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This was great! THE PLOT THICKENS.
I was so into this I just played through a bunch without pausing and thus taking notes. Let me see...
Everyone is depressed about the situation. They keep shooting monsters in order to escape and return to life, but Beniyuri feels awful about the possibility of killing Yamato. And for some reason she always feels exhausted after her hair clip absorbs the black butterflies the monsters release in death. The clip seems to be getting darker over time. If the black butterflies drag you to the Abyss...what are they doing to her?
Late one night, Beniyuri sees a bunch of white butterflies gathered around the door. She opens it to let them out, and they seem to be leading her somewhere, so she follows. She finds herself in the entrance way, and there, covered in white butterflies, is the fox masked man.
Fox masked man: Come. He's waiting. Yamato.
And so she follows. He refuses to answer any more of her questions, but leads her to a distant part of the manor, and opens a secret door in the wall to reveal a long stone stairway leading up, to somewhere that somehow glows with white light.
Fox masked man: I will wait for you, and bring you back safely. He is alone. You remember his true form.
He speaks in a soft, halting way, as if he finds it hard to form words, or he's afraid to do so.
The stairs lead to a greenhouse filled with life. White butterflies flit around a fountain, and there hidden in the grass is...a monster. Beniyuri panics, but realises it's wearing Yamato's choker, and is curled up as if in misery or fear.
Beniyuri: Yamato?
Yamato, slashing at the plants around him with his deadly claws: Stay...back! Don't look at me like this! I might hurt you!
Beniyuri: Yamato...you're still the same. You seem gruff, but your heart is kind. You're still you.
He lets her approach. She holds him, and rubs his back comfortingly, and he grabs her tight, crying. She thinks of all the times they spent together, and the darkness on his body fades.
If she'd let him touch her back then, could she have saved him?
Yamato: Please...a little longer...
Beniyuri: I'll always stay by your side, Yamato.
They hold each other for a long time.
He thanks her and they have a sweet conversation. He's surprised to find out that Hikage is his brother, but seems to remember other things he doesn't want to share. He's also still not entirely human, but I dig the aesthetic:
He says after he turned, he ran away, not wanting to hurt anyone, and the white butterflies led him here. He finds this place calmer than the base, and wants to stay here. He also doesn't want the others to know, but is happy when Beniyuri says she'll visit him again.
And she does. Fox-mask brings her every night, and according to Yamato he also just...hangs around Yamato silently.
Beniyuri: Heehee, that's cute
Yamato: He's a grown man! It's creepy!
Fox-mask: *silently appears and sighs*
Yamato: Uh. I mean. Not CREEPY exactly. But it's weird when I don't know your name!
Fox-mask: *sigh*
Beniyuri: Do you not know it? Why don't we use the name on the spare bedroom in the base?
...ok my brain is saying Monsanto but I know that's wrong. I'll fill it in later >.> EDIT: Monshiro!
They entice Monshiro to share the picnic Beniyuri made (despite Yamato saying he doesn't need to eat any more) and it's very companionable. Beniyuri feels like Yamato has gotten friendlier.
Beniyuri thanks Monshiro for all the help he's given, and asks if he has somewhere safe to stay. Does he have any friends? "friends" is a translation of "nakama", which has extra connotations of team/comrades, so I'm going to be a weeb and use that.
Monshiro: You...should be my nakama.
Beniyuri: You want to stay with us? That...would be nice! (...if I could persuade everyone to be ok with it...)
Monshiro: Since we're nakama...you should have this ribbon. It's important to me, and will keep you safe. I will see you tomorrow.
And sure enough the next day she wakes up to hear everyone else wondering why this strange fox masked guy has shown up in their base saying he's their nakama.
She panics for a moment trying to figure out how to explain who he is without either lying, or revealing Yamato's secret. She and everyone else are very aware of how close Monshiro is standing to her.
Beniyuri: I, um.... met him in the manor while exploring. He's lost his memory, like us. Don't you remember him saving us, Hikage?
Nice save. She looks hopefully Kagiha for help, since he's usually so good natured, but he's all "He's a stranger! How do we know he doesn't have some hidden agenda?"
Hikage: Yeah, what if he's secretly the master of the manor?!
So close, Hikage...
Beniyuri admits to herself that Monshiro does have a very otherworldly air. But...
Beniyuri: He can't be the master. When we met he didn't pay any attention to the kaleidoscope shard on the ground.
Hikage: Fine. But why are you defending him so much? And you say you got to know him while exploring, but we're always in teams. So who were you with?
Beniyuri: I...uh...(I really don't want to say Yamato...)
Karasuba: She was with me.
Aww. I am open to the game turning me around on this dude, like Hakuoki did with Okita.
Kagiha: It didn't seem like you knew him before.
Karasuba: I was just surprised that he said he'd be moving in. But we were all strangers once. No need to give this guy grief for it. And having someone around who knows the manor could be useful!
Kagiha: Even so...
Karasuba: You've been against this guy from the start. Is he in your way somehow?
Kagiha: ...
Hikage: I just don't want any trouble finding it's way in here.
Karasuba: Me and Beniyuri-chan will take care of him, right?
Beniyuri: Yeah!
Hikage: Fine.
Beniyuri: :D :D
She finds Karasuba later and thanks him.
Karasuba: No problem! I look forward to us being friends, Monshiro!
Beniyuri: But why were you so quick to accept him?
Karasuba: If I help you, our relationship points get stronger, right?
Beniyuri: Uh :/
Karasuba: I'm kidding! I just figured we'd be better off making a friend rather than an enemy. Call it gut instinct. I don't entirely trust him, he's hiding something...but so are you.
Beniyuri: Um >.>
Karasuba: I won't push it.
Beniyuri: I'm sorry for making you lie.
Karasuba: Ha. You're such a goodie two shoes. It makes me want to mess with you.
Monshiro, standing very close to Beniyuri: NO TEASING, KARASUBA.
Beniyuri: Um. You've been standing very close to me...
Monshiro: Have I? Is that bad?
Beniyuri: Well no, but...
Karasuba: HUGGLES FOR EVERYONE!!
Beniyuri: KARASUBA
Karasuba: I want to get all close and flirty too. Is that bad?
Beniyuri: YES, LET GO
Karasuba: Stop playing favourites!
Monshiro: NO TEASING
They glare at each other with her stuck between them and she is absolutely into it.
A note onhonorifics since it feels like a Clue, based on my dodgy understanding of Japanese:
sama: super respectful, often translated as Lord
san: Moderately respectful, often translated as Mr/Mrs
shi: formal term for a stranger?
kun: young man you're familiar with
chan: young woman you're familiar with, implies cuteness
no honorific: I have never managed to figure this out
Beniyuri: calls everyone kun except Kagiha-san (or sama?), Usagi-chan, and Monshiro-san
Kagiha: Calls everyone kun except Beniyuri-san
Hikage: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri
Yamato: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri
Karasuba: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri-chan and Hikage-shi (??)
Usagi: The only one I remember is Beniyuri-san
Monshiro: I don't think he uses honorifics for anyone
Even though it's not the end of the chapter, I need four more scenes to progress.
Irreconcilable differences (set during Chapter 1):
They play old maid. Karasuba complains that he's bored once he's told to stop messing with Yamato by reading all his tells.
Kagiha: Why don't we raise the stakes?
Karasuba: Like Beniyuri's lips? :D
Hikage: Denied.
Kagiha: Denied.
Yamato: Have you lost your head?
Beniyuri: Mmm. I don't like that.
Karasuba: Sharing her bed? Laying your head in her-
Hikage: Anything involving Beniyuri would just make us butt heads.
Kagiha: How about a pass to skip cleaning up after a meal?
Beniyuri: I like that!
Karasuba: I guess. If she likes it :/
Hikage: Good. Then I win. While everyone was bickering I was counting cards ^_^
Mother's Ribbon:
Ai/Beniyuri's mother is knitting booties for the baby who's birth will kill her. She gives Ai some very unfortunate advice about how the boy at preschool who picks on her just wants to be friends (I mean this is a dating sim so he probably does, but she doesn't know that!) They talk about the importance of friends and expressing love in general.
Mum: If you have a group of friends (tomodachi) you end up with a circle of friends (nakama)!
Beniyuri: I want that!
Mum: You're such a great girl I'm sure it will happen naturally. But I'll give you a charm. It's a gift your daddy gave me. We both hope you grow into a great young lady.
And she unwraps a purple ribbon from her hair and wraps it around Ai's wrist. Ooh.
Ai: Thank you, mummy! It's my lucky charm now, I'll keep it forever and grow up into a great person just like you! And then I'll have nakama!
She falls asleep, and dreams of looking at the "butterfly knotted" ribbon. She feels like she can turn into a butterfly and fly away.
Aw man there's more Yamoto scenes now but they require FOUR HUNDRED POINTS EACH and I only have 200. Time to grind for butterflies ;_; Gonna go try doing it on the windows machine with a mouse, using this laptop trackpad is killing me.
Me: Ugh, that was a pain. This new Yamato scene better be good.
Unlocked Yamato scene title: Bathing
Me: >.>
Beniyuri comes across Yamato washing himself, shirtless.
Yamato: Oh, hi Beniyuri.
Beniyuri: UM (He's so muscular...does he work out? It would be rude to look away at this point, right?)
Yamoto, approaching: You look pale. Are you ok?
Beniyuri: UH
Yamoto: Oh! If I get any closer I'll get you wet! I'll go dry off.
Beniyuri: I... I MADE SANDWICHES!
I love how thirsty these heroines are under the politeness.
They have a nice conversation, and he apologises for having been so cold. He doesn't like the person he was before. Also he apparently didn't like her much before, but has been forced to rethink his opinion.
Yamoto: You're pretty brave, most people would be scared of someone who looked like this.
Beniyuri: DO YOU WORK OUT? (wait...why did I say that...)
Yamto: No? Oh, is that why you were looking at me funny? Ha, sorry, I forget some people are uncomfortable with nudity.
Beniyuri: AHAHAHA. RIGHT.
Beniyuri's voice actor does a great job at polite, awkward laughter.
In the Greenhouse:
Yamato is clearly tired. He admits he's been having trouble sleeping because the sound of the rain makes him anxious, though he doesn't feel bad when Beniyuri is around.
Beniyuri: We should sleep together!
Yamato: WHAT. THE HELL?!
Beniyuri: AHHH NOT LIKE THAT. I JUST MEANT YOU MIGHT SLEEP BETTER IF I STAYED WITH YOU.
Yamato, blushing bright red: CHOOSE YOUR WORDS MORE CAREFULLY. Also, that's weird! No!
Beniyuri thinks "Hmm, he's shy. But it's for his own good!", and keeps insisting he rest his head in her lap even as he's backing away with a look of panicked embarrassment. This is not a dynamic I would have predicted but I am 100% here for it.
Eventually she wears him down and, still blushing furiously, he rests his head in her lap.
Beniyuri: (Oh wow this really is...pretty intimate. His face is right there.)
Yamato: Stop staring at me. And no looking at me when I'm asleep, either!
Beniyuri: Should I sing you a lullaby?
Yamoto: What am I, four? We should just talk like normal people!
So they do, and it's nice, and he falls asleep, and she is happy to see how relaxed he is around her.
Back into the main story!
Beniyuri: You're so amazing, Monshiro, you're so good at fighting and you never seem to get tired. I hope I can be that strong one day.
Monshiro: I'm strong because I was alone. You should not be alone. You don't need to be strong. I will protect you.
Beniyuri: But you're not alone any more. And I want to stay with you, and protect you too.
That night she's looking at the ribbon he gave her, feeling nostalgic without knowing why. And then Monshiro knocks on her door. Once she lets him in he immediately lies in her bed, saying he was cold and lonely.
Beniyuri: UH
Monshiro: Is it bad? I can go ;_;
Beniyuri: ...you can stay. But just this once!
He talks about how warm she makes him feel, and she lets him snuggle closer. She asks if he wants to take off his mask and he says he's fine, and she doesn't pry, though there's a lot about him she's very curious about. As they're falling asleep, he says "I want to stay with you forever. I can't, but just for now..." It feels important, but she's too tired to ask what he means, and falls asleep.
(I am also into this dynamic. Shh)
I was waiting for everyone else to see him leave her room and be weird about it, but nope!
Beniyuri: Hikage and Kagiha don't really trust Monshiro yet, but he's been getting along better with everyone. He's actually really good at board games, and has been playing them with Karasuba.
Yamato: Huh. Good for you, Monshiro.
Beniyuri: Are you sure you don't want to come back with us? Monshiro really likes you, and Hikage is worried about you.
Yamato: Not yet :(
Me: Gosh these three are cute and shippy, but getting Yamoto to so much as hug Monshiro would be a challenge.
Seeing how sad he looks, Monshiro stops chasing butterflies and starts rubbing Yamato's head.
Yamato: OW! Are you trying to start a fight?
Beniyuri: I think he's trying to comfort you. He hasn't spent much time around people. He's, uh, not much good with space. He keeps his distance from Hikage but always stands super close to Karasuba.
Monshiro: What do you mean by "space"? Am I bad?
Yamato: Ah, I guess you wouldn't know. If you want to make people feel better, this is how you do it. *starts stroking Monshiro's hair* I'm sure Hikage and Kagiha will come around.
Monshiro: *nods seriously, looking very happy*
Me: ...ok, maybe not as challenging as I thought...
Yamoto mentions having coming across a study full of books and documents on the second floor.
The next day Hikage notices that Beniyuri seems to be looking for something but doesn't press when she very unconvincingly denies it. They find the study, which seems to be being used by someone. She finds an illustration of black and white butterflies pinned to the wall, and a book on the desk which gives her an ominous feeling...and I get to choose whether to pick it up?? OH GOD.
I took the safe option. The way the flowchart splits after that suggests the other option lead to a bad end, phew!
She finds Hikage staring at an old photo from about a hundred years ago. All the faces have been blotted out. There's also a more modern photo, but before they can really look at it, they hear a monster approaching. She puts the photo in her pocket and gets ready to fight.
Time to unlock more scenes!
Promise of Marriage
Ai likes to go down to the river with her older childhood friend Natsuki, because he knows lots about the plants and animals.
Me: It SOUNDS like Kagiha, but it could be a red herring! Since they don't use sprites for these memories he could look like anything.
His hair is described as fluffy.
Me: Monshiro's hair is...arguably...also fluffy?
Natsuki wants to search for a four leaf clover (which seems to be an obscure foreign concept to Ai) but when that fails, gives her a woven ring made of clovers.
Natsuki: When we're grown I want to give you a permanent one....a wedding ring...
Ai is surprised but very happy, and says yes.
OK FINE IT'S KAGIHA
It takes her a few tries, but she makes him a ring too, and he is utterly overjoyed.
Natsuki: I promise I will come for you. Will you wait for me?
Ai: I promise!
He smiles agin, but it's different this time. It's like he's a grown man, a whole other person.
HA!
...that's creepy as hell. It was weird enough when she was 7 or whatever and he was like 10. But if he's an adult immortal or something nnnng
Hated Thing (Chapter 1):
So I really like that Hikage doesn't have a typical Sick Character personality, but I have been wondering what effect being in a coma from like 10-20 has had on his character (since the flashbacks are all over the place, I'm not assuming they're all highschool age any more) And lo...
Everyone is discussing smartphone apps and messaging with stickers on "Lime" (a reference to the popular Japanese messaging app Line) and it becomes clear that Hikage has no idea what they're talking about. His Magic Cellphone is of a much older model than everyone else's as well.
Karasuba: OMG Hikage, are you secretly....bad with technology?? :D
Hikage: OF COURSE NOT
Karasuba: Then you'll be able to type up a message on my phone, right? Press here to make a message.
Hikage: OF COURSE! ...there's no buttons...??
Yamato and Beniyuri: You don't have to force yourself to...
Hikage: I'M FINE
Karasuba: HEY KAGIHA, COME SEE! HIKAGE CAN'T USE A SMARTPHONE!!
Hikage: YES I CAN
Kagiha: What's a smartphone?
Karasuba: wtf
Hikage: This!
Kagiha: Oh, a cell phone! But it doesn't have any buttons?
Hikage, smugly: A smartphone doesn't have any. You press here to send a message ^_^
omg look at these two old men
Kagiha: Wow, that looks cool! Beniyuri, can you teach me how to use this?
Smooth.
TIME FOR MORE GRINDING
Everyone has natural designs in their background: Hikage has a red flower, Yamato what I think is flowers and birds in blue, and Kagiha has green fish. The others still haven't been unlocked yet.
So if you hit the quit button during the minigame (say, while trying to remember what the shoot button is) it says "Warning: you will only get a limited number of points". I decided to try quitting right at the start to see how many points I got...and I got TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY. AND A C. LIKE I ALWAYS DO.
I am so bad at this game I literally might as well not have hit any butterflies at all /o\
So, upside, grinding will go a lot quicker now >.>
Long Hair:
Monshiro runs off to chase butterflies when he's supposed to be eating with Yamato and Beniyuri, so Beniyuri chases after him.
Yamato: Hey, you came to visit me, don't worry about him!
Beniyuri: This feel weirdly familiar...but I can't quite remember...*clutches head*
Yamato: Don't force it. You're still you, whether or not you have your memories.
He gently pats her head. She likes it, but feels self conscious.
Yamato: Your hair has gotten so long...it would look good with the ribbon...
Beniyuri: What? Our bodies don't change while we're here...
Looks like he remembers her from their past!
Comparing Heights (last Chapter 1 scene!):
The very similarly sized Karasuba and Yamato do a bunch of macho posturing as they fail to reach a high box for Beniyuri, only to be shown up by the much taller Kagiha.
Beniyuri: Wow, I wish I was tall!
Kagiha: You're fine as you are. It gets annoying banging my head on things all the time. I'm sure Karasuba and Yamato have that all the time too ^_^
Karasuba and Yamato: HAHA YES OF COURSE >.>
omg he did that on purpose. SNEAKY GREEN BEANPOLE.
...and I'm still on chapter four?? The others only had about four scenes, but I'm up to scene 9 now! If this goes on much longer I'll have to split it into multiple posts!
Beniyuri shows everyone the photo, which Hikage seems not to remember her picking up.
Oooooh! And Natsuki/kid!Kagiha doesn't actually seem that much older, ok.
Kagiha: This picture, it's...
Beniyuri: What's wrong?
Kagiha: Can't you see it?
Everyone starts grabbing their heads in pain. And then she sees it too, and she remembers.
Memory: the kids bicker at camp. Kid!Hikage's name is Kazuya and he calmly debunks his brother Takuya/Yamato's claim not to be excited. Kid!Karasuba's name is Aki, and he and Yamato cheerfully insult each other.
Beniyuri: Aki...chan?
Karasuba: ...Ai-chan...
They decide to stick to the names they've been using.
Beniyuri: And that way we have extra motivation to get back to the real world!
Hikage: ...do you not remember what happened at camp?
Beniyuri: We had...fun?
Everyone gets very awkward. I wonder if this is when Hikage fell into the coma. I had a sudden anxiety that he's the real bad guy because THE COMA MADE HIM EVIL but hopefully not. I do wonder why he has one red eye in the title image, though...
Hikage: Anyway, we all know each other...with one exception. Isn't that right, Monshiro?
Monshiro: ...
Hikage: You're the heretic. Who are you? Why are you trying to get so close to Beniyuri? Did you brainwash her?!
Beniyuri: Stop that! I'm not brainwashed!
Monshiro: Beniyuri did nothing wrong! And I didn't do anything to her!
Hikage: As long as you're here, I can't trust you or her. You understand that, right?
Monshiro: ... :(
Beniyuri: He's our nakama! That doesn't change because we met him here instead of in childhood!
Monshiro: You're putting him on the same level as us? Some guy you just met? He disrupts the harmony of the group!
Beniyuri: Then we need to be stronger! Isn't that right, Karasuba, Kahgiha?
But they just look away. Monshiro gently pulls on her arm and says "I'm sorry", then goes to his room.
DON'T BE SUCH A JERK HIKAGE
Beniyuri lays in bed and thinks back over her memories. All of them were around the same age and lived in the same area, so they played together every day. They went to a local camp together, took a group photo, and went to explore the forest. And then...?
She can't remember. And she has a feeling that if she does, all her relationships will change. Does she really want to?
I get to choose! I pick "I have to remember, whatever it takes".
Beniyuri can't sleep and goes downstairs. She bumps into Kagiha, and asks him if he thinks they will lose their memories of this place when they return.
Kagiha: It would be worth it. I want to spend time with you in the sun, like we did as children.
Beniyuri: We haven't seen each other since then? Did you go to a different school?
Kagiha: You don't remember what happened, do you?
He says she should remember naturally, and she gets frustrated, being the only one who doesn't know makes her feel distant from the others.
Kagiha: Do you remember the promise we made as children?
Beniyuri: The promise...oh, to get married! Yes, it was a very serious promise.
Kagiha: Is it still a promise?
Beniyuri: What?
Kagiha: When we get back to the real world, will you marry me?
Warm feelings fill her heart and she's about to agree? DID I ACCIDENTALLY TAKE THE KAGIHA BRANCH CHOICE D:
But it's like there's a shard of glass in her heart: what if she already has a lover? What life will she be returning to?
Beniyuri: I'm sorry, I can't answer you yet.
Kagiha: No, I'm sorry, it was a mean question. But I want you to know I still cherish our promise.
His unyielding, passionate gaze steals her breath away.
Hikage: If you two are going to make out, get a room. Other people need to use the living room.
Beniyuri: It's not like that!
Kagiha: Isn't it? ^_^
End of Chapter 4
This was great! THE PLOT THICKENS.
I was so into this I just played through a bunch without pausing and thus taking notes. Let me see...
Everyone is depressed about the situation. They keep shooting monsters in order to escape and return to life, but Beniyuri feels awful about the possibility of killing Yamato. And for some reason she always feels exhausted after her hair clip absorbs the black butterflies the monsters release in death. The clip seems to be getting darker over time. If the black butterflies drag you to the Abyss...what are they doing to her?
Late one night, Beniyuri sees a bunch of white butterflies gathered around the door. She opens it to let them out, and they seem to be leading her somewhere, so she follows. She finds herself in the entrance way, and there, covered in white butterflies, is the fox masked man.
Fox masked man: Come. He's waiting. Yamato.
And so she follows. He refuses to answer any more of her questions, but leads her to a distant part of the manor, and opens a secret door in the wall to reveal a long stone stairway leading up, to somewhere that somehow glows with white light.
Fox masked man: I will wait for you, and bring you back safely. He is alone. You remember his true form.
He speaks in a soft, halting way, as if he finds it hard to form words, or he's afraid to do so.
The stairs lead to a greenhouse filled with life. White butterflies flit around a fountain, and there hidden in the grass is...a monster. Beniyuri panics, but realises it's wearing Yamato's choker, and is curled up as if in misery or fear.
Beniyuri: Yamato?
Yamato, slashing at the plants around him with his deadly claws: Stay...back! Don't look at me like this! I might hurt you!
Beniyuri: Yamato...you're still the same. You seem gruff, but your heart is kind. You're still you.
He lets her approach. She holds him, and rubs his back comfortingly, and he grabs her tight, crying. She thinks of all the times they spent together, and the darkness on his body fades.
If she'd let him touch her back then, could she have saved him?
Yamato: Please...a little longer...
Beniyuri: I'll always stay by your side, Yamato.
They hold each other for a long time.
He thanks her and they have a sweet conversation. He's surprised to find out that Hikage is his brother, but seems to remember other things he doesn't want to share. He's also still not entirely human, but I dig the aesthetic:
He says after he turned, he ran away, not wanting to hurt anyone, and the white butterflies led him here. He finds this place calmer than the base, and wants to stay here. He also doesn't want the others to know, but is happy when Beniyuri says she'll visit him again.
And she does. Fox-mask brings her every night, and according to Yamato he also just...hangs around Yamato silently.
Beniyuri: Heehee, that's cute
Yamato: He's a grown man! It's creepy!
Fox-mask: *silently appears and sighs*
Yamato: Uh. I mean. Not CREEPY exactly. But it's weird when I don't know your name!
Fox-mask: *sigh*
Beniyuri: Do you not know it? Why don't we use the name on the spare bedroom in the base?
...ok my brain is saying Monsanto but I know that's wrong. I'll fill it in later >.> EDIT: Monshiro!
They entice Monshiro to share the picnic Beniyuri made (despite Yamato saying he doesn't need to eat any more) and it's very companionable. Beniyuri feels like Yamato has gotten friendlier.
Beniyuri thanks Monshiro for all the help he's given, and asks if he has somewhere safe to stay. Does he have any friends? "friends" is a translation of "nakama", which has extra connotations of team/comrades, so I'm going to be a weeb and use that.
Monshiro: You...should be my nakama.
Beniyuri: You want to stay with us? That...would be nice! (...if I could persuade everyone to be ok with it...)
Monshiro: Since we're nakama...you should have this ribbon. It's important to me, and will keep you safe. I will see you tomorrow.
And sure enough the next day she wakes up to hear everyone else wondering why this strange fox masked guy has shown up in their base saying he's their nakama.
She panics for a moment trying to figure out how to explain who he is without either lying, or revealing Yamato's secret. She and everyone else are very aware of how close Monshiro is standing to her.
Beniyuri: I, um.... met him in the manor while exploring. He's lost his memory, like us. Don't you remember him saving us, Hikage?
Nice save. She looks hopefully Kagiha for help, since he's usually so good natured, but he's all "He's a stranger! How do we know he doesn't have some hidden agenda?"
Hikage: Yeah, what if he's secretly the master of the manor?!
So close, Hikage...
Beniyuri admits to herself that Monshiro does have a very otherworldly air. But...
Beniyuri: He can't be the master. When we met he didn't pay any attention to the kaleidoscope shard on the ground.
Hikage: Fine. But why are you defending him so much? And you say you got to know him while exploring, but we're always in teams. So who were you with?
Beniyuri: I...uh...(I really don't want to say Yamato...)
Karasuba: She was with me.
Aww. I am open to the game turning me around on this dude, like Hakuoki did with Okita.
Kagiha: It didn't seem like you knew him before.
Karasuba: I was just surprised that he said he'd be moving in. But we were all strangers once. No need to give this guy grief for it. And having someone around who knows the manor could be useful!
Kagiha: Even so...
Karasuba: You've been against this guy from the start. Is he in your way somehow?
Kagiha: ...
Hikage: I just don't want any trouble finding it's way in here.
Karasuba: Me and Beniyuri-chan will take care of him, right?
Beniyuri: Yeah!
Hikage: Fine.
Beniyuri: :D :D
She finds Karasuba later and thanks him.
Karasuba: No problem! I look forward to us being friends, Monshiro!
Beniyuri: But why were you so quick to accept him?
Karasuba: If I help you, our relationship points get stronger, right?
Beniyuri: Uh :/
Karasuba: I'm kidding! I just figured we'd be better off making a friend rather than an enemy. Call it gut instinct. I don't entirely trust him, he's hiding something...but so are you.
Beniyuri: Um >.>
Karasuba: I won't push it.
Beniyuri: I'm sorry for making you lie.
Karasuba: Ha. You're such a goodie two shoes. It makes me want to mess with you.
Monshiro, standing very close to Beniyuri: NO TEASING, KARASUBA.
Beniyuri: Um. You've been standing very close to me...
Monshiro: Have I? Is that bad?
Beniyuri: Well no, but...
Karasuba: HUGGLES FOR EVERYONE!!
Beniyuri: KARASUBA
Karasuba: I want to get all close and flirty too. Is that bad?
Beniyuri: YES, LET GO
Karasuba: Stop playing favourites!
Monshiro: NO TEASING
They glare at each other with her stuck between them and she is absolutely into it.
A note on
sama: super respectful, often translated as Lord
san: Moderately respectful, often translated as Mr/Mrs
shi: formal term for a stranger?
kun: young man you're familiar with
chan: young woman you're familiar with, implies cuteness
no honorific: I have never managed to figure this out
Beniyuri: calls everyone kun except Kagiha-san (or sama?), Usagi-chan, and Monshiro-san
Kagiha: Calls everyone kun except Beniyuri-san
Hikage: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri
Yamato: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri
Karasuba: calls everyone kun except Beniyuri-chan and Hikage-shi (??)
Usagi: The only one I remember is Beniyuri-san
Monshiro: I don't think he uses honorifics for anyone
Even though it's not the end of the chapter, I need four more scenes to progress.
Irreconcilable differences (set during Chapter 1):
They play old maid. Karasuba complains that he's bored once he's told to stop messing with Yamato by reading all his tells.
Kagiha: Why don't we raise the stakes?
Karasuba: Like Beniyuri's lips? :D
Hikage: Denied.
Kagiha: Denied.
Yamato: Have you lost your head?
Beniyuri: Mmm. I don't like that.
Karasuba: Sharing her bed? Laying your head in her-
Hikage: Anything involving Beniyuri would just make us butt heads.
Kagiha: How about a pass to skip cleaning up after a meal?
Beniyuri: I like that!
Karasuba: I guess. If she likes it :/
Hikage: Good. Then I win. While everyone was bickering I was counting cards ^_^
Mother's Ribbon:
Ai/Beniyuri's mother is knitting booties for the baby who's birth will kill her. She gives Ai some very unfortunate advice about how the boy at preschool who picks on her just wants to be friends (I mean this is a dating sim so he probably does, but she doesn't know that!) They talk about the importance of friends and expressing love in general.
Mum: If you have a group of friends (tomodachi) you end up with a circle of friends (nakama)!
Beniyuri: I want that!
Mum: You're such a great girl I'm sure it will happen naturally. But I'll give you a charm. It's a gift your daddy gave me. We both hope you grow into a great young lady.
And she unwraps a purple ribbon from her hair and wraps it around Ai's wrist. Ooh.
Ai: Thank you, mummy! It's my lucky charm now, I'll keep it forever and grow up into a great person just like you! And then I'll have nakama!
She falls asleep, and dreams of looking at the "butterfly knotted" ribbon. She feels like she can turn into a butterfly and fly away.
Aw man there's more Yamoto scenes now but they require FOUR HUNDRED POINTS EACH and I only have 200. Time to grind for butterflies ;_; Gonna go try doing it on the windows machine with a mouse, using this laptop trackpad is killing me.
Me: Ugh, that was a pain. This new Yamato scene better be good.
Unlocked Yamato scene title: Bathing
Me: >.>
Beniyuri comes across Yamato washing himself, shirtless.
Yamato: Oh, hi Beniyuri.
Beniyuri: UM (He's so muscular...does he work out? It would be rude to look away at this point, right?)
Yamoto, approaching: You look pale. Are you ok?
Beniyuri: UH
Yamoto: Oh! If I get any closer I'll get you wet! I'll go dry off.
Beniyuri: I... I MADE SANDWICHES!
I love how thirsty these heroines are under the politeness.
They have a nice conversation, and he apologises for having been so cold. He doesn't like the person he was before. Also he apparently didn't like her much before, but has been forced to rethink his opinion.
Yamoto: You're pretty brave, most people would be scared of someone who looked like this.
Beniyuri: DO YOU WORK OUT? (wait...why did I say that...)
Yamto: No? Oh, is that why you were looking at me funny? Ha, sorry, I forget some people are uncomfortable with nudity.
Beniyuri: AHAHAHA. RIGHT.
Beniyuri's voice actor does a great job at polite, awkward laughter.
In the Greenhouse:
Yamato is clearly tired. He admits he's been having trouble sleeping because the sound of the rain makes him anxious, though he doesn't feel bad when Beniyuri is around.
Beniyuri: We should sleep together!
Yamato: WHAT. THE HELL?!
Beniyuri: AHHH NOT LIKE THAT. I JUST MEANT YOU MIGHT SLEEP BETTER IF I STAYED WITH YOU.
Yamato, blushing bright red: CHOOSE YOUR WORDS MORE CAREFULLY. Also, that's weird! No!
Beniyuri thinks "Hmm, he's shy. But it's for his own good!", and keeps insisting he rest his head in her lap even as he's backing away with a look of panicked embarrassment. This is not a dynamic I would have predicted but I am 100% here for it.
Eventually she wears him down and, still blushing furiously, he rests his head in her lap.
Beniyuri: (Oh wow this really is...pretty intimate. His face is right there.)
Yamato: Stop staring at me. And no looking at me when I'm asleep, either!
Beniyuri: Should I sing you a lullaby?
Yamoto: What am I, four? We should just talk like normal people!
So they do, and it's nice, and he falls asleep, and she is happy to see how relaxed he is around her.
Back into the main story!
Beniyuri: You're so amazing, Monshiro, you're so good at fighting and you never seem to get tired. I hope I can be that strong one day.
Monshiro: I'm strong because I was alone. You should not be alone. You don't need to be strong. I will protect you.
Beniyuri: But you're not alone any more. And I want to stay with you, and protect you too.
That night she's looking at the ribbon he gave her, feeling nostalgic without knowing why. And then Monshiro knocks on her door. Once she lets him in he immediately lies in her bed, saying he was cold and lonely.
Beniyuri: UH
Monshiro: Is it bad? I can go ;_;
Beniyuri: ...you can stay. But just this once!
He talks about how warm she makes him feel, and she lets him snuggle closer. She asks if he wants to take off his mask and he says he's fine, and she doesn't pry, though there's a lot about him she's very curious about. As they're falling asleep, he says "I want to stay with you forever. I can't, but just for now..." It feels important, but she's too tired to ask what he means, and falls asleep.
(I am also into this dynamic. Shh)
I was waiting for everyone else to see him leave her room and be weird about it, but nope!
Beniyuri: Hikage and Kagiha don't really trust Monshiro yet, but he's been getting along better with everyone. He's actually really good at board games, and has been playing them with Karasuba.
Yamato: Huh. Good for you, Monshiro.
Beniyuri: Are you sure you don't want to come back with us? Monshiro really likes you, and Hikage is worried about you.
Yamato: Not yet :(
Me: Gosh these three are cute and shippy, but getting Yamoto to so much as hug Monshiro would be a challenge.
Seeing how sad he looks, Monshiro stops chasing butterflies and starts rubbing Yamato's head.
Yamato: OW! Are you trying to start a fight?
Beniyuri: I think he's trying to comfort you. He hasn't spent much time around people. He's, uh, not much good with space. He keeps his distance from Hikage but always stands super close to Karasuba.
Monshiro: What do you mean by "space"? Am I bad?
Yamato: Ah, I guess you wouldn't know. If you want to make people feel better, this is how you do it. *starts stroking Monshiro's hair* I'm sure Hikage and Kagiha will come around.
Monshiro: *nods seriously, looking very happy*
Me: ...ok, maybe not as challenging as I thought...
Yamoto mentions having coming across a study full of books and documents on the second floor.
The next day Hikage notices that Beniyuri seems to be looking for something but doesn't press when she very unconvincingly denies it. They find the study, which seems to be being used by someone. She finds an illustration of black and white butterflies pinned to the wall, and a book on the desk which gives her an ominous feeling...and I get to choose whether to pick it up?? OH GOD.
I took the safe option. The way the flowchart splits after that suggests the other option lead to a bad end, phew!
She finds Hikage staring at an old photo from about a hundred years ago. All the faces have been blotted out. There's also a more modern photo, but before they can really look at it, they hear a monster approaching. She puts the photo in her pocket and gets ready to fight.
Time to unlock more scenes!
Promise of Marriage
Ai likes to go down to the river with her older childhood friend Natsuki, because he knows lots about the plants and animals.
Me: It SOUNDS like Kagiha, but it could be a red herring! Since they don't use sprites for these memories he could look like anything.
His hair is described as fluffy.
Me: Monshiro's hair is...arguably...also fluffy?
Natsuki wants to search for a four leaf clover (which seems to be an obscure foreign concept to Ai) but when that fails, gives her a woven ring made of clovers.
Natsuki: When we're grown I want to give you a permanent one....a wedding ring...
Ai is surprised but very happy, and says yes.
OK FINE IT'S KAGIHA
It takes her a few tries, but she makes him a ring too, and he is utterly overjoyed.
Natsuki: I promise I will come for you. Will you wait for me?
Ai: I promise!
He smiles agin, but it's different this time. It's like he's a grown man, a whole other person.
HA!
...that's creepy as hell. It was weird enough when she was 7 or whatever and he was like 10. But if he's an adult immortal or something nnnng
Hated Thing (Chapter 1):
So I really like that Hikage doesn't have a typical Sick Character personality, but I have been wondering what effect being in a coma from like 10-20 has had on his character (since the flashbacks are all over the place, I'm not assuming they're all highschool age any more) And lo...
Everyone is discussing smartphone apps and messaging with stickers on "Lime" (a reference to the popular Japanese messaging app Line) and it becomes clear that Hikage has no idea what they're talking about. His Magic Cellphone is of a much older model than everyone else's as well.
Karasuba: OMG Hikage, are you secretly....bad with technology?? :D
Hikage: OF COURSE NOT
Karasuba: Then you'll be able to type up a message on my phone, right? Press here to make a message.
Hikage: OF COURSE! ...there's no buttons...??
Yamato and Beniyuri: You don't have to force yourself to...
Hikage: I'M FINE
Karasuba: HEY KAGIHA, COME SEE! HIKAGE CAN'T USE A SMARTPHONE!!
Hikage: YES I CAN
Kagiha: What's a smartphone?
Karasuba: wtf
Hikage: This!
Kagiha: Oh, a cell phone! But it doesn't have any buttons?
Hikage, smugly: A smartphone doesn't have any. You press here to send a message ^_^
omg look at these two old men
Kagiha: Wow, that looks cool! Beniyuri, can you teach me how to use this?
Smooth.
TIME FOR MORE GRINDING
Everyone has natural designs in their background: Hikage has a red flower, Yamato what I think is flowers and birds in blue, and Kagiha has green fish. The others still haven't been unlocked yet.
So if you hit the quit button during the minigame (say, while trying to remember what the shoot button is) it says "Warning: you will only get a limited number of points". I decided to try quitting right at the start to see how many points I got...and I got TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY. AND A C. LIKE I ALWAYS DO.
I am so bad at this game I literally might as well not have hit any butterflies at all /o\
So, upside, grinding will go a lot quicker now >.>
Long Hair:
Monshiro runs off to chase butterflies when he's supposed to be eating with Yamato and Beniyuri, so Beniyuri chases after him.
Yamato: Hey, you came to visit me, don't worry about him!
Beniyuri: This feel weirdly familiar...but I can't quite remember...*clutches head*
Yamato: Don't force it. You're still you, whether or not you have your memories.
He gently pats her head. She likes it, but feels self conscious.
Yamato: Your hair has gotten so long...it would look good with the ribbon...
Beniyuri: What? Our bodies don't change while we're here...
Looks like he remembers her from their past!
Comparing Heights (last Chapter 1 scene!):
The very similarly sized Karasuba and Yamato do a bunch of macho posturing as they fail to reach a high box for Beniyuri, only to be shown up by the much taller Kagiha.
Beniyuri: Wow, I wish I was tall!
Kagiha: You're fine as you are. It gets annoying banging my head on things all the time. I'm sure Karasuba and Yamato have that all the time too ^_^
Karasuba and Yamato: HAHA YES OF COURSE >.>
omg he did that on purpose. SNEAKY GREEN BEANPOLE.
...and I'm still on chapter four?? The others only had about four scenes, but I'm up to scene 9 now! If this goes on much longer I'll have to split it into multiple posts!
Beniyuri shows everyone the photo, which Hikage seems not to remember her picking up.
Oooooh! And Natsuki/kid!Kagiha doesn't actually seem that much older, ok.
Kagiha: This picture, it's...
Beniyuri: What's wrong?
Kagiha: Can't you see it?
Everyone starts grabbing their heads in pain. And then she sees it too, and she remembers.
Memory: the kids bicker at camp. Kid!Hikage's name is Kazuya and he calmly debunks his brother Takuya/Yamato's claim not to be excited. Kid!Karasuba's name is Aki, and he and Yamato cheerfully insult each other.
Beniyuri: Aki...chan?
Karasuba: ...Ai-chan...
They decide to stick to the names they've been using.
Beniyuri: And that way we have extra motivation to get back to the real world!
Hikage: ...do you not remember what happened at camp?
Beniyuri: We had...fun?
Everyone gets very awkward. I wonder if this is when Hikage fell into the coma. I had a sudden anxiety that he's the real bad guy because THE COMA MADE HIM EVIL but hopefully not. I do wonder why he has one red eye in the title image, though...
Hikage: Anyway, we all know each other...with one exception. Isn't that right, Monshiro?
Monshiro: ...
Hikage: You're the heretic. Who are you? Why are you trying to get so close to Beniyuri? Did you brainwash her?!
Beniyuri: Stop that! I'm not brainwashed!
Monshiro: Beniyuri did nothing wrong! And I didn't do anything to her!
Hikage: As long as you're here, I can't trust you or her. You understand that, right?
Monshiro: ... :(
Beniyuri: He's our nakama! That doesn't change because we met him here instead of in childhood!
Monshiro: You're putting him on the same level as us? Some guy you just met? He disrupts the harmony of the group!
Beniyuri: Then we need to be stronger! Isn't that right, Karasuba, Kahgiha?
But they just look away. Monshiro gently pulls on her arm and says "I'm sorry", then goes to his room.
DON'T BE SUCH A JERK HIKAGE
Beniyuri lays in bed and thinks back over her memories. All of them were around the same age and lived in the same area, so they played together every day. They went to a local camp together, took a group photo, and went to explore the forest. And then...?
She can't remember. And she has a feeling that if she does, all her relationships will change. Does she really want to?
I get to choose! I pick "I have to remember, whatever it takes".
Beniyuri can't sleep and goes downstairs. She bumps into Kagiha, and asks him if he thinks they will lose their memories of this place when they return.
Kagiha: It would be worth it. I want to spend time with you in the sun, like we did as children.
Beniyuri: We haven't seen each other since then? Did you go to a different school?
Kagiha: You don't remember what happened, do you?
He says she should remember naturally, and she gets frustrated, being the only one who doesn't know makes her feel distant from the others.
Kagiha: Do you remember the promise we made as children?
Beniyuri: The promise...oh, to get married! Yes, it was a very serious promise.
Kagiha: Is it still a promise?
Beniyuri: What?
Kagiha: When we get back to the real world, will you marry me?
Warm feelings fill her heart and she's about to agree? DID I ACCIDENTALLY TAKE THE KAGIHA BRANCH CHOICE D:
But it's like there's a shard of glass in her heart: what if she already has a lover? What life will she be returning to?
Beniyuri: I'm sorry, I can't answer you yet.
Kagiha: No, I'm sorry, it was a mean question. But I want you to know I still cherish our promise.
His unyielding, passionate gaze steals her breath away.
Hikage: If you two are going to make out, get a room. Other people need to use the living room.
Beniyuri: It's not like that!
Kagiha: Isn't it? ^_^
End of Chapter 4
