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Jaeheeeeee <3 <3
This kept being VERY shippy then no-homo-ing me, which was unpleasantly jarring, but other than that was incredibly sweet, it was so great helping Jaehee find happiness. And there's definitely space to headcanon them getting together after canon, even if Jaehee may need to get over her mental blocks a little.
Content note: brief mentions/portayals of suicide, cancer, unspecified mental illness
Forgot to say before: the deal is that Seven will do the presentation if Zen fills his car with premium petrol.
It's 1am and I'm up with random health annoyances. My woozy brain got paranoid that it was wrong to push so hard for Jaehee to let Seven do the work since some of her arguments were pretty convincing (he doesn't work for the company!) so I checked a walkthrough for the first time and it's all good.
MC: Talk to Jumin!
Seven: Yeah, tell him the cat hotel is of no use to the company and that he should focus on the coffee shop.
Jaehee: I wish I was as brave as MC. Even bickering like this is a luxury. And how would you even do it without access to the company's materials?
Seven: Jaehee. What do I do for a living?
Jaehee: Don't hack my company D:
Awww. A really cute conversation between Yoosung and Jaehee, she talks about how happy and surprised she is that everyone in the RFA (...except Jumin) treats her as a friend. Yoosung says she should keep hanging out with Zen even after he gets better, but Jaehee says it's better to keep some distance as his fan.
"Everyone will think I'm the villain because they like Assistant Kang". THEN BE LESS OF A VILLAIN, JUMIN. "Anything done for me is done for the company" wow what a nice self justification.
Oooh, V is talking to Ray inside Mint Eye headquarters!!!
Ray: Why don't you get a corneal transplant? You have to take pictures again, with that great talent of yours.
You know you're doing badly when Ray is giving you good life advice.
Ray: You've even lied to the members that your ex lover killed herself.
OOOOOHHHHHHH (I mean I knew, but it's nice to know)
V wants to meet "that person", Ray says that would only be possible if he was totally blind? And says V is a liar who ruined his life??
V: What do you want?
Ray: Give the members to me. Tell them to live in paradise here with me! Especially that weird red head, I have been dying to destroy him.
V: There has to be a peaceful way.
Ray: I might consider it is you give up you wealth, your friends, your fame...when you disappear, they won't feel the despair that I felt, but they might feel something similar.
V: I'll need time...
Ray: Ha, will you stage your own suicide this time?
Jaehee is heartbreakingly surprised to be experiencing actual joy in her work as she learns how to operate a coffee machine and create her own variants.
Jaehee: What made you become a fan of Zen?
MC, a lesbian who only pretends to like Zen because it make Jaehee happy: Uh. His acting?
Haha, aw, that gets me a Zen heart. Deep down he's afraid he's a bad actor coasting by on his looks.
Haaa. V told Seven that Mint Eye is a religious group who were angry Rika rejected them for the party, but that everything is solved now.
Juin is complaining that the report Jaehee made on the coffee shop is TOO GOOD. His father's girlfriend wants to run a coffee shop and will probably be given the main branch, and Jumin wants to sabotage that. MC tells him not to let his personal feelings interfere and be kinder to Jaehee.
So he messages MC asking her to keep an eye on Seven and Jaehee and make sure they don't get up to anything?
MC: Hmm? What? I can't really see your text~ You want me to help them?
MC, that is not how text messaging works, but I salute you.
Flashback to four years ago. V tells Jumin that Rika proposed to him. So what's the loading screen about? Apparently Jumin fired his last few assistants for having an affair with his father. He'd hire a man if any applied. V picks out Jaehee from the pile of resumes. "She's quite young, she must have graduated early. Expert at Word, processing industrial engineering information, foreign languages...and black belt in judo?"
Jumin: Hmm, if she makes some changes...
Jahee got Zen a nice coffee set since he basically didn't own any crockery. He rings MC asking for advice on a gift to give back, and she suggests coffee making supplies, because the game would not take it well if I sabotaged him by suggesting a kitten.
JAEHEEEEEE the reason you've been told to redo the report isn't that you weren't good enough it's that you are TOO GOOD FOR THAT JERK JUMIN.
Seven and MC try to persuade Jaehee that with her ridiculous work ethic she can achieve anything she puts her mind to, and she shouldn't bury her potential in a job she hates.
MC: Trust yourself more. I'll always support you, whatever choice you make.
Jaehee, in a cute bubble covered in love hearts: Thank you. I don't feel alone any more. I can't wait for the day that I get to see you.
Zen comes to Jaehee's house and gives her a fancy coffee mill as a thank you gift. He says he saw how much she enjoyed writing the coffee report, and cheerfully asks how it's going.
Jaehee: Oh, I have to...rewrite it...
And then she starts crying. And apologises for him having to see ;_;
Zen: Did something happen D:
Jaehee: No. I just...have to do as I'm told.
Jaehee: But I keep getting greedy. Why am I saying this...I don't know who I am. I wanted to get a job and be independent. I thought I'd be happy. If I try to reach for happiness...it falls apart like grains of sand. It makes me angry. My happy family, my happy job...where can they be?
Zen: Jaehee...
Jaehee: I'm sorry. You must have lived a much harder life.
Zen: It will all be ok.
Jaehee: Will it?
Zen: If you have people who support you, you can be happy, Jaehee. So whatever choice you make from now on, I will support it. I will be your number one fan. Don't you know we all support you.
Jaehee: Yes, it made me go overboard.
Zen: Then it worked. Follow your happiness.
MY HEART
He comes into chat and says he's delaying going back to work to take her out to lunch tomorrow. Which is a big deal, he's as much of a workaholic as her and has been itching to get back to work.
Jaehee: I ended up whining to Zen earlier today.
Ohhhh Jaehee.
She talks about how her relatives wanted to her to get a job and move out the moment she finished highschool instead of going to college, and nearly kicked her out when they saw she "had the money" to buy a Zen dvd (this must have been 5 years ago, I didn't realise she was a Zen fan before she met him) She used work and the hope of independence to try to escape her overwhelming despair, and forgot how to be happy. MC was the one who helped her feel a sort of happiness she hasn't experienced since childhood.
Jaehee: I wanted to thank you again for listening to my boring story this late at night.
MC: Don't turn your eyes away from happiness from now on. Hold my hand!
Jaehee: I was shackled by reality but you led me on, and you handed me hope when I had forgotten all about it. I'm sure if I just believe in it, happiness will be waiting for me at the end.
;_;
Zen calls, saying he feels strange after seeing Jaehee.
Zen: Let's support her like family. I don't think anyone's ever told her she can have a dream, she feels alone. I've felt that way too.
MC: Yes, I know what it's like to struggle alone.
Zen: So we're all three the same. I'm glad I met you, it's good to see you with Jaehee.
I always feel a little guilty every time Yoosung gets depressed about something and goes to drown his sorrows in LoLoL. Let's just assume he gets himself together shortly after the end of Jaehee's path.
End of Day 8!
*checks times of tomorrow's chats before I got to bed*
There's one at 8pm called "Fired" D:
Haaaa. During a midnight chat...
Jaehee: I'm enjoying the coffee mill, I'll have to make you a cup :)
Zen: Can I come now? ;)
Jaehee: Zen, I know we are friends, but please refrain from those kinds of jokes.
Shut down.
Seven why do you own four sports cars. You spend all day indoors. He describes his presentation slides and they sound...very silly...Of course he could just be messing with Zen.
Seven: You can do anything with ur smartphone. Like u dating Jaehee...Oops. I mean being friends.
Shhh Seven you're breaking the plausible deniability.
So Jumin reads back through all this and his response is "I hope she's ready for the meeting with the cat hotel owner". Jesus, dude. Haaa and then he messages MC to ask if there's something she knows but doesn't feel able to say in the open chatroom.
"Seven might see it T_T All I'll say is the word 'stab'" vs "All I can say is to trust Jaehee"
I mean, I would kinda like to stab Jumin, but I don't think that's what they mean, so.
heh, apparently Jaehee spends most of the lunch with Zen talking about MC :D
She asks him to come with her to work to help give her courage before she goes into her meeting.
Zen: Won't Jumin get annoyed if he sees me here?
Jaehee: Whatever. Thank you for getting Seven to help with the slides.
Zen: omg
Zen rings MC and says "Jaehee can be fierce. I used to think women needed protecting, but she shattered my stereotypes. I'll have to respect her for real." Lol nice admission you don't respect women in general.
Awww, we don't get to see the presentation. But to Jumin's surprise the cat hotel owner loves it.
Jaehee says "I'm no longer the assistant who does whatever Mr Han says". Good for you, Jaehee!
Also, V rang Seven and said he has the flu and can't make the party. HMMM.
I have some vague curiosity to play the possessive, selfish MC/Yoosung bad ends, but based on the bad choices I'm avoiding I have ZERO interest in playing the bad Jaehee ends, MC is SUCH A JERK TO HER, always siding with Jumin and crushing Jaehee's dreams. NOPE.
SPEAKING OF JERKS, it's time for Jumin to berate Jaehee for doing the presentation "wrong".
omg, she doesn't need glasses? But short hair and glasses was a condition of being hired, I guess so she'd look less attractive to Jumin's dad?? (It certainly hasn't made her any less attractive to me)
Ahaha so Jaehee went with Seven's suggestion to use longcat as the mascot, instead of Jumin's cat Elizabeth the Third.
Jaehee: They seemed to prefer longcat.
Jumin: Of course, it's popular worldwide.
MC: Then isn't that better for the company?
Jumin: It has to be better for me!! The goal is to increase Elizabeth the Third's media presence so she can do well in the upcoming cat show!
Jumin you are EXACTLY LIKE YOUR FATHER, but with CATS. Omg he didn't even tell Jaehee to use Elizabeth? He just expected her to figure it out?!
No, game, I am not picking "Guess she has no time for the company now that she's dating Zen"
OMG so afterwards Jumin rings MC?? Expecting her to be sympathetic?? READ THE ROOM JUMIN.
"You should not mix your personal life and work". JUMIN. LOOK IN A DAMN MIRROR.
I will be curious to see if the Jumin path can redeem this asshole...
Oh god Yoosung why are you so gullible. THERE IS NOT A SECRET LOLOL EXPANSION BURIED IN YOUR SCHOOL'S OVAL.
*tensely waits for the 8pm chat "Fired"*
MC: How did things go with Jumin?
Jahee: You don't have to worry. Mr Han told me not to come into work tomorrow *smiling Jaehee surrounded by flowers emoji*
Fair enough!
Zen and MC are supportive and happy for her and Jaehee feels great :D
Jaehee rings MC to thank her for all her support.
Jaehee: I could never have felt this connected, even with Zen, who's my idol. I want to be deeply connected to you. Very slowly...but eventually everything. I am very patient. Perhaps I've become too progressive. I'm satisfied with just looking at you. Thank you for listening...sweet dreams.
No, it's cool Jaehee, you won't have to just look :D :D
Also she said she had a "proposal" for MC at the party and I KNOW it's not a marriage proposal but part of me wants it to be. I JUST SHIP THESE TWO SO HARD.
She says she's going to sleep in and read books :D
WAIT
I WAS ACTUALLY
PLANNING ON LEAVING THE HOUSE TOMORROW??
FOR MULTIPLE HOURS IN A ROW??
oh noooooooo
Ok. If I am well enough to go out tomorrow I'll just write off the day wrt Mystic Messenger, and use my save file to start again the day after. Damn, I should have timed this better, I want to see what happens next! It's not like me leaving the house happens very often...
Hmmm...I'm going to a convention for a day, and will definitely need some downtime anyway, if there's free wifi I could use that...but I don't want to undermine my con experience to play a game, even one I'm quite enjoying. And there's like 5 chats during the time I might plausibly be out.
DAMMIT CHERITZ. (I realise this would be a lot easier if I was actually playing it on my phone)
On the plus side, if I end up being too sick to go out this'll put a silver lining on it.
Anyway.
Yoosung dug his school's oval and found...an old photo of him with Rika's now-dead puppy. That is...more effort than I'd have expected Seven to go to for a prank. Aww and now Yoosung is thinking about how he used to want to be a vet for Rika, and what he's doing with his life now. He's changed his user icon to his Student ID, which shows he's enrolled in the department of veterinary science.
Interesting that they blanked the year. The previous Cheritz games were explicitly set in whatever year the game was made but I guess this is set Now. And hmm if I make it set in 2019 then Eri (and Yeonho and Lance) from Nameless would be...20? 19? Old enough to interact with these guys as peers.
Ah, poor Yoosung. The problem with games like this is once you've helped someone on their path you want them to always have that happy ending. So I hope there's space for that for everyone in the end.
The next chat is just with Jumin and entitled "I can’t understand". That's because you're a sociopath, Jumin. I peeked at tomorrow's chat titles and it looks like he goes totally off the rails.
Jumin: Here is MC, Assistant Kang's loyal supporter.
CONGRATULATIONS JUMIN YOU FINALLY NOTICED.
Jumin: She was doing fine, why is she rebelling now? She said when she got hired that all she wants is a stable job and an environment to focus on work. So I provided both and everything was fine. Zen or Luciel might tell her good job for rebelling against me. But I feel betrayed.
Jumin. Everyone tried to explain to you that she was miserable and would (and should!) leave if things didn't improve. If you didn't listen that's on you.
Aw, he does say he hopes she finds a job that helps her. He's an oblivious ass, but not actively malicious.
Haaa, so I saw somewhere that a bad end involves MC becoming his assistant. But here he just said "MC, you...you don't want to be my assistant. Never mind. Good night."
Awww Jaehee writes Jumin this really sweet thank you for everything positive she got from the job. He does not deserve this angel.
Jaehee: I like you so much
Me: :D
Jaehee: It's not a romantic feeling, but...
Me: D:
*quietly erases from my personal canon*
So! I did manage to see everything while at the convention, but was a little distracted by FRIENDS trying to TALK TO ME just because they HAVEN'T SEEN ME IN A YEAR. Sheesh. Anyway...
Jumin: Eternity only applies to cats, nasty personalities, and cash.
He gets annoyed at Seven for showing off his fancier car and "giving Assistant Kang advice about happiness and whatnot". So he goes to Seven's house and TAKES ONE OF HIS CARS.
Jaehee is going for a walk in the park and rings MC to say they should go to a dessert cafe together, and that she's thinking of taking up baking. She gets worried that MC is bored when she doesn't say anything for a while. "I think I'm getting greedy now...I want you to like me more. Ugh, this isn't the time to say that...Stupid."
JAEHEE.
Zen says he doesn't like Jumin in part because he reminds Zen of his older brother. Guess I'll be learning that angsty backstory soon!
MC: Jumin do you not know how to drive?
Jumin: I do! I just usually have a driver. But I remembered from the DMV which was the brake and which the accelerator. Haha!
Jumin. Jumin that is not all there is to driving.
Jumin: Considering that it was my first actual drive, wasn't it great?
JUMIN
MC: Is this about Jaehee?
Jumin: No. I've been used to saying goodbye to people since I was little. I should go get a drink. Do I still have some vodka?
MC: Or maybe go to the hospital??
Jumin: I've found a new way of relieving stress! I should get a car...no, three cars! If you have a car you don't need, please give it to me.
JUMIN. JUMIN NO.
Jaehee you do NOT need to go to Jumin's house and make sure he's ok, he is a grown adult and you don't work for him any more. Haa ok "It is my duty to know whether he's able to attend the party."
???????
Seven says the hackers are clearly a threat again, and they should all stay in their houses while he contacts V. So Jaehee...should stay with Jumin? OH NO
She rings, feeling frustrated that there are clearly secrets within the RFA. She talks about wanting to see MC then says "And...there's something else I want to say, but I won't just yet. Women have to be much more careful in approaching other women. I'll advance one step at a time...I hope someday I can analyse this feeling I have towards you. I hope when I figure it out...you feel the same way too."
GAME. GAME STOP MESSING WITH ME LIKE THIS.
Currently the only way I can reconcile the mixed messages is if Jaehee is an aromantic bisexual, who wants to get into a committed sexual-but-not-romantic relationship with MC. Which I could roll with, but it seems unlikely to be what they're going for.
BACK FROM THE CON AND SAW EVERYTHING WITH MINUTES TO SPARE!!
Oh god poor Jaehee is stuck in a house with Jumin.
Jaehee: Thankfully he doesn't have any injuries. Please don't do that again.
Jumin: I don't recommend it. Don't ever do it, Assistant Kang and MC.
Jaehee: We won't because we have COMMON SENSE
Jumin: We will have a free and equal relationship now.
Jaehee: Yes, it will take some getting used to.
Haa then he asks if MC wants to be his assistant and alas my only option are "Will you pay me a lot" and "Hmm~ I will consider it but..."
WHERE'S MY "HELL NO"
Jaehee expresses her own hell no as politely as she can manage.
Jumin: Now I should call you Jaehee. I was comfortable while you worked for me.
Jaehee: I learned a lot as well.
Jumin: Except for when Rika died, they are all good memories.
Jaehee: ...I learned a lot.
Jumin: Today may be the last day you see Elizabeth the Third. You should say goodbye, or she'll be devasted.
Jaehee: Do we really need to talk like this when we're in the same house?
Jumin: This is more comfortable.
MC: Lol
Jaehee: It may not seem that way but Mr Han tends to be timid.
Jumin: I just like this messenger. ...I'm going to bed.
Jumin is such an utter failboat of a human being it's actually sort of endearing.
Jahee leaves with a security guard, and V arrives unannounced. He wanted to make sure Jumin was ok, and to ask him to take over the RFA because he has TERMINAL LIVER CANCER??
Jumin grabs him.
Jumin: Everything you't hiding, your secrets, they're all fine. I'll trust whatever you do and follow you.
It never occurred to me to ship V and Jumin before but hmm!
Jumin: You made a mistake if you thought you could fool me. How long have we been friends? Drop the bullshit.
V: I...have to go.
Jumin: Where?!
V: Where Rika is.
Jumin: What?! You're not...
V: please, just let me take the burden...these people aren't just hackers. It's just my karma.
V and Seven go into chat to say the hacker is taken care of. Seven is jubilant, V just says there was a "misunderstanding". Oh, V :(
MC: These are bad people.
V: Bad...or sad. They were just angry at us.
Zen: Seven, you should track them down and sue them!
Seven: I'm not exactly on the side of the law here.
MC: Seven, where do you really work at...
Seven: It's a secret ;)
V: Thank you for carrying on Rika's work, everyone.
Zen: I'm sure she would have been happy
Seven: Yeah...I hope Rika likes it.
V: ...
We see a flashback of Rika telling V she's convinced the cashier was laughing at her.
Rika: Noone ever taught me how to stop people laughing at me. They only made me more timid. What did I do wrong...? Why do I have to live like this?! *sounds of glass breaking* I hate it! Everything!
V: Rika, stop, you're going to hurt yourself.
Rika: I wish I'd get hurt...that would make things easier...
V: It's all okay...Your heart is more important than what others think...your pure desire to help others, to love. You have so much sadness, but so much innocence.
Rika: It's strange...looking into your eyes makes me feel so comfortable...I feel like you're always right. Should I trust you?
V: I hope your reflection in my eyes shows you the truth. I love your innocence as well as your instablity.
Me: Oof.
Rika: I know, your eyes are saying it. Your eyes always say the most beautiful things. And with those eyes...you take photos of the sun.
I have very mixed feelings about how this whole Rika and V thing is shaping up.
Seven rings MC.
Seven: I can't believe the party is tomorrow...I had no idea you'd take Jaehee's route...I refer to the game in my imagination. Thank you for being the light for Jaehee.
Zen had a dream where V and Rika were going somewhere and all he could see was their backs.
WOOO PARTY TIME
19 guests, all new! I didn't use a walkthrough, so screwed up a couple, but will try and get them on Zen's route. I probably won't be able to get as many new ones but we'll see!
Have I mentioned that Jaehee is pronounced like Chay-ee by some people and Jay-shee by others? But I think Yoosung is calling her noona (big sis), aw.
Zen stop flirting with MC you are barking up the wrong tree.
Jumin: These last few days, Assistant Kang changed so much. Reading previous messages, I now realise you played a big part. I've been thinking all night and there's an issue I don't know how to fix. But I thought you'd know what to do.
Me: Aw, does he want advice on how to make things up to Jaehee?
Jumin: There is someone being forced into making a decision because of fear. What can I say to change his mind?
Me: OHHHH
Ha, there's a single "(gives advice)" dialogue option.
Jumin: I can't stay by his side, I'm busy. Should I send some of my security guards?
MC: (explains)
Jumin: He needs to...feel like I'm by his side?
I'm guessing she had to bring out a whiteboard, maybe recruit random guests to act things out. Jumin doesn't really get the whole FEELINGS thing.
Jumin: I don't understand. Why don't you work as my assistant for a while and think this through with me?
HAHAHA
Jumin: I'll meet all your conditions. You won't regret working with me.
MC: (thinks about it)
Me: HONEY NO
Jaehee, over the loudspeaker: Is Mr Han here?
Me: JAEHEE COME SAVE MC FROM JUMIN
Jaehee: You must return the RFA member you just took with you. If anyone knows someone qualified to be Mr Han's next Chief Assistant, please give a reccomendation.
Various Women: HELLO MR HAN :D <3
Jumin: D:
Me: :D
She's blushing!
Jaehee: Love between a man and woman is beautiful, but I think a friendship between two women can be just as powerful.
DAMMIT
*headcanons this as a translation issue based on nothing but my own preference*
Jahee: I want a fresh start. I looked in my bank account and I have enough saved to create something small...and I'd like to create it with you. So that it's not my small space, but 'our' space. Al you'd need to contribute is your ideas and positive mind. It'll be at least 20 times more fun than being an assistant. MC, won't you create a space of your own with me?
THE END
(YES. YES SHE WILL)
Jaehee's voice actor, Jungwha Yang, sounds a little younger and less formal and intense.
Normal Ending:
Let's see if I set this save up right!
Interesting, the party CGs are showing up in the gallery even though "this" MC hasn't seen them yet.
ONE GUEST. I GOT AN F.
Next time I'll have to be more careful and get zero :D
Aww everyone's nice about how hard MC worked "regardless of how many guests came".
Jumin just asks MC to be his assistant with no leadup involving V. Instead of taking the mike, Jaehee just butts in in person.
Jaehee: Don't tell me...are you offering her the assistant job? No. I was planning on taking MC.
Jumin: Taking her where?
Jaehee: I have a better offer. I'm planning on opening a bakery cafe. I would like you to do it with me.
Jumin: When 70% of small business close within the first year?
Fuuuck yoooou Jumin
Jumin offers recognition and a stable income, Jaehee offers being treated like a human being.
(...hot)
THE END
Aw, that was cute, I'm glad I saw it. I mean IT'S NOT LIKE MC'S ANSWER IS IN ANY DOUBT lol. And the Good End never actually says what Jaehee's creating, though I was assuming something like a coffee shop.
Overall...I enjoyed that route a lot, but I wish the shippiness level had been more consistent rather than jerking me around like that. There's definitely space for it to become romantic, though, and while the Zen thing annoyed me in some ways it does underline that Jaehee seems genuinely uninterested in dating men.
Ah, going through the guests I am reminded how VERY RACIST the middle eastern Rich Prince guest is. Anyway, now I'm at 75 hourglasses! So I'm going to splurge and watch Jaehee's After Ending (which costs 20)
AFTER ENDING:
Ahhhh YOOSUNG has become Jumin's assistant, oh god. It sounds like he's not doing a great job, and Jumin is a jerk as always, but honestly it's a step up for Yoosung from lying around depressed all day. Though I don't like the sound of Jumin encouraging him to quit school to take up the job permanently. Let's assume it's a learning experience and then Yoosung quits, inspired to find a job he actually likes.
It's been six months and MC and Jaehee's cafe is having it's opening!
...and noone's heard from V :(
Everyone arrives and everyone but Jumin admires the lovely cafe.
THE END
Wow that was...short. But cute, I guess? I feel like it's saying some weird thing about gender but I'm not Korean or a woman so what do I know.
ANYWAY. I DID IT. AFTER THREE YEARS OF FRUSTRATION I FINALLY FINISHED JAEHEE'S ROUTE. Now to play the others, I guess, though they don't call to me the same way.
Jaeheeeeee <3 <3
This kept being VERY shippy then no-homo-ing me, which was unpleasantly jarring, but other than that was incredibly sweet, it was so great helping Jaehee find happiness. And there's definitely space to headcanon them getting together after canon, even if Jaehee may need to get over her mental blocks a little.
Content note: brief mentions/portayals of suicide, cancer, unspecified mental illness
Forgot to say before: the deal is that Seven will do the presentation if Zen fills his car with premium petrol.
It's 1am and I'm up with random health annoyances. My woozy brain got paranoid that it was wrong to push so hard for Jaehee to let Seven do the work since some of her arguments were pretty convincing (he doesn't work for the company!) so I checked a walkthrough for the first time and it's all good.
MC: Talk to Jumin!
Seven: Yeah, tell him the cat hotel is of no use to the company and that he should focus on the coffee shop.
Jaehee: I wish I was as brave as MC. Even bickering like this is a luxury. And how would you even do it without access to the company's materials?
Seven: Jaehee. What do I do for a living?
Jaehee: Don't hack my company D:
Awww. A really cute conversation between Yoosung and Jaehee, she talks about how happy and surprised she is that everyone in the RFA (...except Jumin) treats her as a friend. Yoosung says she should keep hanging out with Zen even after he gets better, but Jaehee says it's better to keep some distance as his fan.
"Everyone will think I'm the villain because they like Assistant Kang". THEN BE LESS OF A VILLAIN, JUMIN. "Anything done for me is done for the company" wow what a nice self justification.
Oooh, V is talking to Ray inside Mint Eye headquarters!!!
Ray: Why don't you get a corneal transplant? You have to take pictures again, with that great talent of yours.
You know you're doing badly when Ray is giving you good life advice.
Ray: You've even lied to the members that your ex lover killed herself.
OOOOOHHHHHHH (I mean I knew, but it's nice to know)
V wants to meet "that person", Ray says that would only be possible if he was totally blind? And says V is a liar who ruined his life??
V: What do you want?
Ray: Give the members to me. Tell them to live in paradise here with me! Especially that weird red head, I have been dying to destroy him.
V: There has to be a peaceful way.
Ray: I might consider it is you give up you wealth, your friends, your fame...when you disappear, they won't feel the despair that I felt, but they might feel something similar.
V: I'll need time...
Ray: Ha, will you stage your own suicide this time?
Jaehee is heartbreakingly surprised to be experiencing actual joy in her work as she learns how to operate a coffee machine and create her own variants.
Jaehee: What made you become a fan of Zen?
MC, a lesbian who only pretends to like Zen because it make Jaehee happy: Uh. His acting?
Haha, aw, that gets me a Zen heart. Deep down he's afraid he's a bad actor coasting by on his looks.
Haaa. V told Seven that Mint Eye is a religious group who were angry Rika rejected them for the party, but that everything is solved now.
Juin is complaining that the report Jaehee made on the coffee shop is TOO GOOD. His father's girlfriend wants to run a coffee shop and will probably be given the main branch, and Jumin wants to sabotage that. MC tells him not to let his personal feelings interfere and be kinder to Jaehee.
So he messages MC asking her to keep an eye on Seven and Jaehee and make sure they don't get up to anything?
MC: Hmm? What? I can't really see your text~ You want me to help them?
MC, that is not how text messaging works, but I salute you.
Flashback to four years ago. V tells Jumin that Rika proposed to him. So what's the loading screen about? Apparently Jumin fired his last few assistants for having an affair with his father. He'd hire a man if any applied. V picks out Jaehee from the pile of resumes. "She's quite young, she must have graduated early. Expert at Word, processing industrial engineering information, foreign languages...and black belt in judo?"
Jumin: Hmm, if she makes some changes...
Jahee got Zen a nice coffee set since he basically didn't own any crockery. He rings MC asking for advice on a gift to give back, and she suggests coffee making supplies, because the game would not take it well if I sabotaged him by suggesting a kitten.
JAEHEEEEEE the reason you've been told to redo the report isn't that you weren't good enough it's that you are TOO GOOD FOR THAT JERK JUMIN.
Seven and MC try to persuade Jaehee that with her ridiculous work ethic she can achieve anything she puts her mind to, and she shouldn't bury her potential in a job she hates.
MC: Trust yourself more. I'll always support you, whatever choice you make.
Jaehee, in a cute bubble covered in love hearts: Thank you. I don't feel alone any more. I can't wait for the day that I get to see you.
Zen comes to Jaehee's house and gives her a fancy coffee mill as a thank you gift. He says he saw how much she enjoyed writing the coffee report, and cheerfully asks how it's going.
Jaehee: Oh, I have to...rewrite it...
And then she starts crying. And apologises for him having to see ;_;
Zen: Did something happen D:
Jaehee: No. I just...have to do as I'm told.
Jaehee: But I keep getting greedy. Why am I saying this...I don't know who I am. I wanted to get a job and be independent. I thought I'd be happy. If I try to reach for happiness...it falls apart like grains of sand. It makes me angry. My happy family, my happy job...where can they be?
Zen: Jaehee...
Jaehee: I'm sorry. You must have lived a much harder life.
Zen: It will all be ok.
Jaehee: Will it?
Zen: If you have people who support you, you can be happy, Jaehee. So whatever choice you make from now on, I will support it. I will be your number one fan. Don't you know we all support you.
Jaehee: Yes, it made me go overboard.
Zen: Then it worked. Follow your happiness.
MY HEART
He comes into chat and says he's delaying going back to work to take her out to lunch tomorrow. Which is a big deal, he's as much of a workaholic as her and has been itching to get back to work.
Jaehee: I ended up whining to Zen earlier today.
Ohhhh Jaehee.
She talks about how her relatives wanted to her to get a job and move out the moment she finished highschool instead of going to college, and nearly kicked her out when they saw she "had the money" to buy a Zen dvd (this must have been 5 years ago, I didn't realise she was a Zen fan before she met him) She used work and the hope of independence to try to escape her overwhelming despair, and forgot how to be happy. MC was the one who helped her feel a sort of happiness she hasn't experienced since childhood.
Jaehee: I wanted to thank you again for listening to my boring story this late at night.
MC: Don't turn your eyes away from happiness from now on. Hold my hand!
Jaehee: I was shackled by reality but you led me on, and you handed me hope when I had forgotten all about it. I'm sure if I just believe in it, happiness will be waiting for me at the end.
;_;
Zen calls, saying he feels strange after seeing Jaehee.
Zen: Let's support her like family. I don't think anyone's ever told her she can have a dream, she feels alone. I've felt that way too.
MC: Yes, I know what it's like to struggle alone.
Zen: So we're all three the same. I'm glad I met you, it's good to see you with Jaehee.
I always feel a little guilty every time Yoosung gets depressed about something and goes to drown his sorrows in LoLoL. Let's just assume he gets himself together shortly after the end of Jaehee's path.
End of Day 8!
*checks times of tomorrow's chats before I got to bed*
There's one at 8pm called "Fired" D:
Haaaa. During a midnight chat...
Jaehee: I'm enjoying the coffee mill, I'll have to make you a cup :)
Zen: Can I come now? ;)
Jaehee: Zen, I know we are friends, but please refrain from those kinds of jokes.
Shut down.
Seven why do you own four sports cars. You spend all day indoors. He describes his presentation slides and they sound...very silly...Of course he could just be messing with Zen.
Seven: You can do anything with ur smartphone. Like u dating Jaehee...Oops. I mean being friends.
Shhh Seven you're breaking the plausible deniability.
So Jumin reads back through all this and his response is "I hope she's ready for the meeting with the cat hotel owner". Jesus, dude. Haaa and then he messages MC to ask if there's something she knows but doesn't feel able to say in the open chatroom.
"Seven might see it T_T All I'll say is the word 'stab'" vs "All I can say is to trust Jaehee"
I mean, I would kinda like to stab Jumin, but I don't think that's what they mean, so.
heh, apparently Jaehee spends most of the lunch with Zen talking about MC :D
She asks him to come with her to work to help give her courage before she goes into her meeting.
Zen: Won't Jumin get annoyed if he sees me here?
Jaehee: Whatever. Thank you for getting Seven to help with the slides.
Zen: omg
Zen rings MC and says "Jaehee can be fierce. I used to think women needed protecting, but she shattered my stereotypes. I'll have to respect her for real." Lol nice admission you don't respect women in general.
Awww, we don't get to see the presentation. But to Jumin's surprise the cat hotel owner loves it.
Jaehee says "I'm no longer the assistant who does whatever Mr Han says". Good for you, Jaehee!
Also, V rang Seven and said he has the flu and can't make the party. HMMM.
I have some vague curiosity to play the possessive, selfish MC/Yoosung bad ends, but based on the bad choices I'm avoiding I have ZERO interest in playing the bad Jaehee ends, MC is SUCH A JERK TO HER, always siding with Jumin and crushing Jaehee's dreams. NOPE.
SPEAKING OF JERKS, it's time for Jumin to berate Jaehee for doing the presentation "wrong".
omg, she doesn't need glasses? But short hair and glasses was a condition of being hired, I guess so she'd look less attractive to Jumin's dad?? (It certainly hasn't made her any less attractive to me)
Ahaha so Jaehee went with Seven's suggestion to use longcat as the mascot, instead of Jumin's cat Elizabeth the Third.
Jaehee: They seemed to prefer longcat.
Jumin: Of course, it's popular worldwide.
MC: Then isn't that better for the company?
Jumin: It has to be better for me!! The goal is to increase Elizabeth the Third's media presence so she can do well in the upcoming cat show!
Jumin you are EXACTLY LIKE YOUR FATHER, but with CATS. Omg he didn't even tell Jaehee to use Elizabeth? He just expected her to figure it out?!
No, game, I am not picking "Guess she has no time for the company now that she's dating Zen"
OMG so afterwards Jumin rings MC?? Expecting her to be sympathetic?? READ THE ROOM JUMIN.
"You should not mix your personal life and work". JUMIN. LOOK IN A DAMN MIRROR.
I will be curious to see if the Jumin path can redeem this asshole...
Oh god Yoosung why are you so gullible. THERE IS NOT A SECRET LOLOL EXPANSION BURIED IN YOUR SCHOOL'S OVAL.
*tensely waits for the 8pm chat "Fired"*
MC: How did things go with Jumin?
Jahee: You don't have to worry. Mr Han told me not to come into work tomorrow *smiling Jaehee surrounded by flowers emoji*
Fair enough!
Zen and MC are supportive and happy for her and Jaehee feels great :D
Jaehee rings MC to thank her for all her support.
Jaehee: I could never have felt this connected, even with Zen, who's my idol. I want to be deeply connected to you. Very slowly...but eventually everything. I am very patient. Perhaps I've become too progressive. I'm satisfied with just looking at you. Thank you for listening...sweet dreams.
No, it's cool Jaehee, you won't have to just look :D :D
Also she said she had a "proposal" for MC at the party and I KNOW it's not a marriage proposal but part of me wants it to be. I JUST SHIP THESE TWO SO HARD.
She says she's going to sleep in and read books :D
WAIT
I WAS ACTUALLY
PLANNING ON LEAVING THE HOUSE TOMORROW??
FOR MULTIPLE HOURS IN A ROW??
oh noooooooo
Ok. If I am well enough to go out tomorrow I'll just write off the day wrt Mystic Messenger, and use my save file to start again the day after. Damn, I should have timed this better, I want to see what happens next! It's not like me leaving the house happens very often...
Hmmm...I'm going to a convention for a day, and will definitely need some downtime anyway, if there's free wifi I could use that...but I don't want to undermine my con experience to play a game, even one I'm quite enjoying. And there's like 5 chats during the time I might plausibly be out.
DAMMIT CHERITZ. (I realise this would be a lot easier if I was actually playing it on my phone)
On the plus side, if I end up being too sick to go out this'll put a silver lining on it.
Anyway.
Yoosung dug his school's oval and found...an old photo of him with Rika's now-dead puppy. That is...more effort than I'd have expected Seven to go to for a prank. Aww and now Yoosung is thinking about how he used to want to be a vet for Rika, and what he's doing with his life now. He's changed his user icon to his Student ID, which shows he's enrolled in the department of veterinary science.
Interesting that they blanked the year. The previous Cheritz games were explicitly set in whatever year the game was made but I guess this is set Now. And hmm if I make it set in 2019 then Eri (and Yeonho and Lance) from Nameless would be...20? 19? Old enough to interact with these guys as peers.
Ah, poor Yoosung. The problem with games like this is once you've helped someone on their path you want them to always have that happy ending. So I hope there's space for that for everyone in the end.
The next chat is just with Jumin and entitled "I can’t understand". That's because you're a sociopath, Jumin. I peeked at tomorrow's chat titles and it looks like he goes totally off the rails.
Jumin: Here is MC, Assistant Kang's loyal supporter.
CONGRATULATIONS JUMIN YOU FINALLY NOTICED.
Jumin: She was doing fine, why is she rebelling now? She said when she got hired that all she wants is a stable job and an environment to focus on work. So I provided both and everything was fine. Zen or Luciel might tell her good job for rebelling against me. But I feel betrayed.
Jumin. Everyone tried to explain to you that she was miserable and would (and should!) leave if things didn't improve. If you didn't listen that's on you.
Aw, he does say he hopes she finds a job that helps her. He's an oblivious ass, but not actively malicious.
Haaa, so I saw somewhere that a bad end involves MC becoming his assistant. But here he just said "MC, you...you don't want to be my assistant. Never mind. Good night."
Awww Jaehee writes Jumin this really sweet thank you for everything positive she got from the job. He does not deserve this angel.
Jaehee: I like you so much
Me: :D
Jaehee: It's not a romantic feeling, but...
Me: D:
*quietly erases from my personal canon*
So! I did manage to see everything while at the convention, but was a little distracted by FRIENDS trying to TALK TO ME just because they HAVEN'T SEEN ME IN A YEAR. Sheesh. Anyway...
Jumin: Eternity only applies to cats, nasty personalities, and cash.
He gets annoyed at Seven for showing off his fancier car and "giving Assistant Kang advice about happiness and whatnot". So he goes to Seven's house and TAKES ONE OF HIS CARS.
Jaehee is going for a walk in the park and rings MC to say they should go to a dessert cafe together, and that she's thinking of taking up baking. She gets worried that MC is bored when she doesn't say anything for a while. "I think I'm getting greedy now...I want you to like me more. Ugh, this isn't the time to say that...Stupid."
JAEHEE.
Zen says he doesn't like Jumin in part because he reminds Zen of his older brother. Guess I'll be learning that angsty backstory soon!
MC: Jumin do you not know how to drive?
Jumin: I do! I just usually have a driver. But I remembered from the DMV which was the brake and which the accelerator. Haha!
Jumin. Jumin that is not all there is to driving.
Jumin: Considering that it was my first actual drive, wasn't it great?
JUMIN
MC: Is this about Jaehee?
Jumin: No. I've been used to saying goodbye to people since I was little. I should go get a drink. Do I still have some vodka?
MC: Or maybe go to the hospital??
Jumin: I've found a new way of relieving stress! I should get a car...no, three cars! If you have a car you don't need, please give it to me.
JUMIN. JUMIN NO.
Jaehee you do NOT need to go to Jumin's house and make sure he's ok, he is a grown adult and you don't work for him any more. Haa ok "It is my duty to know whether he's able to attend the party."
???????
Seven says the hackers are clearly a threat again, and they should all stay in their houses while he contacts V. So Jaehee...should stay with Jumin? OH NO
She rings, feeling frustrated that there are clearly secrets within the RFA. She talks about wanting to see MC then says "And...there's something else I want to say, but I won't just yet. Women have to be much more careful in approaching other women. I'll advance one step at a time...I hope someday I can analyse this feeling I have towards you. I hope when I figure it out...you feel the same way too."
GAME. GAME STOP MESSING WITH ME LIKE THIS.
Currently the only way I can reconcile the mixed messages is if Jaehee is an aromantic bisexual, who wants to get into a committed sexual-but-not-romantic relationship with MC. Which I could roll with, but it seems unlikely to be what they're going for.
BACK FROM THE CON AND SAW EVERYTHING WITH MINUTES TO SPARE!!
Oh god poor Jaehee is stuck in a house with Jumin.
Jaehee: Thankfully he doesn't have any injuries. Please don't do that again.
Jumin: I don't recommend it. Don't ever do it, Assistant Kang and MC.
Jaehee: We won't because we have COMMON SENSE
Jumin: We will have a free and equal relationship now.
Jaehee: Yes, it will take some getting used to.
Haa then he asks if MC wants to be his assistant and alas my only option are "Will you pay me a lot" and "Hmm~ I will consider it but..."
WHERE'S MY "HELL NO"
Jaehee expresses her own hell no as politely as she can manage.
Jumin: Now I should call you Jaehee. I was comfortable while you worked for me.
Jaehee: I learned a lot as well.
Jumin: Except for when Rika died, they are all good memories.
Jaehee: ...I learned a lot.
Jumin: Today may be the last day you see Elizabeth the Third. You should say goodbye, or she'll be devasted.
Jaehee: Do we really need to talk like this when we're in the same house?
Jumin: This is more comfortable.
MC: Lol
Jaehee: It may not seem that way but Mr Han tends to be timid.
Jumin: I just like this messenger. ...I'm going to bed.
Jumin is such an utter failboat of a human being it's actually sort of endearing.
Jahee leaves with a security guard, and V arrives unannounced. He wanted to make sure Jumin was ok, and to ask him to take over the RFA because he has TERMINAL LIVER CANCER??
Jumin grabs him.
Jumin: Everything you't hiding, your secrets, they're all fine. I'll trust whatever you do and follow you.
It never occurred to me to ship V and Jumin before but hmm!
Jumin: You made a mistake if you thought you could fool me. How long have we been friends? Drop the bullshit.
V: I...have to go.
Jumin: Where?!
V: Where Rika is.
Jumin: What?! You're not...
V: please, just let me take the burden...these people aren't just hackers. It's just my karma.
V and Seven go into chat to say the hacker is taken care of. Seven is jubilant, V just says there was a "misunderstanding". Oh, V :(
MC: These are bad people.
V: Bad...or sad. They were just angry at us.
Zen: Seven, you should track them down and sue them!
Seven: I'm not exactly on the side of the law here.
MC: Seven, where do you really work at...
Seven: It's a secret ;)
V: Thank you for carrying on Rika's work, everyone.
Zen: I'm sure she would have been happy
Seven: Yeah...I hope Rika likes it.
V: ...
We see a flashback of Rika telling V she's convinced the cashier was laughing at her.
Rika: Noone ever taught me how to stop people laughing at me. They only made me more timid. What did I do wrong...? Why do I have to live like this?! *sounds of glass breaking* I hate it! Everything!
V: Rika, stop, you're going to hurt yourself.
Rika: I wish I'd get hurt...that would make things easier...
V: It's all okay...Your heart is more important than what others think...your pure desire to help others, to love. You have so much sadness, but so much innocence.
Rika: It's strange...looking into your eyes makes me feel so comfortable...I feel like you're always right. Should I trust you?
V: I hope your reflection in my eyes shows you the truth. I love your innocence as well as your instablity.
Me: Oof.
Rika: I know, your eyes are saying it. Your eyes always say the most beautiful things. And with those eyes...you take photos of the sun.
I have very mixed feelings about how this whole Rika and V thing is shaping up.
Seven rings MC.
Seven: I can't believe the party is tomorrow...I had no idea you'd take Jaehee's route...I refer to the game in my imagination. Thank you for being the light for Jaehee.
Zen had a dream where V and Rika were going somewhere and all he could see was their backs.
WOOO PARTY TIME
19 guests, all new! I didn't use a walkthrough, so screwed up a couple, but will try and get them on Zen's route. I probably won't be able to get as many new ones but we'll see!
Have I mentioned that Jaehee is pronounced like Chay-ee by some people and Jay-shee by others? But I think Yoosung is calling her noona (big sis), aw.
Zen stop flirting with MC you are barking up the wrong tree.
Jumin: These last few days, Assistant Kang changed so much. Reading previous messages, I now realise you played a big part. I've been thinking all night and there's an issue I don't know how to fix. But I thought you'd know what to do.
Me: Aw, does he want advice on how to make things up to Jaehee?
Jumin: There is someone being forced into making a decision because of fear. What can I say to change his mind?
Me: OHHHH
Ha, there's a single "(gives advice)" dialogue option.
Jumin: I can't stay by his side, I'm busy. Should I send some of my security guards?
MC: (explains)
Jumin: He needs to...feel like I'm by his side?
I'm guessing she had to bring out a whiteboard, maybe recruit random guests to act things out. Jumin doesn't really get the whole FEELINGS thing.
Jumin: I don't understand. Why don't you work as my assistant for a while and think this through with me?
HAHAHA
Jumin: I'll meet all your conditions. You won't regret working with me.
MC: (thinks about it)
Me: HONEY NO
Jaehee, over the loudspeaker: Is Mr Han here?
Me: JAEHEE COME SAVE MC FROM JUMIN
Jaehee: You must return the RFA member you just took with you. If anyone knows someone qualified to be Mr Han's next Chief Assistant, please give a reccomendation.
Various Women: HELLO MR HAN :D <3
Jumin: D:
Me: :D
She's blushing!
Jaehee: Love between a man and woman is beautiful, but I think a friendship between two women can be just as powerful.
DAMMIT
*headcanons this as a translation issue based on nothing but my own preference*
Jahee: I want a fresh start. I looked in my bank account and I have enough saved to create something small...and I'd like to create it with you. So that it's not my small space, but 'our' space. Al you'd need to contribute is your ideas and positive mind. It'll be at least 20 times more fun than being an assistant. MC, won't you create a space of your own with me?
THE END
(YES. YES SHE WILL)
Jaehee's voice actor, Jungwha Yang, sounds a little younger and less formal and intense.
Normal Ending:
Let's see if I set this save up right!
Interesting, the party CGs are showing up in the gallery even though "this" MC hasn't seen them yet.
ONE GUEST. I GOT AN F.
Next time I'll have to be more careful and get zero :D
Aww everyone's nice about how hard MC worked "regardless of how many guests came".
Jumin just asks MC to be his assistant with no leadup involving V. Instead of taking the mike, Jaehee just butts in in person.
Jaehee: Don't tell me...are you offering her the assistant job? No. I was planning on taking MC.
Jumin: Taking her where?
Jaehee: I have a better offer. I'm planning on opening a bakery cafe. I would like you to do it with me.
Jumin: When 70% of small business close within the first year?
Fuuuck yoooou Jumin
Jumin offers recognition and a stable income, Jaehee offers being treated like a human being.
(...hot)
THE END
Aw, that was cute, I'm glad I saw it. I mean IT'S NOT LIKE MC'S ANSWER IS IN ANY DOUBT lol. And the Good End never actually says what Jaehee's creating, though I was assuming something like a coffee shop.
Overall...I enjoyed that route a lot, but I wish the shippiness level had been more consistent rather than jerking me around like that. There's definitely space for it to become romantic, though, and while the Zen thing annoyed me in some ways it does underline that Jaehee seems genuinely uninterested in dating men.
Ah, going through the guests I am reminded how VERY RACIST the middle eastern Rich Prince guest is. Anyway, now I'm at 75 hourglasses! So I'm going to splurge and watch Jaehee's After Ending (which costs 20)
AFTER ENDING:
Ahhhh YOOSUNG has become Jumin's assistant, oh god. It sounds like he's not doing a great job, and Jumin is a jerk as always, but honestly it's a step up for Yoosung from lying around depressed all day. Though I don't like the sound of Jumin encouraging him to quit school to take up the job permanently. Let's assume it's a learning experience and then Yoosung quits, inspired to find a job he actually likes.
It's been six months and MC and Jaehee's cafe is having it's opening!
...and noone's heard from V :(
Everyone arrives and everyone but Jumin admires the lovely cafe.
THE END
Wow that was...short. But cute, I guess? I feel like it's saying some weird thing about gender but I'm not Korean or a woman so what do I know.
ANYWAY. I DID IT. AFTER THREE YEARS OF FRUSTRATION I FINALLY FINISHED JAEHEE'S ROUTE. Now to play the others, I guess, though they don't call to me the same way.
