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Content note: Mention of sexual assault of minor characters, suicidal ideation, violence
CHAPTER THREE
Okazaki sighs, and brings down his gun. "So the terrorists are forcing you to feed them intel from the police?"
She nods, because that's effectively the case. She explains about the poison, and thinks about how she'd convinced herself she was helping solve the case rather than acting as a mole. But really she just didn't want to die.
He is sympathetic, saying it must have been scary, but she sees disappointment in his eyes. He says he's not sure if he can trust that she's telling the truth.
And then she doesn't see him again. He's a loyal police officer, and she betrayed his trust, and their shared duty to the police. A week passes.
This is when I had to go to sleep and make the c1-2 post, and writing the content warning got me thinking about the game's approach to stalking and sexual harassment. Normally a "woman experiences stalking, Goes Crazy" plot would piss me off, but it doesn't bother me so much here, I guess because it's part of a broader "People experience various bad things, go a little crazy, are recruited to an evil organisation that encourages their anger and instability" plot. Like, I'm not a huge fan of that, but it's like...standard level kinda-eh Otomate villain motivation, and the sort of thing I was ready for when I chose to play a game by them about terrorism. And Ichika is doggedly sympathetic to Sakuragawa.
Sakuragawa's 'girlish woman in love' characterisation is not great gender wise but is also the kind of thing I knew I was signing myself up for with an Otomate game. They are what they are!
Sakuragawa has been arrested, but claims not to know anything about the murders. She sadly talks about how she'd be too scared to kill anyone, saying prison would be torture but death would be meaningless and then crying about being scared. I'm guessing it's how she felt BEFORE she got Murder Pep Talks from Adonis.
Sakuragawa: But if I go home I'll just be followed by another creep. So it's fine. My life was ruined long ago. God doesn't exist. Nobody's coming to help me. I'll never love anyone.
Shiraishi says she seems to be sincere, like her memories of Adonis have been erased. And if she knew this was going to happen, it would explain why she and Adonis were ok with her being arrested. SURE. SELECTIVE MEMORY WIPES. WHY NOT.
Have a pic of Shiraishi:
The X-Day killings have continued. On the 11th, several office workers were pushed off a building. On the 15th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Office (of schools, I think?) was bombed. The police are overwhelmed with work.
Shiraishi notices how miserable Ichika looks and tells her to go visit the detectives. She's been avoiding seeing them in person in case Okazaki shows up but decides she needs to talk to someone who understands the situation.
OKAZAKI POV!!
He is sadly mulling over the moment he pointed a gun at Ichika as she stared back at him with terrified eyes. He's aware she could be manipulating him but thinks the odds are low. When he first met her, he reported her to his superiors but decided she had no malice and wasn't a threat. He can tell, because she's the opposite of him, she can't lie easily.
And if everything she said was true...he thinks back on all the kind things she said to him, how determined she was to solve the case, despite everything she was silently suffering. Not just fear, but guilt for lying to him. Unlike him, she is strong. Will his premonition come true?
Yoshinari tries to cheer him up with various weird foods. Ahaha normally what happens is Okazaki smiles and forces him to eat some too. But now he just wanly says "thank you".
Yoshinari: You're not putting me in a headlock, you're not eating weird snacks, your replies are tossed-off and you're not sleeping in the street :( And you're scary when you're not smiling. Are you sick, or lost? Usually you're so decisive.
Okazaki: ...having you worry about me is a little like having a severe illness :)
Yoshinari: That's more like it, sir!
Okazaki thanks him and puts him in a headlock to express his gratitude.
Yoshinari: Oh, it's Ms Hoshino! I'm sure you'll cheer up if you talk to her. Hey, Ms-AHHH MY NECK.
Okazaki goes to talk to her, to put his last suspicions to rest and see if she's the ideal person he's been looking for, the one who can satisfy his wish.
Yanagi's the only one in today, seeing how pale she looks he makes her a hot cocoa and gently prompts her to explain what's wrong. So she does, and then expresses her doubts that she's actually helped the case, or that it's even solvable.
He pokes her in the forehead and says he understands, but she can't give up. She can lean on him if she has to. Also, the Security Police like Okazaki are encouraged to be willing to die for the VIPs they protect, or even accept civilian casualties.
Yanagi: Maybe that's how the police should be, but I couldn't sacrifice my ideals like that. I don't think he's a bad guy at the core, but I don't think you'll see eye to eye.
Ichika: ;_;
Yanagi: Uh. Do you want to work together from tomorrow? Let me support you. I'd appreciate the help, too.
Aww. Ichika appreciates the thought, but if she keeps avoiding Okazaki she'll just deepen his suspicions.
Yoshinari: HEY SIR LOOK IT'S HER. Oh noooo she saw us! We done goofed :D
Okazaki: >:(
Yoshinari: Man, it would look sketchy if you fled! Ooh but the wind is soooo colllld. I'll let you talk to her alone ^_^
Okazaki: Can I ask you a favour? Don't work with Yanagi's team any more. I'm sure you've realised my real mission is to report on them to my superiors. Which means I have to file reports on you. Normally I would have to tell them about your collar. There might come a time when I'm forced to shoot you. If that happens I...won't be able to protect you.
Ichika: I understand. If you decide that I'm leading things astray...I want you to shoot me, without hesitation. I'll try not to get any closer to Yanagi's team, so you don't have to report me. But I'm not going to stop investigating.
Okazaki: Why?
Ichika: I want to protect the people who live here. I'm not going to run away.
Okazaki: ...it is you :)
For a brief moment he wears a brilliant smile, seeming genuinely happy. Once again torn between "aww" and "Is he about to become a yandere".
She apologies for lying, and putting him in the position of having to point a gun at her, someone he'd wanted to protect.
Okazaki: No, I'm sorry. And weren't you scared? Even I'm scared for you.
Ichika: I'm a police officer. I have to stay determined.
Yoshinari tells Ichika he's never seen Okazaki look so lost and hopes she can cheer him up. "People say we're heartless in the SP but he once told me 'We protect what is important to the nation. We can be strong because we do this so that everyone else can live'. He makes me feel that I can be strong too. So...please don't abandon him ;_;"
I'm used to media with police protagonists being set in some parallel world where police work VERY differently to reality, and that's definitely the case here, but it's a different parallel world than the one I'm used to. Less about Punishing Bad Guys and more about Defending The Nation, but still connected to some Unfortunate History. Either way I find this sort of thing easier to swallow when it's like...knights or samurai or The Space Protectors and I'm not left thinking about the relationship between fascism and public service. On the other hand, I feel like Adonis is partly a criticism of the whole Punishing Bad Guys idea, a bit like Watchmen. And like Watchmen, it doesn't transcend it's genre enough to properly consider what the alternatives might be, but it does have me thinking.
At work, Ichika has to deal with angry citizens and copycat crimes. She finds herself thinking "Well, if I work with Yanagi and Okazaki reports me and I die, maybe they can get useful info from the collar" and goes to make herself some tea.
And then she bumps into Saeki on the street. HMMM.
I've been waiting for him to show up again so I could get a screenshot, but the fact he's back after such a long gap feels ominous. It sounded like Sakuragawa doesn't think there's any police in Adonis but that could just mean he's super high up and secretive.
He says she should open up about whatever's troubling her, as a friend, and she settles for "I think someone I care about hates me. But I understand why they're pushing me away. I know I should keep my distance, but all I can think about is how to get our relationship back to how it was before."
Saeki: So a boyfriend?
Ichika: No! Just...a work...acquaintance. [What even ARE we? :( ]
Saeki: Well you're pretty stubborn. Cops might disagree but at our core we just want to protect something. And I know your sense of justice is strong. Think about what has to happen for you to be together without wrecking what's important to you, and talk it out.
I like that Saeki hasn't shown any signs of pining over Ichika. Doesn't mean he isn't, but at least it's not a constant theme. Also I am reminded that we haven't had any more shooting minigames! I guess Okazaki isn't into Ichika being violent. I hope some of the others are. Maybe she gets to defend nerdy little Sasazuka with her superior gun skillz.
Also, I was expecting more sexy collar scenes. Code Realize leaned way more into the potential of 'MC has deadly mysterious stuff on her neck/chest', just saying.
Anyway. Okazaki rings, asking to meet. He talks about the growing fear and despair of the people.
Okazaki: Everyone fears death, even the police. I don't understand it, but some hurt others because they think they're going to die.
Ichika: Are you afraid of death too?
Okazaki: Let's find somewhere to sit down :)
As she tries to figure out how to regain his trust, he says "I don't suspect you. I believe you. It must hurt to feel like you're betraying the police, but you're desperately trying to save this town.".
Ichika: Why? Even if you believe me...I'm a threat to the police.
Ha he argues that she's such a big clue that her survival is 'important to the nation' and so he's going to protect her, nice self justification buddy.
He tells her she's the "ideal person worth protecting" he's been looking for and she is very confused.
He asks why she became a police officer and she says she helped someone in highschool and thought it would be great to live for other people. Was this Yanagi, did she help him find his wallet and change his life...
Okazaki says a cop helped him when he was a lost little kid, and he wanted to be a superhero like them. He joined SP because he's athletic and protecting people sounded cool. But then he realised it was his true calling to risk his life to protect others. 'My life gains meaning because I can protect someone else. This time, I'm going to do my job correctly.'
His tone reminds me a bit of Sugawara.
She is discomforted by the suicidal subtext, and the implication that he wants to protect her because she's important rather than because he actually cares. But she still accepts his protection.
He gets them to pinky swear:
Okazaki: The police are important to me, I won't let anyone oppose them. But my mission is more important than the organisation. So now...you're more important to me than anything else. I'll protect you. So don't run away from me, no matter what. Don't give up on your dreams, whatever it costs you. Stand proud.
Ichika: I promise.
Okazaki: And don't cling to strangers or get into trouble where I can't see you. Say 'cross my heart and hope to die'.
He says Yanagi's group are under a lot of police scrutiny so she has to be discreet. And to call him if anything weird happens.
Ichika: What about your job?
Okazaki: Yanagi's group don't need constant protection. And I'd like to trust them.
She bumps into Akito at their apartment block, who asks her intently not to tell Kazuki he was there, and says he has issues at home meaning he won't be able to visit so to tell Kazuki not to worry.
Then he mutters "I should be under suspicion. You don't know anything do you?" then says louder "Please look after Kazuki....or you'll definitely regret it"
UH
NEW CHARACTER AND POV!! It's a rough looking guy with scars saying "So Sugawara's memories were erased? Zero sees us as pawns."
Not!Saito: That is incorrect. Zero sympathises with your sorrow.
Scar Guy: So our gracious elder wants to grant his pitiful disciples salvation?
Not!Saito: He can hear you, you know.
Scar Guy: Let him listen.
Not!Saito: Zero acknowledges you as special, even among the enforcers. That is why you are allowed free passage. But I'd caution against any unnecessary thoughts.
Scar Guy: I've gotten my revenge. I'm not interested in this crappy world any more. Zero, if you want to use me as a pawn, go ahead!
It's the 19th of December and it strikes me that this is a romantic Christmas game hahaha.
Anyway.
Okazaki and Ichika text message back and forth, with him checking on her and sending cute cat pictures and messages like "Lock the door and turn off the stove (`･ω･)".
She makes a vague reference to something going wrong and he rushes over but she'd just slightly overcooked a cake. She invites him in to eat some.
Okazaki: Don't go inviting strange men into your house, they'll get the wrong idea. I want to be the only man you invite in here, is that ok?
Ichika blushes and thinks he's the one giving the wrong idea. Oooh and now my choice sets off a LOVE meter!! Well obviously I'll have her agree no other man gets to visit her. She thinks about not having any male friends of the sort she'd invite over and that Kazuki's friends don't count which...I understand, but also...*stares suspiciously at Akito*
Just as she's thinking "we're like partners on a case, this isn't weird" he says "Definitely not Yanagi or Takeru. Mineo's even worse and Shiraishi's banned. Men are wolves."
He's very impressed by her cooking and says he can't cook or do stuff like laundry, even his roomba ran away. He says Yanagi's good at these sorts of things. But Okazaki can't even work a remote control. She thinks about how his mind is 100% on his job and he doesn't pay attention to normal life.
I'm wondering if he had a weird upbringing he's glossing over. I mean, most LIs have an angsty backstory and he seems the type.
She realises she doesn't know much about him outside of work, so asks what he's good at, but it's all work related stuff like judo and English. But they slip into a fun conversation about their lives. And then he gets very excited about her fancy pillow, talking about how into sleep and sleep accessories he is. She offers to let him try it on the bed but he thinks that's a bit much and he falls asleep on the floor. She watches affectionately for a while but he looks so cute and comfy she falls asleep herself, on the couch.
Ahaha OH NO Kazuki comes home to some weird guy in his sister's bedroom while she's asleep and instead of introducing himself Okazaki is all "Oh, you must be Ichika's little brother you look alike ^_^"
Ichika: Oh no I fell asleep.
Kazuki: Who is this guy??
Ichika: Did I make weird faces in my sleep?
Okazaki: No you were super cute ^_^ Thanks for letting me borrow your pillow :)
Kazuke: *sigh* Ichika. At least tell me when you're bringing some guy home.
Ichika: It's not like that!!
While they were asleep Adonis posted another video, with a high pitched but male sounding voice saying "The September suspect killed himself but who can trust the police not to set up and string up suspects. And they incompetently think October went by peacefully. But that's ok. Adonis will protect the good people of Shinjuku."
Ichika decides to search the X-Day records to see what connection they all have to the police, since that seems to be a theme. She thinks about how society needs the police, but that's all the more reason to shine a light on the police's flaws.
Shiraishi says Yanagi and the others miss her, but she says she has her reasons to keep her distance, and will be investigating the November incident alone. Ahh, it was a POLICE motorcycle and the truck that crashed into it was driven by someone with a criminal record.
CHAPTER FOUR
Okazaki tells the detectives that his real mission is to report on them, and that he wants to protect Ichika. Everyone nods seriously except Enomoto who is VERY CONFUSED.
Catching individual perpetrators has been shown to be useless, they're just disposable pawns with their memories wiped.
Okazaki and Yanagi discuss trying to remove the collar, Okazaki leaning towards it being worth the risk. And if they tell her their plans, Adonis will know, so Okazaki says to keep everything secret from her. Noone has suggested communicating with written notes or text messages at any point in this story, I realise it's risky too but come on.
haha but Okazaki has such a poor understanding of tech he has no idea where to start and hopes they have ideas. "I want you to show the same determination she does, and I've decided to trust you" aww. "And if you turn out to be terrorists I'll just take you out" haha
Okazaki happily texts back and forth with Ichika, thinking about how she's his reason for living but feeling guilty about how selfish his motivations are. He can tell she's down about her lack of progress but hiding it as determination, and wants to cheer her up.
The game goes over the November incident again. The Adonis video used the same cheery high male voice as the most recent video. This seems to be a thing, so here's the voices I think I recognise:
Cheery man: November car-crash, Dec 'police string up suspects'
Perky girl: May shooting
Wavering man: July stalker stabbing, Dec stalker fire
An unidentified POV character thinks "until November the countdown was just amusement, the foundation for people to learn true fear. The enforcers, who embrace sorrow hatred and rage, would demonstrate justice by their own hands. And if the subject of the collar experiment acts according to plan, she will surely see what lies beyond: a pure white wonderful world"
Haa, now Ichika is using emojis too. Okazaki asks to come into her house again, because he's brought her flowers. She's delighted and they're both cutely happy.
Okazaki: I've never bought flowers before, when the shop keeper asked me what sort of person it was for...I wasn't sure.
Ichika: What did you say?
Okazaki: It's embarrassing, so it's my secret.
Ichika: Another secret? That's unfair! I never get to keep anything from you.
Okazaki: That's fair...I told them it was for someone special. She's kind, hard-working, and strong. And...very cute.
Ichika has discovered that three subordinates of the traffic officer killed in November, Masayoshi Todoroki, quit 'for personal reasons'.
Oooh I get to choose which part of the police station to explore next. Aww I can't go to most of them.
Mochida used to work in Traffic, huh...what a coincidence...
He says he didn't know Todoroki but heard he was hard on his subordinates. Also he heard the traffic system got hacked, so it wasn't an inside job.
Hmm. Mochida has a highish, polite tone, kinda like 'Cheery man'.
The truck driver's name was Kakizaki. He had previously been arrested for an incident where people died.
Mochida says he's noticed Ichika seeming stressed lately, and that she seems to be investigating X-day. He says he's been looking into it himself, and supports her doing whatever she needs to help the people of Shinjuku.
*sings the "Is he being nice or is he a terrorist" song*
Ahaha I can choose to investigate Todoroki with Okazaki, or with Mochida...*makes a 'will probably use this for a bad end later' save*
She meets with Okazaki in the red light district Kabuckichou, and wonders if the people here were already used to life being stressful, and so are dealing with everything better. Okazaki says he can understand being so used to being vigilant that normal life seems difficult. But watching the detectives has made his job much less stressful since they don't actually need protection.
Looking up wikipedia, this background image contains a distinctive Kabuckichou landmark, but has been used for other places in Shinjuku, I wonder if that was jarring for locals.
The first subordinate of Todoroki they investigated has been in psychiatric care for the last five years. The second has lived overseas ever since he quit and never returned. So now they're looking into the third, Sanjou, who is homeless in Kabuckichou but seems to have some power over the locals.
OOH IT'S THE SCARRED GUY
Ok this is not really related but it just occurred to me: If Adonis can perfectly wipe specific memories, anyone could have memory loss (and be a former Adonis member) and not know it.
Sanjou: You! ...I see. You've got a lot of nerve coming here in person :)
Sanjou: Todoroki was a scumbag who deserved to die. You're here to see if I did it, huh?
Okazaki: You sure you want to admit to a motive like that?
Sanjou: The police are so corrupt they'd just invent a motive if I didn't have one.
Okazaki: Do you resent the police?
Sanjou: I used to. Have you spoken to the other two?
Ichika: One has been hospitalised and the other is overseas.
Sanjou: So they can't come back either. Their emotions have probably gone ice cold, like mine. It was hell. And not just because of Todoroki. You two have stepped into the same hole. The police toy with lives for self gain and steal other people's hard work saying it's all for grand ideals. Even a victim's life is just a stepping stone to elevate their careers. They claim to be servants of the law but any crimes committed by officers are swept under the rug, or even spun as heroic tales. As long as you're in the police, you'll never be able to champion justice.
Okazaki: Oh? We just met. You wouldn't say anything that particular unless you knew her problem :)
I don't get it but he's apparently right!
Sanjou: Hey girl, want to have a contest? I'll tell you about Todoroki if you beat me.
Me: SHOOTING MINIGAME??
Sanjou: A cop will die tomorrow. If you can stop it, I'll talk. Or you could just arrest me, not that it'll do any good ;)
Ooh I can choose to take his offer or not. I think it makes more sense, arresting him achieves nothing.
Okazaki wonders if this is some sort of test. Ichika goes back to the station to do more research.
Okazaki: Look after yourself. If you go down, I'll have no more reason to live :)
Ichika: Hehe, you're exaggerating.
Okazaki: No?
Ichika: You get plenty of rest too! I'll be counting on you tomorrow!
Okazaki: :D *swings her hands like a child*
Okazaki is a weird, obsessive guy with terrible boundaries but Ichika is so happy with him I ship it in an unexpectedly straightforward way. I'M SURE THE SUICIDAL THING WILL BE FINE.
Okazaki POV! He's updating the detectives and then asks for help finding this police officer who's going to be killed, saying "I'll buy donuts! (σゝω･)σ".
Sasazuka mentions that they have new info on the attempted murder of the prime minister 2 years ago and Okazaki has a flashback to thinking he should have died. "There's no point dwelling on the past. But I don't want to fail again. I know you'll grant my wish, Ichika."
The next morning they both tell the other off for not getting enough sleep haha. Ichika has found way too many police officers who've done something hinky to narrow it down, and they go to ask Shiraishi his opinion.
Okazaki says he has Yoshinari tailing Sanjou, and that Yoshinari is much more competent than he appears.
The dynamic between Shiraishi and Okazaki involves a lot of smiling barbs.
Ok I am very into the "cute boys flirtatiously ask questions about a murder mystery as I try to figure out clues" mechanic, A+. With some backtracking on my part, Ichika figures out that the victim is likely to be someone who got away with a crime and had it covered up.
They find Sanjou in Shinjuku Gardens, waiting for the son of a bigwig who's gotten away with repeated sexual assaults. He calmly admits to being responsible for the August murders of gamers to fulfil someone else's revenge.
Ichika: How could you kill so many people you had no personal issue with?
Sanjou: Did you think I worked from some personal code? Adonis has some idea of justice, but murder is murder. There is no excuse for what I've done, and I won't try to justify it.
Okazaki: You're indifferent to the entire world.
Sanjou: ...yeah. I think you feel the same way. The weight of the fifteen people I killed is heavier than the wounds I suffered in the past. I don't expect to be forgiven. But who decides the weight of a life?
Okazaki: You wanted revenge. I know your pain, the inconsolable suffering of being in the police. Can you truly say you've won by making the friends and family of the people you've killed taste that unfairness?
Sanjou: That's why I did it. It's unfair, isn't it? But that's the law of the world.
He goes into a rant about the evils of cyberbullying which, like...isn't wrong but feels a little odd coming from this grizzled serial killer homeless ex-cop.
He didn't know anything about the specific people he killed though, he just followed orders. In return, Adonis made his dream come true.
Okazaki: Revenge?
Sanjou: Destruction. You want to die too, don't you?
Okazaki avoids answering and Ichika asks for the information Sanjou promised.
Sanjou: What's the point? If I told you everything Todoroki did you'd just be disgusted, and it's not like he can be punished.
Ichika: There's a blight within the police. People have been hurt, it shouldn't be buried. Even if I can't change anything I want to know.
Sanjou: You won't enjoy it. And I don't want to anger the boss. Unless he wants you to know, as a way of testing you...
Sanjou smiles and draws his gun and Okazaki draws his in return, shielding her. Sanjou says they've made things fun, fires a warning shot to distract Okazaki, and runs away. Ichika insists on coming with Okazaki, saying she trusts him to protect her.
They find Sanjou, and from behind a tree he talks about how years of physical and emotional abuse eroded his faith in the police. The last straw was being sent to take the blame and apologise when Todoroki's incompetence got people killed. And then he heard Todoroki laughing with his coworkers about it.
Ichika: I empathise with your position but can't allow this lynching.
Sanjou: Then who will judge them? Are you saying we should just let them go?
Okazaki: So you judge them by your own arbitrary standards? It will lead to anarchy. The world needs the police. It's true, the police have failed many innocent people. But the larger the organisation, the harder to stay completely clean. You used to be an officer. If the police were to no longer exist, all the suffering in Japan would dramatically increase.
*quietly hands out pamphlets on peaceful police abolition to the characters and writers*
Like seriously, the police versus vigilantes dichotomy here has some complexity to it, and isn't any worse than like...Watchmen, but this came out in 2016 not 1985. OH WELL, CONTINUING ON.
Sanjou: Thanks for the pretty words but I don't care about any of that. I got my revenge. What happens next is none of my concern. And if you think the police must make sacrifices for the greater good, aren't you the same as us terrorists? Adonis plans to keep the peace through rebirth, killing all the criminals.
Okazaki: Looks like we're on parallel paths then.
Sanjou: So it does. I've done my part, are you going to capture me or let me go? There's no point capturing us pawns.
Ichika: Yes there is, I can reduce the number of casualties. Keisuke Sanjou, I'm putting you under arrest.
Okazaki: And you're not just any pawn, or you wouldn't have recognised her. You're a leader, or know one.
Sanjou: Tch, I knew you'd be trouble.
AND THEN. HE SHOOTS AT ICHIKA, AND OKAZAKI TAKES THE BULLET D:
Okazaki: I'm....fine....
Sanjou: You could have shot me but you chose to protect her. Funny guy. But I've decided I don't want to be arrested just yet :)
And then he whispers something silently and there is AN EXPLOSION
Okazaki shields her from the blast with his body.
Okazaki, covered in burns and blood and also shot: I'm...fine... :)
I have the choice to keep chasing Sanjou but since Okazaki is DYING I think I'll retreat.
Ichika rips off her shirt to do first aid and thinks Okazaki's wide eyed expression must be shock.
Okazaki: You can make it tighter :) :)
Ichika: Why are you smiling, you must be in so much pain, and I nearly got you killed!
Okazaki: I'm grateful that I got injured protecting you.
Ichika: You could have died!
Okazaki: Yes, that's my wish :)
Ichika: What
Okazaki: We should go, there might be more bombs!
She offers him her shoulder to lean on but he picks her up in a bridal carry and starts running as bombs go off around them. From the CG she is injured too though she didn't mention it in her narration.
Content note: Mention of sexual assault of minor characters, suicidal ideation, violence
CHAPTER THREE
Okazaki sighs, and brings down his gun. "So the terrorists are forcing you to feed them intel from the police?"
She nods, because that's effectively the case. She explains about the poison, and thinks about how she'd convinced herself she was helping solve the case rather than acting as a mole. But really she just didn't want to die.
He is sympathetic, saying it must have been scary, but she sees disappointment in his eyes. He says he's not sure if he can trust that she's telling the truth.
And then she doesn't see him again. He's a loyal police officer, and she betrayed his trust, and their shared duty to the police. A week passes.
This is when I had to go to sleep and make the c1-2 post, and writing the content warning got me thinking about the game's approach to stalking and sexual harassment. Normally a "woman experiences stalking, Goes Crazy" plot would piss me off, but it doesn't bother me so much here, I guess because it's part of a broader "People experience various bad things, go a little crazy, are recruited to an evil organisation that encourages their anger and instability" plot. Like, I'm not a huge fan of that, but it's like...standard level kinda-eh Otomate villain motivation, and the sort of thing I was ready for when I chose to play a game by them about terrorism. And Ichika is doggedly sympathetic to Sakuragawa.
Sakuragawa's 'girlish woman in love' characterisation is not great gender wise but is also the kind of thing I knew I was signing myself up for with an Otomate game. They are what they are!
Sakuragawa has been arrested, but claims not to know anything about the murders. She sadly talks about how she'd be too scared to kill anyone, saying prison would be torture but death would be meaningless and then crying about being scared. I'm guessing it's how she felt BEFORE she got Murder Pep Talks from Adonis.
Sakuragawa: But if I go home I'll just be followed by another creep. So it's fine. My life was ruined long ago. God doesn't exist. Nobody's coming to help me. I'll never love anyone.
Shiraishi says she seems to be sincere, like her memories of Adonis have been erased. And if she knew this was going to happen, it would explain why she and Adonis were ok with her being arrested. SURE. SELECTIVE MEMORY WIPES. WHY NOT.
Have a pic of Shiraishi:
The X-Day killings have continued. On the 11th, several office workers were pushed off a building. On the 15th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Office (of schools, I think?) was bombed. The police are overwhelmed with work.
Shiraishi notices how miserable Ichika looks and tells her to go visit the detectives. She's been avoiding seeing them in person in case Okazaki shows up but decides she needs to talk to someone who understands the situation.
OKAZAKI POV!!
He is sadly mulling over the moment he pointed a gun at Ichika as she stared back at him with terrified eyes. He's aware she could be manipulating him but thinks the odds are low. When he first met her, he reported her to his superiors but decided she had no malice and wasn't a threat. He can tell, because she's the opposite of him, she can't lie easily.
And if everything she said was true...he thinks back on all the kind things she said to him, how determined she was to solve the case, despite everything she was silently suffering. Not just fear, but guilt for lying to him. Unlike him, she is strong. Will his premonition come true?
Yoshinari tries to cheer him up with various weird foods. Ahaha normally what happens is Okazaki smiles and forces him to eat some too. But now he just wanly says "thank you".
Yoshinari: You're not putting me in a headlock, you're not eating weird snacks, your replies are tossed-off and you're not sleeping in the street :( And you're scary when you're not smiling. Are you sick, or lost? Usually you're so decisive.
Okazaki: ...having you worry about me is a little like having a severe illness :)
Yoshinari: That's more like it, sir!
Okazaki thanks him and puts him in a headlock to express his gratitude.
Yoshinari: Oh, it's Ms Hoshino! I'm sure you'll cheer up if you talk to her. Hey, Ms-AHHH MY NECK.
Okazaki goes to talk to her, to put his last suspicions to rest and see if she's the ideal person he's been looking for, the one who can satisfy his wish.
Yanagi's the only one in today, seeing how pale she looks he makes her a hot cocoa and gently prompts her to explain what's wrong. So she does, and then expresses her doubts that she's actually helped the case, or that it's even solvable.
He pokes her in the forehead and says he understands, but she can't give up. She can lean on him if she has to. Also, the Security Police like Okazaki are encouraged to be willing to die for the VIPs they protect, or even accept civilian casualties.
Yanagi: Maybe that's how the police should be, but I couldn't sacrifice my ideals like that. I don't think he's a bad guy at the core, but I don't think you'll see eye to eye.
Ichika: ;_;
Yanagi: Uh. Do you want to work together from tomorrow? Let me support you. I'd appreciate the help, too.
Aww. Ichika appreciates the thought, but if she keeps avoiding Okazaki she'll just deepen his suspicions.
Yoshinari: HEY SIR LOOK IT'S HER. Oh noooo she saw us! We done goofed :D
Okazaki: >:(
Yoshinari: Man, it would look sketchy if you fled! Ooh but the wind is soooo colllld. I'll let you talk to her alone ^_^
Okazaki: Can I ask you a favour? Don't work with Yanagi's team any more. I'm sure you've realised my real mission is to report on them to my superiors. Which means I have to file reports on you. Normally I would have to tell them about your collar. There might come a time when I'm forced to shoot you. If that happens I...won't be able to protect you.
Ichika: I understand. If you decide that I'm leading things astray...I want you to shoot me, without hesitation. I'll try not to get any closer to Yanagi's team, so you don't have to report me. But I'm not going to stop investigating.
Okazaki: Why?
Ichika: I want to protect the people who live here. I'm not going to run away.
Okazaki: ...it is you :)
For a brief moment he wears a brilliant smile, seeming genuinely happy. Once again torn between "aww" and "Is he about to become a yandere".
She apologies for lying, and putting him in the position of having to point a gun at her, someone he'd wanted to protect.
Okazaki: No, I'm sorry. And weren't you scared? Even I'm scared for you.
Ichika: I'm a police officer. I have to stay determined.
Yoshinari tells Ichika he's never seen Okazaki look so lost and hopes she can cheer him up. "People say we're heartless in the SP but he once told me 'We protect what is important to the nation. We can be strong because we do this so that everyone else can live'. He makes me feel that I can be strong too. So...please don't abandon him ;_;"
I'm used to media with police protagonists being set in some parallel world where police work VERY differently to reality, and that's definitely the case here, but it's a different parallel world than the one I'm used to. Less about Punishing Bad Guys and more about Defending The Nation, but still connected to some Unfortunate History. Either way I find this sort of thing easier to swallow when it's like...knights or samurai or The Space Protectors and I'm not left thinking about the relationship between fascism and public service. On the other hand, I feel like Adonis is partly a criticism of the whole Punishing Bad Guys idea, a bit like Watchmen. And like Watchmen, it doesn't transcend it's genre enough to properly consider what the alternatives might be, but it does have me thinking.
At work, Ichika has to deal with angry citizens and copycat crimes. She finds herself thinking "Well, if I work with Yanagi and Okazaki reports me and I die, maybe they can get useful info from the collar" and goes to make herself some tea.
And then she bumps into Saeki on the street. HMMM.
I've been waiting for him to show up again so I could get a screenshot, but the fact he's back after such a long gap feels ominous. It sounded like Sakuragawa doesn't think there's any police in Adonis but that could just mean he's super high up and secretive.
He says she should open up about whatever's troubling her, as a friend, and she settles for "I think someone I care about hates me. But I understand why they're pushing me away. I know I should keep my distance, but all I can think about is how to get our relationship back to how it was before."
Saeki: So a boyfriend?
Ichika: No! Just...a work...acquaintance. [What even ARE we? :( ]
Saeki: Well you're pretty stubborn. Cops might disagree but at our core we just want to protect something. And I know your sense of justice is strong. Think about what has to happen for you to be together without wrecking what's important to you, and talk it out.
I like that Saeki hasn't shown any signs of pining over Ichika. Doesn't mean he isn't, but at least it's not a constant theme. Also I am reminded that we haven't had any more shooting minigames! I guess Okazaki isn't into Ichika being violent. I hope some of the others are. Maybe she gets to defend nerdy little Sasazuka with her superior gun skillz.
Also, I was expecting more sexy collar scenes. Code Realize leaned way more into the potential of 'MC has deadly mysterious stuff on her neck/chest', just saying.
Anyway. Okazaki rings, asking to meet. He talks about the growing fear and despair of the people.
Okazaki: Everyone fears death, even the police. I don't understand it, but some hurt others because they think they're going to die.
Ichika: Are you afraid of death too?
Okazaki: Let's find somewhere to sit down :)
As she tries to figure out how to regain his trust, he says "I don't suspect you. I believe you. It must hurt to feel like you're betraying the police, but you're desperately trying to save this town.".
Ichika: Why? Even if you believe me...I'm a threat to the police.
Ha he argues that she's such a big clue that her survival is 'important to the nation' and so he's going to protect her, nice self justification buddy.
He tells her she's the "ideal person worth protecting" he's been looking for and she is very confused.
He asks why she became a police officer and she says she helped someone in highschool and thought it would be great to live for other people. Was this Yanagi, did she help him find his wallet and change his life...
Okazaki says a cop helped him when he was a lost little kid, and he wanted to be a superhero like them. He joined SP because he's athletic and protecting people sounded cool. But then he realised it was his true calling to risk his life to protect others. 'My life gains meaning because I can protect someone else. This time, I'm going to do my job correctly.'
His tone reminds me a bit of Sugawara.
She is discomforted by the suicidal subtext, and the implication that he wants to protect her because she's important rather than because he actually cares. But she still accepts his protection.
He gets them to pinky swear:
Okazaki: The police are important to me, I won't let anyone oppose them. But my mission is more important than the organisation. So now...you're more important to me than anything else. I'll protect you. So don't run away from me, no matter what. Don't give up on your dreams, whatever it costs you. Stand proud.
Ichika: I promise.
Okazaki: And don't cling to strangers or get into trouble where I can't see you. Say 'cross my heart and hope to die'.
He says Yanagi's group are under a lot of police scrutiny so she has to be discreet. And to call him if anything weird happens.
Ichika: What about your job?
Okazaki: Yanagi's group don't need constant protection. And I'd like to trust them.
She bumps into Akito at their apartment block, who asks her intently not to tell Kazuki he was there, and says he has issues at home meaning he won't be able to visit so to tell Kazuki not to worry.
Then he mutters "I should be under suspicion. You don't know anything do you?" then says louder "Please look after Kazuki....or you'll definitely regret it"
UH
NEW CHARACTER AND POV!! It's a rough looking guy with scars saying "So Sugawara's memories were erased? Zero sees us as pawns."
Not!Saito: That is incorrect. Zero sympathises with your sorrow.
Scar Guy: So our gracious elder wants to grant his pitiful disciples salvation?
Not!Saito: He can hear you, you know.
Scar Guy: Let him listen.
Not!Saito: Zero acknowledges you as special, even among the enforcers. That is why you are allowed free passage. But I'd caution against any unnecessary thoughts.
Scar Guy: I've gotten my revenge. I'm not interested in this crappy world any more. Zero, if you want to use me as a pawn, go ahead!
It's the 19th of December and it strikes me that this is a romantic Christmas game hahaha.
Anyway.
Okazaki and Ichika text message back and forth, with him checking on her and sending cute cat pictures and messages like "Lock the door and turn off the stove (`･ω･)".
She makes a vague reference to something going wrong and he rushes over but she'd just slightly overcooked a cake. She invites him in to eat some.
Okazaki: Don't go inviting strange men into your house, they'll get the wrong idea. I want to be the only man you invite in here, is that ok?
Ichika blushes and thinks he's the one giving the wrong idea. Oooh and now my choice sets off a LOVE meter!! Well obviously I'll have her agree no other man gets to visit her. She thinks about not having any male friends of the sort she'd invite over and that Kazuki's friends don't count which...I understand, but also...*stares suspiciously at Akito*
Just as she's thinking "we're like partners on a case, this isn't weird" he says "Definitely not Yanagi or Takeru. Mineo's even worse and Shiraishi's banned. Men are wolves."
He's very impressed by her cooking and says he can't cook or do stuff like laundry, even his roomba ran away. He says Yanagi's good at these sorts of things. But Okazaki can't even work a remote control. She thinks about how his mind is 100% on his job and he doesn't pay attention to normal life.
I'm wondering if he had a weird upbringing he's glossing over. I mean, most LIs have an angsty backstory and he seems the type.
She realises she doesn't know much about him outside of work, so asks what he's good at, but it's all work related stuff like judo and English. But they slip into a fun conversation about their lives. And then he gets very excited about her fancy pillow, talking about how into sleep and sleep accessories he is. She offers to let him try it on the bed but he thinks that's a bit much and he falls asleep on the floor. She watches affectionately for a while but he looks so cute and comfy she falls asleep herself, on the couch.
Ahaha OH NO Kazuki comes home to some weird guy in his sister's bedroom while she's asleep and instead of introducing himself Okazaki is all "Oh, you must be Ichika's little brother you look alike ^_^"
Ichika: Oh no I fell asleep.
Kazuki: Who is this guy??
Ichika: Did I make weird faces in my sleep?
Okazaki: No you were super cute ^_^ Thanks for letting me borrow your pillow :)
Kazuke: *sigh* Ichika. At least tell me when you're bringing some guy home.
Ichika: It's not like that!!
While they were asleep Adonis posted another video, with a high pitched but male sounding voice saying "The September suspect killed himself but who can trust the police not to set up and string up suspects. And they incompetently think October went by peacefully. But that's ok. Adonis will protect the good people of Shinjuku."
Ichika decides to search the X-Day records to see what connection they all have to the police, since that seems to be a theme. She thinks about how society needs the police, but that's all the more reason to shine a light on the police's flaws.
Shiraishi says Yanagi and the others miss her, but she says she has her reasons to keep her distance, and will be investigating the November incident alone. Ahh, it was a POLICE motorcycle and the truck that crashed into it was driven by someone with a criminal record.
CHAPTER FOUR
Okazaki tells the detectives that his real mission is to report on them, and that he wants to protect Ichika. Everyone nods seriously except Enomoto who is VERY CONFUSED.
Catching individual perpetrators has been shown to be useless, they're just disposable pawns with their memories wiped.
Okazaki and Yanagi discuss trying to remove the collar, Okazaki leaning towards it being worth the risk. And if they tell her their plans, Adonis will know, so Okazaki says to keep everything secret from her. Noone has suggested communicating with written notes or text messages at any point in this story, I realise it's risky too but come on.
haha but Okazaki has such a poor understanding of tech he has no idea where to start and hopes they have ideas. "I want you to show the same determination she does, and I've decided to trust you" aww. "And if you turn out to be terrorists I'll just take you out" haha
Okazaki happily texts back and forth with Ichika, thinking about how she's his reason for living but feeling guilty about how selfish his motivations are. He can tell she's down about her lack of progress but hiding it as determination, and wants to cheer her up.
The game goes over the November incident again. The Adonis video used the same cheery high male voice as the most recent video. This seems to be a thing, so here's the voices I think I recognise:
Cheery man: November car-crash, Dec 'police string up suspects'
Perky girl: May shooting
Wavering man: July stalker stabbing, Dec stalker fire
An unidentified POV character thinks "until November the countdown was just amusement, the foundation for people to learn true fear. The enforcers, who embrace sorrow hatred and rage, would demonstrate justice by their own hands. And if the subject of the collar experiment acts according to plan, she will surely see what lies beyond: a pure white wonderful world"
Haa, now Ichika is using emojis too. Okazaki asks to come into her house again, because he's brought her flowers. She's delighted and they're both cutely happy.
Okazaki: I've never bought flowers before, when the shop keeper asked me what sort of person it was for...I wasn't sure.
Ichika: What did you say?
Okazaki: It's embarrassing, so it's my secret.
Ichika: Another secret? That's unfair! I never get to keep anything from you.
Okazaki: That's fair...I told them it was for someone special. She's kind, hard-working, and strong. And...very cute.
Ichika has discovered that three subordinates of the traffic officer killed in November, Masayoshi Todoroki, quit 'for personal reasons'.
Oooh I get to choose which part of the police station to explore next. Aww I can't go to most of them.
Mochida used to work in Traffic, huh...what a coincidence...
He says he didn't know Todoroki but heard he was hard on his subordinates. Also he heard the traffic system got hacked, so it wasn't an inside job.
Hmm. Mochida has a highish, polite tone, kinda like 'Cheery man'.
The truck driver's name was Kakizaki. He had previously been arrested for an incident where people died.
Mochida says he's noticed Ichika seeming stressed lately, and that she seems to be investigating X-day. He says he's been looking into it himself, and supports her doing whatever she needs to help the people of Shinjuku.
*sings the "Is he being nice or is he a terrorist" song*
Ahaha I can choose to investigate Todoroki with Okazaki, or with Mochida...*makes a 'will probably use this for a bad end later' save*
She meets with Okazaki in the red light district Kabuckichou, and wonders if the people here were already used to life being stressful, and so are dealing with everything better. Okazaki says he can understand being so used to being vigilant that normal life seems difficult. But watching the detectives has made his job much less stressful since they don't actually need protection.
Looking up wikipedia, this background image contains a distinctive Kabuckichou landmark, but has been used for other places in Shinjuku, I wonder if that was jarring for locals.
The first subordinate of Todoroki they investigated has been in psychiatric care for the last five years. The second has lived overseas ever since he quit and never returned. So now they're looking into the third, Sanjou, who is homeless in Kabuckichou but seems to have some power over the locals.
OOH IT'S THE SCARRED GUY
Ok this is not really related but it just occurred to me: If Adonis can perfectly wipe specific memories, anyone could have memory loss (and be a former Adonis member) and not know it.
Sanjou: You! ...I see. You've got a lot of nerve coming here in person :)
Sanjou: Todoroki was a scumbag who deserved to die. You're here to see if I did it, huh?
Okazaki: You sure you want to admit to a motive like that?
Sanjou: The police are so corrupt they'd just invent a motive if I didn't have one.
Okazaki: Do you resent the police?
Sanjou: I used to. Have you spoken to the other two?
Ichika: One has been hospitalised and the other is overseas.
Sanjou: So they can't come back either. Their emotions have probably gone ice cold, like mine. It was hell. And not just because of Todoroki. You two have stepped into the same hole. The police toy with lives for self gain and steal other people's hard work saying it's all for grand ideals. Even a victim's life is just a stepping stone to elevate their careers. They claim to be servants of the law but any crimes committed by officers are swept under the rug, or even spun as heroic tales. As long as you're in the police, you'll never be able to champion justice.
Okazaki: Oh? We just met. You wouldn't say anything that particular unless you knew her problem :)
I don't get it but he's apparently right!
Sanjou: Hey girl, want to have a contest? I'll tell you about Todoroki if you beat me.
Me: SHOOTING MINIGAME??
Sanjou: A cop will die tomorrow. If you can stop it, I'll talk. Or you could just arrest me, not that it'll do any good ;)
Ooh I can choose to take his offer or not. I think it makes more sense, arresting him achieves nothing.
Okazaki wonders if this is some sort of test. Ichika goes back to the station to do more research.
Okazaki: Look after yourself. If you go down, I'll have no more reason to live :)
Ichika: Hehe, you're exaggerating.
Okazaki: No?
Ichika: You get plenty of rest too! I'll be counting on you tomorrow!
Okazaki: :D *swings her hands like a child*
Okazaki is a weird, obsessive guy with terrible boundaries but Ichika is so happy with him I ship it in an unexpectedly straightforward way. I'M SURE THE SUICIDAL THING WILL BE FINE.
Okazaki POV! He's updating the detectives and then asks for help finding this police officer who's going to be killed, saying "I'll buy donuts! (σゝω･)σ".
Sasazuka mentions that they have new info on the attempted murder of the prime minister 2 years ago and Okazaki has a flashback to thinking he should have died. "There's no point dwelling on the past. But I don't want to fail again. I know you'll grant my wish, Ichika."
The next morning they both tell the other off for not getting enough sleep haha. Ichika has found way too many police officers who've done something hinky to narrow it down, and they go to ask Shiraishi his opinion.
Okazaki says he has Yoshinari tailing Sanjou, and that Yoshinari is much more competent than he appears.
The dynamic between Shiraishi and Okazaki involves a lot of smiling barbs.
Ok I am very into the "cute boys flirtatiously ask questions about a murder mystery as I try to figure out clues" mechanic, A+. With some backtracking on my part, Ichika figures out that the victim is likely to be someone who got away with a crime and had it covered up.
They find Sanjou in Shinjuku Gardens, waiting for the son of a bigwig who's gotten away with repeated sexual assaults. He calmly admits to being responsible for the August murders of gamers to fulfil someone else's revenge.
Ichika: How could you kill so many people you had no personal issue with?
Sanjou: Did you think I worked from some personal code? Adonis has some idea of justice, but murder is murder. There is no excuse for what I've done, and I won't try to justify it.
Okazaki: You're indifferent to the entire world.
Sanjou: ...yeah. I think you feel the same way. The weight of the fifteen people I killed is heavier than the wounds I suffered in the past. I don't expect to be forgiven. But who decides the weight of a life?
Okazaki: You wanted revenge. I know your pain, the inconsolable suffering of being in the police. Can you truly say you've won by making the friends and family of the people you've killed taste that unfairness?
Sanjou: That's why I did it. It's unfair, isn't it? But that's the law of the world.
He goes into a rant about the evils of cyberbullying which, like...isn't wrong but feels a little odd coming from this grizzled serial killer homeless ex-cop.
He didn't know anything about the specific people he killed though, he just followed orders. In return, Adonis made his dream come true.
Okazaki: Revenge?
Sanjou: Destruction. You want to die too, don't you?
Okazaki avoids answering and Ichika asks for the information Sanjou promised.
Sanjou: What's the point? If I told you everything Todoroki did you'd just be disgusted, and it's not like he can be punished.
Ichika: There's a blight within the police. People have been hurt, it shouldn't be buried. Even if I can't change anything I want to know.
Sanjou: You won't enjoy it. And I don't want to anger the boss. Unless he wants you to know, as a way of testing you...
Sanjou smiles and draws his gun and Okazaki draws his in return, shielding her. Sanjou says they've made things fun, fires a warning shot to distract Okazaki, and runs away. Ichika insists on coming with Okazaki, saying she trusts him to protect her.
They find Sanjou, and from behind a tree he talks about how years of physical and emotional abuse eroded his faith in the police. The last straw was being sent to take the blame and apologise when Todoroki's incompetence got people killed. And then he heard Todoroki laughing with his coworkers about it.
Ichika: I empathise with your position but can't allow this lynching.
Sanjou: Then who will judge them? Are you saying we should just let them go?
Okazaki: So you judge them by your own arbitrary standards? It will lead to anarchy. The world needs the police. It's true, the police have failed many innocent people. But the larger the organisation, the harder to stay completely clean. You used to be an officer. If the police were to no longer exist, all the suffering in Japan would dramatically increase.
*quietly hands out pamphlets on peaceful police abolition to the characters and writers*
Like seriously, the police versus vigilantes dichotomy here has some complexity to it, and isn't any worse than like...Watchmen, but this came out in 2016 not 1985. OH WELL, CONTINUING ON.
Sanjou: Thanks for the pretty words but I don't care about any of that. I got my revenge. What happens next is none of my concern. And if you think the police must make sacrifices for the greater good, aren't you the same as us terrorists? Adonis plans to keep the peace through rebirth, killing all the criminals.
Okazaki: Looks like we're on parallel paths then.
Sanjou: So it does. I've done my part, are you going to capture me or let me go? There's no point capturing us pawns.
Ichika: Yes there is, I can reduce the number of casualties. Keisuke Sanjou, I'm putting you under arrest.
Okazaki: And you're not just any pawn, or you wouldn't have recognised her. You're a leader, or know one.
Sanjou: Tch, I knew you'd be trouble.
AND THEN. HE SHOOTS AT ICHIKA, AND OKAZAKI TAKES THE BULLET D:
Okazaki: I'm....fine....
Sanjou: You could have shot me but you chose to protect her. Funny guy. But I've decided I don't want to be arrested just yet :)
And then he whispers something silently and there is AN EXPLOSION
Okazaki shields her from the blast with his body.
Okazaki, covered in burns and blood and also shot: I'm...fine... :)
I have the choice to keep chasing Sanjou but since Okazaki is DYING I think I'll retreat.
Ichika rips off her shirt to do first aid and thinks Okazaki's wide eyed expression must be shock.
Okazaki: You can make it tighter :) :)
Ichika: Why are you smiling, you must be in so much pain, and I nearly got you killed!
Okazaki: I'm grateful that I got injured protecting you.
Ichika: You could have died!
Okazaki: Yes, that's my wish :)
Ichika: What
Okazaki: We should go, there might be more bombs!
She offers him her shoulder to lean on but he picks her up in a bridal carry and starts running as bombs go off around them. From the CG she is injured too though she didn't mention it in her narration.
