Mystic Messenger: Seven Route (Good end, normal end, after ending)

[alias_sqbr]

Masterlist of links

I liked this a lot! It had a hurt/comfort angsty dynamic I really connected with. And it turned out Seven was actually a secret kuudere :D

Content note: child abuse, drugging and brain washing, iffy portrayal of mental illness and alcoholism

Seven is surprised by a visitor...



HUH

CLEARLY FANNISH OSMOSIS FAILED ME

VANDERWOOD IS A REAL PERSON AFTER ALL

Vanderwood complains that Seven is late with work and his house is a mess. Seven is cheerfully unrepentant and Vanderwood sighs and says they'll clean again. "Sometimes I feel like your maid."

Vanderwood's appearance and voice is pretty androgynous, for a while I thought they were a man Seven just referred to as a woman to be shitty, but I think they really are a woman (who Seven refers to as a maid to be shitty). There may be some pronoun weirdness below because of me changing my mind.

Haa, after watching MC and Seven flirt in a silly way, Jaehee says "You make a good couple" and she 100% means it as a a backhanded compliment to MC.

Seven says the messenger was hacked again and that everyone but MC will get extra security. Meanwhile he and Vanderwood will watch MC via CCTV. (MC is 100% fine with this)

Zen: His maid? o.O Are they...close??
Jumin: If you're curious about her I'm sure Luciel can set you up on a date.
MC: If you have a thing for maids just say so.

A cute call from Seven where he apologies very sincerely for the hacker getting through his security, and promises to keep MC safe.

Seven: When I was in college my friends and I used to try to hack each other all the time and noone ever got me.
MC: You went to college?
Seven: Haha, oops, I'm not supposed to talk about those sorts of details. But I can tell you I graduated early.

Haha aw Seven made a fire spouting guard dog robot. "I thought it would be perfect for MC since they're both cute".
MC: You're cuter!
Seven :D
Jaehee: :/

Jaehee: He made that in a few days...Luciel may seem ridiculous but sometimes I get surprised at what a genius he is.

Yoosung: If I was a girl and got that as a gift I'd be happy. It's so romantic!

Aw.

Yoosung is getting a kick out of having bodyguards and feeling like a movie star. And Jaehee seems happy to be surrounded by handsome men. Zen is less of a fan.

Seven: I wish there was a camera in the room you're in instead of just the hallway.
MC: Do you want me to put on a special show for you? ;)
Seven: Please! Keep it pg-13! There are kids listening!

Yoosung: You should give MC that robot puppy to show how much you're worrying about her.
Seven: Worrying? I'm just nervous and want to make gifts and can't focus and keep wanting to turn on the messenger and watch the CCTV just in case she's in the hallway and I want to call her!! ...maybe my brain is melting because I had too much caffeine?
Yoosung: It's because you have feelings for MC.
Seven: FEELINGS?!
Yoosung: Yeah, all the relationship advice books say if you have feelings for someone you worry about them and keep checking your phone etc
Seven: I read Expert Playboy and it didn't mention anything like that.
Yoosung: Read proper books. I'll recommend you some shoujo manga.

wtf my choices are "Why would you read weird books like that" and "I think taking action is more important than listening to a boy who's never dated girls before. I'm ready!"

Where's "Listen to Yoosung and give me the damn robot"???

Sorry Yoosung, if it's a choice between insulting you or shoujo...

Yoosung: She says she's ready :D
Seven: Uhhhhh...? How am I supposed to react here????

Oh god he had no idea she was sincerely flirting with him? Amazing :D

Yoosung: You two get along really well!! And she always responds to your jokes lol.
Seven: Haha. Well, we're just playing around.
Yoosung: And you made her a robot.
Seven: Well, no, that's just...it created itself.
MC: Created with the blessing of God Seven!
Yoosung: I'm just saying, all that's left is the start of a romantic relationship!
Seven: Romantic lolololol
MC: I think it sounds nice <3
Seven: I want to live in a world where that's possible. But I'm going to spend my whole life staring at the computer lol. Romantic relationships are not for me >.<
Yoosung: That doesn't make any sense!
Seven: I don't think I make sense either. I don't know why I made that robot. Should I throw it away?
MC: No?!
Seven: Anyway, I also made a tripter(twitter) bot to spread photos of Zen around to make him more popular. I make the world a better place behind the curtain by catching hackers, but Zen has to purify the world where everyone can see him!
MC: ...you asked his permission, right?
Seven: The point is that I have a heart that is pure and firm like a glass marble that whips out bots and robots. There's no way I have lovey dovey feelings for someone. lol.
MC: Seven...
Yoosung: Seven...I don't think you're being honest....
Seven: What if I'm honest and something bad happens? ...ANYWAY. I HAVE WORK. BYE YOOSUNG. TAKE CARE MC. *leaves*

Yoosung: ...yeah he's into you.
MC: I hope so haha
Yoosung: You guys are good together! Anyway, I have to return to my home world.

GAME. MY ONLY OPTIONS ARE "Aren't you gaming too much?" and "HAVE FUN BEING A SOCIAL OUTCAST"?? SORRY, YOOSUNG, I'D BE NICE, CONSIDERING HOW SWEET AND HELPFUL YOU WERE JUST BEING, BUT APPARENTLY MC DOESN'T HAVE IT IN HER.

Immediately afterwards Seven rings MC to make sure she's ok and ramble about how he wishes he could do more to protect her, then says if she gets bored to wave at the security camera and remember she's not alone. He makes zero reference to the conversation with Yoosung, which I imagine he's carefully locked away in a a mental box along with the thought that he might be into MC, or that she might be into him.

(If this was real life I'd respect his statement about not being romantic but we're on his route in an otome, so)

I would have liked the opportunity for MC to express some hurt feelings over Seven being so dismissive of her OPEN AND UNAMBIGUOUS INTEREST, but never mind. I am imagining that she is a little hurt, but pretending to be fine with it.

And the next chat is called "Seven's True Feelings"...

Jaehee: He should stop getting so distracted worrying about MC.
MC: I'm sorry I'm so attractive T_T

Zen thinks Seven is definitely into MC but Jaehee seems to have trouble imagining Seven having sincere feelings about anything.

Zen is uncomfortable with the twitter bot but Jaehee thinks it's good PR. Zen appreciates how hard Seven works to help him but wonders if he's living vicariously through Zen being able to be in the spotlight.

And then a very cute call from Yoosung where he admits to having been a little into MC when she first arrived "but now someone else's heart beats much harder for you". SEE SEVEN, IT'S NOT THAT HARD.

Ohhhh Seven's main job is working for an intelligence agency? Probably?

Jumin doesn't understand why Seven helps Zen without compensation, and Yoosung tries to explain this thing called "friends". Yoosung talks about kinda missing having his mum around to nag him to study.

Seven: I don't have parents to scold me. Haha.
MC: Did you run away from home?
Seven: Don't guess about me haha. You'll get hurt! I don't want that. Things will get complicated. 707 is supposed to just laugh things off and make fun of everything. With God in my heart! I am 707!
MC: Hmmm....
Seven: Don't get serious about it. I am comforted by the fact that God is always in my heart. I can't ever desire or have... what I don't deserve.

SEVENNNNNN

MC: You can have anything you want!
Seven: I really hope so lolol. Lolol. ...what's wrong with me. I feel like my brain is a memory card that can't save anything.
MC: Just be yourself.
Seven: I don't even know what I'm like any more. I feel like...I wanna travel to the moon! I wouldn't be a secret agent there.
MC: Let's go to the moon someday.
Seven: I'd love to go with you...I have to get myself together and work!
MC: If it gets too tough just think of me and feel better.
Seven: Oh...I can't stop thinking about you though. Haha, I'm saying gibberish again. BYE.

Oh gosh this is charming. Emotionally incoherent nerds are my kryptonite.

A sweet sad and confusing message from Seven. "I'm not greedy for people. I only had God...but god keeps pushing me away. The ripple keeps getting bigger..."

Story mode! (I always imagine this being said by Thomas Sanders)

In the apartment, a mechanical voice says "The special security system has been activated."

UH OH

END OF DAY 5

Jaehee posts a weird email she got. It later turns out that everyone except Seven got one.


This is the first time I've seen the Mint Eye logo up close, and it looks kinda like a bird. Also that font looks like fake Arabic, and Mint Eye headquarters looked kinda like a mosque...*side eyes Cheritz*

Jaehee: Normally I'd ask Luciel to look into it but he seems to have become very sentimental...Watching him so lost but with work piling up, I don't feel so good. But we've never been very friendly so I don't know what to say. I hope Zen or Yoosung, or even you, MC, give him some encouragement.

Awww. And look how she doesn't assume The Girl should be the one to cheer him up.

Zen: I know Seven said not to speculate, but I wonder if he's like FBI or CSI agents on tv, where if his cover's blown everyone around him is in danger. Even knowing him for years I don't know much about him....but we can be here for him. I can give some killer advice on how to be a true man!

Seven: Sorry I got sentimental last night, I'm all better now!
Jumin: Why don't you go visit MC?
MC: Good thinking!
Seven: If you meet someone like me your life will be messed up...ANYWAY GOTTA GO DO WORK

Jumin and MC agree that Yoosung could do with help from his family, then Jumin says "Excuse me, there is something I must do to help that boy". Hmm!

Vanderwood complains that Seven is behind on work because he's too distracted by the RFA hacker.
Seven: Agent Vanderwood, if you stall the boss for time I can finish the work for RFA and focus on the work for the agency.
Vanderwood: No! I already covered for you being in the RFA. If the higher ups get the wrong idea they'll take us out! This is why we're not allowed to have personal lives. I know you're worried, but first we have to be alive, right Agent 707? Even if they put you back, they'll give you a new identity. You know how excruciating that is.
Seven: I do. *mutters* Get your shit together, Luciel. But I just feel like something will happen to MC...

I think Vanderwood is using the Korean for 07 (gong-chil-ssi, implying they're peers) instead of English like everyone else. Maybe that's Seven's actual codename, like...OH. LIKE 007.

Zen: Let me know if you need any relationship advice. I think Seven's just confused because he hasn't felt this way before.
MC: Thanks. It's like I have a big sister!
Zen: Sister?! Do I have to show you my shirtless pic again?

Jaehee: I hear birds singing and the air is clear.
Zen: Jumin went on a business trip?
Jahee: And he took his cat *happy Jaehee emoticon I have never seen before, not even on her route*
MC: I miss Seven, I want to joke around.
Zen: His jokes are funny to you?!
Jaehee: MC and Luciel's conversation goes beyond the realm we can understand.

Zen expresses worry about Yoosung too. I wonder where this is going.

Yoosung: JUMIN HAN!! WHY DID YOU CALL MY MOM?! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!

"My mother spent 24 years as a teacher at public schools. She makes her own soap. She is a licensed realtor. She is the director of the Phoenix Senior Citizen's Center. SHE IS THE MOST DILIGENT PERSON ON EARTH AND SHE IS COMING TO VISIT MY ROOM. I have to go clean so I don't get ten hours of lectures D:"

MC, Zen, and Seven all agree Jumin shouldn't have violated Yoosung's agency like that. Jaehee later mutters that it would be nice if she could ring Jumin's dad every time he proposes some dumbass cat project.

Seven says the emails came from the hacker, and that he's traced their location. He's determined to go there alone, even when Zen offers to come along.

Seven's place:
Vanderwood: Hey! No working on RFA stuff!
Seven: They're in danger.
Vanderwood: Our clients are dangerous too.
Seven: Yes. We shouldn't have taken this job.
Vanderwood: The time to decide that was three months ago when we took it! We can't choose our clients but we could have adjusted the deadline. But it's too late now! You have to be alive to help the RFA, remember?

Mint Eye headquarters:
Ray: He's tracked us? We'll have to speed up the plan. Luciel...your talent, your hope, we'll destroy it all. Heaven has no invitation for you.

Seven rings MC saying he's had her voice in his head all day.

Seven: I feel good when I listen to your voice, I want to keep listening to it...ah, I'm talking to myself.
MC: I talk to myself too!
(Bad!MC: Maybe you have ADHD. BAD GAME)
Seven: When you're on the phone? I keep forgetting my place when I listen to your voice...this isn't good.

Haha, poor Yoosung, apparently his mother brought enough luggage to stay for some time, and his bodyguards keep saying "You missed a spot" while he's cleaning. He wants to go help Seven find the hacker, and it's not clear how much of that is wanting an excuse to escape being lectured.

Jumin is calmly unrepentant about calling Yoosung's mum.

Jumin: What's wrong with leading a more productive life with the help of his mother. I'm helping him become independent.
MC: Not all families have tight bonds.
Jumin: Families are beautiful.
Zen: >:(

Vanderwood: Do you have feelings for this girl?
Seven: No, she's just important to me.
Vanderwood: Don't go there. What if you have to change identities? Or someone hurts her to get to you? Get rid of all your petty feelings and work. That's the best thing you can do for her. Make sure my next target won't be you.

Seven rings MC. He talks about a job where he got trapped in a boiler room for several days and thought he'd die. It occurred to him then that he'd leave no trace on the world when he died. "It's strange. Now that I'm aware of you...I constantly think about who I am. Why is that? I'm just hollow...I keep wanting to know more about you but I'm afraid to approach. God, what am I doing. I'm sorry, I keep saying weird things. I'll hang up now. Good bye."

I AM HAVING FEELINGS.

The voice actor is doing a good job, going from shaky to I'm Fine I Swear to weakly confused to heartfelt.

Seven: I only wanted to show the members of the RFA my bright and fun side. Because the work I do is dark and filthy. I didn't want to tell anyone about it. But if something bad happens because of me...
MC: I trust nothing bad will happen. But I do want to know what you do.
Seven: Honestly the place I work for is a complete shithole. It's the only path I could choose so I don't want to whine about it. But nothing good will come out of you knowing. If we stay as we are, where we can't meet, and you're neither friend nor family, you'll be safe.
MC: That's so sad...we can't even be friends?
Seven: I don't know. Do we even have a relationship? We just talked a bit in this chatroom...and of course I enjoyed those conversations, but they're pointless for me. I try to laugh as much as I can here, because of the dark place I'm in. This shithole...is probably the place that suits me best. I'll be more careful.
MC: Think about yourself, too. Not just me.
Seven: You're always so kind. You're a good person. I should have told V to send you away, you could have deleted this app and be free. But it's too late.
MC: I don't regret meeting you!
Seven: Thank you. But please don't think I'm a good person. I'll just take care of this hacker, and some other things, and I'll go back to being the same old Seven.

The apartment: The special security system has been reset.

Jaehee and Yoosung worry about Seven's evident depression and wish there was something they could do. Yoosung is up late playing games while his mother is asleep.
Yoosung: Ack, my mother made a noise, if she sees me up this late she'll make me make soap!
Jahee: Go be a good boy ^^

*can almost ship it if I squint. Maybe in a few years when they have less of a maturity gap*

Zen's found the twitter bot Seven made to post his selfies, and his worries about ethics evaporated when he saw all the breathless flavour text about his hotness. "I almost forgot Seven wrote this, it reminds me of a highschool girl". "I should take a selfie while taking off my shirt. I wonder what comment Seven will add to that photo lolol. If I dare to make a recommendation: 'What's dangerous isn't this handsome face. It's what you'll imagine will happen afterwards ^^'"

*does not have to squint to ship this*

Jumin: Seven, the stuff you said last night...
Seven: It was just that thing where it's late and you look at the stars and get sentimental and send your friends weird texts. I'm fine!
Jumin: Ok. I'm enjoying my holiday...why don't you go on one when you're done with all this?
Seven: That would be nice... Mr Director, how do I focus?
Jumin: Kill all your emotions :)
MC: You can't focus because of me, lol
Seven: What? No! Yes no. No yes.

JUMIN

Seven: Let's invite the emotional labour group "Cry Only" so that Mr Director can expand his emotional horizons. Once you've cried out your emotions they might disappear haha.
Jumin: I'm fairly good at suppressing my emotions by myself ^_^

I'm still not sure I can be bothered devoting so many days of my life to Jumin's route, but the idea of seeing him crack and reveal all his repressed emotions does have some appeal.

One of the frustratingly untranslated parts of this game is the little sound emotes that happen when the characters post chibi emoticons of themselves. There's a couple I get, eg Yoosung's happy sprite says "LOLOL" while Seven's smug smile says "Hello!" in English.

Anyway, I just realised that Jaehee's "looking over her glasses at hot guys" emoticon says something that starts with "Zen" lol.

I have completely failed to find a translation of these little phrases online, though I'm sure one exists. But I did find this interesting post by a Korean speaker about some of the translation choices and cultural context.

Ok I'm going to try listing what I hear as they show up and see how many I can figure out. EDIT: Doing so helped me construct better searches and I found someone who translated them all! Which is also a nice way to hear everyone's voices.

The ones that gain the most extra context: Jaehee's "that's sexy" expression is "I have ordered one of Zen's dvds", Yoosung's blank smile is "[older respected male friend], why are you like this" and Seven's lovey dovey face is "I love you Dr Pepper", lol.

Unlabelled Story Modes always make me anxious because it's usually Ray saying something creepy, and sure enough, he's planning to break into the apartment through the roof to avoid Seven's security camera.
Ray: The original plan was to implant that MC girl in the RFA and steal all the information while everyone's caught up in the party...

THAT was the plan? THAT IS SO DUMB AND IT ANNOYS ME THAT IT KINDA WORKED.

"MC, I'll invite you to Magenta first. And then I'll delete Luciel with my own hands."

Seven: Did you hear laughter? D:

He immediately rings MC to make sure she's ok and get her to look around for trouble.

Seven: I want to quit this job.
Vanderwood: Don't be ridiculous. This is the only place that will hide your identity.
Seven: Namuamitabil Hanshimbayabaramitdasi jokyon ohgo plzhelp
Vanderwood: Hey are you chanting to Buddha? You're Catholic!

When Vanderwood's not looking Seven checks the apartment log and notices that someone has been messing with the "special security system" (eg the BOMB) He freaks out and warns her to stay put until he gets there.

Aw, Jumin sees this and rings MC to check she's ok for himself.

Seven tells Yoosung to tell Jumin that the special security system has been hacked. HMM.

Vanderwood is on the phone with her boss. "Hasn't he decoded the CSS in the shortest amount of time? Yes I'm sure you regret not giving him mental training. We should have carried it out by force. He'll come to his senses once we've given him a taste of what real torture is."

VANDERWOOD. I THOUGHT YOU WERE KINDA FRIENDS.

(Also...CSS as in...webpage style sheets? Used to add colours and pretty fonts and stuff?? I mean Seven did design the app...IS HE ENSLAVED BY EVIL WEB DESIGNERS)

Robodog (Seven's voice actor doing a muppet impression): WOOF! THE GARAGE IS A NO SMOKING ZONE!
Vanderwood: What the hell...hey, wait, Seven, why are you packing our stuff into that car?
RoboDog: I TOLD YOU TO TAKE OUT THAT CIGARETTE *spits fire*
Vanderwood: AHHHHHH
Seven: Sorry, I have somewhere to go. Bye ^_^

Seven rings MC, sweetly worried and apologetic but reassuring her everything will be fine. Since he doesn't want his car to be traced, he's going to carry his hacking equipment by foot.

I AM QUITE TENSE. This has been playing out over several hours worth of chats and I just want him to get there and give MC a hug! The next chat isn't for an hour and has an unlabelled Story Mode /o\

Ray: Saviour, I will return with the girl. I will not betray you. You know I am not like him.

Wait, there's a bad end at 9pm, will things not be settled until then? /o\ I guess it takes six hours to drive between Seven's house and MC's? I didn't think Korea HAD anywhere six hours apart. Maybe I shouldn't be interpreting things literally. But if I have to play a real time game I will imagine it happening in real time, dammit!

AHHH RAY IS IN THE APARTMENT
Ray: I've come to take you to paradise ^_^
MC: I'm not going anywhere!

And then Seven shows up!!
Ray (who is wearing a mask): All you do is ruin my life!
Seven: You know me?
Ray, taking off the mask: I'm sure you've long forgotten me.
Seven: Saeran?! Why are you here? D:
Ray: You don't deserve to say that name.
Seven: Why are you doing this? Rika told me that you...
Ray: You don't deserve to say that name either. I remember every one of your lies. I know you changed your name to get rid of me.



Ray: So I can do things to this girl to make you suffer...
MC: Seven, I love you!
Seven: Take me instead!

Security system: Stranger detected. After backup is complete, the bomb will be activated. 20 seconds left...

Seven: We all have to get out of here! MC, now!
MC: *bites Ray and escapes*
Ray: I'll get payback for all of this next time!!! *runs*
Security system: Stranger gone. Disengaging.

MC: Are you ok?! Who was that?
Seven: My twin brother :( Please keep him a secret so noone gets hurt.

PHEW

There was the option to be all HUG ME! STAY THE NIGHT!! but that seemed like the douche option in that context. I think "I love you!" might have been too, but I mean. SHE WAS ABOUT TO DIE.

Seven: Sorry for barging into your space. I'll just sit here in the corner and work until I'm sure the system is safe, then I'll leave.
MC: I'm happy to have you here!
Zen: WAIT. YOU'RE ALONE TOGETHER. WHAT IF SEVEN TRIES SOMETHING???
MC: That's...really not the issue...
Zen: MEN ARE GENETICALLY DIFFERENT TO WOMEN, MC! No, it's fine, his intentions are pure...
MC: *has intentions which are not remotely pure, but resists saying so because it would be rude when Seven has BEEN QUITE CLEAR ABOUT NOT WANTING ANYTHING LIKE THAT*

(Bad!MC, meanwhile, is all IT'S LIKE WE'RE MARRIED LET ME FILL THE HOT TUB)

MC: Are you in danger from your agency?
Seven: Yeah, but...once I'm done here I'll disappear. I'm a dangerous person, don't try to get close to me.

My choices are "You're here anyway so you might as well get close! Come here~" and "But...you'll be uncomfortable in that corner"

Oh man and then I get the choices "You're not like how you are in the chatroom" and "Are you really going to be like this to me"?? COME ON MC THE DUDE HAS HAD A ROUGH DAY.

*looks up a walkthrough for the first time to make sure the first choice is actually the less douchey one in practice*

Hmmm! I'm noticing that I was supposed to take all the "encourage Yoosung to get help for his gaming addiction" choices, I wonder if he plays a part in the bad ends. "I love you" was the right choice, aww. And I'm supposed to take choice 2, ok!

Seven: I'm not going to pursue a personal relationship with you. Don't have any fantasies about me. I'm going to go back to work now.

Awwwwww. So I guess he decides bad!MC is just living in a selfish fantasy world, while good!MC actually respects him enough for him to respect her back and eventually be willing to let her in.

BUT I WANT THEM TO HUG NOW!! They both need it!!

End of day 7

Man, there's 3 days of plot left before party day, what's going to happen next??

Jumin: Looks like Yoosung is having fun with his mother. Time with family is important. He can be grateful for the opportunity.

Yoosung: GRATEFUL, HE SAYS *blank smile*

Ha everyone but Zen thinks it's obvious that Seven wouldn't be skeezy to MC. Though it probably helps that unlike Zen/MC none of them have any strong reason to object to them having sex anyway.

Yoosung: I want to be with MC too. Then I wouldn't have to be chopping this mountain of onions while being lectured ;_;
Zen: I want to be there too, to make sure nothing is happening!
Yoosung: Lol what.
MC: So what if it is?
Zen: I know you're joking but don't say that T_T If you can't think clearly with Seven there, just go to the album and look at my selfies.
Yoosung: ...ok I gotta go make kimchi now ;_;
Zen: Lol, whipped. You can just imagine him when he's married.

ZEN. THIS IS WHY YOU'RE MY LEAST FAVOURITE. (So far, at least, I'm not underestimating Jumin's potential to be worse)

My options are "I wish he'd be more manly" "He secretly likes it" and "He's kind of my taste". GUESS THIS MC THINKS YOOSUNG IS KINDA HOT.

Zen: I guess you like men who listen to you. I...like a woman who listens to me, but I like seeing them happy when I listen to them. Anyway, what IS this special security system?

ha. There's the option to say "A BOMB" but instead I will say it's probably a police alarm.

Just as I'm thinking "Aw, an unlabelled story mode, I wanted to see MC and Seven hanging out and pining" it turns out to be...a childhood flashback!

Saeran (Ray): Saeyoung. What are you reading?
Saeyoung (Seven): We'll get in trouble if Mom finds out. It's about computers...someone at church said you can make a lot of money.
Saeran: But Dad makes money and gives it to mom. She said we can't have any.
Saeyoung: I can make money. And then I'm going to get us out of here.
Saeran: What if Mom catches us? I don't want you to get hurt.
Saeyoung: Just pretend you didn't see anything, ok?
Saren: I really don't know anything. And I'm hungry...



;_;

Saeyoung give him some bread he got from "a girl" at church.
Saeran: I want to go on errands too. Then I can go to church and get food. But I'll probably get scared and Mom will catch me. Even though I'm your twin I'm smaller and weaker.
Saeyoung: Don't say that. We'll get out of here and you can do anything.
Saeran: I wish Mom would hate me too and let me go outside. Then maybe I could be positive too.
Saeyoung: Trust me. The girl said I'll be able to make a lot of money and get us out of here.

Is the girl at church Rika??? She's been in their heads that long? What has she been doing??? THESE POOR BABIES.

Jaehee: How are you and Seven?
MC: We shared a meal. But he's very quiet...
Jaehee: Seven?! Hmm. We had an employee who went to a boy's school and couldn't talk to our female employees, but one talked to him every day and eventually he opened up and we had an office romance. Mr Han had to change the rules for them.

Jaehee wistfully talks about how long it's been since she shared a meal with anyone and I wibbled. I had the chance to say Seven refused to eat with MC but I like to think she made him breakfast, I know "Girl cooks sad lonely boy a meal and makes him share it with her" is a cliche but I WANT IT ANYWAY.

Seven explains about the bomb and Jumin is understandably freaked out.
Seven: We're safer by being in danger. That was Rika's plan.
Jumin: I can't believe Rika chose to be such an idiot.
Me: Oh you have no idea, Jumin.
Seven: What's important is that MC is safe even if I'm gone.
Jumin: Wtf? I'm going to call you...
Seven: The guy's here to fix the broken window. Come on MC, we have to go.

Seven: Why aren't you scared, or angry at me? I'm angry at myself.
MC: If it wasn't for you I'd have been kidnapped.
Seven: ...I'm going to put headphones on and work now.
MC: Headphones? Are you ignoring me?
Seven: *turns away and starts muttering about satellites*

Yoosung: THERE'S A BOMB?? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH SEVEN AND V?? I wish this was a game, I could teleport and come save- YES MOM, I DID THE LAUNDRY. I gotta go :(

Hit 100 hourglasses! Which is good cos afaict I gotta unlock some secret endings after this.

Yoosung: Mom said Rika would be disappointed in how I've been living. I looked back on my life and decided I should work harder and get back into volunteering...but it turns out Rika installed a BOMB??

We see Vanderwood trying to finish the job Seven abandoned, muttering about how she's going to get Seven back, and reassuring the boss she has a tracker on Seven's car.

Jumin, I'm not sure now is the time to talk about how great and trustworthy family are...

Two Years ago:

Seven: This blueprint, it's...
Rika: We must make great sacrifices for the greater good. You know that, Luciel.
Seven: If I dare to make a suggestion, why don't we just go back to being a small, safe charity? You said you want to help the marginalised. The RFA can do that without a bomb.
Rika: You say that because you don't know about the intruders. Once they know about us, they'll attack us. I managed by myself until now but I can't any longer.
Seven: Then I'll look into them...
Rika: No, you can't. It's to protect you.
Seven: My job is to protect everyone, use me.
Rika: Trust me. And I won't go into the apartment again until this intruder issue is solved. It's a control stick to destroy the information.
Seven: But any intruder would die!
Rika: God...Luciel...looking at you reminds me of how innocent I was. You think respect and love will bring justice. But justice is created by fear. Trust me Luciel. I understand how humans work.

Mannn I hope this isn't all because she has paranoid delusions or something.

Seven rings MC in a panic when he realises she's left the apartment.
MC: You didn't answer when I tried to get your attention. I went to get you some food.
Seven: I already made three kinds of sandwiches and bought three kinds of juice. For, uh, myself. But you should come back and have some. I have some GPS trackers, I should attach one to your jacket...wait, did the elevator ding?! I'm going to stand by the door and wait for you, I can't focus until you're here.

Seven goes into the chat and apologises to everyone, saying the bomb had been fine for so long that he'd arrogantly thought it was safe, and hadn't thought of it as a threat to MC.
Seven: I hate myself so much right now...but the best apology I can make is to fix things.

A sweet phone call from Zen where he rants a bit about how angry he is at V, then asks if there is anything he can do to cheer MC up. So she asks him to sing a silly song and he does, it's very cute.

Yoosung's mother is leaving and he admits he'll miss having her there. This has all made him realise how he's taken his parents for granted. Zen is quietly a little jealous about him having decent parents.

MC fails to get Seven to eat, and instead pokes at the book he brought, stumbling across a floppy disk.
Seven: Are you lighthearted or just dumb? You can ignore me, avoid me, even get mad at me. But don't ever get curious about me or the things I've brought. Curious people...make me tired. They don't know how dangerous I am and how many problems I have. They approach me and open up without thought. Just like you. But they don't have the ability to handle the things inside.
MC: I just want to get close to you. Is that so wrong?
Seven: Well I don't want to get close to you. I've already told you, we can't be family or friends.



Seven: If you want to help me, stay away from me.

SEVENNNNNN

I just checked Yoosung's profile and he's changed it to "Seven...T_T". I FEEL YOU YOOSUNG.

Jumin's been trying to call V all day, eventually he goes home and leaves Jaehee just sitting waiting in his office in case V calls /o\

And a couple of hours later, he does! Poor Jaehee.

V: I'm so sorry. I've been in the mountains taking photographs, so I had bad reception. Luciel, I'm so glad you made it to the apartment.
Seven: Why did you call Jumin instead of me?
V: The red light went on. The one you told me means the phone is bugged.

V and Seven decide the apartment is the safest place for MC to stay right now? Mint Eye know the location and have already hacked in once before!!

V specifically asks Seven not to look at a secured drawer full of Rika's old documents because he "doesn't want to rehash things related to Rika". I wonder if he knows there's some dark stuff about Rika and the twins in there...

Seven: You don't trust me? You do know that as well as letters there's TWO HUMAN BEINGS in here too, right? Shouldn't we worry more about MC's safety?! I've been waiting for you all this time and you just came in to worry about DOCUMENTS??
V: I'm sorry, this is a misunderstanding, I made a mistake. I'll take care of everything.
Seven: Does that include Saeran? Don't pretend you don't know.
V: What? We decided not to talk about that. Why are you bringing it up where everyone can see? Let's talk by ourselves when we get back.
Seven: No. Don't run away. Say it here, so I can trust you again.
V: Luciel, calm down...
Seven: I saw him with my own two eyes. Explain to me why he was like that.
V: You must have seen wrong.
Seven: The filthy hacking jobs I do. Why is that boy doing them when you were supposed to protect him?! Tell me! Say anything so that I can trust you again and get Saeran back.
V: Luciel, I don't have good service right now. Later I'll *disconnects*
MC: Seven are you ok?
Seven: *disconnects*

FUCK

Robocat: I detect that Seven is depressed, meow!
Seven: Shut up!
RoboCat: I can't leave once I sense depression! Cheer up! Meow!
MC: Let's be quiet right now...meow.
RoboCat: I am programmed to absolutely obey this voice. Shutting down! Meow!
MC: Are you ok, Seven?
Seven: I know I told you to ignore me, but...don't trust V. God...I don't think you should be involved with the RFA. There's an alarm on that drawer, but I can control the alarms...
MC: Why don't you open the drawer?
Seven: I will some day, but not right now. Now that my trust in V is shattered, I can barely keep sane.
MC: Is there really nothing I can do to help?
Seven: I've worried you again...from now on, I think you should forget about the RFA and the party. As soon as the hacker issue is solved, please leave.
MC: Since when do you get to decide my future?
Seven: You are free to do what you want, but my opinion won't change. Even if you try to get involved with me, I will refuse everything. I have nothing for a person like you. You'll only be hurt. Let's stop talking. From now on if I have to tell you anything it will be through the messenger. I'm going to work. Don't bother me.
MC: Then what do I do with my feelings for you?
Seven: I don't care about your feelings! Think of how much danger you're in! And the danger will multiply with a guy like me. Stop worrying about emotions and worry about staying alive! If anything else bad happens to you, I'll...
MC: I know you're worried about me. But don't avoid me, please.
Seven: Once this hacker issue is solved we'll never see each other again. Don't look at me like that, God! I'm going out into the hallway. Sort out your emotions and I'll come back when you're asleep.

End of Day 8

I like emotionally repressed LIS but that is...something. I feel sorry for anyone who goes onto this route expecting him to stay light hearted and jokey haha.

But this is a more successful take on the "Flirty/jokey guy gets suddenly cold and pushes MC away when he realises there's real feelings involved" arc that didn't quite work for me in previous Cheritz games (Yuri was too slimy at the start, and Jiyeon felt inconsistent)

I do hope we get to see the two of them actually having positive interactions for a while before the end though. I understand why Seven's acting this way, and he's trying not to be too much of an ass about it, but it feels a bit...weird having MC just constantly throw herself against a brick wall. I want to be sold on him and MC as a functional relationship interacting with affectionate and open sincerity. Meanwhile the other routes gave me that but lacked the angst and dramatic pining I wanted, so. I don't claim to be easy to please :)

nb this is the point at which I found the emoticon translations.

Having seen the previous conversation, Jaehee is sad, surprised, and confused. Meanwhile Yoosung is all "SEE! V CAN'T BE TRUSTED!!". I feel like I have to take the "I'm sure V has his reasons" options for meta reasons but it feels a bit OOC.

We see "Saeyoung" (Seven) praying. "Lord, please protect Saeran. I see my biological father's face on TV. But they say we can never be revealed, because he has a wife and family. Mom's been blackmailing him for 15 years, so she's worse. We are the bane of our father's existence...he's running for some election and I notice a lot of people trying to come get us. I'm nervous, but it's still manageable. If you could give us miracle...please protect Saeran. He's weak and nice and can never say no to Mom. And it's more dangerous because he doesn't know how to pray. I have to get stronger and smarter...so that we can live happily together...so that he can be loved. I can be hurt, please just protect Saeran."

Saeyoung: The Netherland server is down.


BABY ;_;

Saeyoung: I should have enough to escape Mom soon. But the problem is dad, I think he already knows I come to this church. But don't worry! It's because of you and Rika that I have any hope at all. God, my dad is so annoying...
V: There's one way you can get away from him. I want to recommend you as an agent for a secret intelligence agency. They can erase your identity, you could even go to college. But you'd have to abandon your life as Saeyoung.
Saeyoung: I was born in secret...I guess only places like that will accept me. And I'd much rather live as Luciel instead of running away as Saeyoung all the time.
V: Then...pleaser consider me as your father. Rika and I will do everything we can to help you become independent.
Saeyoung: You're already more than a father to me! I'm going to do whatever you say from now on!
V: But you'll have to say goodbye to Saeran. We'll take care of him with a similar method.
Saeyoung: I can't abandon him!
V: Think of it as leaving him to us. There's no other way.

D: D: D:

I think V is only five years older than Seven so they'd be like 15 and 20 at this point? I don't know how complicit V is with everything that went down but nnng.

Seven comes into the chat and tells everyone the truth: the hacker is his twin brother Saeran, who he hasn't seen since middle school. "For ten years I saw V as my father and followed him without a shred of doubt. But you saw how he lied and evaded. From now on I don't care about the party, and don't take orders from anyone. I'm sorry my brother has put everyone in danger, but I'm going to investigate Mint Eye and solve this peacefully."

We see Seven watching MC sleep. This should logically be creepy but I'm into it shhh.

Seven: You're so weird. I must have hurt you but you managed to stay so bright...seeing you reminds me of the 707 I am in the messenger.



"Saeyoung is so dark and pessimistic that he can't be with you. I can no longer wear the mask of the happy go lucky 707. This complicated and icy person is me. I want you to realise that and be disappointed. So please don't waste your feelings on me. But you're a strange person, so you won't understand what I say. So I think I'll end up hurting you again tomorrow morning...no, the strange one is me. You're warm and nice. Sometimes I dream about you accepting the real me. It's ridiculous, but thank you for letting me dream. MC...please don't trust V or even me. Be less nice to me, so you won't be hurt when I disappear. Forget about me and be happy. Letting me protect you...is much more than I deserve. That is enough for Saeyoung."

asdfsadfkhjasd ;_;

Jumin: Since this started with a family feud the solution is family reconciliation

JUMIN THIS IS NOT LIKE CALLING YOOSUNG'S MOTHER

Zen: Jumin Han, you can stay happy with your dad until the day you die. But stop talking about family! THE ANSWER LIES WITH THESE MINT EYE PEOPLE.
Jumin: Everything is connected. Luciel is looking into their headquarters, so we should just prepare for the party.
Zen: WTF
Jumin: If the party doesn't happen the RFA will fall apart. Assistant Kang and I can take care of it.
MC: .....

Seven: Hi MC.
MC: Hi Seven, how's work?
Seven: Good. Jumin... plans to keep going with the party...But RFA won't mean anything now that the leader is a liar.
Yoosung: Seven!!! Are you ok? How's your sanity?

YOOSUNG

Yoosung: Is there anything I can do to help? I know I can't do much, but we must help each other get through this.
Seven: I don't want help from anyone in the RFA. I plan to leave once MC is safe.
MC: Since when?
Yoosung: Seven, I understand, I hate V too. But you'll still talk to us, right?
Seven: I'm going to forget everyone here. What else can a secret agent do? The time we spent together was only temporary.
Yoosung: What?! I thought I understood you. The Seven I knew was bright and kind. Unless you erase my memories I will never be able to forget you! I'm jealous that it's easy for you. This hurts so much.
Seven: Yoosung, MC, stop it. Neither of you would ever understand me. *leaves*
MC: Yoosung are you ok?
Yoosung: No. Who could be? *leaves*

Robocat: Cheer up! You're with the person you like!
Seven: Shut up! *breaks Robocat*
MC: Cheer up. You're just upset about Yoosung.
Seven: I've always felt like this. The laughter was a lie. Don't think about me.
MC: I want to be with you because I like you!
Seven: Everything around me is an illusion that will disappear like morning fog. The person you like is the 707 in the chat room, not me!
MC: Then let me understand the person in front of me! *hugs him from behind*
Seven: I told you, I can't embrace anything. I couldn't protect my brother, and I have to abandon the person I like...my life is good for nothing.
MC: I like the Seven in front of me. Regardless of how complicated your life is, I want to know.
Seven: Don't do this. I cherish you...I want to make you happy, but I can't! Why aren't you getting hurt and abandoning me? Why do you like me?!
MC: There is no reason. That's just how I feel!
Seven: What if something happens to you because of me?
MC: I won't regret it.
Seven: I don't know any more...do what you want. I told myself I would never want to feel close to someone, but you're making me feel complicated. What should I do?
MC: Take some time and think about accepting me.
Seven: Alright. I need time.
MC: Then I'll wait.
Seven: Thank you.

Afaict, from the way it's used, "cheer up" is a translation of some Korean phrase with a more comforting and less commanding connotation.

Zen and Jaehee are sad about the possibility of Seven leaving. I didn't think Jaehee even liked him! Zen feels certain that the bright Seven they knew before is his true self.

Seven rings MC.
Seven: Hang up the phone and come eat!
MC: I won't eat unless you do.
Seven: Ahhh! Fine!
MC: What are we having?
Seven: You like sushi right? I got the chef's special...now hang up the phone! You enjoy teasing me don't you...

Even though he's acting grumpy he's much more expressive and happy sounding than he was before.

Jumin: So obviously the key thing right now is for Seven to be less emotional.

Jaehee rings MC to send her support. "If I was in your position I'd get angry and quit. Afterwards, you must tell me how you're staying so calm and competent. Also, how you're controlling Luciel..."

He's not an unruly pet, Jaehee. Aw, but "I reacted coldly to Luciel's jokes but I never disliked him. Without him the RFA would feel empty."

Back at the apartment, Seven is trying to fix the RoboCat.
Seven: If something happens to me at least he could talk to you...
MC: Can you talk to me while you're fixing it?
Seven: You really can't be discouraged can you? But you don't say these things to other people do you? There are dangerous men in the world...
MC: I like you, Seven. I don't say it to anyone else.
Seven, blushing: Oh...alright. I feel hot, let's talk about something else.
MC: Tell me about Saeran.
Seven: ...ok, I guess there's no point hiding it now. Let me show you what's on that floppy disk.



Seven: Our father is a presidential candidate, and our mother was an alcoholic who was half insane most of the time. She just saw us as tool to get money from him. Mother sent me on errands when she was too drunk to walk, and that's how I joined the church, and met Rika.

Oh, he studied abroad! I wonder where, the US? Those poor kids, though.

Seven: I'm so angry that I trusted them so completely. I begged Rika to show me how Saeran was doing, so she sent me these photos to congratulate my 20th birthday. She told me Saeran is healthy and happy, and that I shouldn't worry...sorry, I didn't mean to go on so long. It's strange, talking to you makes me want to talk more.
MC: Thank you for talking to me.
Seven: Thank you for listening. It occurs to me...that I want you to remember me, even if I disappear. I'm going to find out the truth about Saeran, and V. It won't be easy but... *blushing* will you...stay by my side?
MC: Of course.
Seven: You can still leave, but thank you for saying that. If God allows it, I'll always have you in my heart.

(Bad!MC is in it for the danger and makes no promises. BAH TO BAD MC)

So I guess Rika took the photos and kept them for a couple of years before showing Seven? And hmm, Seven would have turned 20 shortly before Rika "died"...Ok I looked it up and he's only supposed to be 21 right now?? I guess it hasn't quite been two years.

Seven: I have something to say to Yoosung. I didn't mean to hurt him...
Yoosung: *joins the chat* SEVEN!!!
Seven: Dude! Super sry about earlier!
Yoosung: You think a sorry will do?
Seven: Yes! *posts image of chips* ...that was a mistake. I must be flustered.
Yoosung:...
Sevenb: I'm sorry about before. I got too emotional and said things that hurt you.
Yoosung: So we're not cutting ties?
Seven: I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen.
Yoosung: IT WON'T!! I don't know what complicated things are going on with you, but you can't just say goodbye without giving us a chance to understand! When deceit and doubt fill you up, cleanse your mind by making soap...wait that's one of my mom's lectures...
Seven: You want to make soap with me <3
Yoosung: No, but...hmm. I'll...forgive you.
Seven: Thank you.
MC: Congratulations :)
Yoosung: You're not planning to make up with V are you?
Seven: No. I don't trust V, but I'm going to think of him as separate to the RFA. I used to trust everything he said, but I'm becoming independent. I got scared about the future, and became defensive.
MC: I'll support you.
Seven: Yoosung, if you like me too, please support me ^^
Yoosung: SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT :D That's what I've been saying all along!
Seven: Lol. I could think this way because MC is beside me.

Then they're all really cute and nice to each other! THESE GUYS <3

Oh good, looks like we get a couple of days to get to know Seven when he's being more himself and not hiding behind a mask of jokiness or coldness. I feel like he switched rather suddenly but we'll see how it goes.

With MC beside him, Seven finally opens the drawer. It's...blueprints for Mint Eye headquarters, and an early draft of their logo.

Seven: The Rika I knew would never...I don't know what to believe. I need to go there and find out the truth but I can't leave you alone here.
MC: Should I go too?
Seven: Would you? With you beside me I feel like I have some superpower. I don't want you to regret following me. I'll guard you...more than my life.

A really sweet call from Yoosung where he feels bad in retrospect for how difficult things must have been for Seven, unable to be honest with everyone, and wishes he could have supported Seven more. He's glad MC has helped Seven change.

Seven comes into chat to show everyone what he found:


TRANSLATE ALL THE KOREAN, DAMMIT. Anyway. CREEPY.

Seven thanks Jaehee for her support, saying he's going to focus on making MC happy now.
Jaehee: You make a good couple ^^ Even though I haven't seen her, I feel like MC is cute.
Seven: She is :D

Seven rings MC. "I know it's weird when we're in the same room, but: I can see WORRIED written all over your face. I want you to tell me about your worries, about everything...I wish I was the only one who had to struggle."
MC: Struggles get easier when you share them.
Seven: But I don't want to make someone I love struggle. I want to be in a relationship where we have fun and sometimes fight about nothing. I want to share my small worries, and feel depressed, but then happy again in no time. Do you think it's possible? To overcome our troubles and one day...have a happy family? I never thought I deserved it. But ever since meeting you...can I dare to hope?
MC: You can make a family. I'm here.
Seven: Thank you. I thought...maybe with you it might be possible. I'm getting way ahead of myself aren't I?

I mean you did just meet a week or so ago, and only accepted the possibility of being friends this afternoon, but hey. MC is into it. BRING ON THE BABIES.

Seven: But first I need to bring Saeran here. If I can't protect my family, how can I gather up the courage to start a new one? I'm going to stop talking about this over the phone. Hang up now and come to me. I want to hear your voice directly.

I, uh, didn't mean get to baby making right that moment. But sure. Though they still haven't officially started dating yet or had their Big Romantic Kiss so they're probably just hugging. Which I coulda stood to see! THEY BOTH NEED HUGS.

Ohhh poor Yoosung is not taking the news about Rika well. "Maybe the bad hackers MADE her draw that logo?!" Jumin is quietly upset as well, and sends MC a message: "One of the few people you trust betrays you. How would I feel if this happened to me...I talk as if it's happening to someone else. I feel like we're walking backwards through the labyrinth and the Minotaur is waiting at the end."

Flashback!

Mother: No kindergarten or the Scary Daddy will kill you! You're my children. Mine! You can only live here. This is our world! Saeyoung, I told you to keep an eye on the rope I tied Saeran with. Why is he wandering around? Do you want to be tied up next time?

Seven: Ahh!
MC: Are you ok?
Seven: Just a dream. I have to pull myself together and save Saeran. I'm glad that you're by my side, thank you.

End of Day 9

(AHHHHH)

Seven methodically searches the apartment and finds Rika's agenda. Each category is labelled RFA or ME, and she has something to do with "ME" at least three times a week for over a year.
Yoosung: They threatened her into working for them for over a year!
MC: Maybe Saeran is being exploited too.
Yoosung: Oh no!
Me: Oh, Yoosung :(
Seven: I promise we'll find the truth.
Yoosung: If. IF! Things don't work out with Saeran, please remember that we are your family too.
Seven: MC's in the RFA family too. Wish her luck more than me.

At the apartment, Seven makes sure MC really wants to go with him. And then he hands her the repaired Robocat, apologising for breaking it.

Seven: It's programmed to be like 707. The 707 that jokes around all the time and is always bright.


Seven: I've never given someone a gift to remember me by before. I always thought of myself as someone who should be forgotten. But I stand here hoping to never be forgotten by you. I don't deserve to give you a gift...but if there is a God, I hope he lets me be a bit selfish. I hope he lets me return from this journey, so that I can give you many more gifts in future.
MC: Yes, let's find the truth and come back safe.

Jumin calls MC. "I don't believe in luck. So make wise decisions, and be safe. I'll be here protecting everyone else for you two. I'd like to protect you and Luciel as well but that is out of my reach. I don't think one person needs two knights. Tell Luciel hello, and that I have faith in him. You came to us by accident but it was fate. As difficult as it is for the two of you, I hope you give each other strength. I'll see you later. I'm going to believe that."

Aw.

I'm kinda stressing about all the flags that the upcoming bad end is QUITE BAD. I haven't been using a walkthrough and didn't think to make a separate save since day 5...

Jaehee has sent Zen the guest list so he can greet people instead of MC, and he promises her to do his best. Meanwhile Yoosung says he's going to cheer everyone up in Seven's place. SWEETIES.

I love what supportive friends everyone is, and not in a glurgey uniform Good Friends way, they're all themselves.

My only real complaint right now is that MC's dialogue is a bit flat. The individual lines are fine in and of themselves, and I understand why she's being mostly serious, but she was very jokey at the start, and unlike Seven had no reason to suddenly decide Jokes Are A Fake Mask etc. There have been one or two chances to be jokey, though, and I've decided to interpret it as the game only showing me significant choices, with her being more jokey off screen.

We see Vanderwood notice Seven's car is on the move, and she borrows another of Seven's cars to follow. "I used to respect you, agent 707, I'm sorry it's come to this..."

At Mint Eye headquarters Seven shows MC the route he's figured out to get to the data center. He doesn't give her any instructions except to stay close but I hope she gets to be a helpful lookout or something. Maybe bite Saeran again.

*looks at schedule to see when the bad end is coming up* I can't see it but...there's an upcoming Story Mode from RIKA'S point of view!!! Labelled "Saviour" o.O (Which does not spoil me at all because obviously)

Seven and MC come into the chat while Seven is hacking in to update everyone. He posts a selfie which would be cuter if MC didn't look like an eyeless real doll but NEVER MIND.

Seven: I can't help but think this might be the last thing I say here...I've said thanks to MC multiple times already. But I'm sincerely grateful to everyone in the RFA. I was hiding who I am but you trusted me and were kind. I was happy to talk to everyone as the bright and quirky 707 but thinking that you'd all forget me really got to me, though I never showed it. 707 was always temporary, and Luciel was a 'secret agent'. But from now on, everyone will see the real me. Especially MC. MC...do you want to know my real name?
MC: Yes, tell everyone.
Seven: My name is Saeyoung Choi. After this is all over I want to go back to living as Saeyoung. Do you think I can?
MC: Of course.
Seven: Ok <3 When you see this everyone, wish us all the luck!

Me, clicking the "unlock next scene" button that may lead to a bad end: I AM WISHING YOU SO MUCH LUCK

WE'RE IN THE MINT EYE INFORMATION ROOM
Seven: I have to watch this while it transfers in case the central system gets overheated.
Saeran: That's ok I attached a nice cooler :)
Seven: Saeran!
Saeran: You found our blind spot. I admit it, you're pretty good.
Seven: Saeran, we need to talk, there's been some misunderstanding....
Saeran: Is that your excuse now? MC, did he tell you he'd protect you, make you happy? As someone who's been there before, don't trust him. He'll abandon you too one day.
MC: I'm sure there's been some misunderstanding. Please listen to what Seven has to say.
Seven: I'm so sorry I left. I believed we had to part ways and change our identities to escape our father.
Saeran: Who thought of that insane idea.
Seven: V. And he promised that he and Rika would take care of you! It was hard to leave you but I trusted him. When I last saw you...that when I realised V didn't keep his promise.
Saeran: That's fairly convincing! A lot of people would fall for it! But I have another story: a man got the courage to escape his hellish home and weak brother. He thought "I'll leave this place, team up with V to make RFA, and have parties and fun! Saeran is just a burden, I'll leave without saying a word!"
Seven: I thought if I told you Mom would find out!
Saeran: I was so worried, I thought you might be dead, that our father got to you! I cried for days, no matter how much that woman hit me. Once I found out you were alive...the shock...haha. If I hadn't met my saviour, I'd have died in shackles.
Seven: What the hell happened after I left?!
Saeran: You want to know so you can use me more? I'm not the weak Saeran you abandoned. You don't know how I felt as I traced you...
Seven: I'm sorry. I should never have believed V and Rika. Here's the floppy disk of photos of you and letter Rika gave me...
Saeran: You're trying to hurt me again! You're good at forging fake information!

Seven inserts the floppy disk (..into a modern computer in 2016...shh...)

Saeran: How did you get these?! I don't believe it! No! It's a lie! *runs away and locks the door*
Seven: I won't leave him like I did seven years ago! I'll never let him go!

Seven and MC go into the chatroom to let everyone know they're locked in, but otherwise safe.

We see Saeran outside Mint Eye muttering to himself about how Seven was DEFINITELY JUST LYING.

Vanderwood: There you are! You're wrong if you thought changing your appearance would fool me.

OH NO

Saeran: You're Luciel's assistant. Why are you here?
Vanderwood: Your acting's improved. Or did the client do something to you? Shhh. Regardless of what's happened to you, I have to take care of my work. This thing in your side is a gun. I'm sorry this day's come. I gave you too much freedom. It's technically my fault...but in this world, what matters is who survives.
Saeran: What is this?! I'm not 707!
Vanderwood: Only you would struggle with a gun pointed at you...phew! Got you in the car! *drives off*
V: That man looks like...!

GOODNESS

Story Mode: a cell???

2 years ago...oh no...

Saeran: God? Saeyoung?
???: Finally you're awake.
Saeran: Who are you? I went to get something for my mommy and everything went dark...Did my father send you?
???: Thanks to the Saviour you've been saved. Welcome and congratulations. Everyone is family at Mint Eye. It is paradise, my sweet child.
Saeran: Please send me back home! Mommy will get mad! And Saeyoung might come...what was that?!
???: Medicine to save you. Now you'll listen to everything I have to say. Welcome to the party of paradise.

RIKA LEFT HIM WITH HIS MOTHER FOR FIVE YEARS????

(And then she brainwashed him etc, but presumably by her logic that was being kind)

MC and Seven escape Mint Eye headquarters! And then bump in to V!
Seven: Stay back! This is all your fault! Why did you lie to me about Saeran?
V: I didn't want you to be hurt. I won't try to explain more, because you won't believe me. But I just saw someone leave with Saeran in a red car with a silver lining.
Seven: Vanderwood!
MC: ...your maid?!

After Seven and MC have left, V says "It is all my fault, for loving her..."

GOD V STOP BEING SUCH AN OPAQUE WOOBIE

Also: this is the point where I decided that Vanderwood really is a woman, and am like "Ah, it's not transphobia, just sexism. Yay?" And this means she's another Weird Cheritz Mother Figure for the pile.

V comes into an otherwise empty chatroom.
V: Until now I thought I was helping you all by keeping the burden of secrets to myself. I know you're all hurt and I'm sure you have a lot of questions.
Me: YES
V: So I'm going quit and put Jumin charge. Just hate me for keeping those secrets, it's easier that way. Goodbye.

DAMMIT V

The next Story Mode is from V's point of view and I am sure he will find some way to STILL not answer anything.

Six years ago, V point of view...

V: I love you Rika. You will always be inside me.
Rika: I'm inside the sun. I will be born again inside you. I'm going to stop thinking about the abandoned past. I want to be in the present moment, where I love you. You are my sun, and I am your sun.

YEP. CONFUSING AS EXPECTED.

Everyone in the chat is upset and shocked, especially when MC tells them V showed up at Mint Eye without being told the address. Jumin comes in and then immediately leaves without saying anything, and Jaehee goes to check on him.
Yoosung: Zen, can I come to your place? I can't be alone right now.
Zen: You can come. Hurry. We can go the the party together tomorrow.

Zen: I'm actually glad Yoosung is coming...I should go clean.

*torn between going aww and waggling eyebrows*

Mann....the Rika scene is at 11:41pm, which is after I want to go to bed. BUT I WANT TO SEE IT.

...I saw it but I'm too tired to describe it haha. Unfortunately, I felt randomly ill for the next 12 hours or so, which covered the entire rest of the game. I wrote some vague notes at the time and am going to back through everything again now I'm feeling better and try to make them coherent.

Seven and MC come into chat. They're in a cabin.
Seven: V is ridiculous until the end.

Seven is hacking into his agency to try to save Saeran. He starts getting soppy about how much MC means to him then realises they're in the public chat lol.

Ten years ago...
Saeyoung: I'm choosing the baptismal name Luciel.
Rika: ...Lucifer's old name?!
Saeyoung: I may have the name of an angel for now...but if I'm not careful I will fall into a dark pit. I'm afraid I'll turn into Mom or Dad...that I'll become weak and unable to protect my brother. Every time someone calls me with Lucifer's name I will be reminded not to fall. If Luciel gets a happy ending...then it will be a history changing miracle.
Rika: That will be hard unless we change the bible...but it might happen if you try hard!

???: This guy is strong...it's been two weeks and his brain still hasn't changed. The saviour won't be pleased.
Saeran: Saeyoung...will come and save me...or...I'd rather die...since Saeyoung might be up there...
???: I'll just have to give him three times the dose. Your brother abandoned you!!

FUCK YOU RIKA

Zen rings MC. Yoosung brought alcohol and took a single shot before immediately becoming drunk. He can be heard slurrily rambling in the background while Zen says "Stop touching me! I'm a guy! Anyway, I hope to see you two again one day..."

End of Day 9

I can't be bothered going through the first chat again but from what I remember it was cute. Yoosung is trying to be cheerful despite being hungover. Jumin says he feels so crap he nearly weore the wrong tie.

I woke this morning at 10am feeling very unwell and had to force myself to sit through the chat instead of just going back to sleep right away. And then MC was implied not to be present anyway and I felt quite hard done by until I got a very cute call from Seven I would otherwise have missed.

Seven: Why have you gone outside? Are you depressed? You should read the chat messages. Aren't you happy we have somewhere to return to?
MC: We'll come back and bring Saeren too.
Seven: That's my dream...Come inside and eat breakfast.
MC: Are you going to feed me again?
Seven: If you don't want to use a spoon should I feed you with my mouth? I don't mind.
MC: Since when have you become so bold?
Seven: From the moment you showed me your feelings. You have no idea how hard it was to conceal all this. Now, I'll feed you however I can, so come here. We have to do the ritual before we eat. Giving you a tight hug haha. Oh, you turned around, don't give me such a cute smile. Then I'll give you a teaser...I love you. We've come too far to turn back. I'm already too deep into you...now hang up the phone and run to me. You know the next. *kiss sound*

The only note I took at the time for all that was "Yoosung cheering everyoe up." then I fell back asleep for a couple of hours lol.

GOOD ENDING:

Man it is weird having the party with MC not here.

Jaehee: The leader of the organisation, V, has been unable to attend due to health reasons...but we are still auctioning off his photographs.

You know if you said he quit mysteriously after being revealed to be involved with a brainwashing cult that might increase sales...

Jumin: I was angry this morning that half of our members aren't here...but instead I have decided to be glad we can have the party at all.

Jumin it's sweet of you to say you're proud of "MC and Saeyoung Choi" but you know that he....literally ruined his and his brothers life to keep that name secret, right? Maybe check with him before announcing it to a crowded room.

"Once a person faces the inconvenient truth, a new game starts. All of you here are facing that discomfort to help those in need." *headcanons this particular party as helping those affected by climate change*

And then we shift to Seven and MC.



me: lol she looks like a robot.
me to friend: no but seriously is she a robot, he has a history of making AIs...
friend: that would be really cute actually?
me: ...I KNOW RIGHT

So now this MC is a robot. Saeyoung encountered her years ago during a mission, hacked things so she had free will, and let her go, with the hopes she'd get to live freely in the way he couldn't. All his talk about wanting her to be safe and have a normal life is more bittersweet that way.

Anyway.

Seven hacks into the agency, identifying himself with some technical stuff and the fact that their boss has a wig. He says the person Vanderwood is currently transporting is not him, and if they hurt a hair of that boy's head he will release the info he stole from their servers.

He tells MC that the RFA can begin again with the truth in their hands. Then he asks her to call him Saeyoung. "When I think of 707, I think of the fun me, away from the sad reality. It's the happiest version of me, but also fake. When I think of Luciel, I remember the hope V gave me. The hope that I can leave my past and everyone will be happy...but it was false hope. The name Saeyoung reminds me of the hardest times, but it was the only truthful moment I had. I've left the agency and V. When I'm with you I want to live as the real me. I shook in fear everyone time someone called me by this name...but every time you say it it will be reborn as a name that only holds happiness. I'm sorry for making you suffer. My heart has been yours for a long time now. I'll prove it to you. I'll be a happy Saeyoung with you."

They kiss.

THE END

And now not only has Seven's after ending and voice actor interview been unlocked, but also an interview with Rika's voice actor, and TEN EPISODES of the "Secret 1" after ending. All costing 10 hourglasses each...but I have 127, which is enough for all of them, plus Seven's after ending and the Normal Ending.

Anyway.

Seven's voice actor Youngsun Kim sounds a little more normal than Seven. Apparently he's a big fan of Saeran's voice actor Sujin Kang so was very excited to play his brother, and he also seems to be friends with Jumin's actor Yongwoo Shin. The repeated theme of these interviews is that there was a LOT OF LINES TO READ and that it felt a bit embarassing reading romantic nothings to themselves instead of acting with someone.

Rika's actor Hyunjin Lee sounds a little deeper than Rika. "Despite her looks she has a chivalrous spirit...storming up a plan to save the world." I'm not sure chivalrous is the word I'd use... "I really liked that there were so many stunning looking men in the game" And then she rambled a little about the inevitability of death which was amusingly in character.

I liked the Good Ending so much I'm going to look up a summary of the Normal Ending to see if it's going to break my heart. None of them have been sad so far but better to be sure.

Wow these bad endings are dark. And there's no normal ending description? Does he have one? EDIT: It's there at the top of the page you dumbass.

Ok the internet has not been super helpful but let's do it anyway.

NORMAL ENDING

Hooray, zero guests achieved!

Aw the party feels extra empty because there's so few guests. Sorry guys.

Seven: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen. Father, I couldn't come here for a long time. I was caught up with the ugly reality in front of my eyes and forgot the importance of love.

...so he's not saving Saeran? :(

Seven: I have a confession to make. When I was little, I did not believe in God. I went to church because the people there lived better lives than me. I was happy and treated like a human being. After losing my brother, I did not live an honest life. I didn't deserve to be loved. But there was someone who loved me. I encountered the holiest of love inside her. I've realised this is a miracle. God exists...so I've come here to promise to you..."

We see Seven and MC embracing in a church.

"...to love her endlessly until my last breath. I promise to live a life of honesty and love. Amen. Shall we start again after a kiss?"

THE END

That was sweet.

For both endings I chose "The happiness of all children" as the dream the RFA should pursue, because it felt appropriate.

After Ending:

Saeyoung and MC are lying clothed in bed. Seven is listening to a tracking program and promises MC it will all be over tomorrow.

Saeyoung: For the first time in my life, I want to do things with another person, from small things to big grand plans. But I'm afraid if I tell you something bad will happen. So for now the dreams I have about our life will stay inside me. I don't know what's going to happen, but if this is our last night, I want to do one thing. I want to leave evidence on you that I existed"

That's a very poetic way to put it.

We cut to the chat room and everyone's talking about how quick they were...to get married!
Yoosung: Maybe I should get him to tutor me.
Zen: I have to go first!
Yoosung: I think the next one to go...will be Saeran.
Saeran: Me?

He has a Mint Eye logo as his user icon which is making me tilt my head a little.

Zen: The three of you must have talked on your way back: who rushed things, MC or Saeyoung?
Saeran: That's between them. But Saeyoung was super anxious that MC might leave him. He can be kind of obsessive, he kept staring at her...lol.
Jaehee: Are you like that?

Jaehee he's spent his entire life trapped in abusive prisons I'm not sure he's had a chance to figure it out.

Saeran: I...I've never been interested in women.
Zen: Where's Jumin lol.

Jumin is actually present, but silent, which has become usual for him since V left.

Saeran: I want to thank everyone. If it weren't for the RFA...I would have been lost and without a family. And I'm sorry for everything I did.
Yoosung: You've already apologised a thousand times!
Zen: Seven's brother is our family.
Saeran: I don't think my family was ever happy...so I feel like I have a family for the first time. I'll be forever grateful to Saeyoung for saving me.
Zen: When are we going to Saeyoung's shop? He quit being a secret agent and opened a toy shop. So hilarious. Noone here is going to have kids but him.
Yoosung: Ya
Saeran: Is that a prophecy?
Zen: Wait what did I just say o.O

There's a five story high wall and steel door...at a toy shop? After they shout for a while the door asks for 2-6 in Arabic.
Zen: Does anyone speak Arabic? I didn't do well in school...
Jaehee: I'm sorry. It's one of the UN's official languages but I don't know.
Saeran: Wait, I have an Arabic dictionary.
Jaehee: ...why?
Saeran: I need to be prepared for everything.

It's so weird hearing him talk cheerfully and not having it be creepy threats etc.

Awwww but then Saeran appears against a white background saying "Saeyoung...you haven't found me yet...wake up and face the harsh reality..."

THE END

Cheritz are you going to end every one of these 11 extra endings ambiguously to make me pay $30+ for After Story and the DLCs?

ANYWAY. That is the end of the 707 route! And I really liked it! It got very melodramatic by the end but in a way I was entirely into. I can see why he's such a fan favourite. I could have done with more of an explicit shift from not dating to dating, but that's very much a taste thing, and I'm sure I can find someone who's written a story to fill in that blank amongst the *checks* 1430 MC/Saeyoung fics on the AO3.

While I'm here, the top pairings are:
707 | Choi Luciel/Main Character (1430)
Han Jumin/Main Character (928)
Choi Saeran/Main Character (733)
707 | Choi Luciel/Reader (720)
Zen | Ryu Hyun/Main Character (653)
Unknown | Ray/Main Character (Mystic Messenger) (544)
Choi Saeran/Reader (543)
Kim Yoosung/Main Character (537)
Han Jumin/Reader (489)
Kang Jaehee/Main Character (Mystic Messenger) (407)

But...Ray is Saeran? I wonder if that's 544+733 separate stories or if the ambiguous tags mean some people use both.

Glad to see Jaehee/MC made it in there. 407 stories! That's probably more than all the femslash for all the pairings in all my other recent otome fandoms combined. I should check some of these stories out now that I can be less worried about spoilers. (Ha, I just checked. Hakuoki has eleven femslash stories total lol)

I looked up Jumin's route and it really doesn't sound appealing, at least not to play through in real time. Afaict the remaining After Endings are also set after Saeyoung's Good End, but I might give Jumin's route a go on youtube etc anyway because it would be nice to have that context before seeing the full end. And from above he obviously appealed to some people!