Collar x Malice: Yanagi, Chapters 3-5
Dec. 10th, 2021 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist and guide
I've finished the whole route (and loved it) but am posting this in two sections cos it's huuuge.
Content note: Violence, death, suicide, child harm, me briefly thinking there might be a child sexual abuse plot but there isn't
CHAPTER THREE
Ichika is called to Investigations for the briefing and Morioka asks if she noticed anything in the video. Ichika says the appearance and way of speaking reminded her of a woman she bumped into the other night, and describes Hana. But she pauses a moment before mentioning that she met Hana by the concert venue: what if Kazuki is involved?
Yanagi POV
He also recognised Hana and worries about how this will affect Kazuki.
"I'm worrying about Hoshino more than the case. She thinks it's kindness, but my worry over her and my desire to protect her were an extension of my selfish feelings. She told me to use her...but I don't want to hurt her like I did before. I'm scared. Yet she's doing her best to move forward. That was why I had grown attached to her. I wanted to treat her as a police officer rather than another victim. Maybe I shouldn't tread any deeper, both for her sake, and my own."
He watches her from a distance, surrounded by investigators at the concert venue.
He gets a text from Shiraishi saying "Are you at the scene yet" and thinks "Shiraishi knew my behaviour patterns inside and out. Honestly our inseparable bond scared me." *waggles eyebrows*
Yanagi: What's Hoshino doing?
Shiraishi: Don't you mean 'What's my star doing?'. Awfully curious about her straight away ;)
He says Hana is in custody but Ichika is being monitored by Investigations.
Yanagi: Her life is at risk if they find her collar. Can you do anything at your end?
Shiraishi: I know you like to fuss over people but this is a bit much. What's your relationship to her?
Yanagi doesn't reply, but thinks to himself 'We're assailant and victim'. But his guilt is self pity and he shouldn't force it on her. Like her, he can only move forward.
Ichika POV
Hana has lost her memory and is all "I don't know those people, why would I kill them? If Hiro knew his fans were murdering people he'd be sad!"
Evidence points to her being not only the perpetrator for this murder, but the one for April and May, when the officer who falsely arrested Isshiki was killed. They wonder if Isshiki ordered her to do it.
Hana: Wait, you're saying the cop who ruined Hiro's career is dead? I guess there is a god after all :D
Morioka: You did it.
Hana: No I didn't! I don't even know what he looks like. I would totally do it for Hiro though, so maybe I did ^_^
Morioka: Did Isshiki put you up to it?
Hana: Hiro would NEVER.
Lol we see Shiraishi talking to Minegishi and I feel pretty sure he is not using the correct polite language towards a superior at ALL.
Ichika tells Minegishi about Kazuki's connection to Isshiki, and is told Kazuki will possibly be brought in but not to talk to him about it.
So she is INTENSELY worried but can't tell him why. Aww, she missed the concert :( Kazuki says he could tell Hana just saw him as a way to get closer to Isshiki so ignored her. When Ichika asks about Isshiki, Kazuki snaps "So the police DO suspect him. Do you suspect me, too?" but she says she trusts Kazuki and WANTS Isshiki to prove his innocence, but this will require Kazuki to tell the truth. She apologises for having been too busy with work to pay attention to him except for scolding, and says whatever's important to him is important to her including both music and Isshiki.
Kazuki nods, and his glare softens.
Afterwards, she thanks Yanagi for encouraging her to keep trying.
Yanagi: I didn't do anything but I'm glad to hear it. But you look pale. When's the last time you slept?
Ichika: Probably...less than 50 hours? haha... >.>
Yanagi: >:(
Her stomach rumbles and he bustles her into taking a nap in his bed while he cooks, silencing her resistance with "A good detective takes care of her body".
She hears the sound of someone being beaten and sees a man covered in blood being attacked by a murky black monster covered in fog.
She realises this isn't just a dream, it's a memory. And now it's a scene to investigate for clues!
OH it's the church where she was collared o.O The stained glass is beautiful, mysterious and frightening. Her wrists are bound with chains and she is paralysed with fear.
The monster turns towards her...and then someone smiles and asks if she's afraid (I can't tell if she thinks of this person as the monster or someone else, but it definitely appears to be a bloody, teenaged Yanagi)
She wakes, groggy, with something cool and comforting on her forehead. She snuggles closer and then suddenly realises Yanagi is leaning over her checking her temperature and is VERY EMBARRASSED but he just checks if she's ok then tells her the food is ready.
Ichika is VERY impressed by his cooking and feels a little inadequate as a woman lol, but says she wants to learn to be good at everything like him.
Yanagi: I'm bad at lots of things. Like jigsaw puzzles. Sasazuka finishes them while I'm still thinking, it pisses me off.
Ichika: Haha, I think I'd like to see that.
Yanagi: And things like household chores get easier with practice. I've lived alone for a long time.
Ichika: You clean and do laundry too?? No wonder this place is so nice.
Yanagi, blushing: Flattery will get you nowhere >.>
Ichika: Let me help with the dishes.
Yanagi: A sick woman needs to sleep. You looked like you were having a rough time. Don't make me worry so much.
Ichika: I must seem like a child, still having nightmares.
Yanagi: Noone gets to choose their dreams.
Ichika: I suppose not. Recently I keep having nightmares about that incident when I was a child...
Yanagi: *drops glass* D:
Ichika: Yanagi?
Enomoto: Whoa they're staring at each other like something out of a drama. And did you see him blush?
Sasazuke: Like I care. Though it is rare to see Yanagi embarrassed, maybe you'll get hit by lightning tomorrow :)
Yanagi: *sigh*
He encourages Sasazuka and Enomoto to stay motivated even though the murderers for the cases they were investigating have been found.
Yanagi is awkwardly silent as he walks her home. They bump into Saeki, whose eyes sparkle at seeing her out at night with a mysterious man.
Saeki: Hello, I'm Hoshino's coworker, might you be her...older brother?
Yanagi: ... :/
Ichika: You know I only have a younger brother.
Saeki: He just gives off that vibe, maybe it's the dignified air. You totally seem like siblings.
Yanagi says he's glad Ichika has a good friend then goes quiet. She wonders if he's assumed Saeki is her boyfriend and the walkthrough says it's better to outright say "WE'RE JUST FRIENDS" than invite Yanagi to drinks with them both lol.
She tries to learn more about Yanagi as his partner and he clams up saying he doesn't like people prying into his private business, boo. When she looks sad he pats her on the head like a child which doesn't help.
Yanagi: You shouldn't get too close to me. And I'm very boring, Enomoto would be much more interesting to talk about.
Ichika: ...but I want to know about you. I want us to be equals, or even just a bit closer. But I guess that's annoying to you...
Yanagi: You're not a bother to me. I'll work with you. I just...can't get too attached to anyone.
Ichika: Can't you let me work towards becoming someone you can count on, like the others back at the office?
Yanagi: I don't live up to the image you have of me. I'm not worthy of your trust. And I'm a boring man. Don't waste your thoughts on me.
If the pattern holds, the next X-day murder will involve whoever got their revenge in June. Reading through the lost of suspects for the June middle school bombing, Ichika sees Akito's name, and learns about his sister's death. And that he has a perfect alibi.
She doesn't want to suspect him, but he fits the profile perfectly.
CHAPTER FOUR
A nurse cheerfully recognises Yanagi and welcomes him to the hospital he has been visiting for ten years. The man he's visiting is unable to move or speak but still conscious, and Yanagi wonders what he thinks of Yanagi, coming and sitting silently with flowers year after year. Yanagi can't move forward without his unattainable forgiveness.
Ichika POV
Sasazuka: Yanagi's not here. Even he has a private life.
Enomoto: Yeah he's pretty mysterious...IS HE LURING HOT BABES WITH HIS AIR OF MYSTERY??
Pretty sure Enomoto said "kawaii onee-chan" aka "cute older sisters" lol.
Sasazuka: Impossible. Don't project onto him.
Enomoto: I'm not like that either!
Sasazuka: True, your level of vice is like a middle schooler's >:D
Sasazuka you're so shy Ichika didn't even realise you were dating.
Yanagi apologetically asks Ichika to contact Akito through Kazuki to try and talk to him before he kills anyone else, or is arrested and has his memory wiped. (Even though...Adonis can hear this conversation...)
Oh no are we going to have more sad Akito times. I was all "Rescue him before he murders anyone! ...wait, ok murders anyone directly...oh wait he did the November X-Day murder..." :(
Yanagi POV
He asks Shiraishi his opinion as a profiler about who is responsible for the collar. They both agree it's likely someone high up at Adonis who works in the police. And then Yanagi pauses and asks Shiraishi who left the letter in their office, telling them to find and save Ichika. The perpetual smile falls for a moment from Shiraishi's face.
Shiraishi: Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to? :)
Yanagi: I'm not. All I know is that Adonis has a mole in the police. But beyond that my instincts conflict with the answers logic leads me to.
Shiraishi, an Adonis mole: I'd say that smacks of sentimentality.
Oh no I was so tensed for sad terrorist Akito times but now it's sad terrorist Shiraishi times ;_;
Yanagi: ...
Shiraishi: You're too serious, Yanagi. No, too kind. Why are you so attached to this mole? What reason do you have to protect them?
Yanagi: Adonis is a large organisation. They could have people lurking near us, as well.
Shiraishi: Okazaki is always lurking around. What do your instincts say about him?
Yanagi: Innocent. He only care about his mission.
Shiraishi: Then that's your answer. Neither of us appreciate it when others pry into our personal affairs. But it annoys us for different reasons. You have a lot of empathy for other people. You can't let them get close. I just don't care to. Maybe that's why we get along, we keep the right amount of distance.
Yanagi: ...I suppose you're right.
Shiraishi: I've been waiting for this since the day she arrived. What took so long?
Yanagi: Shiraishi.
Shiraishi: For all this time you've been letting the most suspicious person do as he pleases. And his half-assed ruse isn't working any more. Simple logic will provide the answer. You don't need a profiler to figure this out.
SHIRAAAAISHIIIII ;_;
Shiraishi: The only person who fits the profile is Kageyuki Shiraishi. Don't you agree? ^_^
Yanagi: Are you kidding?
Shiraishi: I can see from your face you don't want to believe it. But what do your instincts say? Do you think I'd lie just to mess with you?
Yanagi: No.
Shiraishi, with a sad smile: Heh. Well there you have it.
Yanagi: ...then is there anything else you plan on telling me?
Shiraishi: There's nothing more I can tell you. I'm just a pawn as well :)
Ichika POV:
Yanagi comes back from his "smoke break" as if nothing strange has happened, but encourages her to just go home with Okazaki.
Okazaki: Are you sure? What if I take the chance to make my move? ;)
Yanagi, flatly: You know it would just end up with you getting hurt.
Okazaki: ...you're weird today :/
She wonders what she's done to make Yanagi increasingly become cold to her.
On the way home, she innocently asks Okazaki if he knows anything about the assassination attempt two years ago, since she knows there was a mole in the SP.
His smile fades and he's quiet for a while before telling her the basic facts. Then he smiles sadly and says "You see, I didn't do my job. I survived but only through the sacrifices of my friends. Even though my job as an SP officer was to protect others even at the cost of my own life. So I want to be sure I protect my charge this time."
She gets a text from Yanagi saying "I spoke to Shiraishi, we're certain there's a mole within the police lurking around you. Be careful."
Oakzaki: Was that Yanagi? He really doesn't trust me :)
Ichika thinks that if that was true, he'd have never sent her with him.
Akito POV D:
He makes a sound of surprise or pain, I'm guessing at the activation of his microchip, then tells Zero he's alone. Akito sadly points out that all the recent perpetrators have been captured.
Akito: I know there's no turning back. But do I really have to do this only to be captured too? I'm grateful for what you've done for me. But I've already paid my dues. And yet, you still want...no, I'm not running away. I know it would be pointless to stop now.
He thinks to himself "A kindred spirit? You just plan to dispose of me >:/"
Kazuki: So my sister wants you to come over to thank you for looking after me. Her cooking's not bad. Good, even.
Akito: Hey. Could I get your sister's number? I think I need some advice.
Kazuki: I don't mind but I don't think she'd be much help.
Akito thinks to himself "I told himself I'd have no regrets. But I'm going to inflict the fear of death onto people. Is that really what I wanted? Will this really help me atone?"
The mean boys at Investigations HQ are muttering about how useless Mochida and Ichika are, and she considers bringing up Akito then thinks "Oh but there might be a mole for Adonis".
YOU ARE A MOLE FOR ADONIS, ICHIKA. IF YOU KNOW IT, ADONIS KNOWS IT.
She feels gloomy and the screen goes purple again???
She meets with Akito. She starts by asking about Kazuki, partly to lower his guard and partly because she really wants to know. They have a very sweet conversation. And then Akito talks about how he spends a lot of time at the studio...like in June. During the bombing.
Akito: Do you suspect me?
Ichika: ...yes. But it's not too late to-
Akito: It is too late. My sins are too heavy to atone for. And you can't stop me, it won't make any difference to Adonis.
She tries to persuade him to tell her what he can about Adonis and turn himself in, to lower his sentence.
Ichika: I'm sorry. I know I can't understand your pain. But if you heap more sins to the pile and cause more pain...you'll just become like the people who hurt your sister. The cycle will never end.
Akito: ...I know. I've known for a long time. When I was in denial, I sought revenge, but the one I really hated was myself. But I can't undo my sins.
Ichika: But what about your future? Kazuki talks about you constantly. I don't want you to throw away everything you would be able to do together. Not as a police officer, but as a selfish big sister: Please don't betray Kazuki's trust any more.
Akito: ...the one thing I didn't want to hear. You know, you said you couldn't understand my pain. But when I decided to take revenge, someone told me that they could. None of us can truly understand each other's pain. You knew that and didn't let it stop you from trying to reach me.
And so he agrees, saying that like her he doesn't want to crush Kazuki's spirit. But he asks for a little more time first, to talk to his family. And then he asks for her to apologise to Kazuki from him, but she refuses: He needs to hear it from Akito.
Once Akito leaves, Yanagi comes from the shadows where he'd been watching at Ichika's request.
Yanagi: You did well. It will be alright. He was backed into a corner and wanted someone to stop him. You saved him. Be proud of that.
Turns out Yanagi invited Okazaki as backup, and Okazaki is happy about having been trusted.
That night, Akito turns himself in. PHEW part of me was worried he'd get memory wiped first.
Ichika is approached by the guys from Investigations.
Minegishi: Thank you for getting Akito Sera to turn himself in :)
Morioka: For a rookie you sure have an awful lot of connections to people of interest >:/
The police station speakers start making a strange buzzing, and then...the voice of the collar/Zero says "As scheduled, sinners will be punished today".
And then she hears a little laugh from her collar. WITH MOCHIDA IN THE ROOM! God, who even knows, maybe it's Sakuragawa.
Ichika runs to somewhere private.
The collar: Congratulations on winning over Akito Sera, but he had a job that must be completed. If you wish to prevent further suffering, we invite you and Aiji Yanagi to a trial. Because...he has killed someone.
Ichika: I don't believe it :(
The collar: We invite you to hear from the man himself. We invite you both to the Tokyo Metropolitan Office viewing platform. No other guests, please :)
Which is to say, the part of the Education department Akito was supposed to bomb.
There have been SO MANY issues with the dialogue and narration getting confused, just now it went
The collar (Japanese audio): The collar's chilling tale of killing
Narration (silent): someone in the past kept replaying itself in my head
The meaning is generally clear but come on. And from all accounts some other Aksys localisations are outright unplayable. These are expensive games, make an effort.
Anyway. Ichika wants to ask Yanagi if what the collar said is true, but can't bring herself to. Because what if he said yes? But he can tell just by looking at her and smiles sadly.
Yanagi: Back then you had the same terrified look in your eyes. You've heard what I did in the past.
Ichika: Just...that you killed someone. But they were just trying to shake me up, right?
Yanagi: No. It's true.
And then he rushes them off to the meeting place before she can ask any more questions.
The collar tells Yanagi that he was also been judged worthy to share the will of Adonis, and asks if he remembers his sin.
The collar: Do you believe us now?
Ichika: I don't trust anything you say.
The collar: But you were there as well. Do you not the remember the events of 12 years ago?
She was abducted and assaulted. All she can remember is a monster beating someone with a metal bar. And then the image clears, and she can see that it is a young Yanagi (looking a lot like Kazuki)
Game I would rather you try and make me sympathise with fascists than a pedophile D: (EDIT: It is not a pedophile THANK GOD)
Yanagi: I destroyed someone's life. I wanted to make sure he didn't kill me first, and I lost it. I was never qualified to be a cop.
The collar: It was ruled self defence. That's why your past has stayed secret. You, who deceived everyone around you. You have always been like us. Someone who can pass judgement without hesitation. Did you enjoy playing the upstanding police officer?
Yanagi: ...
The collar: If we are guilty so are you. But we sympathise. Your target used violence against you, so you were forced to fight back. Only ruin awaits those who do not fight.
Yanagi: I don't need your pity, I know what I did was wrong. I was afraid and cowardly, weak. I didn't want anyone else to feel that way, so I made myself stronger. Crimes will always happen. Exterminating known criminals only treats the symptoms, and won't bring about a lasting peace.
The collar: It appears we won't see eye to eye after all. Such a shame. Then please demonstrate your resolve to me now.
A woman screams. A man is holding a gun to her head.
The collar explains that she is an official who took bribes to overlook the abuse of Akito's sister. The man was an upstanding citizen until he was betrayed by someone he trusted. The woman can only be saved by shooting the man. Can Yanagi 'protect everything'?
Ichika remembers Yanagi once saying "Punishment must fit the crime. But I will never accept that it's fine to take a criminal's life simply to resolve a crisis." which I guess means he's ok with the death penalty if done properly. Fine, fine, cultural differences.
Ichika hears Yanagi's pained whisper "I don't want to hurt anyone any more" and her resolve hardens.
Ichika, touching his back: No matter what happened in your past, I trust you, Yanagi. I know you've fought alone to become stronger so you didn't hurt anyone. So please, be strong and help these people.
She comes up with a plan for them to work together to save both people.
She starts by asking the man to explain what he wants, and Yanagi says that pulling the trigger will cross a line he can't come back from. He wavers, and they take the shot to disarm him.
Did it, phew!
The police arrive and Ichika sits down heavily, knees weak. Yanagi sits with her, back to back, and says a bunch of lovely things about how she gave him strength, how he's been running from facing her but she was brave enough for the two of them. He thanks her, and says they will be partners now. She cries happily, finally having the acknowledgement she's always wanted from him.
Shiraishi: You're letting Zero commit a lot of violence.
Mituni: I don't think there's any controlling Zero now. But it's not like you to care, No. 14.
Shiraishi: I've known you a long time, and I've been out in the world for a while. It's been a good chance to learn about emotion.
Mikuni: You, who should be a doll, speak of emotion? Is this in regard to Aiji Yanagi and his friends?
Shiraishi: That too, but I was more referring to you. The ideals of the Adonis I know don't involve indiscriminate murder. Are you really fine with Adonis being warped into this perversion of your justice?
CHAPTER FIVE
Ichika managed to get away with saying she'd been on the scene because she'd happened to pass by, but doesn't think she convinced Morioka and Minegishi.
Yanagi tells Ichika that Adonis was recreating an incident from when he was with the police, where he tried to talk down a hostage taker despite orders to shoot, and failed. Morioka reprimanded him, saying if he treats all lives as equal innocent people will die.
Yanagi thought "I know that in my head. But my feelings can't accept it. And if I can't draw that line, I can't serve as a member of the police. If criminals are evil and should die...then why am I still alive?"
Then in August the order came in to shoot anyone caught performing any act related to X-Day on sight. Even Morioka thought this was short-sighted panic and going to end in innocent deaths. Meanwhile the more Yanagi looked into X-Day, the more he wanted to help everyone involved, both assailants and victims. So he quit.
Yanagi: You could say it's naiveté and ego, but I just can't draw that line in the sand. But you've made me realise that if I can't back up my rhetoric with actions, it's meaningless. I need the courage to fire when necessary to protect people. Averting my eyes when action is necessary is just running from responsibility. It isn't justice or protection. I've been held back by my past. But when it counted, you trusted me. You helped me move on. Thank you.
Ichika: You did all of that with your own power. The reason I was able to trust you was you. If I was able to support you, it was because you gave me the strength to do it.
Yanagi: Aren't you afraid of me?
Ichika: The dream doesn't scare me any more. After all, you're in it.
Yanagi: I see :) But I'm still scared...I can never forget it. The way I lost my mind, the smell of blood, your terrified eyes...I never want to feel that way again.
Ichika thinks back...
OH OK. NOT A PEDOPHILE. HOSTAGE TAKER WANTING RANSOM. PHEW.
She was snatched in Shinjuku garden. She heard her kidnapper muttering to himself about needing to escape his prison of debt. And then a teenage boy snuck up to her and said he was going to rescue her.
Yanagi threatened the kidnapper with a metal pipe, but the adult man was stronger and beat him up, laughing at how weak he was, and then beat Ichika too.
Teen Yanagi POV. He's been horribly beaten and thinks the girl is unconscious. He blames himself for failing and making the man violent. He feels certain both he and the girl will die, and resolves to kill the man.
Child Ichika POV: She wakes to screams interspersed with thumps, and then all sound stops. The boy comes back, covered in blood and telling her everything will be alright. But then he realises she is looking at him with terror, and he is overcome by what he has done. She passes out again, and wakes up with her family.
The man has never woken from his coma, and Yanagi has been consumed with guilt for taking his life away from him, and for being the one that caused a little girl to be hurt and scared.
When he graduated highschool, someone from a police youth rehabilitation program approached him saying he could atone for his sins by saving people.
Ichika tells him that when she saw his face when she woke up from being collared, telling her she would be alright, she felt relieved, and like she could trust him.
Ichika: You're the one who saved me. I've always been grateful. I want to help you, and be closer to you. Did you push me away because you felt there was an unsettled debt between us?
Yanagi: Yes.
Ichika: Then I beg you, forget about all that. You don't owe me anything. I don't want you constrained by the past. I want us to solve the problems that are before us, together.
He smiles gently and agrees, and says he wants to know her better too, not as that little girl he hurt in the past, but as the woman he sees today.
Ichika: I don't just want to be your work partner. I want to be special to you.
Yanagi: ...Hoshino...? o.O
Ichika: You've saved me so many times.
Yanagi: Ah >.>
Yanagi talks about how understandable the motives of the individual pawns are...and the collar pipes up to agree, all SEE YOU AGREE WITH US.
Yanagi talks about not wanting anyone else to feel the pain and regret of having hurt someone, the way he and Akito have, and for a moment the collar seems to falter. But then it says it wants Ichika to find him, personally.
They hear Okazaki unsuccessfully telling Morioka not to barge in. He says X-Day is close and plans are underway to falsify evidence for all suspects with perfect alibis (...for what? Haven't all the individual crimes been solved now? Ah, anyway)
Morioka: Tell me everything you know about Adonis. Or are you connected to them?
Yanagi: What do your instincts tell you?
Morioka: Innocent. You hate hurting people too much. And I can see you trust her.
Yanagi: Yes. You once told me a detective must be suspicious, but to trust my gut.
Morioka: Still, if you can tell me anything...
Yanagi: I can't.
And then he hands Morioka a piece of paper saying "THEY'RE LISTENING". Best boy.
Morioka: ...fine. Don't do anything too crazy.
Okazaki says Yanagi told him a little of Ichika's circumstances: that she's someone important to Yanagi's team, the police, and Adonis. So now he considers guarding her part of his job. He implies that she and Yanagi is dating and Ichika is pretty happy about the idea.
Kazuki is sad that Akito isn't answering his calls. When Ichika tries to comfort him, he quickly figures out that Ichika knows something, but accepts when she says she can't tell him more.
Kazuki: But he'll come home, right? :(
Ichika: I'm sure he will.
Hmm. Ogata has been released. And Ichika has a mysterious package...
It's a letter and USB from Akito! He says he doesn't know if this atones for his crimes but he hopes it helps her.
She texts Yanagi to organise passing it on to Sasazuka, and he takes the opportunity to discuss strategy. And then to make sure Okazaki didn't hit on her lol.
Ichika is trying to track down who gave her the collar and we get to explore EVERY FLOOR OF THE POLICE STATION!! AT LAST, THE RECEPTION CONTENT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
Reception: Saeki says they should go drinking.
SRCPO: Mochida says she should come over for his wife's excellent cooking.
Field Operations Support: Mukai says Shiraishi's had the flu for 5 days.
Field Operations: Satake says she looks troubled and offers to talk.
Forensics: Sakuragawa doubts she has any useful intel Ichika won't have already heard in Investigations, and hopes for steak.
Investigations: Minegishi says he has nothing to report.
Roof: Morioka says her sneaking around the roof looks suspicious.
And then outside the detective office she sees Okazaki and Yoshinari.
Yanagi says "None of you object to taking down the guy who put on the collar?" and she realises he's asking the guy himself. But he doesn't object, and he did ask them to try.
And then Sasazuka talks about starting to decrypt the USB OUT LOUD?? But he does tell Ichika she did good.
And then Yanagi says that they've tapped Shiraishi's phone. Because he admitted to being an Adonis pawn. Ichika worries that he might be in trouble but Sasazuka says he's too smart to have done anything stupid, and Yanagi says it seems like there's a split between long-time Adonis conspirators and whoever is organising the X-Day attacks using civilians. So the goals and actions of a long-time spy like Shiraishi are unclear.
Ichika: I didn't know Shiraishi well, but I wanted to trust him, because you did.
Yanagi: :(
They've found evidence tying Shiraishi and Ogata to Mikuni, a 'young reformist politician who was instrumental in lifting the weapons ban'.
Sasazuka's eyes narrow as he talks about the current regime arguing "Japanese society can't lose, build a stronger Japan, and all that".
Yanagi's theory is that Mikuni can't oppose whichever Adonis superior is behind X-Day within Adonis, so he tried to make things difficult for them through politics.
Ooh and his dead mother was a member of a 'small religious organisation' whose name has been covered up. And so was Okazaki's Adonis member colleague. Adonis split from this organisation.
Ichika follows Yanagi onto the roof when he goes for a smoke break, and talks about finding it hard to look past her desire to trust the people she knows to figure out a suspect. He says he'll stand by her, as she's stood by him and suggests she start from the other direction: What does she know about the person who collared her?
"It must have been a man because they were able to carry me"? I'm sorry have you seen Sasazuka's tiny little nerd arms, Sakuragawa could out-carry two of him.
The game then shows all the male suspects, including all the love interests and everyone above except Okazuki and Yoshinari for some reason. I mean, I don't think it was them, but I'd suspect Yoshinari of being a secret mastermind before Enomoto.
It can't be Mochida cos he has a family he talks about a lot! Well, chins didn't match, anyway.
I'm not using a walkthrough for this bit because SPOILERS. But hmm, someone low-level enough that noone notices them, who knows Ichika's schedule, and has discussed her feelings on justice...
Yanagi had already figured it out, but wanted her to get there on her own.
GAME. YOU WANT ME TO TYPE IN HIS WHOLE NAME?? I DON'T REMEMBER HIS GIVEN NAME COME ON. Thank God I made a character guide, I guess.
*types in Yuzuru Saeki*
Ichika doesn't want to believe it, and Yanagi puts his hand on her shoulder. I don't want to believe it because...he was 13 ten years ago?? I guess plenty of 13 year olds come up with plans to rule the world...But wait wasn't he IN A COMA for some scenes where Zero was around on the Enomoto path??
On the other hand...the chins do match.
And then she gets a call from Saeki. She nearly drops her phone but Yanagi catches it and quietly offers his support.
Saeki: Hi! You seemed down at work want to go out for a drink? :)
Ichika: Sorry I'm busy :(
Saeki: Text me when you're free. Let's have a passionate discussion of justice over drinks again :)
Ichika is in denial but thinks back to the times she heard Saeki talk about the importance of being able to shoot someone to protect others, how he joined the police to make the world peaceful and knows Ichika cares about that too.
GOD and I can hear Zero in his voice now.
She starts crying and Yanagi hugs her and gently tells her she can still let Saeki tell his side of things, and that the strength and kindness she received from him is still real. He takes her inside, makes her a hot cocoa and says she should stay overnight for her own safety.
"We can't judge anyone else's sense of justice only follow our own heart" Hmm, nah, I'm pretty comfortable judging Saeki at this point.
OH WAIT. With all the lines about 'justice' I've started to recognise the Japanese word: Seigi, which sounds a fair amount like Saeki. And then there's Zero/Yuzuru. SUBTLE, OTOMATE.
Yanagi says some very supportive things about moving forward and Ichika smiles and says "I feel at ease because you're with me. I love you, Yanagi."
Yanagi: O.O
Ichika: At first I just looked up to you, but you're really precious to me.
Yanagi: I....UH...
Ichika: It's ok, I just wanted to say it. I don't need an answer.
Yanagi: Uh?
Ichika: So I'll just...go sleep on your sofa. Night!
Yanagi: Oh...uh..no, take my bed. I'll take Enomoto's.
Ichika: Ok. It smells like you :)
Yanagi: *COUGH*
Later we see Yanagi mutter to himself "Good grief, coming at me with everything you've got...but if staying with you helps you rest a little easier, then I'm ok with that."
Yanagi POV.
He's meeting with Enomoto and Sasazuka at Sasazuka's place while Okazaki keeps an eye on Ichika. Sasazuka says Saeki's history is suspiciously clean.
And then Sasazuka says he's been hacked, and Mikuni's voice comes out of the speakers. He admits to his identity and says he wants to stop X-Day too.
Ichika POV
Okazaki: I'll come in with you to work. Today I am an SRCPO officer :)
Yoshinari: Our superiors will be pissed.
Okazaki: That's why I'm leaving them to you :)
Saeki: Spending time with anyone for Christmas? Don't mince words on behalf of sad single me :)
Mochida: Hoshino? Is something wrong?
Saeki: You look green, I'll take you to the infirmary.
Ichika, having been dragged halfway down the hallway: I'm fine, stop.
Saeki: Hoshino, you're such an open book. Everyone around is going to think something's up.
Ichika: :(
Saeki: We're not going to the infirmary, there's somewhere else I want to show you :) The world where our ideals will be realised :)
Ichika: D: D: D:
"shove him" versus "run away"?? BACK TO THE WALKTHROUGH I GO
He's too strong, and smilingly keeps a hold of her. But then Okazaki knocks away his hand, eyes cold.
Saeki: Wow you SP guys really are phantoms. Hi, I'm Hoshino's coworker, Yuzuru Saeki :)
Okazaki just TAKES OUT A GUN. Fair.
Saeki: Mr SP, we're in the police station.
Okazaki: I don't care. My mission is to protect her.
Saeki: *sigh* Good grief, so hot blooded.
And then Ichika feels a pain in her neck and everything starts to go blurry D:
Saeki, in the calm, wry tones of Zero: If you shoot me, she dies. It has a delayed effect, but it's dangerous to leave her like this.
Okazaki: What do you want?
Saeki: I want you to behave. The stage is almost set.
Yanagi POV:
They're waiting to meet Mikuni.
Sasazuka: Are you sure you don't want to bring Mineo? His muscles would be a good meat shield if things go south.
Shiraishi: Good evening. It's been a while :)
Sasazuka: Oh look who it is :/
Yanagi: Weren't you on sick leave with the flu?
Shiraishi: Oh were you worried about me? :)
Yanagi: Not a bit.
Sasazuka: Did you put something on my computer? >:(
Shiraishi: No, you'd have noticed. Oh, you don't like that someone out-hacked you :)
Sasazuka: You've got a foul mouth as always >:(
Mikuni: You have information that could be very damaging to us.
Sasazuka: Whether you're a terrorist manager or a cult leader, you'll just have to deal with it.
Mikuni: As you say, we are a terrorist organisation. X-day is part of our plans, but the recent incidents do not align with Adonis's original goals.
Yanagi: So there is infighting after all.
Shiraishi: I may have mentioned something about that.
Mikuni: ...number 14 :/
Shiraishi: But I don't know any of the details. My job was just to act as a police employee and report the details, right? :)
GOD the relationship between Mikuni and Shiraishi is SO WEIRD.
Yanagi: Where is Yuzuru Saeki?
Mikuni: D:
Shiraishi: I didn't tell them anything. Is this about Zero?
Mikuni: I know, you didn't know anything about his cover identity. Yuzuru Saeki is the current elder within our organisation. Long ago, he and I conceived of a dream together to change the country. But our paths have differed. He is no longer the man I once knew.
Sasazuka: If you want to stop him just turn yourself in.
Mikuni: No. I wish to revive the original Adonis. We will reform Japan's consciousness. I have spent too much time constructing Adonis for it to be dismantled.
Yanagi: And you think we'll just let you?
Mikuni: That's why I said this is a deal :) Before you expose us, you will allow those who have inherited the true will of Adonis to flee, so we can revive the country another time. In exchange, I promise that we will oppose Yuzuru Saeki alongside you, and remove Ichika Hoshino's collar.
I've finished the whole route (and loved it) but am posting this in two sections cos it's huuuge.
Content note: Violence, death, suicide, child harm, me briefly thinking there might be a child sexual abuse plot but there isn't
CHAPTER THREE
Ichika is called to Investigations for the briefing and Morioka asks if she noticed anything in the video. Ichika says the appearance and way of speaking reminded her of a woman she bumped into the other night, and describes Hana. But she pauses a moment before mentioning that she met Hana by the concert venue: what if Kazuki is involved?
Yanagi POV
He also recognised Hana and worries about how this will affect Kazuki.
"I'm worrying about Hoshino more than the case. She thinks it's kindness, but my worry over her and my desire to protect her were an extension of my selfish feelings. She told me to use her...but I don't want to hurt her like I did before. I'm scared. Yet she's doing her best to move forward. That was why I had grown attached to her. I wanted to treat her as a police officer rather than another victim. Maybe I shouldn't tread any deeper, both for her sake, and my own."
He watches her from a distance, surrounded by investigators at the concert venue.
He gets a text from Shiraishi saying "Are you at the scene yet" and thinks "Shiraishi knew my behaviour patterns inside and out. Honestly our inseparable bond scared me." *waggles eyebrows*
Yanagi: What's Hoshino doing?
Shiraishi: Don't you mean 'What's my star doing?'. Awfully curious about her straight away ;)
He says Hana is in custody but Ichika is being monitored by Investigations.
Yanagi: Her life is at risk if they find her collar. Can you do anything at your end?
Shiraishi: I know you like to fuss over people but this is a bit much. What's your relationship to her?
Yanagi doesn't reply, but thinks to himself 'We're assailant and victim'. But his guilt is self pity and he shouldn't force it on her. Like her, he can only move forward.
Ichika POV
Hana has lost her memory and is all "I don't know those people, why would I kill them? If Hiro knew his fans were murdering people he'd be sad!"
Evidence points to her being not only the perpetrator for this murder, but the one for April and May, when the officer who falsely arrested Isshiki was killed. They wonder if Isshiki ordered her to do it.
Hana: Wait, you're saying the cop who ruined Hiro's career is dead? I guess there is a god after all :D
Morioka: You did it.
Hana: No I didn't! I don't even know what he looks like. I would totally do it for Hiro though, so maybe I did ^_^
Morioka: Did Isshiki put you up to it?
Hana: Hiro would NEVER.
Lol we see Shiraishi talking to Minegishi and I feel pretty sure he is not using the correct polite language towards a superior at ALL.
Ichika tells Minegishi about Kazuki's connection to Isshiki, and is told Kazuki will possibly be brought in but not to talk to him about it.
So she is INTENSELY worried but can't tell him why. Aww, she missed the concert :( Kazuki says he could tell Hana just saw him as a way to get closer to Isshiki so ignored her. When Ichika asks about Isshiki, Kazuki snaps "So the police DO suspect him. Do you suspect me, too?" but she says she trusts Kazuki and WANTS Isshiki to prove his innocence, but this will require Kazuki to tell the truth. She apologises for having been too busy with work to pay attention to him except for scolding, and says whatever's important to him is important to her including both music and Isshiki.
Kazuki nods, and his glare softens.
Afterwards, she thanks Yanagi for encouraging her to keep trying.
Yanagi: I didn't do anything but I'm glad to hear it. But you look pale. When's the last time you slept?
Ichika: Probably...less than 50 hours? haha... >.>
Yanagi: >:(
Her stomach rumbles and he bustles her into taking a nap in his bed while he cooks, silencing her resistance with "A good detective takes care of her body".
She hears the sound of someone being beaten and sees a man covered in blood being attacked by a murky black monster covered in fog.
She realises this isn't just a dream, it's a memory. And now it's a scene to investigate for clues!
OH it's the church where she was collared o.O The stained glass is beautiful, mysterious and frightening. Her wrists are bound with chains and she is paralysed with fear.
The monster turns towards her...and then someone smiles and asks if she's afraid (I can't tell if she thinks of this person as the monster or someone else, but it definitely appears to be a bloody, teenaged Yanagi)
She wakes, groggy, with something cool and comforting on her forehead. She snuggles closer and then suddenly realises Yanagi is leaning over her checking her temperature and is VERY EMBARRASSED but he just checks if she's ok then tells her the food is ready.
Ichika is VERY impressed by his cooking and feels a little inadequate as a woman lol, but says she wants to learn to be good at everything like him.
Yanagi: I'm bad at lots of things. Like jigsaw puzzles. Sasazuka finishes them while I'm still thinking, it pisses me off.
Ichika: Haha, I think I'd like to see that.
Yanagi: And things like household chores get easier with practice. I've lived alone for a long time.
Ichika: You clean and do laundry too?? No wonder this place is so nice.
Yanagi, blushing: Flattery will get you nowhere >.>
Ichika: Let me help with the dishes.
Yanagi: A sick woman needs to sleep. You looked like you were having a rough time. Don't make me worry so much.
Ichika: I must seem like a child, still having nightmares.
Yanagi: Noone gets to choose their dreams.
Ichika: I suppose not. Recently I keep having nightmares about that incident when I was a child...
Yanagi: *drops glass* D:
Ichika: Yanagi?
Enomoto: Whoa they're staring at each other like something out of a drama. And did you see him blush?
Sasazuke: Like I care. Though it is rare to see Yanagi embarrassed, maybe you'll get hit by lightning tomorrow :)
Yanagi: *sigh*
He encourages Sasazuka and Enomoto to stay motivated even though the murderers for the cases they were investigating have been found.
Yanagi is awkwardly silent as he walks her home. They bump into Saeki, whose eyes sparkle at seeing her out at night with a mysterious man.
Saeki: Hello, I'm Hoshino's coworker, might you be her...older brother?
Yanagi: ... :/
Ichika: You know I only have a younger brother.
Saeki: He just gives off that vibe, maybe it's the dignified air. You totally seem like siblings.
Yanagi says he's glad Ichika has a good friend then goes quiet. She wonders if he's assumed Saeki is her boyfriend and the walkthrough says it's better to outright say "WE'RE JUST FRIENDS" than invite Yanagi to drinks with them both lol.
She tries to learn more about Yanagi as his partner and he clams up saying he doesn't like people prying into his private business, boo. When she looks sad he pats her on the head like a child which doesn't help.
Yanagi: You shouldn't get too close to me. And I'm very boring, Enomoto would be much more interesting to talk about.
Ichika: ...but I want to know about you. I want us to be equals, or even just a bit closer. But I guess that's annoying to you...
Yanagi: You're not a bother to me. I'll work with you. I just...can't get too attached to anyone.
Ichika: Can't you let me work towards becoming someone you can count on, like the others back at the office?
Yanagi: I don't live up to the image you have of me. I'm not worthy of your trust. And I'm a boring man. Don't waste your thoughts on me.
If the pattern holds, the next X-day murder will involve whoever got their revenge in June. Reading through the lost of suspects for the June middle school bombing, Ichika sees Akito's name, and learns about his sister's death. And that he has a perfect alibi.
She doesn't want to suspect him, but he fits the profile perfectly.
CHAPTER FOUR
A nurse cheerfully recognises Yanagi and welcomes him to the hospital he has been visiting for ten years. The man he's visiting is unable to move or speak but still conscious, and Yanagi wonders what he thinks of Yanagi, coming and sitting silently with flowers year after year. Yanagi can't move forward without his unattainable forgiveness.
Ichika POV
Sasazuka: Yanagi's not here. Even he has a private life.
Enomoto: Yeah he's pretty mysterious...IS HE LURING HOT BABES WITH HIS AIR OF MYSTERY??
Pretty sure Enomoto said "kawaii onee-chan" aka "cute older sisters" lol.
Sasazuka: Impossible. Don't project onto him.
Enomoto: I'm not like that either!
Sasazuka: True, your level of vice is like a middle schooler's >:D
Sasazuka you're so shy Ichika didn't even realise you were dating.
Yanagi apologetically asks Ichika to contact Akito through Kazuki to try and talk to him before he kills anyone else, or is arrested and has his memory wiped. (Even though...Adonis can hear this conversation...)
Oh no are we going to have more sad Akito times. I was all "Rescue him before he murders anyone! ...wait, ok murders anyone directly...oh wait he did the November X-Day murder..." :(
Yanagi POV
He asks Shiraishi his opinion as a profiler about who is responsible for the collar. They both agree it's likely someone high up at Adonis who works in the police. And then Yanagi pauses and asks Shiraishi who left the letter in their office, telling them to find and save Ichika. The perpetual smile falls for a moment from Shiraishi's face.
Shiraishi: Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to? :)
Yanagi: I'm not. All I know is that Adonis has a mole in the police. But beyond that my instincts conflict with the answers logic leads me to.
Shiraishi, an Adonis mole: I'd say that smacks of sentimentality.
Oh no I was so tensed for sad terrorist Akito times but now it's sad terrorist Shiraishi times ;_;
Yanagi: ...
Shiraishi: You're too serious, Yanagi. No, too kind. Why are you so attached to this mole? What reason do you have to protect them?
Yanagi: Adonis is a large organisation. They could have people lurking near us, as well.
Shiraishi: Okazaki is always lurking around. What do your instincts say about him?
Yanagi: Innocent. He only care about his mission.
Shiraishi: Then that's your answer. Neither of us appreciate it when others pry into our personal affairs. But it annoys us for different reasons. You have a lot of empathy for other people. You can't let them get close. I just don't care to. Maybe that's why we get along, we keep the right amount of distance.
Yanagi: ...I suppose you're right.
Shiraishi: I've been waiting for this since the day she arrived. What took so long?
Yanagi: Shiraishi.
Shiraishi: For all this time you've been letting the most suspicious person do as he pleases. And his half-assed ruse isn't working any more. Simple logic will provide the answer. You don't need a profiler to figure this out.
SHIRAAAAISHIIIII ;_;
Shiraishi: The only person who fits the profile is Kageyuki Shiraishi. Don't you agree? ^_^
Yanagi: Are you kidding?
Shiraishi: I can see from your face you don't want to believe it. But what do your instincts say? Do you think I'd lie just to mess with you?
Yanagi: No.
Shiraishi, with a sad smile: Heh. Well there you have it.
Yanagi: ...then is there anything else you plan on telling me?
Shiraishi: There's nothing more I can tell you. I'm just a pawn as well :)
Ichika POV:
Yanagi comes back from his "smoke break" as if nothing strange has happened, but encourages her to just go home with Okazaki.
Okazaki: Are you sure? What if I take the chance to make my move? ;)
Yanagi, flatly: You know it would just end up with you getting hurt.
Okazaki: ...you're weird today :/
She wonders what she's done to make Yanagi increasingly become cold to her.
On the way home, she innocently asks Okazaki if he knows anything about the assassination attempt two years ago, since she knows there was a mole in the SP.
His smile fades and he's quiet for a while before telling her the basic facts. Then he smiles sadly and says "You see, I didn't do my job. I survived but only through the sacrifices of my friends. Even though my job as an SP officer was to protect others even at the cost of my own life. So I want to be sure I protect my charge this time."
She gets a text from Yanagi saying "I spoke to Shiraishi, we're certain there's a mole within the police lurking around you. Be careful."
Oakzaki: Was that Yanagi? He really doesn't trust me :)
Ichika thinks that if that was true, he'd have never sent her with him.
Akito POV D:
He makes a sound of surprise or pain, I'm guessing at the activation of his microchip, then tells Zero he's alone. Akito sadly points out that all the recent perpetrators have been captured.
Akito: I know there's no turning back. But do I really have to do this only to be captured too? I'm grateful for what you've done for me. But I've already paid my dues. And yet, you still want...no, I'm not running away. I know it would be pointless to stop now.
He thinks to himself "A kindred spirit? You just plan to dispose of me >:/"
Kazuki: So my sister wants you to come over to thank you for looking after me. Her cooking's not bad. Good, even.
Akito: Hey. Could I get your sister's number? I think I need some advice.
Kazuki: I don't mind but I don't think she'd be much help.
Akito thinks to himself "I told himself I'd have no regrets. But I'm going to inflict the fear of death onto people. Is that really what I wanted? Will this really help me atone?"
The mean boys at Investigations HQ are muttering about how useless Mochida and Ichika are, and she considers bringing up Akito then thinks "Oh but there might be a mole for Adonis".
YOU ARE A MOLE FOR ADONIS, ICHIKA. IF YOU KNOW IT, ADONIS KNOWS IT.
She feels gloomy and the screen goes purple again???
She meets with Akito. She starts by asking about Kazuki, partly to lower his guard and partly because she really wants to know. They have a very sweet conversation. And then Akito talks about how he spends a lot of time at the studio...like in June. During the bombing.
Akito: Do you suspect me?
Ichika: ...yes. But it's not too late to-
Akito: It is too late. My sins are too heavy to atone for. And you can't stop me, it won't make any difference to Adonis.
She tries to persuade him to tell her what he can about Adonis and turn himself in, to lower his sentence.
Ichika: I'm sorry. I know I can't understand your pain. But if you heap more sins to the pile and cause more pain...you'll just become like the people who hurt your sister. The cycle will never end.
Akito: ...I know. I've known for a long time. When I was in denial, I sought revenge, but the one I really hated was myself. But I can't undo my sins.
Ichika: But what about your future? Kazuki talks about you constantly. I don't want you to throw away everything you would be able to do together. Not as a police officer, but as a selfish big sister: Please don't betray Kazuki's trust any more.
Akito: ...the one thing I didn't want to hear. You know, you said you couldn't understand my pain. But when I decided to take revenge, someone told me that they could. None of us can truly understand each other's pain. You knew that and didn't let it stop you from trying to reach me.
And so he agrees, saying that like her he doesn't want to crush Kazuki's spirit. But he asks for a little more time first, to talk to his family. And then he asks for her to apologise to Kazuki from him, but she refuses: He needs to hear it from Akito.
Once Akito leaves, Yanagi comes from the shadows where he'd been watching at Ichika's request.
Yanagi: You did well. It will be alright. He was backed into a corner and wanted someone to stop him. You saved him. Be proud of that.
Turns out Yanagi invited Okazaki as backup, and Okazaki is happy about having been trusted.
That night, Akito turns himself in. PHEW part of me was worried he'd get memory wiped first.
Ichika is approached by the guys from Investigations.
Minegishi: Thank you for getting Akito Sera to turn himself in :)
Morioka: For a rookie you sure have an awful lot of connections to people of interest >:/
The police station speakers start making a strange buzzing, and then...the voice of the collar/Zero says "As scheduled, sinners will be punished today".
And then she hears a little laugh from her collar. WITH MOCHIDA IN THE ROOM! God, who even knows, maybe it's Sakuragawa.
Ichika runs to somewhere private.
The collar: Congratulations on winning over Akito Sera, but he had a job that must be completed. If you wish to prevent further suffering, we invite you and Aiji Yanagi to a trial. Because...he has killed someone.
Ichika: I don't believe it :(
The collar: We invite you to hear from the man himself. We invite you both to the Tokyo Metropolitan Office viewing platform. No other guests, please :)
Which is to say, the part of the Education department Akito was supposed to bomb.
There have been SO MANY issues with the dialogue and narration getting confused, just now it went
The collar (Japanese audio): The collar's chilling tale of killing
Narration (silent): someone in the past kept replaying itself in my head
The meaning is generally clear but come on. And from all accounts some other Aksys localisations are outright unplayable. These are expensive games, make an effort.
Anyway. Ichika wants to ask Yanagi if what the collar said is true, but can't bring herself to. Because what if he said yes? But he can tell just by looking at her and smiles sadly.
Yanagi: Back then you had the same terrified look in your eyes. You've heard what I did in the past.
Ichika: Just...that you killed someone. But they were just trying to shake me up, right?
Yanagi: No. It's true.
And then he rushes them off to the meeting place before she can ask any more questions.
The collar tells Yanagi that he was also been judged worthy to share the will of Adonis, and asks if he remembers his sin.
The collar: Do you believe us now?
Ichika: I don't trust anything you say.
The collar: But you were there as well. Do you not the remember the events of 12 years ago?
She was abducted and assaulted. All she can remember is a monster beating someone with a metal bar. And then the image clears, and she can see that it is a young Yanagi (looking a lot like Kazuki)
Game I would rather you try and make me sympathise with fascists than a pedophile D: (EDIT: It is not a pedophile THANK GOD)
Yanagi: I destroyed someone's life. I wanted to make sure he didn't kill me first, and I lost it. I was never qualified to be a cop.
The collar: It was ruled self defence. That's why your past has stayed secret. You, who deceived everyone around you. You have always been like us. Someone who can pass judgement without hesitation. Did you enjoy playing the upstanding police officer?
Yanagi: ...
The collar: If we are guilty so are you. But we sympathise. Your target used violence against you, so you were forced to fight back. Only ruin awaits those who do not fight.
Yanagi: I don't need your pity, I know what I did was wrong. I was afraid and cowardly, weak. I didn't want anyone else to feel that way, so I made myself stronger. Crimes will always happen. Exterminating known criminals only treats the symptoms, and won't bring about a lasting peace.
The collar: It appears we won't see eye to eye after all. Such a shame. Then please demonstrate your resolve to me now.
A woman screams. A man is holding a gun to her head.
The collar explains that she is an official who took bribes to overlook the abuse of Akito's sister. The man was an upstanding citizen until he was betrayed by someone he trusted. The woman can only be saved by shooting the man. Can Yanagi 'protect everything'?
Ichika remembers Yanagi once saying "Punishment must fit the crime. But I will never accept that it's fine to take a criminal's life simply to resolve a crisis." which I guess means he's ok with the death penalty if done properly. Fine, fine, cultural differences.
Ichika hears Yanagi's pained whisper "I don't want to hurt anyone any more" and her resolve hardens.
Ichika, touching his back: No matter what happened in your past, I trust you, Yanagi. I know you've fought alone to become stronger so you didn't hurt anyone. So please, be strong and help these people.
She comes up with a plan for them to work together to save both people.
She starts by asking the man to explain what he wants, and Yanagi says that pulling the trigger will cross a line he can't come back from. He wavers, and they take the shot to disarm him.
Did it, phew!
The police arrive and Ichika sits down heavily, knees weak. Yanagi sits with her, back to back, and says a bunch of lovely things about how she gave him strength, how he's been running from facing her but she was brave enough for the two of them. He thanks her, and says they will be partners now. She cries happily, finally having the acknowledgement she's always wanted from him.
Shiraishi: You're letting Zero commit a lot of violence.
Mituni: I don't think there's any controlling Zero now. But it's not like you to care, No. 14.
Shiraishi: I've known you a long time, and I've been out in the world for a while. It's been a good chance to learn about emotion.
Mikuni: You, who should be a doll, speak of emotion? Is this in regard to Aiji Yanagi and his friends?
Shiraishi: That too, but I was more referring to you. The ideals of the Adonis I know don't involve indiscriminate murder. Are you really fine with Adonis being warped into this perversion of your justice?
CHAPTER FIVE
Ichika managed to get away with saying she'd been on the scene because she'd happened to pass by, but doesn't think she convinced Morioka and Minegishi.
Yanagi tells Ichika that Adonis was recreating an incident from when he was with the police, where he tried to talk down a hostage taker despite orders to shoot, and failed. Morioka reprimanded him, saying if he treats all lives as equal innocent people will die.
Yanagi thought "I know that in my head. But my feelings can't accept it. And if I can't draw that line, I can't serve as a member of the police. If criminals are evil and should die...then why am I still alive?"
Then in August the order came in to shoot anyone caught performing any act related to X-Day on sight. Even Morioka thought this was short-sighted panic and going to end in innocent deaths. Meanwhile the more Yanagi looked into X-Day, the more he wanted to help everyone involved, both assailants and victims. So he quit.
Yanagi: You could say it's naiveté and ego, but I just can't draw that line in the sand. But you've made me realise that if I can't back up my rhetoric with actions, it's meaningless. I need the courage to fire when necessary to protect people. Averting my eyes when action is necessary is just running from responsibility. It isn't justice or protection. I've been held back by my past. But when it counted, you trusted me. You helped me move on. Thank you.
Ichika: You did all of that with your own power. The reason I was able to trust you was you. If I was able to support you, it was because you gave me the strength to do it.
Yanagi: Aren't you afraid of me?
Ichika: The dream doesn't scare me any more. After all, you're in it.
Yanagi: I see :) But I'm still scared...I can never forget it. The way I lost my mind, the smell of blood, your terrified eyes...I never want to feel that way again.
Ichika thinks back...
OH OK. NOT A PEDOPHILE. HOSTAGE TAKER WANTING RANSOM. PHEW.
She was snatched in Shinjuku garden. She heard her kidnapper muttering to himself about needing to escape his prison of debt. And then a teenage boy snuck up to her and said he was going to rescue her.
Yanagi threatened the kidnapper with a metal pipe, but the adult man was stronger and beat him up, laughing at how weak he was, and then beat Ichika too.
Teen Yanagi POV. He's been horribly beaten and thinks the girl is unconscious. He blames himself for failing and making the man violent. He feels certain both he and the girl will die, and resolves to kill the man.
Child Ichika POV: She wakes to screams interspersed with thumps, and then all sound stops. The boy comes back, covered in blood and telling her everything will be alright. But then he realises she is looking at him with terror, and he is overcome by what he has done. She passes out again, and wakes up with her family.
The man has never woken from his coma, and Yanagi has been consumed with guilt for taking his life away from him, and for being the one that caused a little girl to be hurt and scared.
When he graduated highschool, someone from a police youth rehabilitation program approached him saying he could atone for his sins by saving people.
Ichika tells him that when she saw his face when she woke up from being collared, telling her she would be alright, she felt relieved, and like she could trust him.
Ichika: You're the one who saved me. I've always been grateful. I want to help you, and be closer to you. Did you push me away because you felt there was an unsettled debt between us?
Yanagi: Yes.
Ichika: Then I beg you, forget about all that. You don't owe me anything. I don't want you constrained by the past. I want us to solve the problems that are before us, together.
He smiles gently and agrees, and says he wants to know her better too, not as that little girl he hurt in the past, but as the woman he sees today.
Ichika: I don't just want to be your work partner. I want to be special to you.
Yanagi: ...Hoshino...? o.O
Ichika: You've saved me so many times.
Yanagi: Ah >.>
Yanagi talks about how understandable the motives of the individual pawns are...and the collar pipes up to agree, all SEE YOU AGREE WITH US.
Yanagi talks about not wanting anyone else to feel the pain and regret of having hurt someone, the way he and Akito have, and for a moment the collar seems to falter. But then it says it wants Ichika to find him, personally.
They hear Okazaki unsuccessfully telling Morioka not to barge in. He says X-Day is close and plans are underway to falsify evidence for all suspects with perfect alibis (...for what? Haven't all the individual crimes been solved now? Ah, anyway)
Morioka: Tell me everything you know about Adonis. Or are you connected to them?
Yanagi: What do your instincts tell you?
Morioka: Innocent. You hate hurting people too much. And I can see you trust her.
Yanagi: Yes. You once told me a detective must be suspicious, but to trust my gut.
Morioka: Still, if you can tell me anything...
Yanagi: I can't.
And then he hands Morioka a piece of paper saying "THEY'RE LISTENING". Best boy.
Morioka: ...fine. Don't do anything too crazy.
Okazaki says Yanagi told him a little of Ichika's circumstances: that she's someone important to Yanagi's team, the police, and Adonis. So now he considers guarding her part of his job. He implies that she and Yanagi is dating and Ichika is pretty happy about the idea.
Kazuki is sad that Akito isn't answering his calls. When Ichika tries to comfort him, he quickly figures out that Ichika knows something, but accepts when she says she can't tell him more.
Kazuki: But he'll come home, right? :(
Ichika: I'm sure he will.
Hmm. Ogata has been released. And Ichika has a mysterious package...
It's a letter and USB from Akito! He says he doesn't know if this atones for his crimes but he hopes it helps her.
She texts Yanagi to organise passing it on to Sasazuka, and he takes the opportunity to discuss strategy. And then to make sure Okazaki didn't hit on her lol.
Ichika is trying to track down who gave her the collar and we get to explore EVERY FLOOR OF THE POLICE STATION!! AT LAST, THE RECEPTION CONTENT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
Reception: Saeki says they should go drinking.
SRCPO: Mochida says she should come over for his wife's excellent cooking.
Field Operations Support: Mukai says Shiraishi's had the flu for 5 days.
Field Operations: Satake says she looks troubled and offers to talk.
Forensics: Sakuragawa doubts she has any useful intel Ichika won't have already heard in Investigations, and hopes for steak.
Investigations: Minegishi says he has nothing to report.
Roof: Morioka says her sneaking around the roof looks suspicious.
And then outside the detective office she sees Okazaki and Yoshinari.
Yanagi says "None of you object to taking down the guy who put on the collar?" and she realises he's asking the guy himself. But he doesn't object, and he did ask them to try.
And then Sasazuka talks about starting to decrypt the USB OUT LOUD?? But he does tell Ichika she did good.
And then Yanagi says that they've tapped Shiraishi's phone. Because he admitted to being an Adonis pawn. Ichika worries that he might be in trouble but Sasazuka says he's too smart to have done anything stupid, and Yanagi says it seems like there's a split between long-time Adonis conspirators and whoever is organising the X-Day attacks using civilians. So the goals and actions of a long-time spy like Shiraishi are unclear.
Ichika: I didn't know Shiraishi well, but I wanted to trust him, because you did.
Yanagi: :(
They've found evidence tying Shiraishi and Ogata to Mikuni, a 'young reformist politician who was instrumental in lifting the weapons ban'.
Sasazuka's eyes narrow as he talks about the current regime arguing "Japanese society can't lose, build a stronger Japan, and all that".
Yanagi's theory is that Mikuni can't oppose whichever Adonis superior is behind X-Day within Adonis, so he tried to make things difficult for them through politics.
Ooh and his dead mother was a member of a 'small religious organisation' whose name has been covered up. And so was Okazaki's Adonis member colleague. Adonis split from this organisation.
Ichika follows Yanagi onto the roof when he goes for a smoke break, and talks about finding it hard to look past her desire to trust the people she knows to figure out a suspect. He says he'll stand by her, as she's stood by him and suggests she start from the other direction: What does she know about the person who collared her?
"It must have been a man because they were able to carry me"? I'm sorry have you seen Sasazuka's tiny little nerd arms, Sakuragawa could out-carry two of him.
The game then shows all the male suspects, including all the love interests and everyone above except Okazuki and Yoshinari for some reason. I mean, I don't think it was them, but I'd suspect Yoshinari of being a secret mastermind before Enomoto.
It can't be Mochida cos he has a family he talks about a lot! Well, chins didn't match, anyway.
I'm not using a walkthrough for this bit because SPOILERS. But hmm, someone low-level enough that noone notices them, who knows Ichika's schedule, and has discussed her feelings on justice...
Yanagi had already figured it out, but wanted her to get there on her own.
GAME. YOU WANT ME TO TYPE IN HIS WHOLE NAME?? I DON'T REMEMBER HIS GIVEN NAME COME ON. Thank God I made a character guide, I guess.
*types in Yuzuru Saeki*
Ichika doesn't want to believe it, and Yanagi puts his hand on her shoulder. I don't want to believe it because...he was 13 ten years ago?? I guess plenty of 13 year olds come up with plans to rule the world...But wait wasn't he IN A COMA for some scenes where Zero was around on the Enomoto path??
On the other hand...the chins do match.
And then she gets a call from Saeki. She nearly drops her phone but Yanagi catches it and quietly offers his support.
Saeki: Hi! You seemed down at work want to go out for a drink? :)
Ichika: Sorry I'm busy :(
Saeki: Text me when you're free. Let's have a passionate discussion of justice over drinks again :)
Ichika is in denial but thinks back to the times she heard Saeki talk about the importance of being able to shoot someone to protect others, how he joined the police to make the world peaceful and knows Ichika cares about that too.
GOD and I can hear Zero in his voice now.
She starts crying and Yanagi hugs her and gently tells her she can still let Saeki tell his side of things, and that the strength and kindness she received from him is still real. He takes her inside, makes her a hot cocoa and says she should stay overnight for her own safety.
"We can't judge anyone else's sense of justice only follow our own heart" Hmm, nah, I'm pretty comfortable judging Saeki at this point.
OH WAIT. With all the lines about 'justice' I've started to recognise the Japanese word: Seigi, which sounds a fair amount like Saeki. And then there's Zero/Yuzuru. SUBTLE, OTOMATE.
Yanagi says some very supportive things about moving forward and Ichika smiles and says "I feel at ease because you're with me. I love you, Yanagi."
Yanagi: O.O
Ichika: At first I just looked up to you, but you're really precious to me.
Yanagi: I....UH...
Ichika: It's ok, I just wanted to say it. I don't need an answer.
Yanagi: Uh?
Ichika: So I'll just...go sleep on your sofa. Night!
Yanagi: Oh...uh..no, take my bed. I'll take Enomoto's.
Ichika: Ok. It smells like you :)
Yanagi: *COUGH*
Later we see Yanagi mutter to himself "Good grief, coming at me with everything you've got...but if staying with you helps you rest a little easier, then I'm ok with that."
Yanagi POV.
He's meeting with Enomoto and Sasazuka at Sasazuka's place while Okazaki keeps an eye on Ichika. Sasazuka says Saeki's history is suspiciously clean.
And then Sasazuka says he's been hacked, and Mikuni's voice comes out of the speakers. He admits to his identity and says he wants to stop X-Day too.
Ichika POV
Okazaki: I'll come in with you to work. Today I am an SRCPO officer :)
Yoshinari: Our superiors will be pissed.
Okazaki: That's why I'm leaving them to you :)
Saeki: Spending time with anyone for Christmas? Don't mince words on behalf of sad single me :)
Mochida: Hoshino? Is something wrong?
Saeki: You look green, I'll take you to the infirmary.
Ichika, having been dragged halfway down the hallway: I'm fine, stop.
Saeki: Hoshino, you're such an open book. Everyone around is going to think something's up.
Ichika: :(
Saeki: We're not going to the infirmary, there's somewhere else I want to show you :) The world where our ideals will be realised :)
Ichika: D: D: D:
"shove him" versus "run away"?? BACK TO THE WALKTHROUGH I GO
He's too strong, and smilingly keeps a hold of her. But then Okazaki knocks away his hand, eyes cold.
Saeki: Wow you SP guys really are phantoms. Hi, I'm Hoshino's coworker, Yuzuru Saeki :)
Okazaki just TAKES OUT A GUN. Fair.
Saeki: Mr SP, we're in the police station.
Okazaki: I don't care. My mission is to protect her.
Saeki: *sigh* Good grief, so hot blooded.
And then Ichika feels a pain in her neck and everything starts to go blurry D:
Saeki, in the calm, wry tones of Zero: If you shoot me, she dies. It has a delayed effect, but it's dangerous to leave her like this.
Okazaki: What do you want?
Saeki: I want you to behave. The stage is almost set.
Yanagi POV:
They're waiting to meet Mikuni.
Sasazuka: Are you sure you don't want to bring Mineo? His muscles would be a good meat shield if things go south.
Shiraishi: Good evening. It's been a while :)
Sasazuka: Oh look who it is :/
Yanagi: Weren't you on sick leave with the flu?
Shiraishi: Oh were you worried about me? :)
Yanagi: Not a bit.
Sasazuka: Did you put something on my computer? >:(
Shiraishi: No, you'd have noticed. Oh, you don't like that someone out-hacked you :)
Sasazuka: You've got a foul mouth as always >:(
Mikuni: You have information that could be very damaging to us.
Sasazuka: Whether you're a terrorist manager or a cult leader, you'll just have to deal with it.
Mikuni: As you say, we are a terrorist organisation. X-day is part of our plans, but the recent incidents do not align with Adonis's original goals.
Yanagi: So there is infighting after all.
Shiraishi: I may have mentioned something about that.
Mikuni: ...number 14 :/
Shiraishi: But I don't know any of the details. My job was just to act as a police employee and report the details, right? :)
GOD the relationship between Mikuni and Shiraishi is SO WEIRD.
Yanagi: Where is Yuzuru Saeki?
Mikuni: D:
Shiraishi: I didn't tell them anything. Is this about Zero?
Mikuni: I know, you didn't know anything about his cover identity. Yuzuru Saeki is the current elder within our organisation. Long ago, he and I conceived of a dream together to change the country. But our paths have differed. He is no longer the man I once knew.
Sasazuka: If you want to stop him just turn yourself in.
Mikuni: No. I wish to revive the original Adonis. We will reform Japan's consciousness. I have spent too much time constructing Adonis for it to be dismantled.
Yanagi: And you think we'll just let you?
Mikuni: That's why I said this is a deal :) Before you expose us, you will allow those who have inherited the true will of Adonis to flee, so we can revive the country another time. In exchange, I promise that we will oppose Yuzuru Saeki alongside you, and remove Ichika Hoshino's collar.
