![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist
Each of these chapters focusses on one of the LIs in turn, with thrills, plot, worldbuilding, heartwarming moments and a little angst etc all leading up to the path split. I spent a chunk of Chapter 8 going ????, but in a good way, I'm curious to see where this is all going!
No content notes for this summary but the chapters themselves have a little blood, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some death and moderate violence in the actual paths. Also there's some Stuff going on with a character who feels autistic coded, not sure how I feel about that yet.
So it turns out I am not on the Canus path yet, Chapter 4 just happens to be about him, but then chapter 5 is about Rindo, and presumably so on for a while before the path split.
And I am pouting about it! I want Canus's story now! So I'm going to pause on playing Chapter 5 (which is fine so far, asides from not being about Canus) and describe chapter 4. (EDIT: It grew on me)
Flashback!
Latin text against a black background as Canus solemnly talks about how the hand of death comes for everyone. END OF THE FLUFF I GUESS.
The tiny adorable fairy queen Titania asks Canus if he is willing to take on the burden of his ancestors, and become the hand of death. He says this duty is what he was born for.
Back to the present!
As she passes through the gate, MC hears a strange static-like noise and feels herself pulled by something. She arrives alone in a strange forest, and copes with being trapped on a distant world very sensibly until she meets some tiny child-like fairies. They giggle and insist on taking her to "play somewhere fun and pretty" which turns out to mean the top of a massive waterfall...which they push her over the top of, saying "Now fly!".
She is caught by Canus, who has thrown himself over the cliff to catch her. The fairies pout and ignore him, he says they have minds like children and don't understand consequences.
They catch up with the others, who have no idea why she got pulled off course. Rindo is immediately all "THIS IS WHY OTHER WORLDS ARE DANGEROUS, GO HOME" and they others support her doing so if she's scared, but she doesn't want her memories of this place to all be bad.
So Canus shows her a lovely forest that changes seasons over the course of the day. They meet a politely scathing androgynous fairy called Venir who is Titania's chancellor. Everyone rolls with they/them pronouns without it even being discussed, and while Venir is an ass they seem to be basically decent underneath all the veiled insults.
Titania invites the group for a banquet, and turns out to be something like a mother to Canus, despite looking like...10. She says Canus is very young for a fairy.
She is very curious about the human world, but has merged with her floral throne, afaict she and the whole world are basically all one big single tree. Titania pulls out a memory from MC of Canus meeting her as a four year old: She is initially scared but he awkwardly tries to reassure her, despite never having met a child before. He is amazed by all the potential she has, compared to a fairy, who is born an adult with their role set. MC doesn't seem to see the memory herself.
Titania asks people not to use formal language with her, every now and then I'll hear Canus refer to her as just "Titania" and feel disconcerted for a moment, I guess I've gotten used to the "sama" from other knightly characters.
Ignis asks the tiny fairies if they're any good at fighting but they don't know what that is haha
When MC notices that Canus is missing Venir says other fairies see him as a bad omen so he stays away from gatherings. Only Venir and Titania ever really talk to him ;_; They give MC directions to where they know Canus will be: the top of the tree, looking out at the world.
Canus is really touched that MC came to spend time with him instead of staying at the banquet. He holds her hand to his "face": it turns out he does have one, but it can't be seen or directly touched. She just feels a sense of warmth. He says he's glad she can't see how happy he is because he'd get embarrassed. AWW.
Apparently the GPM R&D team are ecstatic about all the data Rindo brought back haha.
Chapter 5:
A boy comes to the cafe, and MC is very flustered at having to actually serve coffee to a stranger. Misyr cheerfully asks the boy what kind of non-human he is and he freaks out at runs away, after instinctively freezing his coffee solid.
At work, Rindo looks the boy up in the system: He's 14, named Kariya, and a changeling: born to human pairings with fairy heritage thanks to a random "ancestral relapse". The very annoying mad scientist Mikado Akira says changelings usually die by age 10, since this world is toxic to them.
If he's in the system why didn't they send him to Medio ages ago??
...actually maybe the reason I wanted to stop playing is my danger to children squick.
We get Rindo's POV and he is 100% determined to save this kid for entirely altruistic reasons, so I guess he's not secretly evil! I wonder if his sister was a changeling. But apparently Kariya was experimented on in the past so when he realises Rindo's organisation does 'research' he freaks out.
His parents SOLD him D: His grandma saved him, but then died, and he was adopted by nice relatives.
Kariya nearly kills Rindo, but then gets saved by Ignis who he brought as backup. Kariya collapses, and is taken to Medio. Titania invites him to stay and Venir is as friendly as ever:
Kariya is barely willing to admit he's not human and agrees to go with Rindo to the GPM to learn about the supernatural in a "modern Japanese way" with data etc. Keep him away from your creepy scientist friend, Rindo :/
Rindo rings Kotone saying that Kariya is freaking out and asking her to help persuade him as a normal person who interacts with and accepts non-humans.
Rindo: And to be honest I'm just not sure how to talk to kids his age. It sure sucks to get old.
On the one hand, I empathise, on the other hand I AM NOT GOING TO THEN END UP DATING A TEEN.
The GPM, Government Paranormalism Measures, was created during the Heian period (794 to 1185!) to destroy non-humans, but since the war it's become peaceful. The headquarters is in the middle of Tokyo, hiding in plain sight.
Il is left to take care of the cafe because he has no tact.
Kotone is surprised at how nice the GPM is inside and Rindo says "Well we are the government" haha.
Mikado shows up, calling himself Ignis's friend after having met him on Bestia (which the GPM has a wormhole to)
Ignis: Real friends don't ask for blood samples every time they meet >:(
Then Mikado's assistant shows up, a man in a white robe with a symbol over his face??
Ok, Rindo, you may not be evil, but I have doubts about some of your coworkers
Mikado is like 4ft tall, constantly boasting about being a genius, and talks to a fox doll he carries everywhere. He seems kind of scared of his assistant though, who seems to be the only person able to keep him in line.
Mikado says Kariya has a non-human body, eg his body temperature is 30C, but human psychology. And then he says that before they open the door, they must promise not to panic, and most importantly not get mad at him.
...because Kariya ran away.
Rindo is determined to speak to him alone, as another human, and as an adult who has his own regrets.
Kariya's freaking out. He feels like admitting he's non-human will validate the people who treated him like a freak when only his (adopted) parents treated him like a human. Rindo approaches despite being frozen and horribly injured by ice spikes, and tells Kariya to look at him, at the truth of what will happen to the people around Kariya if he doesn't accept reality.
Kariya cries and apologises. Il heals Rindo.
Karuya sits pensively in the cafe and asks Kotone if she's afraid of him.
Kotone: I think humans and non-humans are like coffee-beans: they're affected by how they're roasted or ground, but ultimately the same. Like Mr Rindo, Misyr, all the others...you're a guest of my cafe. If you're enjoying my coffee, I'm happy.
Having discussed it with her earlier, Rindo says Kariya is like the cafe, a mixture of human and non-human, and instead of moving to Medio he can work at the cafe, popping into Medio to help his health and learning about non-humans without leaving Earth. Maybe one day he'll be well enough to go to school.
When they realise Rindo isn't fully healed he's bullied back to bed with Kotone helping him walk. He mutters softly to himself about whether his motives in all this were ultimately selfish, to avoid regret.
Kotone: Did something happen to you in past with non-humans? You talk a lot about regret.
Rindo, softly: I do have regrets. Towards myself, who walked through this world without any cares...But don't worry, it's not like I hate non-humans or anything! It's just that sometimes, I wonder about the path I chose for myself... I don't want Kariya to have those kinds of regrets.
Chapter 6 has an Ignis card! I wonder if this is the best play order, or just what worked best for the plot.
Flashback to Ignis finding a sad scared little creature, and thinking it will be scared of him like everyone else is.
Present day:
Kariya: Here's your ice curry.
Rindo: ...I ordered a regular curry?
Kariya: This shop only has ice curry :|
Rindo: Hey, Kotone-chan, I'm not sure this kid should be delivering hot food.
Kariya: :(
Rindo: Uh. Curry can still be enjoyed when it's cold!
Kariya: Thanks. I'll keep doing my best :)
Ha, since he's below minimum working age he's paid under the table in whatever items he wants. Apparently Venir has been helping him in Medio.
Il asks for someone to help him visit a 'holy site': the aquarium that was used as a model for a date spot in a game. He's not allowed out by himself, last time he was mistaken for "the child of a wealthy family from a foreign land" and nearly got kidnapped.
He's not DRAWN looking young but I get the feeling he's supposed to look it.
Ignis is back in Bestia right now. Kariya isn't interested and stays to mind the shop. But everyone else decides to come along. Il is excited like a little kid, and MC wants to get a souvenier for Ignis.
But then...a GIANT DEMON BULL ATTACKS THE PARKED CARS, and then AIMS FOR OUR HEROES!!
Canus engages it in battle while Rindo calls for backup. Ignis appears to make the final blow and the GPM takes away the comatose bull
None of this is drawn, lazy devs.
Il is heartbroken to find out the aquarium has been closed, Misyr comforts him with sweets and Ignis grumbles about everyone coddling the shut-in. Then Ignis says he's brought a gift...which turns out to be a tiny cute white unicorn seal that only says "Kyuu!".
Misyr: It's pretty adorable of you to rescue an orphaned demon beast, like you're the punk at school who adopts puppies in a manga.
Ignis: IT'S NOT LIKE I CARE IT JUST KEPT FOLLOWING ME
Kotone names it "Kororo" which seems to mean something like "ball". The non-human guys are all set to go on a mission to Bestia to find his parents but he refuses to leave Kotone. Ignis and Rindo are VERY against her going anywhere as dangerous as Bestia. But she says she trust the others to take care of her. Misyr and Il are sure of their ability to protect her while Canus is all Team Kotone's Agency because he is Best Boy.
Rindo what gives you the right to say whether she goes or not. I guess he is The Government Agent In Charge Of The Premises but still.
Aww Kariya is calling her nee-san/big sis. Not in a sexy way lol this isn't Nightshade. He's endearingly fond of Kororo too in a tsundere teen way, empathising with the plight of being separated from your parents.
Canus is in charge of the cafe's flower garden which is adorable. Also I forgot to mention earlier but he was baffled why anyone would be scandalised to know that Kotone is rooming with men, since he does seem to know what sex and romance are I am headcanoning fairies as all gender neutral.
There's no issues on the trip to Bestia. Ignis gives Kotone and Rindo special beast pelts to keep warm, but it's still painfully cold. Misyr laughs at the thought of having trouble, Canus has to keep moving to avoid freezing up, and Il has a moment of "So this...is pain...D:"
But Kororo is delighted by the cold.
Misyr says he and Il will "cheat" with magic. He and Il describe each other's types of magic.
"Il's brand is a kind of angelic 'law' that's a combination of logic and math, executed by praying to the heavens. It's very graceful."
WILL THERE BE MATHS ON HIS ROUTE?? :D :D
"Misyr's brand has no definition, permeates all, and is a type where one's wisdom and abilities become techniques."
They work together to do a sort of sonar using Il's heavenly voice but all they find is a weedy panicked catboy, Dromi, running from more demon bulls ("Lesser minotaurs") and calling for his bro Ignis to save him.
Dromi is in his late teens and is basically Ignis's wannabe sidekick, see-sawing between bravado, talking about how powerful Ignis is, and cowardice. He suggests they check out a community of weaker beasts nearby, since sea beasts are also weak, non-violent, and shy.
The village of bunny people are all clearly terrified of Ignis.
Bunnygirl: Did you come here to see me suffering after you killed my parents??
Ignis: :(
Bunnygirl: You there, do you understand? In Bestia, the strong fight to prove themselves, and kill us weaker creatures for sport. And Ignis is the strongest, which means he has killed the most!
Kotone: D:????
Ignis: Killing is the way of this world. I won't deny that. Killing is as natural to us as breathing, and etched into our instincts.
And then...some GREATER minotaurs attack. These ones can talk, and threaten to kill Kororo unless Ignis surrenders.
But he just laughs, knocks Kororo into Kotone's arms, and beats the crap out of them with a whirlwind of fire, careful not to damage the surrounding village. He just knocks them out instead of killing them. Ah he's a werewolf not a catboy. Also he gets the feeling they must have learned where he was from someone.
Bunnygirl: Why aren't you killing them?!
Ignis: Noi reason, really. I don't kill, it's my creed.
And of course it was all a misunderstanding and he didn't kill her parents, he saved her from the minotaurs who did, but because she passed out she misunderstood
Dromi: Anyway, my bro's the strongest, why would he waste time killing weaklings like your species?
Ignis self consciously wonders if Kotone is afraid of him now, but she says she knows him too well, and he's one of her treasured guests. He gets endearingly blushy and awkward.
Ignis: But my instincts might cause me to kill someone one day. If that happened, Kotone, would you-
Kororo: IGNIS!! *affectionately headbutts him*
Ignis: YOU CAN TALK??
And he never does again (at least in chapterS 4-8)
Then the bunnygirl shows them the remains of the other sea beasts...who are all dead. I think the minotaurs killed them?
Kororo doesn't understand. But he'll be living at Enchante now.
Chapter 7: Il chapter!
A flashback to Il talking to Kotone's granDpa Souan, who is complaining about Il taking an hour to respond to being asked to come down "as soon as possible" because he was saving his game...just as a friend arrived and I had to save my game.
BUT HE'S GONE NOW SO BACK TO OTOME
"The sensation of "sweet" I learned after arriving at Enchante. I could feel the circuits in my brain recover after exhausting them from my otome game...or so I felt"
IS IL. A ROBOT.
A ROBOT ANGEL WHO DOES LOGIC MAGIC???
:O :D :D
Soaun: *sigh* Do you like this shop?
Il: Of course. It gave me back my smile.
Souan: Then the last lesson I can teach you...is to give a smile to other people, too.
Il: ??
Souan: Just an old man's ramblings. But remember what I said.
Shortly afterwards, Souan died, and Il puzzled over what he could have meant.
Il has gotten Kotone into otome games, and the two have fun discussing what choices to make and how they feel about the plots.
Dromi pops into the cafe before being sent to find out who's leaking information about Ignis and I have to wonder if it's him.
Everyone gives Kotone such a ridiculous amount of food to cook I was feeling annoyed...until it turned out to be a ruse so they can discuss whether she's been traumatised by seeing all that death.
Everyone but Il is concerned about her seeming so calm, as if she feels like she's not allowed to admit she's depressed.
Misyr: She'll recover with time but we should support her.
Il: If I may ask...why would she be sad about those deaths when she is not directly affected? She was smiling, perhaps it's all in your imagination.
Canus: Did you notice anything strange about that smile?
Il: It did seem a little...weak...that was depression?
The screen fills with glowing white symbols like a heavenly version of the matrix.
Il: I see. I have completed constructing the logic. So you all want to cheer her up?
Misyr: Preferably without telling her.
Il: Oh, then I know just what to do.
Canus: You do?
Il: I will ask her on a date! This will neutralise the bad memories with a nice sequence of events.
Ignis tries to argue that they should all go out in a group but Il insists on the special significance of a Date Event where the Boy and Girl are Alone Together etc and somehow this convinces everyone.
Ahahaha he wants EVERYONE to ask her out, and offers to give advice as a veteran otome expert. I get the choice of Canus, Ignis, or Rindo.
So naturally I choose Canus. He is adorably flustered asking her on a da...to spend the day together. He takes her to a shop to choose flowers for the garden. When he's embarrassed his glowing neck light goes pink with cherry petal like flames dancing around it, and when he's talking about flowers it goes green and the little flames turn into flowers. It's ADORABLE.
She is charmed by the tiny little white candytuft flowers and Canus says they're perfect for a cafe.
Aww when Kariya finds out what happened to Kororo's parents he says "You like being around me because I'm cold and it reminds you of home...ok, I'll be your foster parent."
Kariya tells Kotone this is finally something he can do. "I understand how he feels, a little bit. Even though he has a place here and everyone's nice...sometimes, you just can't help but feel lonely. It would make me happy if I can make this a place where Kororo can find rest".
So Kotone has been able to go out with the other guys a lot, but she's wondering why they keep asking.
Kariya: So they keep asking you on dates?
Kotone: DATES?? No, no, they didn't mean it like-
Il, from his room: So it seems the dating plan was a success! Next stage: presents!
Kotone and Karoya sneakily listen in.
The other guys ask Il why he's avoided going on any dates himself and he's baffled at the question.
Rindo, a 42 year old definitely-non-virgin: We all acknowledge your expertise at romance, why don't you show us what a perfect date looks like?
Misyr worries about Il being outside without supernatural supervision but is overruled. Ignis says he's being overprotective and Kotone realises it's more about protecting Il than her haha.
Rindo says it's a chance for Il to learn independence and...ok so I'm used to characters feeling autistic coded but this feels coded like my autistic brother who hasn't really left his room since highschool which is not a typical romance lead dynamic? I'm not against it in theory but am not sure I trust Otomate to handle it well. WE'LL SEE I GUESS.
Canus, who always seems to be Team Agency, asks Il what he wants, and so Il timidly tells Misyr he wants to go on the date, to make Kotone smile, even if it means challenging himself.
Misyr says "have fun on the date, and remember to look after her" with a significant look to where Kotone is hiding, I KNEW he must be able to sense her.
Listening to all this, Kotone is super touched at everyone's concern.
Il POV! He has never considered being on a date himself before and is having trouble figuring out what Kotone might enjoy that the other guys haven't already done.
Il: So, Kotone. For NO PARTICULAR REASON, is there any place you've been wanting to go?
Kotone: Actually I just won tickets to an otome event, want to go?
Il: ...yes? :O
Apparently Misyr fussed over Il before he left like a worried parent so much that Il felt like his intelligence was being questioned.
This is straight up an Otomate fair, it even says "Otomate 2019" on a big sign. Il is initially squeeing with joy but then starts worrying he's being too selfish instead of focussing on making Kotone happy. He mutters to himself "I must find something Kotone will enjoy within this venue".
So Kotone and Il live out a brief informercial about the beauty of otome tie-in jewellery.
Just as she's really getting into it, some girls come up and ask Il if he speaks Japanese.
Il: Just the minimum for conversation :)
Girls: What character is that, you costume is so good. And your face is so pretty! Are you a professional cosplayer?
Soon he's surrounded by fangirls and awkwardly asks Kotone what to do. But she's shoved out of the way and nearly falls, at which point he is horrified and quickly rushes to catch her. He bows to the girls and then says "I didn't have time to prepare clothes that would fit in with this country. As a result I have caused you confusion and trouble. I sincerely apologise. So please...do not cause trouble for this person here."
Seeing him neurotically try to figure out how to entertain her, Kotone says she's having a good time as it is and wants him to enjoy this unique experience. Also she is stealing ideas from the drinks haha. She eventually gets him to understand that him being happy makes her happy by saying "When the characters in your game smile, doesn't that make you happy?"
He goes off to buy drinks and she is a little worried but trusts him to manage. He parts the girls like Moses parting the red sea lol.
While he's gone the girls from before warn Kotone about some creepy dudes who've shown up to hit on the female attendees.
The dudes greet her as "Onee-san/sister" which is translated as "Hey baby". They aggressively try to get her to leave with them.
Il: What are you doing? :)
Crude dude: Who's this fool? Helloooooo do you speak Japaneeese?
He must really look foreign. I guess he has the droopy eyes white people are often drawn with. Plus super pale colouring but I never know how literally to take that.
Il: These men are acting very familiar, do you know them?
Kotome: Um, no, they're hitting on me.
Il: Ohhhh. Hmm. Searching for a woman is permissible, but haven't you mistaken where to look? The objective of the women here is to have exchanges about their love of these characters. They have no intent here of holding romantic relations with members of the opposite sex. Since your objectives don't align with theirs, how can you expect a positive outcome? Or is it that you are desperate or lacking in intelligence?
This is all very cute, Otomate, and I'm glad you think dudes being creepy to your fans is bad, but I notice you don't mention that like...there's staff people can talk to if anyone makes them uncomfortable, or a harassment policy.
Wow something just got translated as "You motherfu-".
Il, transforming to his angelic form: Also she is on a date with me and I would rather you didn't interrupt it :/
Crude guy: OMG, those wings...he's... AN OTAKU GUY. Gross!
Il wraps them in chains of light and throws them onto the ground where they pass out. He says that was unpleasant and checks that Kotone is ok.
Just as the people around them start freaking out about the GIANT WINGS Kotone hears Misyr muttering grumpily to himself and a mist descends. Il cheerfully says it will be easier for Misyr to wipe everyone's memories if the two of them fly away and asks her to hold on to him tight.
At first she's terrified, but he gets her to look out at the sky and city in the light of sunset and she is calmed by how beautiful everything is.
???: Observation complete. Now returning home. Il Fado de Rie, how far you've fallen.
HMMM. Are we dealing with evil maths angels here? Because I am down for that.
Il takes her to the top of a building, saying that if she falls he will catch her. But he's worried he didn't act like a Proper Otome Love Interest: they're smarter and sweeter, and escort the protagonist around.
Kotone says she had fun, and thanks him for cheering her up.
He tells her he has a gift and puts his hands together as if in prayer.
Il: Deployment area, secured. No errors confirmed. Commencing magic synthesis. I seek the light. Hear my song and please grant this fallen soul a miracle.
He takes her hand, and leads her out into the air. Light radiates from each footfall and she can walk on air. He sings an aria and lights sparkle around them.
(it's just generic romancey otome music with a bunch of strings)
Il: Souan asked me to move to the side that gives smiles...I think I'm beginning to understand what he meant. I shall do anything to get back your smile, even make the world my enemy.
She thanks him, feeling more able to accept her sad feelings, then asks if he wrote the aria he sang.
Il: It's the theme song from a recent otome. The lyrics are so splendid I tried making it into magic ^_^
Back at the cafe, the others tell Misyr it was a bit creepy making them all tail Il and Kotone on their date. Canus talks about how Il has gone from always going with the flow and being protected to feeling the need to protect someone else, and stand on his own. Until now the others have always been there to protect him and Kotone, but when the two are alone she needs him.
I GUESS. I'm never a fan of the "guy with feminine/child-like traits becomes A Man and protect His Lady" arc, but at least this doesn't have weird mother/son vibes or him 'learning" to be an asshole. So far, anyway.
Misyr sighs, feeling bad that he didn't recognise this as a chance for Il to grow.
Rindo (this is a literal quote): You should keep your bro-con in check. He'll turn against you otherwise, okay?
THEY'RE NOT RELATED. THEY'RE NOT EVEN THE SAME SPECIES. HOW DOES THAT EVEN...
...wait. Have I been misunderstanding the meaning of bro-con and sis-con this whole time??
I thought it meant "weirdly incestuous obsession", and have been surprised at how lightly it gets used in Japanese media, but thinking back it makes more sense as like..."sibling issues" on par with "daddy issues". Specifically, being unhealthily protective and controlling of a sibling. Which can certainly read as incestuous but is weird asides from that. And thus makes sense to apply to unrelated people with an intense platonic bond like Misyr and Il! Who I don't actually ship, but can definitely see as Weird Quasi-Brothers.
Hahaha the game actually defines it:
"Brother complex": having strong affections for a male sibling. While Misyr and Il aren't actually siblings, Misyr cares for Il greatly, and to anyone watching he is a full on brocon.
I'd be more annoyed at the implicit no-homo but (a) it does feel more brotherly than shippy and (b) Misyr would be equally shocked at the idea that his similarly protective feelings towards Kotone are anything but platonic. I am open to either relationship getting more equal and thus shippy for me, but we'll see.
Chapter 8: Misyr!
But we start with Rindo running for his life through a forest.
And then a high voice come from his pocket, where he is protecting a 15cm tall 'Kuurey', like a living Haniwa statue (which the game does not define, but it does let me know his parabellum bullets were made in Germany. Thanks game)
Kotone is getting Ignis and Canus to help her carry her shopping.
Child: Helmet-tan and Big Sis! Are you on a date?
Ignis: Hey! Don't act like I'm not here!
Kotone: Right, there's three of us so it can't really be a date.
Me: Lol I guess noone in otome land has heard of...
I stand corrected.
Kotone is worried to see reports of strange weather patterns over an island close to her parent's house, in the seaside town where she grew up. The strange sky looks a lot like what Rindo was seeing.
Back at the cafe Mikado is trying to bully Kariya into letting him do experiments on the gate "Now that that boring Rindo is away".
Misyr: Strange, I thought you said you were here to give Kariya his checkup since he's been avoiding the GPM :)
Mikado: >.>
Kotone: Checkups are important, but I can go with you if you like, Kariya.
Misyr: Aw they're like a brother and sister.
Ignis: It must be nice for her to have someone younger to talk to since we're all older.
Kotone: What is Rindo doing right now?
Mikado: He's been researching an island. And right now...I guess he's been attacked? I think he put out an emergency extraction request.
Kotone: What happened? Is he ok????? D:
Mikado: It's Rindo, so he's not dead. Probably. More importantly: you, headless knight, let me examine your body :D
Kotone GRABS HIS HEAD and FORCES HIM TO FACE HER, causing his neck to make UNHAPPY CRUNCHING NOISES.
Kotone: What. Happened. To. Mister. Rindo :)
Mikado: Ok I'll explain D:
The island has long been inhabited by the Kuurey but Rindo was sent to deal with the new non-human inhabitants, the Spartoi, who are violent and incapable of speech.
Kariya: We need to rescue him!
Ignis: He'll be fine.
But Misyr takes Il to check things out just to make Kotone feel better.
Misyr: Should I get a gift for your family? :)
Kotone: Just make sure Mr Rindo is ok!
Seems like they're going to stay vague about whichever of Kotone's parents is Souan's kid, I guess establishing those relationships would make Misyr/Kotone feel even stranger, as an older friend of her [parent]'s dad.
We see Mikado talking to his assistant, who he knows has some weird obsession with "him" in Cafe Enchante.
Just as Kotone finishes a phonecall to tell her parents to stay inside, she hears the same static she heard at the Medio gate. A voice says "nz:q" and she is drawn to the gate in a daze.
The moment she opens it she finds herself floating in otherworldly winds, pulled by a strange force. Coming to, she tries in vain to escape...and then the gate closes.
Ignis: Hey Kotone, why the hell are you making such a racket?! ...wait, where did she go?
Kotone hears a kind, gentle, yet sorrowful voice. The English is random letters, the audio is static with hard to make out snatches of voice.
Kotone: ...Misyr??
But then she wakes to much more jarring voices: a group of Kuurey who clearly have no idea who she is or why she's here on their island. I AM WONDERING THAT TOO.
Having decided she's not a threat, they lead her to safety in the forest. She nearly calls out to a human looking figure only for Rindo to appear and put his hand over her mouth. And then she realises the figure is...a walking skeleton!
Only after apologising and letting her go does Rindo realise it's her. He thanks the Kuurey for bringing her to him but is understandably disturbed by her presence, and before she can try to explain SKELETON ATTACK.
And before Rindo can shoot them...a polite voice asks Rindo to step back and the skeletons dissolve in a PILLAR OF HEAVENLY LIGHT.
Misyr: The old man rescue squad have arrived!
Rindo, picking himself up from the ground where he was covering Kotone from the blast: Thank you for the rescue but I would have preferred you be more gentle.
Il: There was only a 7.5% chance of serious injury.
Misyr: We trusted you to be fine ;)
Rindo: More importantly, why did you bring Kotone?!
Il and Misyr: D: ???
Before Rindo can take to his basecamp the ground starts shaking and CRACKS FORM IN THE SKY???
It's a wormhole large enough to swallow the whole island. And through the cracks fall even more Spartoi D: Then the wormhole closes again.
Misyr refers to the Kuurey as "Haniwa-kun", I'm getting the feeling they are very common knowledge in Japan. I did know about them already but only from animal crossing meta haha but I guess this game wasn't aimed at me.
Il says it's unheard of for a wormhole to be this large or to open and close multiple times between the same two locations. He and Rindo say they don't recognise the Spartoi from any known world while Misyr just frowns, hmm. They are all very disturbed to hear Kotone's story. Il rings Canus and Ignis to close the gate and come to the island.
Rindo says Misyr and Il should take Kotone back to the cafe. I can choose to want to help, or ask Misyr and Il. Sometimes I feel bad choosing the obvious less supportive answer for LIs whose paths I'm avoiding right now but I really don't think Kotone is going to be much help against evil skeletons.
She asks Il to gather the remaining Kuurey, who are in hiding scattered over the island, while she stays with her parents, but Misyr worries something else weird might happen to her when she's alone so wants to keep protecting her on the island (why he doesn't protect her at her parents place while Il helps Rindo I don't know)
Il isn't sure how to detect earthen creatures hiding in nooks and holes, and the Kuurey are apologetic and grateful for everyone's efforts.
Kotone reminisces about exploring here as a child and asks Misyr about his own childhood.
Misyr: Ahahaha well it's been a few thousand years...but I think I was pretty normal. I think...I was happy. Ah, wait a moment. *turns some Spartoi to dust with a snap of his fingers*
Misyr examines the dust with a frown as another wormhole opens. Misyr tells Il to protect Kotone, he gasps and pulls her into his wings...just as there is an overwhelming wave of light and heat and purple light shooting up towards the wormhole?? I was expecting the dust to reform wtf is this??
Oh wow, that was from Misyr. He looks cold and strange, but when Kotone calls his name he's back to normal and sheepishly says he was trying to close the cracks.
Il: That was a bit dangerous :/
Kuurey: I thought I was going to die ;_;
Misyr, softly: Sorry :(
And then a GIANT BONE FIST comes out of the wormhole aiming STRAIGHT FOR THEM.
Misyr and Il only barely manage to hold it back with their combined strength. Hmm, the whites of Misyr's eyes have gone black.
Another arm (or the same arm again?) comes hurtling towards them...and is sent flying by Ignis and Canus. The four of them make it retreat back into the wormhole.
Ahaha she wonders how they got here so fast and across the water and Ignis says "We ran?" like it's obvious. Hah Ignis is light and fast enough to skip over the top of water but Canus just...ran along the ocean floor.
Rindo tells everyone his bosses have decided the wormhole and increasing Spartoi numbers, as well as the strength of Misyr's attack, are enough of a threat to humanity that they're going to annhilate the whole island with the army and navy. In one hour!
Kuurey: But my brethren ;_;
Kotone thinks about how the government cares about it's human citizens but not the non-human ones.
Misyr says he'll take responsibility for worsening the situation, and thinks he can fix the woirmhole. But it will take time and full concentration. He is very sad about causing trouble and implicitly needing help, and tries to argue he can do this alone.
All the guys hit him, even Il. Kotone smiles and says they're friends, of course they'll help.
Ignis: Where's all your arrogant boasting gone? You're being annoying.
Il: Oh is that why everyone was hitting him? I was just going with the flow :)
Misyr smiles and says he'll be relying on everyone.
Ha, POV of fighter jet pilots feeling weirded out by orders to attack cracks in the sky. Then a beautiful angel appears in the sky, sings a haunting melody, and apologises for the inconvenience of having the jets all make sudden emergency landings.
Meanwhile Ignis traps the navy behind a wall of fire. I think he ran INTO THE SKY?? He ends up being supported in the air by Il who complains that he weighs too much.
On the beach, Canus, Kotone, Rindo, and a Kuurey are watching over Misyr as he casts layers of complex spell circles. Rindo mutters that he won't be much use compared to Canus but will do his part.
And then Misyr asks Kotone to come into the magic circle?? Ah, because it's the safe epicentre Canus and Rindo will be defending. While the Kuurey cheerleads I guess? Aw, no, it's with them too, burrowing safely under the sand. I love that noone BUT Kuureys was in danger, the GPM gave Rindo warning to evacuate, but they're not willing to throw these innocent little guys under the bus.
As he waits for the next wormhole to open, Misyr warns Canus and Rindo that once he starts the Spartoi will see him as a threat and focus their attacks here. Rindo and Canus give manly "We will protect you" reassurances.
Kotone worries that her presence will distract him but Misyr says it's relaxing, like smelling something familiar. Kotone says that after this she'll let him be the first to try a new blend she's been working on and he is taken aback and super charmed.
The symbols around him float up into the air and he plays them like a piano while saying latin sounding magic incantations.
Time to fight spooky skeletons. Ooh there's something written on Rindo's knife but I can't quite make it out. *stands up and squints at TV* Something like "Singr nin dayr. Sahn nin sahn" but I'm sure I got some letters wrong. Is that Latin? German?
There is a thrilling battle! Rindo uses pinpoint accuracy gunshots and a special rune-covered grenade, Canus throws his sword like a big sharp boomerang etc.
As Misyr destroys the giant skeletal hand and heals the wormhole he says, softly "This world isn't made for non humans. That's why you need to go back home."
Then he collapses to the ground taking Kotone with him.
Kotone: Are you alright?
Misyr: It's been a long time since I used magic like that. I'm tired haha. But I'll make a full recovery once I drink your coffee :)
Apparently Misyr convinced the (non Rindo) GPM that the Spartoi did the powerful attack they saw, so they wouldn't see him as too much of a threat.
The day has been saved and everything is fine!
Kotone wakes in the middle of the night with insomnia and bumps into Canus in the garden. He apologises for her being put in danger on his watch, and knowing he won't accept 'you couldn't have done anything' she says she will be more careful in future and ask him for help if she needs it. He promises to always protect her.
The next day, Kotone returns to her duty, welcoming all guests to the cafe with a warm smile, whether human or non human.
And NOW I am on the Canus path, which starts again with Chapter 1.
Each of these chapters focusses on one of the LIs in turn, with thrills, plot, worldbuilding, heartwarming moments and a little angst etc all leading up to the path split. I spent a chunk of Chapter 8 going ????, but in a good way, I'm curious to see where this is all going!
No content notes for this summary but the chapters themselves have a little blood, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some death and moderate violence in the actual paths. Also there's some Stuff going on with a character who feels autistic coded, not sure how I feel about that yet.
So it turns out I am not on the Canus path yet, Chapter 4 just happens to be about him, but then chapter 5 is about Rindo, and presumably so on for a while before the path split.
And I am pouting about it! I want Canus's story now! So I'm going to pause on playing Chapter 5 (which is fine so far, asides from not being about Canus) and describe chapter 4. (EDIT: It grew on me)
Flashback!
Latin text against a black background as Canus solemnly talks about how the hand of death comes for everyone. END OF THE FLUFF I GUESS.
The tiny adorable fairy queen Titania asks Canus if he is willing to take on the burden of his ancestors, and become the hand of death. He says this duty is what he was born for.
Back to the present!
As she passes through the gate, MC hears a strange static-like noise and feels herself pulled by something. She arrives alone in a strange forest, and copes with being trapped on a distant world very sensibly until she meets some tiny child-like fairies. They giggle and insist on taking her to "play somewhere fun and pretty" which turns out to mean the top of a massive waterfall...which they push her over the top of, saying "Now fly!".
She is caught by Canus, who has thrown himself over the cliff to catch her. The fairies pout and ignore him, he says they have minds like children and don't understand consequences.
They catch up with the others, who have no idea why she got pulled off course. Rindo is immediately all "THIS IS WHY OTHER WORLDS ARE DANGEROUS, GO HOME" and they others support her doing so if she's scared, but she doesn't want her memories of this place to all be bad.
So Canus shows her a lovely forest that changes seasons over the course of the day. They meet a politely scathing androgynous fairy called Venir who is Titania's chancellor. Everyone rolls with they/them pronouns without it even being discussed, and while Venir is an ass they seem to be basically decent underneath all the veiled insults.
Titania invites the group for a banquet, and turns out to be something like a mother to Canus, despite looking like...10. She says Canus is very young for a fairy.
She is very curious about the human world, but has merged with her floral throne, afaict she and the whole world are basically all one big single tree. Titania pulls out a memory from MC of Canus meeting her as a four year old: She is initially scared but he awkwardly tries to reassure her, despite never having met a child before. He is amazed by all the potential she has, compared to a fairy, who is born an adult with their role set. MC doesn't seem to see the memory herself.
Titania asks people not to use formal language with her, every now and then I'll hear Canus refer to her as just "Titania" and feel disconcerted for a moment, I guess I've gotten used to the "sama" from other knightly characters.
Ignis asks the tiny fairies if they're any good at fighting but they don't know what that is haha
When MC notices that Canus is missing Venir says other fairies see him as a bad omen so he stays away from gatherings. Only Venir and Titania ever really talk to him ;_; They give MC directions to where they know Canus will be: the top of the tree, looking out at the world.
Canus is really touched that MC came to spend time with him instead of staying at the banquet. He holds her hand to his "face": it turns out he does have one, but it can't be seen or directly touched. She just feels a sense of warmth. He says he's glad she can't see how happy he is because he'd get embarrassed. AWW.
Apparently the GPM R&D team are ecstatic about all the data Rindo brought back haha.
Chapter 5:
A boy comes to the cafe, and MC is very flustered at having to actually serve coffee to a stranger. Misyr cheerfully asks the boy what kind of non-human he is and he freaks out at runs away, after instinctively freezing his coffee solid.
At work, Rindo looks the boy up in the system: He's 14, named Kariya, and a changeling: born to human pairings with fairy heritage thanks to a random "ancestral relapse". The very annoying mad scientist Mikado Akira says changelings usually die by age 10, since this world is toxic to them.
If he's in the system why didn't they send him to Medio ages ago??
...actually maybe the reason I wanted to stop playing is my danger to children squick.
We get Rindo's POV and he is 100% determined to save this kid for entirely altruistic reasons, so I guess he's not secretly evil! I wonder if his sister was a changeling. But apparently Kariya was experimented on in the past so when he realises Rindo's organisation does 'research' he freaks out.
His parents SOLD him D: His grandma saved him, but then died, and he was adopted by nice relatives.
Kariya nearly kills Rindo, but then gets saved by Ignis who he brought as backup. Kariya collapses, and is taken to Medio. Titania invites him to stay and Venir is as friendly as ever:
Kariya is barely willing to admit he's not human and agrees to go with Rindo to the GPM to learn about the supernatural in a "modern Japanese way" with data etc. Keep him away from your creepy scientist friend, Rindo :/
Rindo rings Kotone saying that Kariya is freaking out and asking her to help persuade him as a normal person who interacts with and accepts non-humans.
Rindo: And to be honest I'm just not sure how to talk to kids his age. It sure sucks to get old.
On the one hand, I empathise, on the other hand I AM NOT GOING TO THEN END UP DATING A TEEN.
The GPM, Government Paranormalism Measures, was created during the Heian period (794 to 1185!) to destroy non-humans, but since the war it's become peaceful. The headquarters is in the middle of Tokyo, hiding in plain sight.
Il is left to take care of the cafe because he has no tact.
Kotone is surprised at how nice the GPM is inside and Rindo says "Well we are the government" haha.
Mikado shows up, calling himself Ignis's friend after having met him on Bestia (which the GPM has a wormhole to)
Ignis: Real friends don't ask for blood samples every time they meet >:(
Then Mikado's assistant shows up, a man in a white robe with a symbol over his face??
Ok, Rindo, you may not be evil, but I have doubts about some of your coworkers
Mikado is like 4ft tall, constantly boasting about being a genius, and talks to a fox doll he carries everywhere. He seems kind of scared of his assistant though, who seems to be the only person able to keep him in line.
Mikado says Kariya has a non-human body, eg his body temperature is 30C, but human psychology. And then he says that before they open the door, they must promise not to panic, and most importantly not get mad at him.
...because Kariya ran away.
Rindo is determined to speak to him alone, as another human, and as an adult who has his own regrets.
Kariya's freaking out. He feels like admitting he's non-human will validate the people who treated him like a freak when only his (adopted) parents treated him like a human. Rindo approaches despite being frozen and horribly injured by ice spikes, and tells Kariya to look at him, at the truth of what will happen to the people around Kariya if he doesn't accept reality.
Kariya cries and apologises. Il heals Rindo.
Karuya sits pensively in the cafe and asks Kotone if she's afraid of him.
Kotone: I think humans and non-humans are like coffee-beans: they're affected by how they're roasted or ground, but ultimately the same. Like Mr Rindo, Misyr, all the others...you're a guest of my cafe. If you're enjoying my coffee, I'm happy.
Having discussed it with her earlier, Rindo says Kariya is like the cafe, a mixture of human and non-human, and instead of moving to Medio he can work at the cafe, popping into Medio to help his health and learning about non-humans without leaving Earth. Maybe one day he'll be well enough to go to school.
When they realise Rindo isn't fully healed he's bullied back to bed with Kotone helping him walk. He mutters softly to himself about whether his motives in all this were ultimately selfish, to avoid regret.
Kotone: Did something happen to you in past with non-humans? You talk a lot about regret.
Rindo, softly: I do have regrets. Towards myself, who walked through this world without any cares...But don't worry, it's not like I hate non-humans or anything! It's just that sometimes, I wonder about the path I chose for myself... I don't want Kariya to have those kinds of regrets.
Chapter 6 has an Ignis card! I wonder if this is the best play order, or just what worked best for the plot.
Flashback to Ignis finding a sad scared little creature, and thinking it will be scared of him like everyone else is.
Present day:
Kariya: Here's your ice curry.
Rindo: ...I ordered a regular curry?
Kariya: This shop only has ice curry :|
Rindo: Hey, Kotone-chan, I'm not sure this kid should be delivering hot food.
Kariya: :(
Rindo: Uh. Curry can still be enjoyed when it's cold!
Kariya: Thanks. I'll keep doing my best :)
Ha, since he's below minimum working age he's paid under the table in whatever items he wants. Apparently Venir has been helping him in Medio.
Il asks for someone to help him visit a 'holy site': the aquarium that was used as a model for a date spot in a game. He's not allowed out by himself, last time he was mistaken for "the child of a wealthy family from a foreign land" and nearly got kidnapped.
He's not DRAWN looking young but I get the feeling he's supposed to look it.
Ignis is back in Bestia right now. Kariya isn't interested and stays to mind the shop. But everyone else decides to come along. Il is excited like a little kid, and MC wants to get a souvenier for Ignis.
But then...a GIANT DEMON BULL ATTACKS THE PARKED CARS, and then AIMS FOR OUR HEROES!!
Canus engages it in battle while Rindo calls for backup. Ignis appears to make the final blow and the GPM takes away the comatose bull
None of this is drawn, lazy devs.
Il is heartbroken to find out the aquarium has been closed, Misyr comforts him with sweets and Ignis grumbles about everyone coddling the shut-in. Then Ignis says he's brought a gift...which turns out to be a tiny cute white unicorn seal that only says "Kyuu!".
Misyr: It's pretty adorable of you to rescue an orphaned demon beast, like you're the punk at school who adopts puppies in a manga.
Ignis: IT'S NOT LIKE I CARE IT JUST KEPT FOLLOWING ME
Kotone names it "Kororo" which seems to mean something like "ball". The non-human guys are all set to go on a mission to Bestia to find his parents but he refuses to leave Kotone. Ignis and Rindo are VERY against her going anywhere as dangerous as Bestia. But she says she trust the others to take care of her. Misyr and Il are sure of their ability to protect her while Canus is all Team Kotone's Agency because he is Best Boy.
Rindo what gives you the right to say whether she goes or not. I guess he is The Government Agent In Charge Of The Premises but still.
Aww Kariya is calling her nee-san/big sis. Not in a sexy way lol this isn't Nightshade. He's endearingly fond of Kororo too in a tsundere teen way, empathising with the plight of being separated from your parents.
Canus is in charge of the cafe's flower garden which is adorable. Also I forgot to mention earlier but he was baffled why anyone would be scandalised to know that Kotone is rooming with men, since he does seem to know what sex and romance are I am headcanoning fairies as all gender neutral.
There's no issues on the trip to Bestia. Ignis gives Kotone and Rindo special beast pelts to keep warm, but it's still painfully cold. Misyr laughs at the thought of having trouble, Canus has to keep moving to avoid freezing up, and Il has a moment of "So this...is pain...D:"
But Kororo is delighted by the cold.
Misyr says he and Il will "cheat" with magic. He and Il describe each other's types of magic.
"Il's brand is a kind of angelic 'law' that's a combination of logic and math, executed by praying to the heavens. It's very graceful."
WILL THERE BE MATHS ON HIS ROUTE?? :D :D
"Misyr's brand has no definition, permeates all, and is a type where one's wisdom and abilities become techniques."
They work together to do a sort of sonar using Il's heavenly voice but all they find is a weedy panicked catboy, Dromi, running from more demon bulls ("Lesser minotaurs") and calling for his bro Ignis to save him.
Dromi is in his late teens and is basically Ignis's wannabe sidekick, see-sawing between bravado, talking about how powerful Ignis is, and cowardice. He suggests they check out a community of weaker beasts nearby, since sea beasts are also weak, non-violent, and shy.
The village of bunny people are all clearly terrified of Ignis.
Bunnygirl: Did you come here to see me suffering after you killed my parents??
Ignis: :(
Bunnygirl: You there, do you understand? In Bestia, the strong fight to prove themselves, and kill us weaker creatures for sport. And Ignis is the strongest, which means he has killed the most!
Kotone: D:????
Ignis: Killing is the way of this world. I won't deny that. Killing is as natural to us as breathing, and etched into our instincts.
And then...some GREATER minotaurs attack. These ones can talk, and threaten to kill Kororo unless Ignis surrenders.
But he just laughs, knocks Kororo into Kotone's arms, and beats the crap out of them with a whirlwind of fire, careful not to damage the surrounding village. He just knocks them out instead of killing them. Ah he's a werewolf not a catboy. Also he gets the feeling they must have learned where he was from someone.
Bunnygirl: Why aren't you killing them?!
Ignis: Noi reason, really. I don't kill, it's my creed.
And of course it was all a misunderstanding and he didn't kill her parents, he saved her from the minotaurs who did, but because she passed out she misunderstood
Dromi: Anyway, my bro's the strongest, why would he waste time killing weaklings like your species?
Ignis self consciously wonders if Kotone is afraid of him now, but she says she knows him too well, and he's one of her treasured guests. He gets endearingly blushy and awkward.
Ignis: But my instincts might cause me to kill someone one day. If that happened, Kotone, would you-
Kororo: IGNIS!! *affectionately headbutts him*
Ignis: YOU CAN TALK??
And he never does again (at least in chapterS 4-8)
Then the bunnygirl shows them the remains of the other sea beasts...who are all dead. I think the minotaurs killed them?
Kororo doesn't understand. But he'll be living at Enchante now.
Chapter 7: Il chapter!
A flashback to Il talking to Kotone's granDpa Souan, who is complaining about Il taking an hour to respond to being asked to come down "as soon as possible" because he was saving his game...just as a friend arrived and I had to save my game.
BUT HE'S GONE NOW SO BACK TO OTOME
"The sensation of "sweet" I learned after arriving at Enchante. I could feel the circuits in my brain recover after exhausting them from my otome game...or so I felt"
IS IL. A ROBOT.
A ROBOT ANGEL WHO DOES LOGIC MAGIC???
:O :D :D
Soaun: *sigh* Do you like this shop?
Il: Of course. It gave me back my smile.
Souan: Then the last lesson I can teach you...is to give a smile to other people, too.
Il: ??
Souan: Just an old man's ramblings. But remember what I said.
Shortly afterwards, Souan died, and Il puzzled over what he could have meant.
Il has gotten Kotone into otome games, and the two have fun discussing what choices to make and how they feel about the plots.
Dromi pops into the cafe before being sent to find out who's leaking information about Ignis and I have to wonder if it's him.
Everyone gives Kotone such a ridiculous amount of food to cook I was feeling annoyed...until it turned out to be a ruse so they can discuss whether she's been traumatised by seeing all that death.
Everyone but Il is concerned about her seeming so calm, as if she feels like she's not allowed to admit she's depressed.
Misyr: She'll recover with time but we should support her.
Il: If I may ask...why would she be sad about those deaths when she is not directly affected? She was smiling, perhaps it's all in your imagination.
Canus: Did you notice anything strange about that smile?
Il: It did seem a little...weak...that was depression?
The screen fills with glowing white symbols like a heavenly version of the matrix.
Il: I see. I have completed constructing the logic. So you all want to cheer her up?
Misyr: Preferably without telling her.
Il: Oh, then I know just what to do.
Canus: You do?
Il: I will ask her on a date! This will neutralise the bad memories with a nice sequence of events.
Ignis tries to argue that they should all go out in a group but Il insists on the special significance of a Date Event where the Boy and Girl are Alone Together etc and somehow this convinces everyone.
Ahahaha he wants EVERYONE to ask her out, and offers to give advice as a veteran otome expert. I get the choice of Canus, Ignis, or Rindo.
So naturally I choose Canus. He is adorably flustered asking her on a da...to spend the day together. He takes her to a shop to choose flowers for the garden. When he's embarrassed his glowing neck light goes pink with cherry petal like flames dancing around it, and when he's talking about flowers it goes green and the little flames turn into flowers. It's ADORABLE.
She is charmed by the tiny little white candytuft flowers and Canus says they're perfect for a cafe.
Aww when Kariya finds out what happened to Kororo's parents he says "You like being around me because I'm cold and it reminds you of home...ok, I'll be your foster parent."
Kariya tells Kotone this is finally something he can do. "I understand how he feels, a little bit. Even though he has a place here and everyone's nice...sometimes, you just can't help but feel lonely. It would make me happy if I can make this a place where Kororo can find rest".
So Kotone has been able to go out with the other guys a lot, but she's wondering why they keep asking.
Kariya: So they keep asking you on dates?
Kotone: DATES?? No, no, they didn't mean it like-
Il, from his room: So it seems the dating plan was a success! Next stage: presents!
Kotone and Karoya sneakily listen in.
The other guys ask Il why he's avoided going on any dates himself and he's baffled at the question.
Rindo, a 42 year old definitely-non-virgin: We all acknowledge your expertise at romance, why don't you show us what a perfect date looks like?
Misyr worries about Il being outside without supernatural supervision but is overruled. Ignis says he's being overprotective and Kotone realises it's more about protecting Il than her haha.
Rindo says it's a chance for Il to learn independence and...ok so I'm used to characters feeling autistic coded but this feels coded like my autistic brother who hasn't really left his room since highschool which is not a typical romance lead dynamic? I'm not against it in theory but am not sure I trust Otomate to handle it well. WE'LL SEE I GUESS.
Canus, who always seems to be Team Agency, asks Il what he wants, and so Il timidly tells Misyr he wants to go on the date, to make Kotone smile, even if it means challenging himself.
Misyr says "have fun on the date, and remember to look after her" with a significant look to where Kotone is hiding, I KNEW he must be able to sense her.
Listening to all this, Kotone is super touched at everyone's concern.
Il POV! He has never considered being on a date himself before and is having trouble figuring out what Kotone might enjoy that the other guys haven't already done.
Il: So, Kotone. For NO PARTICULAR REASON, is there any place you've been wanting to go?
Kotone: Actually I just won tickets to an otome event, want to go?
Il: ...yes? :O
Apparently Misyr fussed over Il before he left like a worried parent so much that Il felt like his intelligence was being questioned.
This is straight up an Otomate fair, it even says "Otomate 2019" on a big sign. Il is initially squeeing with joy but then starts worrying he's being too selfish instead of focussing on making Kotone happy. He mutters to himself "I must find something Kotone will enjoy within this venue".
So Kotone and Il live out a brief informercial about the beauty of otome tie-in jewellery.
Just as she's really getting into it, some girls come up and ask Il if he speaks Japanese.
Il: Just the minimum for conversation :)
Girls: What character is that, you costume is so good. And your face is so pretty! Are you a professional cosplayer?
Soon he's surrounded by fangirls and awkwardly asks Kotone what to do. But she's shoved out of the way and nearly falls, at which point he is horrified and quickly rushes to catch her. He bows to the girls and then says "I didn't have time to prepare clothes that would fit in with this country. As a result I have caused you confusion and trouble. I sincerely apologise. So please...do not cause trouble for this person here."
Seeing him neurotically try to figure out how to entertain her, Kotone says she's having a good time as it is and wants him to enjoy this unique experience. Also she is stealing ideas from the drinks haha. She eventually gets him to understand that him being happy makes her happy by saying "When the characters in your game smile, doesn't that make you happy?"
He goes off to buy drinks and she is a little worried but trusts him to manage. He parts the girls like Moses parting the red sea lol.
While he's gone the girls from before warn Kotone about some creepy dudes who've shown up to hit on the female attendees.
The dudes greet her as "Onee-san/sister" which is translated as "Hey baby". They aggressively try to get her to leave with them.
Il: What are you doing? :)
Crude dude: Who's this fool? Helloooooo do you speak Japaneeese?
He must really look foreign. I guess he has the droopy eyes white people are often drawn with. Plus super pale colouring but I never know how literally to take that.
Il: These men are acting very familiar, do you know them?
Kotome: Um, no, they're hitting on me.
Il: Ohhhh. Hmm. Searching for a woman is permissible, but haven't you mistaken where to look? The objective of the women here is to have exchanges about their love of these characters. They have no intent here of holding romantic relations with members of the opposite sex. Since your objectives don't align with theirs, how can you expect a positive outcome? Or is it that you are desperate or lacking in intelligence?
This is all very cute, Otomate, and I'm glad you think dudes being creepy to your fans is bad, but I notice you don't mention that like...there's staff people can talk to if anyone makes them uncomfortable, or a harassment policy.
Wow something just got translated as "You motherfu-".
Il, transforming to his angelic form: Also she is on a date with me and I would rather you didn't interrupt it :/
Crude guy: OMG, those wings...he's... AN OTAKU GUY. Gross!
Il wraps them in chains of light and throws them onto the ground where they pass out. He says that was unpleasant and checks that Kotone is ok.
Just as the people around them start freaking out about the GIANT WINGS Kotone hears Misyr muttering grumpily to himself and a mist descends. Il cheerfully says it will be easier for Misyr to wipe everyone's memories if the two of them fly away and asks her to hold on to him tight.
At first she's terrified, but he gets her to look out at the sky and city in the light of sunset and she is calmed by how beautiful everything is.
???: Observation complete. Now returning home. Il Fado de Rie, how far you've fallen.
HMMM. Are we dealing with evil maths angels here? Because I am down for that.
Il takes her to the top of a building, saying that if she falls he will catch her. But he's worried he didn't act like a Proper Otome Love Interest: they're smarter and sweeter, and escort the protagonist around.
Kotone says she had fun, and thanks him for cheering her up.
He tells her he has a gift and puts his hands together as if in prayer.
Il: Deployment area, secured. No errors confirmed. Commencing magic synthesis. I seek the light. Hear my song and please grant this fallen soul a miracle.
He takes her hand, and leads her out into the air. Light radiates from each footfall and she can walk on air. He sings an aria and lights sparkle around them.
(it's just generic romancey otome music with a bunch of strings)
Il: Souan asked me to move to the side that gives smiles...I think I'm beginning to understand what he meant. I shall do anything to get back your smile, even make the world my enemy.
She thanks him, feeling more able to accept her sad feelings, then asks if he wrote the aria he sang.
Il: It's the theme song from a recent otome. The lyrics are so splendid I tried making it into magic ^_^
Back at the cafe, the others tell Misyr it was a bit creepy making them all tail Il and Kotone on their date. Canus talks about how Il has gone from always going with the flow and being protected to feeling the need to protect someone else, and stand on his own. Until now the others have always been there to protect him and Kotone, but when the two are alone she needs him.
I GUESS. I'm never a fan of the "guy with feminine/child-like traits becomes A Man and protect His Lady" arc, but at least this doesn't have weird mother/son vibes or him 'learning" to be an asshole. So far, anyway.
Misyr sighs, feeling bad that he didn't recognise this as a chance for Il to grow.
Rindo (this is a literal quote): You should keep your bro-con in check. He'll turn against you otherwise, okay?
THEY'RE NOT RELATED. THEY'RE NOT EVEN THE SAME SPECIES. HOW DOES THAT EVEN...
...wait. Have I been misunderstanding the meaning of bro-con and sis-con this whole time??
I thought it meant "weirdly incestuous obsession", and have been surprised at how lightly it gets used in Japanese media, but thinking back it makes more sense as like..."sibling issues" on par with "daddy issues". Specifically, being unhealthily protective and controlling of a sibling. Which can certainly read as incestuous but is weird asides from that. And thus makes sense to apply to unrelated people with an intense platonic bond like Misyr and Il! Who I don't actually ship, but can definitely see as Weird Quasi-Brothers.
Hahaha the game actually defines it:
"Brother complex": having strong affections for a male sibling. While Misyr and Il aren't actually siblings, Misyr cares for Il greatly, and to anyone watching he is a full on brocon.
I'd be more annoyed at the implicit no-homo but (a) it does feel more brotherly than shippy and (b) Misyr would be equally shocked at the idea that his similarly protective feelings towards Kotone are anything but platonic. I am open to either relationship getting more equal and thus shippy for me, but we'll see.
Chapter 8: Misyr!
But we start with Rindo running for his life through a forest.
And then a high voice come from his pocket, where he is protecting a 15cm tall 'Kuurey', like a living Haniwa statue (which the game does not define, but it does let me know his parabellum bullets were made in Germany. Thanks game)
Kotone is getting Ignis and Canus to help her carry her shopping.
Child: Helmet-tan and Big Sis! Are you on a date?
Ignis: Hey! Don't act like I'm not here!
Kotone: Right, there's three of us so it can't really be a date.
Me: Lol I guess noone in otome land has heard of...
I stand corrected.
Kotone is worried to see reports of strange weather patterns over an island close to her parent's house, in the seaside town where she grew up. The strange sky looks a lot like what Rindo was seeing.
Back at the cafe Mikado is trying to bully Kariya into letting him do experiments on the gate "Now that that boring Rindo is away".
Misyr: Strange, I thought you said you were here to give Kariya his checkup since he's been avoiding the GPM :)
Mikado: >.>
Kotone: Checkups are important, but I can go with you if you like, Kariya.
Misyr: Aw they're like a brother and sister.
Ignis: It must be nice for her to have someone younger to talk to since we're all older.
Kotone: What is Rindo doing right now?
Mikado: He's been researching an island. And right now...I guess he's been attacked? I think he put out an emergency extraction request.
Kotone: What happened? Is he ok????? D:
Mikado: It's Rindo, so he's not dead. Probably. More importantly: you, headless knight, let me examine your body :D
Kotone GRABS HIS HEAD and FORCES HIM TO FACE HER, causing his neck to make UNHAPPY CRUNCHING NOISES.
Kotone: What. Happened. To. Mister. Rindo :)
Mikado: Ok I'll explain D:
The island has long been inhabited by the Kuurey but Rindo was sent to deal with the new non-human inhabitants, the Spartoi, who are violent and incapable of speech.
Kariya: We need to rescue him!
Ignis: He'll be fine.
But Misyr takes Il to check things out just to make Kotone feel better.
Misyr: Should I get a gift for your family? :)
Kotone: Just make sure Mr Rindo is ok!
Seems like they're going to stay vague about whichever of Kotone's parents is Souan's kid, I guess establishing those relationships would make Misyr/Kotone feel even stranger, as an older friend of her [parent]'s dad.
We see Mikado talking to his assistant, who he knows has some weird obsession with "him" in Cafe Enchante.
Just as Kotone finishes a phonecall to tell her parents to stay inside, she hears the same static she heard at the Medio gate. A voice says "nz:q" and she is drawn to the gate in a daze.
The moment she opens it she finds herself floating in otherworldly winds, pulled by a strange force. Coming to, she tries in vain to escape...and then the gate closes.
Ignis: Hey Kotone, why the hell are you making such a racket?! ...wait, where did she go?
Kotone hears a kind, gentle, yet sorrowful voice. The English is random letters, the audio is static with hard to make out snatches of voice.
Kotone: ...Misyr??
But then she wakes to much more jarring voices: a group of Kuurey who clearly have no idea who she is or why she's here on their island. I AM WONDERING THAT TOO.
Having decided she's not a threat, they lead her to safety in the forest. She nearly calls out to a human looking figure only for Rindo to appear and put his hand over her mouth. And then she realises the figure is...a walking skeleton!
Only after apologising and letting her go does Rindo realise it's her. He thanks the Kuurey for bringing her to him but is understandably disturbed by her presence, and before she can try to explain SKELETON ATTACK.
And before Rindo can shoot them...a polite voice asks Rindo to step back and the skeletons dissolve in a PILLAR OF HEAVENLY LIGHT.
Misyr: The old man rescue squad have arrived!
Rindo, picking himself up from the ground where he was covering Kotone from the blast: Thank you for the rescue but I would have preferred you be more gentle.
Il: There was only a 7.5% chance of serious injury.
Misyr: We trusted you to be fine ;)
Rindo: More importantly, why did you bring Kotone?!
Il and Misyr: D: ???
Before Rindo can take to his basecamp the ground starts shaking and CRACKS FORM IN THE SKY???
It's a wormhole large enough to swallow the whole island. And through the cracks fall even more Spartoi D: Then the wormhole closes again.
Misyr refers to the Kuurey as "Haniwa-kun", I'm getting the feeling they are very common knowledge in Japan. I did know about them already but only from animal crossing meta haha but I guess this game wasn't aimed at me.
Il says it's unheard of for a wormhole to be this large or to open and close multiple times between the same two locations. He and Rindo say they don't recognise the Spartoi from any known world while Misyr just frowns, hmm. They are all very disturbed to hear Kotone's story. Il rings Canus and Ignis to close the gate and come to the island.
Rindo says Misyr and Il should take Kotone back to the cafe. I can choose to want to help, or ask Misyr and Il. Sometimes I feel bad choosing the obvious less supportive answer for LIs whose paths I'm avoiding right now but I really don't think Kotone is going to be much help against evil skeletons.
She asks Il to gather the remaining Kuurey, who are in hiding scattered over the island, while she stays with her parents, but Misyr worries something else weird might happen to her when she's alone so wants to keep protecting her on the island (why he doesn't protect her at her parents place while Il helps Rindo I don't know)
Il isn't sure how to detect earthen creatures hiding in nooks and holes, and the Kuurey are apologetic and grateful for everyone's efforts.
Kotone reminisces about exploring here as a child and asks Misyr about his own childhood.
Misyr: Ahahaha well it's been a few thousand years...but I think I was pretty normal. I think...I was happy. Ah, wait a moment. *turns some Spartoi to dust with a snap of his fingers*
Misyr examines the dust with a frown as another wormhole opens. Misyr tells Il to protect Kotone, he gasps and pulls her into his wings...just as there is an overwhelming wave of light and heat and purple light shooting up towards the wormhole?? I was expecting the dust to reform wtf is this??
Oh wow, that was from Misyr. He looks cold and strange, but when Kotone calls his name he's back to normal and sheepishly says he was trying to close the cracks.
Il: That was a bit dangerous :/
Kuurey: I thought I was going to die ;_;
Misyr, softly: Sorry :(
And then a GIANT BONE FIST comes out of the wormhole aiming STRAIGHT FOR THEM.
Misyr and Il only barely manage to hold it back with their combined strength. Hmm, the whites of Misyr's eyes have gone black.
Another arm (or the same arm again?) comes hurtling towards them...and is sent flying by Ignis and Canus. The four of them make it retreat back into the wormhole.
Ahaha she wonders how they got here so fast and across the water and Ignis says "We ran?" like it's obvious. Hah Ignis is light and fast enough to skip over the top of water but Canus just...ran along the ocean floor.
Rindo tells everyone his bosses have decided the wormhole and increasing Spartoi numbers, as well as the strength of Misyr's attack, are enough of a threat to humanity that they're going to annhilate the whole island with the army and navy. In one hour!
Kuurey: But my brethren ;_;
Kotone thinks about how the government cares about it's human citizens but not the non-human ones.
Misyr says he'll take responsibility for worsening the situation, and thinks he can fix the woirmhole. But it will take time and full concentration. He is very sad about causing trouble and implicitly needing help, and tries to argue he can do this alone.
All the guys hit him, even Il. Kotone smiles and says they're friends, of course they'll help.
Ignis: Where's all your arrogant boasting gone? You're being annoying.
Il: Oh is that why everyone was hitting him? I was just going with the flow :)
Misyr smiles and says he'll be relying on everyone.
Ha, POV of fighter jet pilots feeling weirded out by orders to attack cracks in the sky. Then a beautiful angel appears in the sky, sings a haunting melody, and apologises for the inconvenience of having the jets all make sudden emergency landings.
Meanwhile Ignis traps the navy behind a wall of fire. I think he ran INTO THE SKY?? He ends up being supported in the air by Il who complains that he weighs too much.
On the beach, Canus, Kotone, Rindo, and a Kuurey are watching over Misyr as he casts layers of complex spell circles. Rindo mutters that he won't be much use compared to Canus but will do his part.
And then Misyr asks Kotone to come into the magic circle?? Ah, because it's the safe epicentre Canus and Rindo will be defending. While the Kuurey cheerleads I guess? Aw, no, it's with them too, burrowing safely under the sand. I love that noone BUT Kuureys was in danger, the GPM gave Rindo warning to evacuate, but they're not willing to throw these innocent little guys under the bus.
As he waits for the next wormhole to open, Misyr warns Canus and Rindo that once he starts the Spartoi will see him as a threat and focus their attacks here. Rindo and Canus give manly "We will protect you" reassurances.
Kotone worries that her presence will distract him but Misyr says it's relaxing, like smelling something familiar. Kotone says that after this she'll let him be the first to try a new blend she's been working on and he is taken aback and super charmed.
The symbols around him float up into the air and he plays them like a piano while saying latin sounding magic incantations.
Time to fight spooky skeletons. Ooh there's something written on Rindo's knife but I can't quite make it out. *stands up and squints at TV* Something like "Singr nin dayr. Sahn nin sahn" but I'm sure I got some letters wrong. Is that Latin? German?
There is a thrilling battle! Rindo uses pinpoint accuracy gunshots and a special rune-covered grenade, Canus throws his sword like a big sharp boomerang etc.
As Misyr destroys the giant skeletal hand and heals the wormhole he says, softly "This world isn't made for non humans. That's why you need to go back home."
Then he collapses to the ground taking Kotone with him.
Kotone: Are you alright?
Misyr: It's been a long time since I used magic like that. I'm tired haha. But I'll make a full recovery once I drink your coffee :)
Apparently Misyr convinced the (non Rindo) GPM that the Spartoi did the powerful attack they saw, so they wouldn't see him as too much of a threat.
The day has been saved and everything is fine!
Kotone wakes in the middle of the night with insomnia and bumps into Canus in the garden. He apologises for her being put in danger on his watch, and knowing he won't accept 'you couldn't have done anything' she says she will be more careful in future and ask him for help if she needs it. He promises to always protect her.
The next day, Kotone returns to her duty, welcoming all guests to the cafe with a warm smile, whether human or non human.
And NOW I am on the Canus path, which starts again with Chapter 1.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-27 08:22 am (UTC)Definitely not Latin; it's not modern German either, but does look Germanic - could be one of the older forms maybe.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-27 11:40 am (UTC)Ah I forgot to say I'm sure I got some of the letters wrong, it could say something very different to what I wrote! But yeah it does have a Germanic feel, assuming I got the basic gist right.