Dandelion: Wishes Brought to You: Jiwoo
Feb. 21st, 2019 05:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist of Dandelion posts
Time for the grumpy tsundere rabbit who likes romance novels!
Overall I really liked this. They were trying to wallow in tsundere tropes and critique them at the same time, and it didn't always 100% work, but was still really fun.
Content notes: Abusive parents, unfortunate (but thankfully brief) portrayals of disability and crossdressing
Feeling under the weather today due to some unfortunate life choices involving burgers so this may be a bit vague.
Starting a new game because apparently you can only collect stamps for one guy per save, even if it's from during the common route.
Something I realised reading the closing credits last time is that "the Korean version of Ren'py" is apparently Ren'py! (the free VN software used by me and most English language indie Visual Novel developers) So they CHOSE to take out some of the useful options :/
*checks walkthrough*
Huuuh looks like dialogue choices on dates DO affect affection. It's just not clear until you check your points the next day.
OH WELL I SURVIVED JIEUN I CAN DO THIS
Haha I forgot I'd be back to flirting with animals. Rabbit!Jiwoo is reading Heejung's business text book with her lol.
So far I am acquiring more points with Jiyeon by accident than with Jiwoo on purpose. LET ME STARE AT YOU AFFECTIONTELY, JIWOO.
At this point I feel like Heejung is having to sneak around her own house to have baths without being ambushed by an over-affectionate, easy to please kitten. (Baths have a very convenient combo of stats but Jiyeon keeps showing up and gaining points whether I want him to or not. This is presumably why Jiyeon's required points to go up to the first affection level are nine to everyone else's seven)
Meanwhile it took me TWO WEEKS to get a single point with Jiwoo. He kept getting pissy any time Heejung showed affection, which is admittedly in character, so I had to wait until I had the chance to take him on a date to the art room and let him nap in a quiet corner.
Sadly you can't give animals gifts, which again makes sense but is still inconvenient.
Ahaha just had my first successful attempt to give affection to Jiwoo, which involved Heejung trying to catch him, Jiwoo making a little shocked rabbit face, and Heejung saying "just let it happen". OK THEN.
Me: A pet dating sim is kinda of weird
Also me: THE GRUMPY RABBIT GAVE ME A CLOVER *_*
"Jiwoo is looking at a girl in a short skirt. (a) He's interested in girls?? (b) He's interested in the skirt" ...whatever the game WANTS me to say, I'm not having her think her seemingly normal rabbit is into human girls...
And he was reading the words on the skirt! NERD. But then he was being harassed by a butterfly so she took him home ahaha.
All the dates start out like "I grabbed Jiwoo, who was desperately trying to run away from me..."
What is the human relationship going to look like...
...this time when she tried to catch him he blushed and she was happy to see how obedient he's become. (After like FIVE RELOADS to have a successful interaction :/)
JIWOO PATH GET.
First line "I didn't realise I could be this cruel. B-by the way, this isn't animal cruelty".
BODES WELL.
She just can't help wanting to poke Jiwoo's cute little paws and see him try to resist! She chases him onto her bed all "heehee you can't escape" and then is suddenly confronted with a bunnyboy "of about 18" on her bed shouting "DON'T TOUCH ME".
Haha once again she is just as weirded out by a BLONDE speaking KOREAN.
"I've obviously changed into a human, you stupid owner! And if you touch my paws one more time I will bite you!"
And then...
Ahaha until now she thought Jieun and Jihae were girl rabbits.
Definitely getting the impression Jiwoo was a pampered rich guy himself, just not as noble as Jieun, and from a different country or something.
"A bookstore? You actually read? I guess this country isn't so bad if even a commoner like you gets an education."
...ok it looks like everyone looks at porn at the bookstore. Haaa and the right response is "BAD RABBIT THAT IS A BAD BOOK", then he winks and says she needs more experience.
"That looks heavy, I'll carry it for you. Thank me." So close, Jiwoo.
...wait I never realised before. I can buy books cheap on a bookstore date, then immediately sell them again for profit o.O
JISOO DO NOT BE HAPPY I GAVE YOU SAND I WAS TRYING TO ALIENATE YOU.
Jiwoo's spots are a sign of his family's nobility lol.
Ahaha. So Heejung asks Jiwoo why he's reading romance novels and shitty relationship advice books aimed at teenage girls.
Jiwoo: It's to become an expert in relationships ^_^
Heejung: Do you like someone??? :D
Jiwoo: HOW DID YOU- THAT'S PRIVATE
Heejung, getting a kick out of how his ears twitch when she teases him: Naturally I will respect your privacy Young Master :D
Jiwoo: GET OUT
Heejung: This is my room, Young Master ^_^
She imagines how cute he'd look being bashful in front of a girl he likes as he pushes her from the room, blushing.
Jisoo: So do you enjoy playing with that rabbit?
Heejung: Yes ^_^
Jisoo: I don't see what's so funny about an immature child screaming and reading weird books with semi-naked men on the cover...
Me: Jisoo your repressed bisexuality is showing again
Heejung: Do you think he maybe likes a girl?
Jisoo, distracted by cat food ad: Can't be.
Heejung: He's at that age when boys become interested...
Jisoo: Aren't we all around that age? And more than interested ;) Anyway, I did see him with some girls at the bookstore, but he's not into any of them. I know who he's targeting.
Heejung: Targeting?
Jisoo: Let's say he's...making an effort to receive her love.
Haa omg so they ARE all flirting with her? Just very very badly??
Heejung: You know her? What's she like?
Jisoo: ...it's a little ironic to be telling you this. But if you ask me she's kind of dense.
Heejung: Is she pretty?
Jisoo: ...by my standards, yes :) She's a little older than him. And even if he wants to be with her, he can't.
Aww and then Jisoo gets distracted by an infomercial for a 2 tier cat-house he wants to share with Jiyeon *ships them*
Jisoo: Or I could sleep on your bed with you ;)
Heejung: No >:(
Jisoo: ...you never fall for any of my tricks >:/
How are they all so bad at hitting on a girl this lonely and dumb.
Uh.
So while Jiwoo was asleep Jiyeon dressed him in (fairly sensible) women's clothing and put on makeup? And has bribed Jisoo to hold the furious Jiwoo still so Jiyeon can take pics???
It's for a tv funny photo competition to win a stove (...they already have a stove??) Jiyeon says he chose Jiwoo because Jisoo is too strong to overpower, and Jihae would hurt Jiyeon if he did anything to Jieun.
Heejung: Let him go! You can see how much he hates it!
Jiyeon: To win, sacrifices are necessary. And you'll be happy when we have it!
Heejung: But Jiwoo doesn't like it. Winning this way won't make me happy.
Jisoo: I'm out. Foodgiver said to stop.
Jiyeon: This is boring. Why do you favour Bunny? You keep feeding us vegan food and going out with him on the weekend! I only wanted the stove to earn brownie points with you >:(
Well that was...weird and kind of unfortunate. MOVING ON.
Jiwoo: A tsundere's charm never fades
Me: Actually...you could stand to be a little less tsun and a little more dere, my dude.
Heejung: Where's my sketchpad...the nice thing about art is there's no grades to obsess over.
Jiwoo, looking at her sketchpad: I rate this one a C.
Heejung: GIVE IT BACK >:(
Jiwoo: I'm offering my informed advice! Don't you want to know which one is the best?
Heejung: No! They're all precious! And then I'll be under pressure to make them all like the best one!
Jiwoo: Hypocrite! You say they're all precious but inside you're judging them! Are all girls like this? Cowards! If you told me from the beginning I wouldn't have expected anything!!
Heejung: Is this still...about art...
She's a bit concerned about how upset he is, and teases him a little, patting him on the ears and saying all he really wants is to be understood. "I have someone I don't want to forget me, who makes me feel like I have to be in first place". Heejung worries her mother will forget her like her dad did. Maybe she already has...
I wondered what happened to the dad. So he was indulgent but then just left. Oh :(
Aww. He gives back the sketchbook and says the art was ok. Heejung is so hungry for praise this makes her heart pound. "And if it looks ok to me it will look great to commoners" lol.
Heejung looks at one of Jiwoo's romance novels and thinks about how she was always too busy to read stuff like that as a teenager. She takes a breath and starts reading. "Lila was determined to buy Brian at the charity auction and make him her slave". She immediately shuts it again.
Heejung: Jiwoo...what is this book about...
Jiwoo: This noble woman buys a successful commoner and makes him her slave ^_^
Heejung: And you...like it? And find it informative?
Jiwoo: It was so-so. But it describes how to kiss in a detailed way. By the end they're going for an hour, I guess that's how kissing is done here.
Heejung: No??
Jiwoo: How is it done then?
Heejung: UH????
Jiwoo: Ah, so you have little experience. I guess that explains all the pets ^_^
Heejung grumpily thinks that ok, yes, technically she hasn't been on many dates...
Heejung: WELL YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR THIS
Jiwoo: OMG unlike you I've actually kissed before. Want me to show you? ;)
Heejung: NO (maybe. BUT NO)
He starts stepping closer telling her he's just offering his expertise, and then Jiyeon comes in all CORNERING GIRLS IS WRONG.
"Having my pets at home gives me motivation to come back and make dinner". They're...still 'your pets'??
Me: Hmm, it's getting near dinner time. I need to use up that bok choy...maybe I could sauté it in garlic oil and soy sauce, serve it with pasta? Would that be too weird?
Heejung: Since it's just us for dinner, what would you like, Jiwoo?
Jiwoo: Cabbage spaghetti.
Heejung: (Is that a thing? I don't want him to hassle me if I admit ignorance) Ok!
Jiwoo: It doesn't exist!
Heejung: IT DOES NOW! *sautés it in garlic, oil and soy sauce, serves it with pasta*
Jiwoo: o.O
Me: o.O
She's so overcome by how cute he looks enjoying the food she ruffles his hair, much to his annoyance. Since when did he start looking so cute??
I think my issue with Jiwoo is that I like when tsunderes are simmering with repressed emotion and thus far he has only hinted at any. But let's see how we go, it's only November.
...also the bok choy spaghetti was only so-so, lol. Jiwoo would say the problem is that I added beef mince (and also that I am stupid) EDIT: Added tomato sauce to the leftovers and it tasted much better, and looked more like Heejungs versions sicne she added red pepper. SHH I CAN COOK COSPLAY FOOD IF I WANT.
He's still grumpily complaining about everything she does but with more "You look bored of studying! Take a break!" etc.
Heejung bumps into Jisoo while out, and notices people wondering why she's getting attention from such a cute guy. (Meanwhile she has WALKED PAST THE END OF THE BACKGROUND INTO AN ENDLESS VOID but never mind. This game could have done with a little more quality control...)
Since she's alone for once, Jisoo asks her on a date. She flatly says no.
Jisoo: This hard to get act makes you more attractive. No girl has ever said no to me before ;)
Heejung: Have you been reading romance novels as well?
Jisoo: I just skimmed it!
Then he throws away his dignity and just loudly begs until she agrees out of sheer embarrassment. She grumpily shuts down all his attempts at holding hands etc, feeling very weird about the whole situation.
Jiwoo comes across them just as Jisoo is checking on a burn on her lip. He thinks they were about to kiss, and accuses Heejung of being a cheater keeping her options open.
Heejung: It's not like that!!
Jisoo: Don't be too hard on Foodgiver. You're the one meeting with girls.
Jiwoo: I am an innocent, cultured young adult!! *runs off*
Heejung runs after him, desperate to resolve the misunderstanding. But...why does she care so much? And why does he? When asked, Jiwoo goes silent then says "I don't care!"
Heejung: Wait are you...jealous?
Jiwoo: NO
Heejung: Denial is a way to hide the truth :P Anyway, don't shout so much about something that didn't happen! I just burned my lip!
Jiwoo: Let me check. *grabs her face* I was going to be the first to ask you out, you dummy. So instead...I'll be the first to kiss you *kisses her*
She is horribly embarrassed (Koreans do NOT approve of kissing in public) but also surprised by how into it she is. "Until now I just thought he was a tall immature boy, but...I don't just see him as a friend..."
Yeah, that was successfully shippy, even if he does feel a bit like a not-quite-as-interesting proto!Lance-from-Nameless.
Meanwhile I just realised in his casual outfit Jiwoo is wearing a tie over a hoodie? And another jacket over that, with suspenders just...attached midway down? In his defense he is from fantasy magic rabbit land.
Haaa. "It's cold, you should hold my hand. O-or whatever." "Did you have fun today? ...of course you did, you were with me".
oh man "make fun" just unlocked as an action and it is BOUND to fail this early but I JUST GOTTA.
(I succeeded, and got him saying STOP WAVING A CARROT AT ME NOT ALL RABBIT LIKE CARROTS)
He gave her a gift of a "Peasant's manual" which I think may be some historical Korean communist thing omg. (She threatened to hit him with it)
And now she's been lying in bed for 2 hours and all she can think about is him kissing her. Jiwoo is cute and fun to tease, but does she like like him??
Luckily things haven't become awkward since the kiss and they've actually become better friends. As Jiwoo sits entranced by a shitty old kdrama, Heejung tries not to laugh at his cute expressions and the cliched plot of a rich man trying to buy the love of a poor woman.
Jiwoo: This is about the effect of capitalism and how guys like pretty women.
Heejung, teasing: A rich man asked me out, should I say yes?
He becomes incoherently upset, ending with "WE KISSED! THAT MEANS YOU'RE MINE!". He stomps to the bookshelf and hands her a book. "My Addictive Love page 80! Do commoners not get a proper education?!"
She's not sure how she feels about all this.
They go out for Christmas day. Jiwoo makes some veiled remarks about it being the sort of day people have sex on if they've been too afraid to in the past, then says "But girls like you would probably prefer this" and gives her a card.
Haaa, art club friend Heejae sees Heejung reading "My Addictive Love", and says "My little sister only ever reads those. She's in a rebellious phase..." This particular one made her cry and he asks to borrow it to "understand how his sister thinks".
Heejung turns to page 80 and it's all
Heejung: ... >:/
Heejae: What's it about?
Heejung: ...Arabian Nights. *mutter* How can a smart guy like him fall for this...
Heejae: Do you have a cousin at that rebellious age or something?
Heejung: Something like that
The walkthrough says to wear the bikini in the last 3 months but I tried it a little early and Jiwoo was all "What the hell? Why do you even HAVE your swimsuit?". I mean it was snowing, so, fair.
Heejung comes across Jiwoo laughing and chatting with a group of girls. She forces herself to act casually and comes over and says hi, then realises they're all like 14.
Girl: Is she also...
Jiwoo: No, she lives with me.
Girls: *SQUEAL*
Jiwoo: These girls are amateur online authors. Unlike you're they're contributing to society!
SCREW YOU SHE'S AN ARTIST
Jiwoo: This girl wrote My Addictive Love!
Girl: Hee, this is embarrassing. But if you liked it, leave an Amazon review!
Heejung, in extra large font: Thank god, I thought the people who wrote this stuff were all weird looking.
CHERITZ IT'S OK I'M SURE YOU'RE VERY PRETTY
I'm wondering how Heejung's deep disdain for romance novels as childish compares to most Koreans. It's a bit uncomfortable in context.
Jiwoo says he's been helping the girls with their research. When a somewhat creeped out Heejung asks for more details he says "You're finally into this part of literature? You've never been more desirable. Your little brain is developing by spending time with me."
There's a conversation about fresh ways for a girl to dump her slave master and Heejung silently kinkshames. When they've all left Jiwoo asks her to explain the prevalence of coffee-shops in dramas.
Jiwoo: In romance novels they're used for different things, like this...*puts his hand on her thigh*
Heejung: Stop! We're in public!
Jiwoo: I'm just showing you how they do things in books
Heejung: NONSENSICAL ROMANCE! TEACHING CHILDREN WEIRD THINGS! *grabs thick textbook* BEHOLD THE POWER OF PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS *hits him on the head*
Jiwoo: ...you...you're the first person to ever hit me...
Aww and a week later he rejects her offer to go out on theAustralia Day weekend, and he's not showing up in the minimap or option menu for dates or hangouts. For a week! It was quite disconcerting having him just be gone.
Heejung wonders if Jiwoo's become so quiet because she traumatised him. She sits next to Jieun with a sigh and he says "The winner has been decided" but refuses to say more.
So she starts to pointedly peel an apple. Seeing Jieun's silent interest she thinks "My animal handling skills are improving" haha ok then Heejung.
Heejung: Do you want this apple? Then explain what you just said.
HEEJUNG. She is getting a real kick out of it, too. She is much rougher than Jieun!Heejung, but given Jiwoo's personality that's probably for the best.
Jieun: The Kanos rabbit will be the winner, the one you call Jiwoo. Saying anything more would be a violation of the contract.
She gives him the apple and he happily eats it.
Jieun: You want to be closer to the Kanos rabbit. Cabbage, a carrot and a kiss. If you want to acknowledge the Kanos rabbit as the winner you have to approach him first.
Aw. That's nice of you, Jieun. But he never really thought he was in the running.
Heejung doesn't fully understand, but...she wants things to go back to the way they were. Approach him first...
THIS IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. HE'S STILL NOT ON THE MAP.
IT'S LIKE TWO WEEKS LATER. IT'S VALENTINES DAY. WHERE IS THE GRUMPY RABBIT??
I even checked the bookstore and the shops to make sure I wasn't supposed to literally buy some cabbages or something /o\
It's going to be a literal month isn't it D: No wonder the walkthrough said I'd end up with extra money: I have nothing to do with my weekends but work.
THANK FUCK
ON THE 25TH OF FREAKING FEBRUARY
ok. So!
She puts half a cabbage where Jiwoo will see it, in front of the kitchen, then another on the table, and hides under the table holding a carrot.
...ok then.
Jiwoo follows the short cabbage trail. She reaches for his ankle and he falls to the ground.
Jiwoo: WHAT THE-
Heekung, climbing on top of him and putting a carrot into his mouth: Shh.
Me: *tilts head*
Heekung: Why have you been avoiding me?
Jiwoo: I HAVEN'T
Me: YES YOU FREAKING HAVE
Heekung: Are you still sulking because I hit you? ...I'm sorry about that. But you shouldn't have done that in public.
Jiwoo: You...you're confusing! I kissed you, so you're mine! I should be able to do what I want! And I'm what your world calls "the successor of a wealthy family"! So what's the problem?! And you belittled my taste! I CAN RECITE THE ENTIRE PERIODIC TABLE!! ;_; What do you want me to do?! Belittling people...you don't even know how others feel! If you hate me...just tell me :(
She realises he was trying to express interest her, and she confused him and hurt his pride. She pokes at her own feelings.
Heejung: Jiwoo, I...I like you. I...I like how cute you are.
Jiwoo: Cute? Who are you calling- *she kisses him*
(She wonders how Jiwoo feels, and how he'd feel if he knew this was Jieun's idea, lol)
Jiyeon, wandering past: Bunny, I didn't know you were the bottom ;)
(not a literal quote but it's what he meant)
*end scene*
JIWOO'S BACK
Ok, that was worth the wait. I GUESS.
I see what they're doing with this arc now: wallow in tsundere tropes, but also critique them. Tsundere-ness is a manifestation of heteronormativity: Jiwoo doesn't know how to express romantic emotion without being a controlling sexist dick, and Heejung doesn't know how to deal with her own desires without being stand-offish and conventional. They find happiness by letting go of heteronormativity and being themselves. In many ways, Jiwoo has the personality of a stereotypical female tsundere.
I like the idea of this a lot but the execution is a bit lacking, and I can see why Cheritz gave up and just wrote a sincerely (but far less dickishly) dominant tsundere dude with Lance in Nameless.
In general I feel a little sad that while Nameless, Cheritz's next project after this, is in many ways a better and more polished game, it's a lot more bog standard romance tropes (and less femdom and younger dudes). I get the impression their next game after that, Mystic Messenger, pokes at heteronormativity and does some interesting things, I definitely need to find a way to play it.
Awww so the new unlocked action is "ask about the books" and the right choice on the bookstore date was to be encouraging of his interest in romance novels. Ok, good. Even asides from the uncomfortableness of a romance narrative putting down the romance genre (one of my least favourite romance tropes), it wasn't nice seeing Heejung have so little respect for Jiwoo's interests.
I happened to randomly pick up some $250 sunglasses Jiwoo likes so I gave them as a gift and got TWO POINTS? And no special dialogue? I COULDA SPENT THAT MONEY ON TEXTBOOKS AND MEDICATION.
The way we don't see the direct fallout of emotional scenes is a bit jarring but he does seem to be being more open and affectionate in random encounters. Also as with Jieun there's a few not-quite-random scenes where he approaches Heejung when she enters a room he's in, these are sweet but also mean I can't gain points which is a little stressful when I have a months worth of being ignored to catch up on.
(In the end I had plenty of time to catch up, it was fine)
Jiwoo's still a bit BEING CALLED CUTE IS FOR GIRLS. You know you like it, Jiwoo.
Heejung has a dream she hasn't had for a while: she'd just started middle school and was hoping to make new friends, but her mother wouldn't let her go to the amusement park with them. She wasn't like this before the divorce. "How could that man leave me for such a young woman...you have to succeed to show him we're doing well!"
Heejung wanted to make her mother smile again. And the only to do that was to be first, better than 'ordinary' kids.
But Heejung can't be who her mother wants. "Mom...I haven't given up on you...please don't give up on me..."
She is woken by a concerned Jiwoo, who says she was shouting in her sleep. The knowledge that someone is worrying about her makes her start crying. He tries to hug her but she pushes him away. He sulks a little but does his best to grumpily draw her out and she haltingly talks about her issues with her mother.
Jiwoo: It's better not to expect too much from parents. In the end, you have to do everything on your own. Those people are only extras in your life's play.
Heejung: ...thank you.
Does he realise his words saved her?
It occurs to me that this was around the same time 6 year old Eri from Nameless went to the amusement park. *vaguely ponders crossover*
"This romance novel is good because the author is a Buddhist and talks about vegetarianism" haha.
And now when she wears a bikini he says "You look cold! Put some clothes on! ...it's not that I don't like it, it's just...it's complicated!"
"Your paintings look so real those dumb cats might try to eat them"
Everyone except Jiwoo and Heejung goes out for the day.
Me: Aww, I guess this will be a shippy scene with just the two of them!
She hears the door open.
Heejung: Did you forget someth-
IT'S. HER MOTHER. D: D:
Heejung's mother and Jiwoo (THANKFULLY WEARING A HAT) stare at each other in shock. It's very obvious that he lives with Heejung.
As Heejung struggles to find the words to explain, her mother starts screaming that Heejung is ruined.
Mom: You're a failure! I should never have had you!!
Jiwoo, with cold, calm fury: ...what did you just say? I don't care if you're her mother, don't raise your hand to my girl.
Heejung feels like she's watching a tv drama unfold.
Mom: Who are you to talk to an adult this way? What are you, anyway?
Jiwoo: I'm the successor to a major family! And lady, call before you visit, my girl has her own life! Because of you, she has to go back to beginning to map out her own life, are you going to take responsibility?
Mom: You two deserve each other! Never talk to me again! *storms out*
Heejung spent so long being afraid of this moment, but she's just indifferent. Jiwoo pulls her into a hug and holds her as she cries.
So I guess the overall arc is similar to with Jieun but still different enough to be satisfying. I'm glad SOMEONE shouted at that jerkass mother.
A date in the park! Summer is approaching...
Jiwoo: Why are you giggling, are you thinking something perverted again?
Heejung: You can't say that to a girl! Since when did I ever-
Jiwoo: *lists weird shit she has done* Still, it's a miracle you grew up normal with that sort of mother.
Heejung thinks about how since that day she has felt anxious, but free. She asks Jiwoo about his own family. His father ran a large bank and they are one of the three richest families in Kanos. Thinking of tv drama plots, she asks if Jiwoo had to compete with brothers to be heir and sure enough he did, as the middle son.
Jiwoo: BUT I'M THE SMARTEST. My older brother used being sick as an excuse not to study, and my younger brother was busy with this girl rabbit. I learned to read first and got the most compliments from my father: I was the most logical successor!! She told me I was the most special, but secretly...if mom had told me my older brother was going to be the successor, I wouldn't have worked so hard!
Heejung grabs Jiwoo's hand as he says "Mother abandoned me...when Father passed away."
Flashback:
Child!Jiwoo (actual name Miran!): I'm so much more into books than my other brothers! I'll help father run the company well!
Mother: You're all equally intelligent and will do equally well. I love you all the same ^_^
People expect "the second young master" to inherit, but his mother says the eldest will.
Jiwoo: But he's too sick to even sit down for long!
Mother: Moran, now you're an adult, you should become independent. I took care of you because of your father...
JIWOO WAS ADOPTED?!
She kicks him out of the house, telling him he has no right to even call her mother. Every time she told him she loved him, it had been a lie.
OH NO. POOR JIWOO ;_;
Heejung knows exactly how he feels, and how much his support meant to her when she needed it. She hugs him, and tells him she will stand by him, that even if everything feels useless, he can start over.
Their pain, all the useless effort to please their parents...it's a stepping stone to a brighter future.
Jiwoo: You're telling me to start again, like you? ...I'm going to do a hundred times better!
Heejung: Of course, you're smarter than me ;)
Jiwoo: STOP EMBRACING ME YOU ALWAYS FORGET YOU'RE THE GIRL
So she lets him lead the way, like a man. It feels like a scene from a tv drama.
(not a fan of a disabled person existing entirely as an inconvenience to a more qualified able bodied person, but that's an issue with the narrative, not Jiwoo. I guess now we know why he doesn't like being called 'Young Master'. He also isn't actually the successor to a rich family...)
Aww and now I'm in the final stretch and the action "Show love" has unlocked (his reaction is NO YOU'RE EMBARRASSED). But also now he has bittersweet comments showing he knows he won't be around forever :(
The final gift is a poem he wrote her! The text is clear, but in Korean, so I have no idea what it says :(
He just sits and watches her paint saying "I miss you already" ;_;
WHOA HE BOUGHT MATCHING RINGS
"I couldn't find you anywhere...do you know how precious time is? You probably don't. It's better this way, no reason for both of us to have a hard time."
Jiwoo you KNOW what it's like to be suddenly abandoned without warning /o\
Jiwoo finds himself in the Wizard's dream world (which looks a bit like space)
Jiwoo: What are your plans for her?
Wizard: I can't do anything unless she calls for me :) I am only visible to those who have an earnest wish.
Jiwoo: Yes but if I dissappear...
Wizard: Aren't you over-rating yourself? ^_^
Jiwoo: I know that's your plan, you stalker! Anyway, tell me why you're here and send me back!
Wizard: I'm here to inform you you're going to win the game.
Jiwoo: I already know that!
Wizard: And in a month, you'll get your wish to send your family bankrupt :)
Jiwoo: A month? D: Wizard...I don't care about my wish any more, let me stay in this world!
Wizard: That's not very exciting :/
Jiwoo: The customer is king!
Wizard: But I have a monopoly. Enjoy the rest of your month ;)
Accidentally watched a drama with Jeiun and he just complained it's too loud. Sorry Jieun!
"Heejung is thinking of going out with Jisoo" Wait, what? BAD HEEJUNG (which is to say, bad flavour text programmer, lol)
This final month is again kind of boring but Jiwoo's being really sad and sweet ;_;
It's the 18th. Heejung finds Jiwoo writing something in a notebook, and teases him that he's writing a romance novel, which he denies. He says they're running out of time, and should go on a date. He gets her to say where she wants to go and what she wants to do, and is grumpily affectionate and melancholy.
Jiwoo: What if I...disappear or get into an accident and can't see these places again?
Heejung: Should I get insurance? ;)
Jiwoo: Don't joke around :(
She asks if something's wrong and he denies it but then pulls her into a hug. "For putting up with me, and accepting me...for choosing me...thank you. I'm glad I met you."
Then he sniffs and lets her go. "I memorised all the right lines...I'm a pretty romantic guy, right?"
Heejung: Yeah :)
Jiwoo: Stop grabbing my hand so quickly! Have you no pride as a woman?
Heejung: Maybe you're just slow :P
Haaa, ok, so I did get a special reaction when I gave him the adult magazine gift. "You! You should be ashamed giving something like this! ...hey, I didn't say I didn't want it!"
The final day.
Jiyeon complains that he wants to sleep but Jiwoo is still up writing with the light on. Heejung invites Jiwoo into her room. She studies at her desk while he sits on the ground by her bed, in the same place she first met him.
After two hours she sits next to him, and tells him to stop overworking himself. It's been exactly a year since the animals showed up. She talks about how cute he was as a rabbit, and he asks what else she can remember. So they reminisce on all their times together. She drifts off against his shoulder.
And the next morning, she awakes alone on the floor. She gets up and the other animals...haven't disappeared like I expected. INSTEAD THEIR ANIMAL EARS HAVE GONE??
Jisoo: Hey, you?! Why am I a human? Are you a wizard?!
Heejung: Jisoo?
Jisoo: Who's Jisoo?
Jieun: Eddie, where are we?
Jihae: Definitely not in Grass...
Jiyeon, in a MUCH deeper and colder voice than usual: Mister with the black hair, do you know this girl?
Heejung runs to try and find Jiwoo, worried he's wandering around with no memory.
And then...she find herself in the wizard's realm.
Wizard: Hello, heroine. I am the kind Wizard who grants wishes ^_^
She realises he's involved in the "game". When he asks him to explain what's going on he says "Would you believe I prepared all this for you?"
Normally, he grants people's wishes in return for their memories. But in the game, the one who wins her heart gets to keep their memories and get their wish, while everyone else loses their memories and is trapped in this world.
Jiwoo has gone home. She thinks back on his words and realises he knew this would happen.
The wizard lifts her chin with a smile, saying he's been waiting to see such an expression of despair on her face. "Don't you have a wish?"
And so she agrees. Even if she loses her memory, she wants to be under the same sky as Jiwoo.
Wizard: You must really love that Rabbit. Your memory will be mine eventually, but allow me the chance to enjoy your pain a little longer. Entertain me, heroine...
CLOSING CREDITS????
Ahhhhh?????
Don't show me a cute slideshow of their CGs, game!! WTF???
It's been two years since graduation. Heejung can tell from her things that she studied business, and wonders what kind of student she was. One year ago, she got a sudden amnesia and forgot everything, even her name.
(One year?? So there was a year that happened AFTER the pre credits scene?? WHAT HAPPENED???)
Heejae has been helping her readjust to life since then. Her parents couldn't be contacted :(
As he's helping clean her desk a pile of romance novels fall down. She used to like those books odd people read? And then she sees a brown notebook.
"Hey, Dumbo. Even saying goodbye would be a breach of contract. If you've forgotten me...that means we may meet again. If you haven't, consider this part of your past."
"You and I first met on 1 June 2012..."
She sits and reads.
"...and so our story comes to an end. You head is heavy on my shoulder. But I'm glad we can be together until the end. You're the first person to hit me, the first girl to make my heart beat...you're working on your new life, right? If you long for it, we will surely be able to meet again."
Heejung: If I long for it... I have to go find him!
THE END
Bonus:
Jiwoo had a fairly normal dude voice, and so does his actor Sungil Lee, though he complains about having to shout so much. (Also his name's very similar to "Seung-gil Lee", the Korean character in Yuri on Ice, haha)
The bonus CG is human!Jiwoo looking very cute in glasses and a suit as he reads through a manuscript.
I really liked that! It's got me thinking about ways to play around with romance tropes, too. It's sad she lost her memory of him but they'll make new memories together. There wasn't the emphasis on her art this time but I like to think she'll get back to it.
I'm still chewing over the depiction of using fiction as a life guide. The "not like other romances" tone reminds me of a lot of English Language indie dating sims, and I guess this is also from a country without a tradition of them, and a messy relationship with Japan, albeit a very different sort of messy to Australia/the US. The only indie Japanese dating sim I've played is Hatoful Boyfriend which is...kind of it's own thing haha.
And no, Jiwoo's original name, Maren, is never mentioned again. Admittedly, he has reasons to maybe want to let it go. Turns out his spots weren't an ethnicity thing per se, from context I guess...he was adopted because he looked like a member of the family? Maybe he was a bastard son, or a descendant of one. Or not! It doesn't really matter in the end. And I guess now he doesn't even have those spots any more.
I'm getting the feeling that it's possibly not an accident that Jiyeon kept creeping me out by hanging around when I wanted to give Heejung a bath. So. PUTTING HIM OFF FOR NOW.
I opened up Jihae's walkthrough since I'm thinking of doing him next and apparently need to get high points with him AND Jieun. Amazing.
Time for the grumpy tsundere rabbit who likes romance novels!
Overall I really liked this. They were trying to wallow in tsundere tropes and critique them at the same time, and it didn't always 100% work, but was still really fun.
Content notes: Abusive parents, unfortunate (but thankfully brief) portrayals of disability and crossdressing
Feeling under the weather today due to some unfortunate life choices involving burgers so this may be a bit vague.
Starting a new game because apparently you can only collect stamps for one guy per save, even if it's from during the common route.
Something I realised reading the closing credits last time is that "the Korean version of Ren'py" is apparently Ren'py! (the free VN software used by me and most English language indie Visual Novel developers) So they CHOSE to take out some of the useful options :/
*checks walkthrough*
Huuuh looks like dialogue choices on dates DO affect affection. It's just not clear until you check your points the next day.
OH WELL I SURVIVED JIEUN I CAN DO THIS
Haha I forgot I'd be back to flirting with animals. Rabbit!Jiwoo is reading Heejung's business text book with her lol.
So far I am acquiring more points with Jiyeon by accident than with Jiwoo on purpose. LET ME STARE AT YOU AFFECTIONTELY, JIWOO.
At this point I feel like Heejung is having to sneak around her own house to have baths without being ambushed by an over-affectionate, easy to please kitten. (Baths have a very convenient combo of stats but Jiyeon keeps showing up and gaining points whether I want him to or not. This is presumably why Jiyeon's required points to go up to the first affection level are nine to everyone else's seven)
Meanwhile it took me TWO WEEKS to get a single point with Jiwoo. He kept getting pissy any time Heejung showed affection, which is admittedly in character, so I had to wait until I had the chance to take him on a date to the art room and let him nap in a quiet corner.
Sadly you can't give animals gifts, which again makes sense but is still inconvenient.
Ahaha just had my first successful attempt to give affection to Jiwoo, which involved Heejung trying to catch him, Jiwoo making a little shocked rabbit face, and Heejung saying "just let it happen". OK THEN.
Me: A pet dating sim is kinda of weird
Also me: THE GRUMPY RABBIT GAVE ME A CLOVER *_*
"Jiwoo is looking at a girl in a short skirt. (a) He's interested in girls?? (b) He's interested in the skirt" ...whatever the game WANTS me to say, I'm not having her think her seemingly normal rabbit is into human girls...
And he was reading the words on the skirt! NERD. But then he was being harassed by a butterfly so she took him home ahaha.
All the dates start out like "I grabbed Jiwoo, who was desperately trying to run away from me..."
What is the human relationship going to look like...
...this time when she tried to catch him he blushed and she was happy to see how obedient he's become. (After like FIVE RELOADS to have a successful interaction :/)
JIWOO PATH GET.
First line "I didn't realise I could be this cruel. B-by the way, this isn't animal cruelty".
BODES WELL.
She just can't help wanting to poke Jiwoo's cute little paws and see him try to resist! She chases him onto her bed all "heehee you can't escape" and then is suddenly confronted with a bunnyboy "of about 18" on her bed shouting "DON'T TOUCH ME".
Haha once again she is just as weirded out by a BLONDE speaking KOREAN.
"I've obviously changed into a human, you stupid owner! And if you touch my paws one more time I will bite you!"
And then...
Ahaha until now she thought Jieun and Jihae were girl rabbits.
Definitely getting the impression Jiwoo was a pampered rich guy himself, just not as noble as Jieun, and from a different country or something.
"A bookstore? You actually read? I guess this country isn't so bad if even a commoner like you gets an education."
...ok it looks like everyone looks at porn at the bookstore. Haaa and the right response is "BAD RABBIT THAT IS A BAD BOOK", then he winks and says she needs more experience.
"That looks heavy, I'll carry it for you. Thank me." So close, Jiwoo.
...wait I never realised before. I can buy books cheap on a bookstore date, then immediately sell them again for profit o.O
JISOO DO NOT BE HAPPY I GAVE YOU SAND I WAS TRYING TO ALIENATE YOU.
Jiwoo's spots are a sign of his family's nobility lol.
Ahaha. So Heejung asks Jiwoo why he's reading romance novels and shitty relationship advice books aimed at teenage girls.
Jiwoo: It's to become an expert in relationships ^_^
Heejung: Do you like someone??? :D
Jiwoo: HOW DID YOU- THAT'S PRIVATE
Heejung, getting a kick out of how his ears twitch when she teases him: Naturally I will respect your privacy Young Master :D
Jiwoo: GET OUT
Heejung: This is my room, Young Master ^_^
She imagines how cute he'd look being bashful in front of a girl he likes as he pushes her from the room, blushing.
Jisoo: So do you enjoy playing with that rabbit?
Heejung: Yes ^_^
Jisoo: I don't see what's so funny about an immature child screaming and reading weird books with semi-naked men on the cover...
Me: Jisoo your repressed bisexuality is showing again
Heejung: Do you think he maybe likes a girl?
Jisoo, distracted by cat food ad: Can't be.
Heejung: He's at that age when boys become interested...
Jisoo: Aren't we all around that age? And more than interested ;) Anyway, I did see him with some girls at the bookstore, but he's not into any of them. I know who he's targeting.
Heejung: Targeting?
Jisoo: Let's say he's...making an effort to receive her love.
Haa omg so they ARE all flirting with her? Just very very badly??
Heejung: You know her? What's she like?
Jisoo: ...it's a little ironic to be telling you this. But if you ask me she's kind of dense.
Heejung: Is she pretty?
Jisoo: ...by my standards, yes :) She's a little older than him. And even if he wants to be with her, he can't.
Aww and then Jisoo gets distracted by an infomercial for a 2 tier cat-house he wants to share with Jiyeon *ships them*
Jisoo: Or I could sleep on your bed with you ;)
Heejung: No >:(
Jisoo: ...you never fall for any of my tricks >:/
How are they all so bad at hitting on a girl this lonely and dumb.
Uh.
So while Jiwoo was asleep Jiyeon dressed him in (fairly sensible) women's clothing and put on makeup? And has bribed Jisoo to hold the furious Jiwoo still so Jiyeon can take pics???
It's for a tv funny photo competition to win a stove (...they already have a stove??) Jiyeon says he chose Jiwoo because Jisoo is too strong to overpower, and Jihae would hurt Jiyeon if he did anything to Jieun.
Heejung: Let him go! You can see how much he hates it!
Jiyeon: To win, sacrifices are necessary. And you'll be happy when we have it!
Heejung: But Jiwoo doesn't like it. Winning this way won't make me happy.
Jisoo: I'm out. Foodgiver said to stop.
Jiyeon: This is boring. Why do you favour Bunny? You keep feeding us vegan food and going out with him on the weekend! I only wanted the stove to earn brownie points with you >:(
Well that was...weird and kind of unfortunate. MOVING ON.
Jiwoo: A tsundere's charm never fades
Me: Actually...you could stand to be a little less tsun and a little more dere, my dude.
Heejung: Where's my sketchpad...the nice thing about art is there's no grades to obsess over.
Jiwoo, looking at her sketchpad: I rate this one a C.
Heejung: GIVE IT BACK >:(
Jiwoo: I'm offering my informed advice! Don't you want to know which one is the best?
Heejung: No! They're all precious! And then I'll be under pressure to make them all like the best one!
Jiwoo: Hypocrite! You say they're all precious but inside you're judging them! Are all girls like this? Cowards! If you told me from the beginning I wouldn't have expected anything!!
Heejung: Is this still...about art...
She's a bit concerned about how upset he is, and teases him a little, patting him on the ears and saying all he really wants is to be understood. "I have someone I don't want to forget me, who makes me feel like I have to be in first place". Heejung worries her mother will forget her like her dad did. Maybe she already has...
I wondered what happened to the dad. So he was indulgent but then just left. Oh :(
Aww. He gives back the sketchbook and says the art was ok. Heejung is so hungry for praise this makes her heart pound. "And if it looks ok to me it will look great to commoners" lol.
Heejung looks at one of Jiwoo's romance novels and thinks about how she was always too busy to read stuff like that as a teenager. She takes a breath and starts reading. "Lila was determined to buy Brian at the charity auction and make him her slave". She immediately shuts it again.
Heejung: Jiwoo...what is this book about...
Jiwoo: This noble woman buys a successful commoner and makes him her slave ^_^
Heejung: And you...like it? And find it informative?
Jiwoo: It was so-so. But it describes how to kiss in a detailed way. By the end they're going for an hour, I guess that's how kissing is done here.
Heejung: No??
Jiwoo: How is it done then?
Heejung: UH????
Jiwoo: Ah, so you have little experience. I guess that explains all the pets ^_^
Heejung grumpily thinks that ok, yes, technically she hasn't been on many dates...
Heejung: WELL YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR THIS
Jiwoo: OMG unlike you I've actually kissed before. Want me to show you? ;)
Heejung: NO (maybe. BUT NO)
He starts stepping closer telling her he's just offering his expertise, and then Jiyeon comes in all CORNERING GIRLS IS WRONG.
"Having my pets at home gives me motivation to come back and make dinner". They're...still 'your pets'??
Me: Hmm, it's getting near dinner time. I need to use up that bok choy...maybe I could sauté it in garlic oil and soy sauce, serve it with pasta? Would that be too weird?
Heejung: Since it's just us for dinner, what would you like, Jiwoo?
Jiwoo: Cabbage spaghetti.
Heejung: (Is that a thing? I don't want him to hassle me if I admit ignorance) Ok!
Jiwoo: It doesn't exist!
Heejung: IT DOES NOW! *sautés it in garlic, oil and soy sauce, serves it with pasta*
Jiwoo: o.O
Me: o.O
She's so overcome by how cute he looks enjoying the food she ruffles his hair, much to his annoyance. Since when did he start looking so cute??
I think my issue with Jiwoo is that I like when tsunderes are simmering with repressed emotion and thus far he has only hinted at any. But let's see how we go, it's only November.
...also the bok choy spaghetti was only so-so, lol. Jiwoo would say the problem is that I added beef mince (and also that I am stupid) EDIT: Added tomato sauce to the leftovers and it tasted much better, and looked more like Heejungs versions sicne she added red pepper. SHH I CAN COOK COSPLAY FOOD IF I WANT.
He's still grumpily complaining about everything she does but with more "You look bored of studying! Take a break!" etc.
Heejung bumps into Jisoo while out, and notices people wondering why she's getting attention from such a cute guy. (Meanwhile she has WALKED PAST THE END OF THE BACKGROUND INTO AN ENDLESS VOID but never mind. This game could have done with a little more quality control...)
Since she's alone for once, Jisoo asks her on a date. She flatly says no.
Jisoo: This hard to get act makes you more attractive. No girl has ever said no to me before ;)
Heejung: Have you been reading romance novels as well?
Jisoo: I just skimmed it!
Then he throws away his dignity and just loudly begs until she agrees out of sheer embarrassment. She grumpily shuts down all his attempts at holding hands etc, feeling very weird about the whole situation.
Jiwoo comes across them just as Jisoo is checking on a burn on her lip. He thinks they were about to kiss, and accuses Heejung of being a cheater keeping her options open.
Heejung: It's not like that!!
Jisoo: Don't be too hard on Foodgiver. You're the one meeting with girls.
Jiwoo: I am an innocent, cultured young adult!! *runs off*
Heejung runs after him, desperate to resolve the misunderstanding. But...why does she care so much? And why does he? When asked, Jiwoo goes silent then says "I don't care!"
Heejung: Wait are you...jealous?
Jiwoo: NO
Heejung: Denial is a way to hide the truth :P Anyway, don't shout so much about something that didn't happen! I just burned my lip!
Jiwoo: Let me check. *grabs her face* I was going to be the first to ask you out, you dummy. So instead...I'll be the first to kiss you *kisses her*
She is horribly embarrassed (Koreans do NOT approve of kissing in public) but also surprised by how into it she is. "Until now I just thought he was a tall immature boy, but...I don't just see him as a friend..."
Yeah, that was successfully shippy, even if he does feel a bit like a not-quite-as-interesting proto!Lance-from-Nameless.
Meanwhile I just realised in his casual outfit Jiwoo is wearing a tie over a hoodie? And another jacket over that, with suspenders just...attached midway down? In his defense he is from fantasy magic rabbit land.
Haaa. "It's cold, you should hold my hand. O-or whatever." "Did you have fun today? ...of course you did, you were with me".
oh man "make fun" just unlocked as an action and it is BOUND to fail this early but I JUST GOTTA.
(I succeeded, and got him saying STOP WAVING A CARROT AT ME NOT ALL RABBIT LIKE CARROTS)
He gave her a gift of a "Peasant's manual" which I think may be some historical Korean communist thing omg. (She threatened to hit him with it)
And now she's been lying in bed for 2 hours and all she can think about is him kissing her. Jiwoo is cute and fun to tease, but does she like like him??
Luckily things haven't become awkward since the kiss and they've actually become better friends. As Jiwoo sits entranced by a shitty old kdrama, Heejung tries not to laugh at his cute expressions and the cliched plot of a rich man trying to buy the love of a poor woman.
Jiwoo: This is about the effect of capitalism and how guys like pretty women.
Heejung, teasing: A rich man asked me out, should I say yes?
He becomes incoherently upset, ending with "WE KISSED! THAT MEANS YOU'RE MINE!". He stomps to the bookshelf and hands her a book. "My Addictive Love page 80! Do commoners not get a proper education?!"
She's not sure how she feels about all this.
They go out for Christmas day. Jiwoo makes some veiled remarks about it being the sort of day people have sex on if they've been too afraid to in the past, then says "But girls like you would probably prefer this" and gives her a card.
Haaa, art club friend Heejae sees Heejung reading "My Addictive Love", and says "My little sister only ever reads those. She's in a rebellious phase..." This particular one made her cry and he asks to borrow it to "understand how his sister thinks".
Heejung turns to page 80 and it's all
I knew I should resist but the sheik's kiss stole all my energy.
"You are mine now."
I wanted to protest, but I could let no words out of my mouth. And from that day on I became his slave.
Heejung: ... >:/
Heejae: What's it about?
Heejung: ...Arabian Nights. *mutter* How can a smart guy like him fall for this...
Heejae: Do you have a cousin at that rebellious age or something?
Heejung: Something like that
The walkthrough says to wear the bikini in the last 3 months but I tried it a little early and Jiwoo was all "What the hell? Why do you even HAVE your swimsuit?". I mean it was snowing, so, fair.
Heejung comes across Jiwoo laughing and chatting with a group of girls. She forces herself to act casually and comes over and says hi, then realises they're all like 14.
Girl: Is she also...
Jiwoo: No, she lives with me.
Girls: *SQUEAL*
Jiwoo: These girls are amateur online authors. Unlike you're they're contributing to society!
SCREW YOU SHE'S AN ARTIST
Jiwoo: This girl wrote My Addictive Love!
Girl: Hee, this is embarrassing. But if you liked it, leave an Amazon review!
Heejung, in extra large font: Thank god, I thought the people who wrote this stuff were all weird looking.
CHERITZ IT'S OK I'M SURE YOU'RE VERY PRETTY
I'm wondering how Heejung's deep disdain for romance novels as childish compares to most Koreans. It's a bit uncomfortable in context.
Jiwoo says he's been helping the girls with their research. When a somewhat creeped out Heejung asks for more details he says "You're finally into this part of literature? You've never been more desirable. Your little brain is developing by spending time with me."
There's a conversation about fresh ways for a girl to dump her slave master and Heejung silently kinkshames. When they've all left Jiwoo asks her to explain the prevalence of coffee-shops in dramas.
Jiwoo: In romance novels they're used for different things, like this...*puts his hand on her thigh*
Heejung: Stop! We're in public!
Jiwoo: I'm just showing you how they do things in books
Heejung: NONSENSICAL ROMANCE! TEACHING CHILDREN WEIRD THINGS! *grabs thick textbook* BEHOLD THE POWER OF PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS *hits him on the head*
Jiwoo: ...you...you're the first person to ever hit me...
Aww and a week later he rejects her offer to go out on the
Heejung wonders if Jiwoo's become so quiet because she traumatised him. She sits next to Jieun with a sigh and he says "The winner has been decided" but refuses to say more.
So she starts to pointedly peel an apple. Seeing Jieun's silent interest she thinks "My animal handling skills are improving" haha ok then Heejung.
Heejung: Do you want this apple? Then explain what you just said.
HEEJUNG. She is getting a real kick out of it, too. She is much rougher than Jieun!Heejung, but given Jiwoo's personality that's probably for the best.
Jieun: The Kanos rabbit will be the winner, the one you call Jiwoo. Saying anything more would be a violation of the contract.
She gives him the apple and he happily eats it.
Jieun: You want to be closer to the Kanos rabbit. Cabbage, a carrot and a kiss. If you want to acknowledge the Kanos rabbit as the winner you have to approach him first.
Aw. That's nice of you, Jieun. But he never really thought he was in the running.
Heejung doesn't fully understand, but...she wants things to go back to the way they were. Approach him first...
THIS IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. HE'S STILL NOT ON THE MAP.
IT'S LIKE TWO WEEKS LATER. IT'S VALENTINES DAY. WHERE IS THE GRUMPY RABBIT??
I even checked the bookstore and the shops to make sure I wasn't supposed to literally buy some cabbages or something /o\
It's going to be a literal month isn't it D: No wonder the walkthrough said I'd end up with extra money: I have nothing to do with my weekends but work.
THANK FUCK
ON THE 25TH OF FREAKING FEBRUARY
ok. So!
She puts half a cabbage where Jiwoo will see it, in front of the kitchen, then another on the table, and hides under the table holding a carrot.
...ok then.
Jiwoo follows the short cabbage trail. She reaches for his ankle and he falls to the ground.
Jiwoo: WHAT THE-
Heekung, climbing on top of him and putting a carrot into his mouth: Shh.
Me: *tilts head*
Heekung: Why have you been avoiding me?
Jiwoo: I HAVEN'T
Me: YES YOU FREAKING HAVE
Heekung: Are you still sulking because I hit you? ...I'm sorry about that. But you shouldn't have done that in public.
Jiwoo: You...you're confusing! I kissed you, so you're mine! I should be able to do what I want! And I'm what your world calls "the successor of a wealthy family"! So what's the problem?! And you belittled my taste! I CAN RECITE THE ENTIRE PERIODIC TABLE!! ;_; What do you want me to do?! Belittling people...you don't even know how others feel! If you hate me...just tell me :(
She realises he was trying to express interest her, and she confused him and hurt his pride. She pokes at her own feelings.
Heejung: Jiwoo, I...I like you. I...I like how cute you are.
Jiwoo: Cute? Who are you calling- *she kisses him*
(She wonders how Jiwoo feels, and how he'd feel if he knew this was Jieun's idea, lol)
Jiyeon, wandering past: Bunny, I didn't know you were the bottom ;)
(not a literal quote but it's what he meant)
*end scene*
JIWOO'S BACK
Ok, that was worth the wait. I GUESS.
I see what they're doing with this arc now: wallow in tsundere tropes, but also critique them. Tsundere-ness is a manifestation of heteronormativity: Jiwoo doesn't know how to express romantic emotion without being a controlling sexist dick, and Heejung doesn't know how to deal with her own desires without being stand-offish and conventional. They find happiness by letting go of heteronormativity and being themselves. In many ways, Jiwoo has the personality of a stereotypical female tsundere.
I like the idea of this a lot but the execution is a bit lacking, and I can see why Cheritz gave up and just wrote a sincerely (but far less dickishly) dominant tsundere dude with Lance in Nameless.
In general I feel a little sad that while Nameless, Cheritz's next project after this, is in many ways a better and more polished game, it's a lot more bog standard romance tropes (and less femdom and younger dudes). I get the impression their next game after that, Mystic Messenger, pokes at heteronormativity and does some interesting things, I definitely need to find a way to play it.
Awww so the new unlocked action is "ask about the books" and the right choice on the bookstore date was to be encouraging of his interest in romance novels. Ok, good. Even asides from the uncomfortableness of a romance narrative putting down the romance genre (one of my least favourite romance tropes), it wasn't nice seeing Heejung have so little respect for Jiwoo's interests.
I happened to randomly pick up some $250 sunglasses Jiwoo likes so I gave them as a gift and got TWO POINTS? And no special dialogue? I COULDA SPENT THAT MONEY ON TEXTBOOKS AND MEDICATION.
The way we don't see the direct fallout of emotional scenes is a bit jarring but he does seem to be being more open and affectionate in random encounters. Also as with Jieun there's a few not-quite-random scenes where he approaches Heejung when she enters a room he's in, these are sweet but also mean I can't gain points which is a little stressful when I have a months worth of being ignored to catch up on.
(In the end I had plenty of time to catch up, it was fine)
Jiwoo's still a bit BEING CALLED CUTE IS FOR GIRLS. You know you like it, Jiwoo.
Heejung has a dream she hasn't had for a while: she'd just started middle school and was hoping to make new friends, but her mother wouldn't let her go to the amusement park with them. She wasn't like this before the divorce. "How could that man leave me for such a young woman...you have to succeed to show him we're doing well!"
Heejung wanted to make her mother smile again. And the only to do that was to be first, better than 'ordinary' kids.
But Heejung can't be who her mother wants. "Mom...I haven't given up on you...please don't give up on me..."
She is woken by a concerned Jiwoo, who says she was shouting in her sleep. The knowledge that someone is worrying about her makes her start crying. He tries to hug her but she pushes him away. He sulks a little but does his best to grumpily draw her out and she haltingly talks about her issues with her mother.
Jiwoo: It's better not to expect too much from parents. In the end, you have to do everything on your own. Those people are only extras in your life's play.
Heejung: ...thank you.
Does he realise his words saved her?
It occurs to me that this was around the same time 6 year old Eri from Nameless went to the amusement park. *vaguely ponders crossover*
"This romance novel is good because the author is a Buddhist and talks about vegetarianism" haha.
And now when she wears a bikini he says "You look cold! Put some clothes on! ...it's not that I don't like it, it's just...it's complicated!"
"Your paintings look so real those dumb cats might try to eat them"
Everyone except Jiwoo and Heejung goes out for the day.
Me: Aww, I guess this will be a shippy scene with just the two of them!
She hears the door open.
Heejung: Did you forget someth-
IT'S. HER MOTHER. D: D:
Heejung's mother and Jiwoo (THANKFULLY WEARING A HAT) stare at each other in shock. It's very obvious that he lives with Heejung.
As Heejung struggles to find the words to explain, her mother starts screaming that Heejung is ruined.
Mom: You're a failure! I should never have had you!!
Jiwoo, with cold, calm fury: ...what did you just say? I don't care if you're her mother, don't raise your hand to my girl.
Heejung feels like she's watching a tv drama unfold.
Mom: Who are you to talk to an adult this way? What are you, anyway?
Jiwoo: I'm the successor to a major family! And lady, call before you visit, my girl has her own life! Because of you, she has to go back to beginning to map out her own life, are you going to take responsibility?
Mom: You two deserve each other! Never talk to me again! *storms out*
Heejung spent so long being afraid of this moment, but she's just indifferent. Jiwoo pulls her into a hug and holds her as she cries.
So I guess the overall arc is similar to with Jieun but still different enough to be satisfying. I'm glad SOMEONE shouted at that jerkass mother.
A date in the park! Summer is approaching...
Jiwoo: Why are you giggling, are you thinking something perverted again?
Heejung: You can't say that to a girl! Since when did I ever-
Jiwoo: *lists weird shit she has done* Still, it's a miracle you grew up normal with that sort of mother.
Heejung thinks about how since that day she has felt anxious, but free. She asks Jiwoo about his own family. His father ran a large bank and they are one of the three richest families in Kanos. Thinking of tv drama plots, she asks if Jiwoo had to compete with brothers to be heir and sure enough he did, as the middle son.
Jiwoo: BUT I'M THE SMARTEST. My older brother used being sick as an excuse not to study, and my younger brother was busy with this girl rabbit. I learned to read first and got the most compliments from my father: I was the most logical successor!! She told me I was the most special, but secretly...if mom had told me my older brother was going to be the successor, I wouldn't have worked so hard!
Heejung grabs Jiwoo's hand as he says "Mother abandoned me...when Father passed away."
Flashback:
Child!Jiwoo (actual name Miran!): I'm so much more into books than my other brothers! I'll help father run the company well!
Mother: You're all equally intelligent and will do equally well. I love you all the same ^_^
People expect "the second young master" to inherit, but his mother says the eldest will.
Jiwoo: But he's too sick to even sit down for long!
Mother: Moran, now you're an adult, you should become independent. I took care of you because of your father...
JIWOO WAS ADOPTED?!
She kicks him out of the house, telling him he has no right to even call her mother. Every time she told him she loved him, it had been a lie.
OH NO. POOR JIWOO ;_;
Heejung knows exactly how he feels, and how much his support meant to her when she needed it. She hugs him, and tells him she will stand by him, that even if everything feels useless, he can start over.
Their pain, all the useless effort to please their parents...it's a stepping stone to a brighter future.
Jiwoo: You're telling me to start again, like you? ...I'm going to do a hundred times better!
Heejung: Of course, you're smarter than me ;)
Jiwoo: STOP EMBRACING ME YOU ALWAYS FORGET YOU'RE THE GIRL
So she lets him lead the way, like a man. It feels like a scene from a tv drama.
(not a fan of a disabled person existing entirely as an inconvenience to a more qualified able bodied person, but that's an issue with the narrative, not Jiwoo. I guess now we know why he doesn't like being called 'Young Master'. He also isn't actually the successor to a rich family...)
Aww and now I'm in the final stretch and the action "Show love" has unlocked (his reaction is NO YOU'RE EMBARRASSED). But also now he has bittersweet comments showing he knows he won't be around forever :(
The final gift is a poem he wrote her! The text is clear, but in Korean, so I have no idea what it says :(
He just sits and watches her paint saying "I miss you already" ;_;
WHOA HE BOUGHT MATCHING RINGS
"I couldn't find you anywhere...do you know how precious time is? You probably don't. It's better this way, no reason for both of us to have a hard time."
Jiwoo you KNOW what it's like to be suddenly abandoned without warning /o\
Jiwoo finds himself in the Wizard's dream world (which looks a bit like space)
Jiwoo: What are your plans for her?
Wizard: I can't do anything unless she calls for me :) I am only visible to those who have an earnest wish.
Jiwoo: Yes but if I dissappear...
Wizard: Aren't you over-rating yourself? ^_^
Jiwoo: I know that's your plan, you stalker! Anyway, tell me why you're here and send me back!
Wizard: I'm here to inform you you're going to win the game.
Jiwoo: I already know that!
Wizard: And in a month, you'll get your wish to send your family bankrupt :)
Jiwoo: A month? D: Wizard...I don't care about my wish any more, let me stay in this world!
Wizard: That's not very exciting :/
Jiwoo: The customer is king!
Wizard: But I have a monopoly. Enjoy the rest of your month ;)
Accidentally watched a drama with Jeiun and he just complained it's too loud. Sorry Jieun!
"Heejung is thinking of going out with Jisoo" Wait, what? BAD HEEJUNG (which is to say, bad flavour text programmer, lol)
This final month is again kind of boring but Jiwoo's being really sad and sweet ;_;
It's the 18th. Heejung finds Jiwoo writing something in a notebook, and teases him that he's writing a romance novel, which he denies. He says they're running out of time, and should go on a date. He gets her to say where she wants to go and what she wants to do, and is grumpily affectionate and melancholy.
Jiwoo: What if I...disappear or get into an accident and can't see these places again?
Heejung: Should I get insurance? ;)
Jiwoo: Don't joke around :(
She asks if something's wrong and he denies it but then pulls her into a hug. "For putting up with me, and accepting me...for choosing me...thank you. I'm glad I met you."
Then he sniffs and lets her go. "I memorised all the right lines...I'm a pretty romantic guy, right?"
Heejung: Yeah :)
Jiwoo: Stop grabbing my hand so quickly! Have you no pride as a woman?
Heejung: Maybe you're just slow :P
Haaa, ok, so I did get a special reaction when I gave him the adult magazine gift. "You! You should be ashamed giving something like this! ...hey, I didn't say I didn't want it!"
The final day.
Jiyeon complains that he wants to sleep but Jiwoo is still up writing with the light on. Heejung invites Jiwoo into her room. She studies at her desk while he sits on the ground by her bed, in the same place she first met him.
After two hours she sits next to him, and tells him to stop overworking himself. It's been exactly a year since the animals showed up. She talks about how cute he was as a rabbit, and he asks what else she can remember. So they reminisce on all their times together. She drifts off against his shoulder.
And the next morning, she awakes alone on the floor. She gets up and the other animals...haven't disappeared like I expected. INSTEAD THEIR ANIMAL EARS HAVE GONE??
Jisoo: Hey, you?! Why am I a human? Are you a wizard?!
Heejung: Jisoo?
Jisoo: Who's Jisoo?
Jieun: Eddie, where are we?
Jihae: Definitely not in Grass...
Jiyeon, in a MUCH deeper and colder voice than usual: Mister with the black hair, do you know this girl?
Heejung runs to try and find Jiwoo, worried he's wandering around with no memory.
And then...she find herself in the wizard's realm.
Wizard: Hello, heroine. I am the kind Wizard who grants wishes ^_^
She realises he's involved in the "game". When he asks him to explain what's going on he says "Would you believe I prepared all this for you?"
Normally, he grants people's wishes in return for their memories. But in the game, the one who wins her heart gets to keep their memories and get their wish, while everyone else loses their memories and is trapped in this world.
Jiwoo has gone home. She thinks back on his words and realises he knew this would happen.
The wizard lifts her chin with a smile, saying he's been waiting to see such an expression of despair on her face. "Don't you have a wish?"
And so she agrees. Even if she loses her memory, she wants to be under the same sky as Jiwoo.
Wizard: You must really love that Rabbit. Your memory will be mine eventually, but allow me the chance to enjoy your pain a little longer. Entertain me, heroine...
CLOSING CREDITS????
Ahhhhh?????
Don't show me a cute slideshow of their CGs, game!! WTF???
It's been two years since graduation. Heejung can tell from her things that she studied business, and wonders what kind of student she was. One year ago, she got a sudden amnesia and forgot everything, even her name.
(One year?? So there was a year that happened AFTER the pre credits scene?? WHAT HAPPENED???)
Heejae has been helping her readjust to life since then. Her parents couldn't be contacted :(
As he's helping clean her desk a pile of romance novels fall down. She used to like those books odd people read? And then she sees a brown notebook.
"Hey, Dumbo. Even saying goodbye would be a breach of contract. If you've forgotten me...that means we may meet again. If you haven't, consider this part of your past."
"You and I first met on 1 June 2012..."
She sits and reads.
"...and so our story comes to an end. You head is heavy on my shoulder. But I'm glad we can be together until the end. You're the first person to hit me, the first girl to make my heart beat...you're working on your new life, right? If you long for it, we will surely be able to meet again."
Heejung: If I long for it... I have to go find him!
THE END
Bonus:
Jiwoo had a fairly normal dude voice, and so does his actor Sungil Lee, though he complains about having to shout so much. (Also his name's very similar to "Seung-gil Lee", the Korean character in Yuri on Ice, haha)
The bonus CG is human!Jiwoo looking very cute in glasses and a suit as he reads through a manuscript.
I really liked that! It's got me thinking about ways to play around with romance tropes, too. It's sad she lost her memory of him but they'll make new memories together. There wasn't the emphasis on her art this time but I like to think she'll get back to it.
I'm still chewing over the depiction of using fiction as a life guide. The "not like other romances" tone reminds me of a lot of English Language indie dating sims, and I guess this is also from a country without a tradition of them, and a messy relationship with Japan, albeit a very different sort of messy to Australia/the US. The only indie Japanese dating sim I've played is Hatoful Boyfriend which is...kind of it's own thing haha.
And no, Jiwoo's original name, Maren, is never mentioned again. Admittedly, he has reasons to maybe want to let it go. Turns out his spots weren't an ethnicity thing per se, from context I guess...he was adopted because he looked like a member of the family? Maybe he was a bastard son, or a descendant of one. Or not! It doesn't really matter in the end. And I guess now he doesn't even have those spots any more.
I'm getting the feeling that it's possibly not an accident that Jiyeon kept creeping me out by hanging around when I wanted to give Heejung a bath. So. PUTTING HIM OFF FOR NOW.
I opened up Jihae's walkthrough since I'm thinking of doing him next and apparently need to get high points with him AND Jieun. Amazing.
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Date: 2019-02-26 07:11 am (UTC)I also am thinking about the handling of and playing around with romance tropes. Hmmm.
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Date: 2019-02-27 12:56 pm (UTC)Was it very similar? :)
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Date: 2019-02-28 07:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-03-01 11:10 am (UTC)Probably for the best, unless you get any unexpected rabbit house guests.