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alias_sqbrMasterlist and guide
So I was enjoying Kaede's route, and then it kinda bugged me and I needed a break, and then...I didn't play any phone games for several months. So I'm going to post what I've got, and if I ever finish the route I'll post my final thoughts then.
Overall: I like the characters and the ship, but the romance had too much of the wrong sort of Tragic Pining for my tastes. The writers are definitely trying to write Kaede as bigender, but (to the extent I can judge Japanese gender stuff) fall into some heternormative pitfalls, including some Yuri For Bicurious Straight Girls issues.
I have entirely forgotten what chapter I got up to.
Content note: Transphobic narrative implications.
MC is having confused butterflies when Kaede looks at her :D
Ah! Kaede's backstory is different here than in the event stories I read!
She's an orphan who had no specific family but was taken care of by the clan as a whole. MC wonders if this is why she's so strong and independent, "The kind of girl I want to be" aw.
Kaede: I've organised you a bedroom.
Choice:
*I appreciate it
*But I wanted to sleep with you
WHO NEEDS A WALKTHROUGH
Kaede: o.O
MC: AHAHA WE'RE NOT KIDS IT WOULD BE WEIRD RIGHT NEVER MIND
Aw that lost me points. Sorry Kaede >.>
MC finds Kaede unconscious after a reconnaissance mission, and checks her for injuries, finding none...and also NO BOOBS???
MC: But we've known each other since childhood? If anything she's always been more feminine than me??
MC thinks back to a time as kids when Kaede took her to a pretty meadow and MC told Kaede she was prettier than any noblewoman, which made Kaede sad for a moment.
MC: She must have some sadness about her identity. Maybe I'll just pretend I didn't see anything...wait, she'll see I bound her wounds. We could...play it off as a dream??
Aw. MC being willing to protect her trans bff's feelings without even being asked is pretty sweet.
Kaede POV! The narrative describes her as "Kaede" and "she" so that's what I used for this post. She wakes up, notices she's in her night clothes with bound wounds and goes "Ah :/"
Kaede asks MC's permission to come into her room...and is dressed as a man.
"Your chemistry has increased. You could be his lady after all!" Wrong on both of our genders, game >:P
Kaede explains that she was chasing some thugs she's seen milling around and MC tries to roll with it all "I guess we're just not discussing the gender thing??" but eventually falls into awkward silence. Kaede laughs wryly, with a sad smile, and says "that's not what you want to hear about now is it?"
Kaede: *takes deep breath* As you may have noticed, I am, for all intents and purposes, male.
MC: Ok...
Ah ok they are still the chief's 'son', hiding their identity so they don't get murdered by the clan's enemies. They were kinda raised by Yotaro. Finding out how much pressure they've been under, MC is like 90% "Poor Kaede", 10% "She...unless he prefers he?? MUST BE RESPECTFUL" which is anachronistic and I don't care.
Their hands brush and MC pulls away instinctively, Kaede says "You are attractive, certainly, but I've always thought of you like a little sister. You needn't be on your guard around me". There's a lot of mutual apologising and then MC agrees she wants to return to the relationship they had before, thinking that it doesn't matter what Kaede has under her kimono.
AND THEN...ooh the preview says there will be cuddling for warmth?? :D :D
Kaede's cute little flying squirrel familiar Futaro warns them a storm is coming so they decide to get moving now so they can get back to the village before it hits.
MC watches Kaede and their dad Byakkosai and decides it's not just that they're hiding the familial relationship, they genuinely don't like each other very much :(
Byakkosai: So you intend on abandoning your mission >:/
Kaede: No :) I just wanted to give my report and ask for permission to follow up on my assailants :)
MC has a vision of Kaede hurt and alone and asks to come along.
Kaede pulls MC back from nearly falling over a cliff.
MC: Haha this reminds me of when I was younger and this hot guy (Note: Sasuke, a different LI) saved me from falling off a cliff, I had such crush on him.
Kaede: Huh. You don't say :/
MC: (I guess Kaede doesn't like relationship gossip. Maybe she...he isn't even interested in that sort of thing)
MC finds herself noticing how delicately beautiful Kaede's hands are and For Some Reason feeling sad about them saying they aren't into MC.
An enemy ninja who somehow knows MC can make the Dragon's Tears medicine tries to kidnap MC using something like chloroform. She manages to hold him off long enough for Kaede to show up and kill him, then collapses as a blood spattered Kaede carries her to safety :D
She wakes in a now male-presenting Kaede's arms, they are keeping her warm after they both got chilled in the rain. MC angsts about how they're a burden who causes Kaede trouble and puts the village in danger. And they know that if the village falls, Kaede has vowed to commit suicide.
"To protect him I have to stay away. And yet...I just want to be with him forever." (MC uses 'she' pronouns at other points)
MC is consumed with longing, aware now of feelings they wish they could have stayed oblivious to. She loves Kaede.
Stifling tears, she asks if Kaede has another name they'd prefer. Kaede explains they were named "Sogo" which apparently contains the character for Kaede. Ahh so the written form of Kaede is like a feminine nickname for Sogo. That is SO MUCH NEATER than in English. Oh well.
They say they don't mind which name MC uses, but we gets points for using "Kaede" when she's presenting in a feminine way with clothes and voice.
MC is nearly accidentally shot by an injured samurai who looks and acts like a knockoff Yukimura. His name is Tetsuji Katsuda, not finding any hits on him beyond this game so he's probably fictional. MC takes him back to the village for healing, Kaede implies she'd have just let him die haha.
Tetsuji: I got lost after being separated from the rest of the troops. I'm so sorry I shot at you I was aiming at a rabbit!
Tetsuji: So like I thought, you're an idiot.
MC: It's fine, Katsuda.
Tetsuji: You're a saint ;_; And...please call me Tetsuji <3
Kaede: *significant cough*
Tetsuji: MILADY I AM SO SORRY I NEARLY HURT YOU LITTLE SISTER
Kaede: >:/
MC tries to tell the village she'll leave to keep everyone else safe but Kaede cuts her off, saying MC and her father are the jewels of the village. And then Tetsuji stumbles in chasing a cat...HOLDING HIS UNDERWEAR IN IT'S MOUTH?
MC: Um, so, I should probably mention that I rescued this samurai...
Other ninja: What if he's a spy >:(
Kaede: That kind of stupidity can't be faked.
He eventually wins over the village by earnestly helping everyone out as much as he can. especially Hikari. Aww, he wants to join the village?
MC sees him and Kaede having a whispered conversation then get evasive when she approaches, I assumed the love triangle would be Kaede jealous about MC/Tetsuji but her jealous about Kaede/Tetsuji could be interesting with the gender stuff even if both of them are clearly into MC and not each other.
Awww when she's alone with Kaede MC notices Sogo peeking through, as if being repressed, and tells Kaede she doesn't have to pretend around her: "Wouldn't it be easier to be yourself? I don't really mind if that's male, female, both, or neither, just...be you."
He comes back dressed as Sogo.
MC: Um, you still have makeup on?
Sogo, eyes flashing with desire: Would you like to help me take it off?
MC: I, uh. Can learn your techniques.
Kaede: You don't need makeup you're beautiful as you are.
They are both very into it, Kaede's voice is still feminine but face increasingly masculine, and then at the end he is Sogo, and either way the whole time MC wants to kiss them.
MC if you can tell that Sogo is looking at you with sorrow and desire why not say something, no no I know you're both set on selfless pining *mutters*
Byakkosai: I must remind you that until you inherit leadership of this clan you are a woman and a woman only. No matter who you are with.
Kaede: I am well aware :(
The next day MC finds that Kaede has left, taking all her weapons, leaving only the burned remains of a letter saying "Meet Hattori".
Sensing that Kaede is in danger, MC runs after her, taking a powerful elixir she's been working on that I didn't find space to mention previously.
We see Hattori Hanzo goading Kaede to stop holding back in their fight. He refers to Kaede as "The Mitsuba's hidden blade", implying he knows her secret, and says that if he can defeat Kaede and take control of The Lady of the Dragon Tears (MC) he'll have no further need to attack the Mitsuba.
He says that trying to maintain a persona and be ladylike is keeping Kaede at a disadvantage. That's a BIT TRANSPHOBIC game, you never say that about cis woman ninjas >:(
Kaede tries to be annoyed at MC for being here but is clearly touched.
Hanzo: What a pleasure to meet the Lady of the Dragon Tears :)
MC, launching herself at him: I'm no lady >:(
She has no luck but SIGH Kaede becomes Sogo and thus more powerful. I mean maybe they think an afab multigender person like me would ALSO be more powerful with a male persona but that would STILL NOT BE GREAT, Voltage >:(
Anyway, Hanzo runs away, and MC collapses as a side effect of the medicine, saying "I have to stop doing this to you". She remembers child!Kaede kissing her better when she ran too fast and hurt herself. And then wakes to Sogo gently touching her face and muttering that he loves her, but can never tell her.
She quietly replies that she loves him too, but knows they can't openly be together. They share a quiet, bittersweet moment of connection and then MC falls back asleep.
And then I was just...urgh extended mutual pining where they both know the other is interested is going to get annoying, and stopped! But rereading this reminded me how much I love Kaede/Sogo, they're so great, even if I may never finish their route. And maybe I will, who knows! *kicks my many other unfinished dating sim routes out of sight and coughs*
So I was enjoying Kaede's route, and then it kinda bugged me and I needed a break, and then...I didn't play any phone games for several months. So I'm going to post what I've got, and if I ever finish the route I'll post my final thoughts then.
Overall: I like the characters and the ship, but the romance had too much of the wrong sort of Tragic Pining for my tastes. The writers are definitely trying to write Kaede as bigender, but (to the extent I can judge Japanese gender stuff) fall into some heternormative pitfalls, including some Yuri For Bicurious Straight Girls issues.
I have entirely forgotten what chapter I got up to.
Content note: Transphobic narrative implications.
MC is having confused butterflies when Kaede looks at her :D
Ah! Kaede's backstory is different here than in the event stories I read!
She's an orphan who had no specific family but was taken care of by the clan as a whole. MC wonders if this is why she's so strong and independent, "The kind of girl I want to be" aw.
Kaede: I've organised you a bedroom.
Choice:
*I appreciate it
*But I wanted to sleep with you
WHO NEEDS A WALKTHROUGH
Kaede: o.O
MC: AHAHA WE'RE NOT KIDS IT WOULD BE WEIRD RIGHT NEVER MIND
Aw that lost me points. Sorry Kaede >.>
MC finds Kaede unconscious after a reconnaissance mission, and checks her for injuries, finding none...and also NO BOOBS???
MC: But we've known each other since childhood? If anything she's always been more feminine than me??
MC thinks back to a time as kids when Kaede took her to a pretty meadow and MC told Kaede she was prettier than any noblewoman, which made Kaede sad for a moment.
MC: She must have some sadness about her identity. Maybe I'll just pretend I didn't see anything...wait, she'll see I bound her wounds. We could...play it off as a dream??
Aw. MC being willing to protect her trans bff's feelings without even being asked is pretty sweet.
Kaede POV! The narrative describes her as "Kaede" and "she" so that's what I used for this post. She wakes up, notices she's in her night clothes with bound wounds and goes "Ah :/"
Kaede asks MC's permission to come into her room...and is dressed as a man.
"Your chemistry has increased. You could be his lady after all!" Wrong on both of our genders, game >:P
Kaede explains that she was chasing some thugs she's seen milling around and MC tries to roll with it all "I guess we're just not discussing the gender thing??" but eventually falls into awkward silence. Kaede laughs wryly, with a sad smile, and says "that's not what you want to hear about now is it?"
Kaede: *takes deep breath* As you may have noticed, I am, for all intents and purposes, male.
MC: Ok...
Ah ok they are still the chief's 'son', hiding their identity so they don't get murdered by the clan's enemies. They were kinda raised by Yotaro. Finding out how much pressure they've been under, MC is like 90% "Poor Kaede", 10% "She...unless he prefers he?? MUST BE RESPECTFUL" which is anachronistic and I don't care.
Their hands brush and MC pulls away instinctively, Kaede says "You are attractive, certainly, but I've always thought of you like a little sister. You needn't be on your guard around me". There's a lot of mutual apologising and then MC agrees she wants to return to the relationship they had before, thinking that it doesn't matter what Kaede has under her kimono.
AND THEN...ooh the preview says there will be cuddling for warmth?? :D :D
Kaede's cute little flying squirrel familiar Futaro warns them a storm is coming so they decide to get moving now so they can get back to the village before it hits.
MC watches Kaede and their dad Byakkosai and decides it's not just that they're hiding the familial relationship, they genuinely don't like each other very much :(
Byakkosai: So you intend on abandoning your mission >:/
Kaede: No :) I just wanted to give my report and ask for permission to follow up on my assailants :)
MC has a vision of Kaede hurt and alone and asks to come along.
Kaede pulls MC back from nearly falling over a cliff.
MC: Haha this reminds me of when I was younger and this hot guy (Note: Sasuke, a different LI) saved me from falling off a cliff, I had such crush on him.
Kaede: Huh. You don't say :/
MC: (I guess Kaede doesn't like relationship gossip. Maybe she...he isn't even interested in that sort of thing)
MC finds herself noticing how delicately beautiful Kaede's hands are and For Some Reason feeling sad about them saying they aren't into MC.
An enemy ninja who somehow knows MC can make the Dragon's Tears medicine tries to kidnap MC using something like chloroform. She manages to hold him off long enough for Kaede to show up and kill him, then collapses as a blood spattered Kaede carries her to safety :D
She wakes in a now male-presenting Kaede's arms, they are keeping her warm after they both got chilled in the rain. MC angsts about how they're a burden who causes Kaede trouble and puts the village in danger. And they know that if the village falls, Kaede has vowed to commit suicide.
"To protect him I have to stay away. And yet...I just want to be with him forever." (MC uses 'she' pronouns at other points)
MC is consumed with longing, aware now of feelings they wish they could have stayed oblivious to. She loves Kaede.
Stifling tears, she asks if Kaede has another name they'd prefer. Kaede explains they were named "Sogo" which apparently contains the character for Kaede. Ahh so the written form of Kaede is like a feminine nickname for Sogo. That is SO MUCH NEATER than in English. Oh well.
They say they don't mind which name MC uses, but we gets points for using "Kaede" when she's presenting in a feminine way with clothes and voice.
MC is nearly accidentally shot by an injured samurai who looks and acts like a knockoff Yukimura. His name is Tetsuji Katsuda, not finding any hits on him beyond this game so he's probably fictional. MC takes him back to the village for healing, Kaede implies she'd have just let him die haha.
Tetsuji: I got lost after being separated from the rest of the troops. I'm so sorry I shot at you I was aiming at a rabbit!
Tetsuji: So like I thought, you're an idiot.
MC: It's fine, Katsuda.
Tetsuji: You're a saint ;_; And...please call me Tetsuji <3
Kaede: *significant cough*
Tetsuji: MILADY I AM SO SORRY I NEARLY HURT YOU LITTLE SISTER
Kaede: >:/
MC tries to tell the village she'll leave to keep everyone else safe but Kaede cuts her off, saying MC and her father are the jewels of the village. And then Tetsuji stumbles in chasing a cat...HOLDING HIS UNDERWEAR IN IT'S MOUTH?
MC: Um, so, I should probably mention that I rescued this samurai...
Other ninja: What if he's a spy >:(
Kaede: That kind of stupidity can't be faked.
He eventually wins over the village by earnestly helping everyone out as much as he can. especially Hikari. Aww, he wants to join the village?
MC sees him and Kaede having a whispered conversation then get evasive when she approaches, I assumed the love triangle would be Kaede jealous about MC/Tetsuji but her jealous about Kaede/Tetsuji could be interesting with the gender stuff even if both of them are clearly into MC and not each other.
Awww when she's alone with Kaede MC notices Sogo peeking through, as if being repressed, and tells Kaede she doesn't have to pretend around her: "Wouldn't it be easier to be yourself? I don't really mind if that's male, female, both, or neither, just...be you."
He comes back dressed as Sogo.
MC: Um, you still have makeup on?
Sogo, eyes flashing with desire: Would you like to help me take it off?
MC: I, uh. Can learn your techniques.
Kaede: You don't need makeup you're beautiful as you are.
They are both very into it, Kaede's voice is still feminine but face increasingly masculine, and then at the end he is Sogo, and either way the whole time MC wants to kiss them.
MC if you can tell that Sogo is looking at you with sorrow and desire why not say something, no no I know you're both set on selfless pining *mutters*
Byakkosai: I must remind you that until you inherit leadership of this clan you are a woman and a woman only. No matter who you are with.
Kaede: I am well aware :(
The next day MC finds that Kaede has left, taking all her weapons, leaving only the burned remains of a letter saying "Meet Hattori".
Sensing that Kaede is in danger, MC runs after her, taking a powerful elixir she's been working on that I didn't find space to mention previously.
We see Hattori Hanzo goading Kaede to stop holding back in their fight. He refers to Kaede as "The Mitsuba's hidden blade", implying he knows her secret, and says that if he can defeat Kaede and take control of The Lady of the Dragon Tears (MC) he'll have no further need to attack the Mitsuba.
He says that trying to maintain a persona and be ladylike is keeping Kaede at a disadvantage. That's a BIT TRANSPHOBIC game, you never say that about cis woman ninjas >:(
Kaede tries to be annoyed at MC for being here but is clearly touched.
Hanzo: What a pleasure to meet the Lady of the Dragon Tears :)
MC, launching herself at him: I'm no lady >:(
She has no luck but SIGH Kaede becomes Sogo and thus more powerful. I mean maybe they think an afab multigender person like me would ALSO be more powerful with a male persona but that would STILL NOT BE GREAT, Voltage >:(
Anyway, Hanzo runs away, and MC collapses as a side effect of the medicine, saying "I have to stop doing this to you". She remembers child!Kaede kissing her better when she ran too fast and hurt herself. And then wakes to Sogo gently touching her face and muttering that he loves her, but can never tell her.
She quietly replies that she loves him too, but knows they can't openly be together. They share a quiet, bittersweet moment of connection and then MC falls back asleep.
And then I was just...urgh extended mutual pining where they both know the other is interested is going to get annoying, and stopped! But rereading this reminded me how much I love Kaede/Sogo, they're so great, even if I may never finish their route. And maybe I will, who knows! *kicks my many other unfinished dating sim routes out of sight and coughs*
