should go to hell together :D
Shinbi: Hey, Eri.
Eri: She's...so handsome...
Shinbi: Uh. The chick is crying.
(That's everyone's nickname for Yeonho. I don't know if it has gendered connotations in Korean)
Yeonho, clutching his maths textbook: ;_;
Male classmate: Don't worry Yeonho, I'll take care of you. Compared to the witches in this class you're way pretti...OW WHO THREW A BOOK AT ME
Soi: WHO MADE MY PROPERTY CRY???
Yeonho makes a stuttering attempt to explain to Eri why he's upset, and my options are "Ask what's up" and "Since he looks cute hesitating, ignore him"
And the walkthrough says to pick the second option??? THAT'S MESSED UP, GAME. *picks it while grumbling*
So he gets even more upset and wails and hugs her. Now everyone is looking at them and Eri feels self conscious. AS YOU DESERVE, ERI.
Turns out he's upset because...he's really bad at maths.
Soi: SO THIS MATHS BOOK IS THE VILLAIN. I WILL DESTROY IT!!! RAAAARRRR *tears maths book in half*
Eri: That's...not helpful. The villain is maths itself! It's ok Yeonho, everyone finds maths hard. Even Lance!
Yeonho: Really??
Lance: Maths is simple and if you can't do it you're stupid.
Eri: Um. He doesn't mean it that way!
Girls: Did you see how he stared at us like insects? HOT.
Aw meanwhile Shinbi cheers Yeonho up by saying there's more to life than grades.
The class starts arguing about who should get to tutor Yeonho and Eri thinks that as much as she enjoys Yeonho sticking to her side it's for the best that other people like him so much and that she gets pushed away sometimes. But she feels sad...for some reason...
Soi and Shinbi explain "twinter" to Eri and Yeonho and Yeonho gets very excited to be everyone's "friend".
This path could stand to push a little less hard on the shota-ish vibes about Yeonho's tiny hands and childlike cuteness. Though I get the feeling he's having a maturity arc. Also, for all that Eri keeps thinking about how tiny he is, he's actually a little taller than her.
Yeonho: So, the cafeteria gets really crowded at lunch and I was thinking you might like to, uh....
Eri: Oh I am going to eat by myself in the classroom. Because being alone. Is so great! Haha!
Yeonho: Oh you'd...rather eat alone. Ok :(
Girls: Hey Yeonho, come out with us for icecream!
Yeonho, looking at Eri: Uh....?
Eri: You look tired, let's just go home.
Girls: ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YEONHO ALONE?? GRRR >:(
Yeonho: D: I'll go get icecream!
Eri: Oh ok. Bye Yeonho :(
Yeonho: Bye Eri :(
As she's falling asleep Yeonho comes in and pulls a blanket over her, and says he hopes she will always stay by his side.
We see what's either a dream or a flashback of Yeonho's former owner telling him that as long as he's good, he won't be given more scars and she'll stay by his side forever. She sounds like a young girl and is cruel and petty.
Eri wakes to a string of texts from Yeonho about him having made her fried eggs. He gets angry if it looks like anyone else might eat them.
...actually maybe instead of a maturity arc he's going to go all yandere...
Oh nooo one of the gifts he gets from girls at school is a children's book called "The Abandoned Toy" /o\ Eri is uncomfortable with the extent to which they treat him like a child.
Yeonho joins her in the classroom at lunch but has no food of his own. She offers to share but he says he's full just watching her eat. My options are "ok, if you're not hungry" and "Force him to hold the chopsticks" which, uh, ok.
Eri: Eat! Or you'll get sick!
Yeonho: I don't mind getting sick.
Eri: I'll worry!
Yeonho: Really??
Eri: Yes! I'd stay by your side and nurse you until you got better!
Yeonho: Stay...by my side... *.*
Me: OH NO
He shows her a page from the picture book: a girl riding a merry go round in the "land of dreams". I'm glad I got that bad end now, I recognise the foreshadowing.
Eri reminisces about going on a merry-go-round one time with her grandad. She asks if Yeonho would like to go on one with her and he gets VERY EXCITED. She feels guilty that she does so little to make him happy (and is...still pretty oblivious to him being happy about it being time with her, not about the merry-go-round itself)
haha oops there's a background character with a name like "Girĺ‚¼"
A bunch of girls see them eating lunch together and later Soi and Shinbi say she should stick to hanging around them to avoid getting into trouble with jealous girls. I am not a fan of this trope, sigh.
He comes home late one day with cake from Tei's cafe.
Eri: This tastes sweeter because it's from you :)
Yeonho: Am I...good?
Eri: Yes?! You're kind and sweet and very good.
Yeonho: If Master can smile...*mutter* my body can be crushed and burned and turned to ash. *mutter*
Eri: Wait what
Yeonho: Enjoy your cake ^_^
Yeonho has been staying late with Tei and bringing back cake every day for some time. Pretty sure he has a waiter job but Eri is just confused and Tei and Yeonho are evasive.
One weekend Yeonho takes Eri out to a surprise- the amusement park from her childhood memory! He refuses to explain how he paid for day tickets and just wants to go on the merry-go-round. He seems happy but then mutters to himself "This is the place of Master's memory...I must be happy".
Ok twice the merry go round image glitched and I can't tell if it's a bug or something sinister and it's weirding me out /o\
Eri: So, what next?
Yeonho: Whatever Master wants!
Eri: But what do YOU want?
Yeonho: ...does not compute...
Eri: Ok then lets go on a rollercoaster! They're scary and fun!
Yeonho: ...scary? Um. Yay!
Five minutes later:
Eri: oh man, I am so sorry
Yeonho: I'M FINE. I can go on...all the rides...you want...
Eri: You can barely stand >:/
Yeonho: OH NO I MADE MASTER ANGRY I'M SORRY I RUINED EVERYTHING
Eri: What? No, I just worry about you. Let's get you home.
Yeonho: D: D:
She makes repeated attempts to convince him to value himself and eventually gives up and just sits by him as he drifts off to sleep in her bed. She falls asleep at her desk and Yeonho wakes and promises her he'll be better, a good boy, so she never leaves.
New chapter: Obsession
Well that...bodes...well...
We get a flashback to when Eri got the Yeonho doll. She is horrified to see that he was wrapped in a dirty cloth and sent in a dusty box, and smooths his tangled hair as she greets him.
Breakfast! Yeonho leans closer and closer while Eri eats the breakfast he made her, and she feels a bit weird. Lance and the others point out that she's uncomfortable and Yeonho backs off a little. They also point out that Yeonho's been sticking to her too closely at school lately, spending ALL his time with her, and it'll damage his reputation (?)
Yeonho: I don't care! You're just jealous because Master likes me best. Are you uncomfortable, master?
Eri, not wanting to hurt his feelings: Um...
Yeonho hurries Lance out the door and delays Eri so he can go on the bus alone with her. He also gets angry at Tei when he interferes with Yeonho's plan to share an umbrella with Eri and is generally...a bit...weird. He mutters to himself about wanting her to look only at him.
At school he entirely ignores all the other girls, and they are quietly pissed. Eri worries that he's distant from his friends, but I have mixed feelings: obsessiveness is not great, but they're kind of shitty "friends". He ignores the teacher too and just stares at Eri during class.
While he's in the bathroom, Soi and Shinbi say they never get to talk to her any more, and that if things keep going like this all the girls will hate Eri, and Yeonho will get a reputation for rudeness.
Shinbi: The chick...it's like you're his mom. He may not realise it but he's obsessing over you.
Sio: It doesn't matter how cute he is, he better not hurt you!
Eri sadly thinks about how there's no use trying to talk to Yeonho about it, these days it feels like he's focussed on something and she can't communicate with him.
Sio: You baby him too much. You both need some distance, come study with us today.
Eri: That's actually good advice.
Sio: Great! So now that you owe me a favour, persuade Lance to join us ;)
Eri: Uh. Lance? Would you...uh...
Lance: No. *leaves*
Yionho: You're studying together? Can I come?
Shinbi: Sorry, chick, you're on cleaning duty today.
Eri: We'll go together another time!
Yeonho: *blank eyed stare*
Eri: He'll... be fine...
Soi has become friends with Hobin, the manager of Hot Boy Cafe. She says she's there to ogle eye candy and he gives her free cake.
Eri is briefly dazzled by how hot all the guys are. She feels her phone vibrate and is sure it's Yeonho. She ignores it.
A little later she goes to the bathroom and checks her phone where the others can't see. Yep, it's Yeonho saying he misses her.
Eri: Should I call Yeonho...
Hobin: Yeonho? Who used to work here part time?
Eri: Wait what?
Hobin: He was smart and a good worker!
Me: Aw, someone thinks Yeonho is smart.
Eri confronts Tei but he says Yeonho begged him to keep it secret. Eri tries to understand Yeonho's motivations and feels bad that he kept things from her.
She checks her phone and sees his last text was from half an hour ago. She realises she has the umbrella and wonders if he's gone home yet. She tries calling but he doesn't pick up.
KEY CHOICE FOR BAD ENDS: "Go back to school and check" vs "Ah, he's probably gone home". HMMMM LET ME THINK.
She finds him sitting in front of the school gates in the rain, shivering and feverish.
Yeonho: I thought you didn't need me any more, so I should sit in the rain and disappear. But I knew...you'd come for me...
I am having a little more trouble connecting to these characters' voices than those in English or even Japanese, since I know ZERO Korean, but Yeonho's voice actor is really selling the cold, sick, sad thing ;_;
She gets him home. He's shivering but begs her not to leave him, even to get blankets. So she gets into bed to keep him warm. He sits up and clutches her to him, and she is surprised at how tiny yet strong he is, and can hardly breathe. She feels this is all her fault for leaving his side, and promises never to leave him again, and doesn't let her discomfort show in her voice.
I'm not sure where this path is going but it's certainly...something. This reminds me of the passionate self sacrificing intimacy of the blood drinking in Hakuoki. I thought we were heading for "Boundaries are good" but we may in fact be heading for "Boundaries are bad! Hooray for codependency!". Which I could live with now that the game has at least lampshaded it.
She sees the scars on his arms and thinks about how they look deliberate. She wonders about his previous master, and vows to look after him better.
He falls asleep in her arms and she drifts off not long afterwards. There is zero self consciousness on her part about sharing a bed with a boy, I'm not sure it's even occurred to her to think of Yeonho that way. I'm not sure if he's attracted to her, either, though he has described her as pretty, and in an earlier scene was worried about seeming to be sexually creepy (eg, like Yuri, lol) so he's not 100% unaware of such things. But mostly it's just intense F/m smarm. NO COMPLAINTS HERE.
The next morning comes and- well! The weird obsessive air of the last few days is gone. He blushes and says he's realised he wants to be a man who can stay by her side. She feels like he's aged 5 years overnight and is acting like an adult for the first time.
New Chapter: Breakthrough
Flashback to "child me" refusing to let go of an old worn out toy, much to her mother's annoyance.
Girl1: Yeonho! Do you want this bread? It's shaped like a chick!
Yeonho: No thank you :)
Girl1: ;_;
Girl2: I preferred when Yeonho was cute and never set boundaries >:(
Shinbi: ...that bread looked tasty...
Yeonho: Sorry, next time I'll give it to you!
Sio: That would break their hearts even more...but yes, give us all your presents ^_^
Aw. So Yeonho doesn't outright IGNORE other girls any more, but he's not very friendly to them, he's moderately nice to Shinbi and Soi but otherwise only has eyes for Eri.
It turns out he banished a spirit that was pestering the president of the Mystery Study Club and she wants him to read tarot cards for the school festival. Yeonho would rather spend time with Eri, but when Eri says she'd like to see him read tarot cards he becomes determined to do that instead. She worries that she inadvertently forced him into it.
They come home to an empty house because everyone else happens to be out.
Eri: it's kind of lonely when it's this quiet...
Yeinho: You're lonely? I'm not enough for you? :(
Eri: I was only really lonely after grandad died, and before you guys arrived in my life.
Yeinho: You still care a lot about your grandad don't you?
Eri: Yes.
Yeinho: Because he's...family. Hmm :/
Eri's researcher mum rings from the United States to say that, once again, her project is running over time and she can't visit like she said she would. Eri was kind of expecting this, and pretends not to be sad.
I like that she has her own more subtle and mundane abandonment issues.
Exam time!
WTF I HAVE TO DO AN EXAM?? REQUIRING FAST REACTION TIMES???
*gets a C+ and goes back to my most recent save*
*Takes the exam like 8 times before I manage an A+*
(It's mostly easy questions about the characters mixed with general knowledge, but you have to be SUPER FAST so I could only manage to get questions right if I'd seen them before)
Soi: EXAMS ARE MY ENEMY
Me: MINE TOO
Eri tells Tei she's going to go home and do housework and he passive aggressively needles her about being crappy at it. SCREW YOU TEI.
Haaa and then Eri's mum rings.
Mom: Where are you?
Eri: At home?
Mom: Great I'll see you soon!
Eri, looking at house full of boys: D: D: D:
Mom: Sadly we don't have time to leave the hotel before our flight back but I'll send a cab to pick you up.
Eri: THAT'S FINE
Yeonho: I'd like to go but it would cause trouble, right?
Eri: Yeah, sorry, it's a family dinner.
Yeonho: Family...so they're precious to you...
Countdown to him proposing marriage...
Eri's parents reminisce about her First Doll, supposedly kept in storage, and Eri is weirded out that she can't remember it. But she does remember Yeonho talking about dolls being abandoned, and finds herself apologising out loud.
...is this the secret LI? "The one thing you must recall"? Kept in a box in the dark for 10 years?? o.O That's some hardcore "forgotten childhood best friend with deep trauma"
Mom: I guess you outgrew it! Speaking of which, do you still collect those heavy dolls that look like people?
Eri: Mmm.
Eri, internally: They're called Ball Jointed Dolls, MOM
OH MAN SO. She goes home and Yeonho is sitting waiting for her by the door in the cold. And he just...freaks out and talks about how he cares about her so much and has tried so hard for so long but he'll never mean as much to her as she does to him. He can't even compete with her DEAD family members, and wants to be family to her so she'll remember him even when he's gone. He says he'll do absolutely anything, she just needs to tell him what to do.
She feels for him intensely, but wonders if she's ever really understood him, and whether what she feels for him is affection or pity.
I am given the choices "I will always stay by your side" and "I don't expect anything from you" and apparently...should pick option 2??
Aw, ok, it's her saying he is enough, he doesn't need to TRY to keep her with him. She says some very sweet and reassuring things and they hug and say they want to stay together forever.
And then an unknown male voice, ???, says some dark things about how Eri taught him the only way to get anything is to snatch it from others for yourself and a new chapter begins.
Chapter: Festival
The next thing on the walkthrough is "Get A+ on Card Game" which sounds like a bit much for my brain as we approach 1am, especially with scary ???s saying ominous things. There's only one more choice after that, I guess I'm approaching the end!
Flashback!
Crobidoll: Buy our new Yeonho prototype! Make him be whatever you want!
...is Cheritz going to have a canon voice next...
Yeonho reminisces about sitting in the store excited to know what his owner will be like. Is the implication really that ALL dolls have souls, because that is quite horrifying.
We flash forward to his previous owner failing to persuade her mother to raise her allowance to buy a new dress, and going "Eh, I'll just sell off this old scarred doll I don't care about any more", much to Yeonho's confusion and distress.
I fell asleep again and had a dream about a literal talking bird with an Evil Phd Supervisor because apparently that's my subconscious's best approximation to an owner.
Present day!
Soi joined the school government because it seemed like an easy ride, but she's in charge of the upcoming autumn festival and is so stressed she's punching random objects in frustration. Lance is on the discipline committee so I'm expecting more of these shenanigans on his route.
Eri: Shinbi, you're class vice president, are you stressed too?
Shinbi: Nah, I'm good.
Girls: SHINBI WE HAVE DONE ALL YOUR WORK FOR YOU WE LOVE YOU
Shinbi: Thanks ;)
Girls: *squeal*
Haha I happened to check the diary. "Studied while rolling around on the bed with Yeonho. He's always felt like a little brother, but I'm starting to feel a bit different these days. He's still growing, right?"
Yeonho teases Eri with a joke and she reflects on how him being honest and more himself around her these days makes him shine brightly.
Yeonho, leaning in: Eri, are you ok?
Eri: AHH SO CLOSE *falls over*
*Yeonho grabs her hand so she doesn't fall*
Eri: Wow his hand is really...strong...and masculine...OMG YEONHO IS A BOY
Yeonho: I'll hold your hand so you don't fall again ^_^
Eri: AHHHHHHHHH??? FFEEELINGS???
Eri: Um. Yeonho, we don't see each other much these days what with your club activities and girls surrounding you again, and, uh...
Eri, internally: What if he's lonely and pretending to be fine?
Yeonho: Master, are you lonely?
Eri: Me? AHAHA no I'm FINE.
Yeinho gives her a smile, but it feels a little lonely. She wonders if this is the real face he has been hiding from her all this time.
Yeonho: Can we meet my friend? He's going to help me get better at tarot cards!
Eri: Yeah! Who is he?
Yeonho: An old man who lives on a telephone pole ^_^
Eri: D: D: D: CALM DOWN ERI. If he's friends with Yeonho he's a nice ghost.
Yeonho, to a seemingly empty telephone pole: Hello Grandpa!
Eri: *literally screams*
Yeonho, gently: Don't worry, I'm here.
Eri and me: *wibble*
Eri: You know, Yeonho being able to talk to spirits is cool, but it's weird, because Crobidoll never mentioned it in his packaging
Yes, Eri, that's the weird part of all this.
She mentions that parts of her diary have become mysteriously smudged, but the version on the sidebar seems fine.
Mr Principal (or, as the dialogue says, "Mr Principle". There's a lot of spellcheck errors but I find them endearing) says some stuff that implies he knows about her and Yeonho and approves. Also it suddenly occurs to me to ship him with Eri's grandad, eg the dude whose house he shared and whose granddaughter he seems to feel very parental towards.
Red and Tei have ducked out of the cafe their class is running. Red talks about how Tei had to do some Yuri-esque manipulative flirtation to get away from all the girls who wanted him to be their waiter and Tei is very ahahaha SHHH. I am very curious to see what kind of dude he actually is. I hope his endearing protectiveness of Yeonho is sincere, but if he turns out NOT to be villainous at all I'm going to be disappointed.
Aw Yeonho starts his cute Mysterious Fortune Teller shtick before realising it's Eri.
Ahaha the fortunes are going well but everyone wants to know if they're partners are cheating on them and the ghost happily goes into detail.
*saves on the assumption this "card game" will be as annoying as the exam*
THANK GOD. IT WAS MEMORY. I AM GOOD AT MEMORY. *gets A+ on my first try*
Eri: Well I don't have a boyfriend so tell me my horoscope for today!
Yeonho: Um. Why don't you have a boyfriend? You're so sweet and nice. Do you...want one?
Eri: UM WELL. Noone...likes...me? I'm pretty ordinary.
Yeonho: WELL I COULD, UH...
Eri: Gosh is it hot in here all of a sudden?
Customer: WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG I WANT MY FORTUNE READ >:(
Yeonho runs out and Eri follows him. (Or...goes home. But even without the walkthrough's help I was pretty sure that was the wrong choice)
He's on the roof having a trauma flashback. She calms him down and he eventually explains that the customer looked like his old owner, and then goes into how abusive she was and how he still always wanted her approval and blamed himself for not getting it. He talks about how messed up he was about being sold, but how happy he has been since meeting Eri.
He and Eri talk about their feelings. She says that to her "family" means her parents: someone she cares about and can rely on, but never really wants much from or asks anything of. She wants Yeonho to be more to her than that. I was too busy wallowing in feels to take note of the specifics after that but he kisses her and it's VERY SWEET.
Given the context, this has actually been a pretty good exploration of someone with an abusive background trying to figure out how to form healthy relationships.
AWWW. The household is the same as before, and Yeonho is acting "like Tei without the smirk", taking care of everyone instead of just Eri. Tei and Yuri have clearly figured out that Yeonho and Eri are dating and think it's adorable.
He's still kind of oblivious to sexual things but Eri finds that endearing. She wonders if he's getting taller. His voice is definitely deeper (and more natural sounding, the voice actor was obviously going higher than normal before), not sure when that changed.
He still calls her Master though ;)
(Yuri calls her "my honey" and Red calls her "heroine", can't remember what the other two use)
Soi tells Eri to be less oblivious to girls hitting on Yeonho: he's called the Phoenix these days and considered both cute and mature, but always says "Sorry, I already have a woman I want to protect forever".
Eri gets so embarrassed she can't speak. Afaict she's still coming to terms with having passionate feelings for Yeonho.
Chapter: Christmas with Yeonho
Eri is excited to go to a Christmas event at the amusement park with Yeonho!
Me: Awww
???: THE MERRY GO ROUND NEVER STOPS
Me: D:
Looks like Christmas in Korea is a romantic holiday like in Japan.
Ahhhh looks like they're not officially dating yet. After going on the merry-go-round Yeonho says Eri's family aren't here so he'll ask her permission for him to make her his. They kiss and the credits roll.
...the singing is sufficiently bad that I assume it's the voice actors and sure enough the credits say it's "Yuri and Yeonho". Also:
???'s name is "Nameless"
Characters from this and Dandelion supposedly run the twitter
The translator's name looks Korean, which makes sense, it has that "fluent ESL speaker" feel, and is a mix of English and American conventions
The Hot Guy Cafe, Banjul, is a real place, which would explain why they kept going on about how tasty the specific teas were. This is one product placement heavy game...
As the credits end, Eri thinks about how happy she is. Yeonho goes off to get her a drink...
...and when he comes back SHE IS GONE.
???: AND SO YOU ARE HERE. DIDN'T I SAY THE MERRY GO ROUND WOULD NEVER END?
THE END????
That was...the good end??
What.
The.
Hell??????
I guess I'm playing all the paths then /o\
I WAS thinking I'd feel bad on other paths that Yeonho doesn't get to feel like his Master's favourite person but...well. Hopefully he gets to work through his issues regardless.
I'm wondering what everyone else's angsty backstories will be...
Tei: second-hand, secretly evil. Anything is possible.
Lance: bought first and mass produced so may have some inferiority issues.
Red: messy feelings about being supposed to be Defender Of The Earth.
Yuri: clearly Hiding Things.
Nameless: KEPT IN A BOX IN THE DARK AND FORGOTTEN
Time to check the unlocked bonus materials!
There's what I am pretty sure is a message from Yeonho's voice actor, sure enough he speaks in a much deeper and more self assured voice but I have no idea what he's actually saying because there's NO TRANSLATION.
Like Hakuoki there's the ability to replay seen chapters which will make writing fic easier if I ever feel like it (not sure I will, the worldbuilding is very silly)
Yeonho's diary! It's voiced but thankfully ALSO HAS A TRANSLATION. Awww this is really sweet. "Yuri drives the limo because he thinks it's cool. Tei rides it because of Master, and Red rides it because of Tei. I watch Master and notice Tei watching me, he watches whoever looks at her. I can tell her likes her very much. I smiled at him. I don't mind her liking other dolls, but I hope she never abandons me."
Ahahaha. Page 2 is a cute thing about cookies. Page 3 is him confusedly reacting to someone (Soi? Yuri?) pinching his cheeks and telling him he's an "M" (Masochist)
There's also still-locked diaries for the other love interests, cafe crew, Soi and Shinbi, and Yujin.
Now to decide if I do Yeonho's bad endings or move on. Thanks to the walkthrough I have these handy bad-ending-setup saves but also...am a sook...
Sigh. OK LET'S DO THIS
**Content Note: BAD ENDS ARE BAD. ABUSE AND IMPLIED RAPE AND BAD**
Bad End 1: "Unforgiven Doll"
Eri, studying and unable to get through to Yeonho, decides he's probably fine and doesn't go back to school to check. I feel bad imagining poor sad Yeonho waiting in the rain. Eventually rings home.
Eri: Hey, has Yeonho come home yet?
Lance: There's a perverted music teacher and a noisy monkey but no Yeonho.
She finds him shivering in the rain and things progress the same. Instead of lying next to him she gets blankets.
Watching him sleep she...feels...twisted???? And rolls up his sleeve to look at his scars...??? WHERE IS THIS GOING????
Eri: Mine. My doll who looks only at me :D
Yeonho: ...Master?
Eri: He'll put up with whatever I do to him, he doesn't expect kindness, only for me to stay by his side.
*The screen goes white*
Yeonho: Master, it hurts!
Eri: I'm like this because of you.
Yeonho: *whimpering sounds of pain*
Uh??
This is not what I meant by wanting more femdom D:
Bad End 2: Competitor
Eri has returned late from seeing her parents and is reassuring an abandoned feeling Yeonho.
Oh no is the competitor her parents?
Eri: I'll always be by your side. I'll be your family.
Yeonho: Really :/
Eri: If that's what you need to be happy!
Yeonho: ...liar
Eri: What?
Yeonho: Nothing ^_^ Let's go inside!
Eri goes to sleep feeling worried.
She wakes to Yeonho on top of her choking her.
Yeonho: Be happy! I've found a way for us to be together forever!
Wow that's...a hella creepy voice.
She struggles in vain, but just as things are going blurry the door opens and Yeonho lets go in surprise.
Tei: So it ends like this :/
Eri: Yay! Tei!
Me: Mmm...
Tei: I'm disappointed.
Yeonho: I don't care! I know you care for her but I won't give in.
Tei: I'm not disappointed in you, I'm disappointed in her. How could you be so easy?
Creepy children's choral music starts playing.
Tei: I respected you as an owner. But if you get hurt that easily, how does that make me feel?
Yeonho: Tei?
Tei: If someone is to hurt you, it should be me ^_^
Tei: If I'd known you put out that easily... I gave up for nothing :(
Yeonho: I KNEW YOU HAD YOUR EYE ON HER
Eri: Uh
Me: UH
Are they...going to fight over who gets to hurt/murder Eri? This is not what I thought Competitor would mean /o\
Tei: I think I'll hurt her much better than you :) Now, it's time to go to sleep...
Yeonho: Do you think I'd give up that easily?? *attacks Tei*
Eri: Oh no, not violence!
Me: Eri, honey
Tei: I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to touch anyone other than my owner. But I have to put you down to have her. I'm sorry.
He approaches the shelf where the doll bodies are. AHHHHHHHH
Tei: We can't have the others hearing. People who make noise need to be silenced.
*he puts his finger over doll!Yeonho's mouth*
Eri: Stop!
Tei: Don't worry it will be over soon :)
Tei: You're a good actor, right? Hiding your hobby from everyone. You'll have to pretend everything is fine tomorrow. But I won't ask you to pretend you love me :)
Yeonho: My head hearts...
Tei: As long as I can touch you that's all I need.
*Yeonho collapses to the ground and Tei steps over his body towards Eri*
Tei: You better stay quiet. Are you ready?
THE END
asdsdqwurytetyr???!!
I guess that...answers the "Is Tei a villain" question o.O
I vaguely recall someone saying one of the characters in this game (or maybe Dandelion) has bad ends so bad it ruined his good end and, well, if this is how Tei behaves on someone else's bad end...
Bad end 3: Disappeared Yeonho
Goddamn what the hell is going to happen in this one. Jesus.
Yeonho has run off at the school festival. Eri goes home instead of looking on the roof.
...and never sees Yeonho again.
THE END
That was...a relief, by comparison.
WELP. I AM DONE AND CAN DO HAPPY ENDS NOW.
Though if they're all going to end with Eri vanishing that's a bit of a downer.
Lance Route (good end)
