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alias_sqbrJack Jeanne Masterlist
Finally got around to finishing Sou's route.
It grew on me a bit, and I liked some parts, but is still my least fave so far.
I was actually ok with the gender stuff in the end, it was a kinda bland and heavy handed but basically ok "You don't have to fit this one narrow box of masculinity to be a real, loveable, competent man" moral. But the romance felt a bit like him... being too creepy/possessive for her, and it making her sad, and he learns to be more Acceptably Devoted. I preferred the Weirdo 4 Wierdo vibes the route had more of earlier, this felt more like Nice Girl/Slightly Weird Guy which, eh.
Ok it stopped being so unpleasant in the VERY NEXT SCENE, hooray.
Also I got around to uploading my favourite scene with these two, back when they were playing unhinged teen brothers:
Peak Romance!
Anyway.
As a reminder: Sou was persuaded by Weird Amber Jeanne Momonashi that the only way he can be a good enough Jack Ace is to define himself entirely in terms of Kisa, making all his emotions revolve around her and wanting her to focus only on him. When acting, he kinda ignores the other characters and sucks up all the energy in the room. Kisa is increasingly uncomfortable but Sou seems oblivious.
Suzu calls Sou out for ignoring everyone else and focussing only on Kisa, and not even even really seeing her.
Sou: Noone understands Kisa like I do! Noone knows the things about her that I do!
Suzu: I... I know about Kisa too. But that's not what defines her! Can't you see you're making her unhappy?
Suzu knows Kisa's a girl and is just being nice about it?? Is that always true then??? I have underestimated you, Suzu.
Afterwards Suzu says he shouted at Sou because he's Sou's friend. He seemed personally hurt that Sou didn't care about him as a friend and castmate. *has mild ot3 feels but also kinda just wants Kisa to run off with Suzu*
Sou feels awful, and says he thought this was the only way he could help Kisa or Quartz. But he's realised he was focussing too hard on fitting a mental ideal of a flashy Jack Ace, and winning awards, and not enough thinking about who his character is and how to work with everyone as a team to create a good performance and make everyone shine.
Fumi and Kai are like... yeah we used to believe stuff like that as first years too, Sou will figure it out. But we had help from our upperclassmen, especially Tsuki, and we need to help you guys the same way.
Kisa brings Sou Valentines chocolate but he's all 'Why? I don't deserve this'.
Kisa: Because my feelings for you haven't changed. I love you, you know?
Sou: ;_;
Whenever either of them says something romantic they both get super blushy.
Fine, fine, they're cute.
Neji gives a sweet pep talk about Sou recognising his own charms and not limiting himself.
Sou figures out how to play his character, less flashy but still compelling, and creating space for everyone else to shine as a team. The rest of the cast immediately leap to follow his lead, starting with Suzu, creating a vibrant scene.
Suzu: No apologies. Just have confidence. Haven't you wanted to stand by Kisa all this time? Watch over your partner, don't push Kisa away. Or I'll take your spot, I want to be Jack Ace and stand by Kisa too! Get ready, rival :D
Sou: ... yeah!
Momonashi: Something is getting in the way of you focussing purely on Kisa >:/
Suzu: Back off Sou is doing a great job and inspiring everyone!
Momonashi: What a burden it must be to have someone so stupid so close to you.
Sou: Before, your words were like daggers, I couldn't ignore them because they contained some truth. But now they don't affect me. I'm Quartz's Jack Ace and I fight for Quartz.
Suzu: Lol what's up with that guy.
Sou: In some ways we're similar. He taught me something about myself I wasn't facing. But in other ways we're different. So, who wants food? :)
Chui: You are empty, a plain black bird who dresses itself in the bright feathers of others and calls them your own. You are not even a vessel. I cannot help you.
Momonashi: Then why did you pick me to be Al Jeanne?
Chui: There is noone in Amber worthy to be a Jeanne, let alone Al Jeanne.
Utsuri: >:(
Chui you are a bad sempai.
Monomashi asks Kisa to come with him up into the mountains, implying he knows something she wouldn't want spread around. Kisa has a bad feeling but can't risk ignoring him.
Momonashi: You must be hiding a very dark secret to follow me all this way. Tell me, is that why Chui is so obsessed with you? Why he helped you, when you don't even know how special that is...
The vibes are rancid enough that Kisa decides it is Time To Leave but he grabs her, and then caresses her face, saying "Is it this face, I wonder?".
Momonashi: I can be even more beautiful. More pure, if that is his wish, or as tainted as he desires...
Far be it from me to defend Chui, but I can just imagine his distaste at the idea that he would choose a costar based on something so irrelevant to acting as sex.
Kisa, calmly: Momonashi. Stop.
Momonashi: Maybe it's your high voice...*grabbing her throat* Such a slender neck. I can't even see your adam's apple. Has your voice not dropped yet? It's beautiful. But you lack the strength of a young man, almost like an ordinary female actress.
There is a CREEPY ASS CG of him grinning as he strangles her because the artist knows what he likes to draw and it's creepy twinks. Like I have seen *counts* at least seven CGs of Chui and his creepy Jeannes being sexy/menacing at people/each other, and literally one CG focusing on any other non-romanceable characters that wasn't a big group shot.
Momonashi: There's no point examining what's on the surface. I'll have to examine every part of you :)
Kisa: D:
Sou: GET AWAY FROM KISA!! WTF MOMONASHI??
Momonashi: Why do you and Chui desire him so much? I am totally devoted to Chui, if I'm told I'm empty by you, what more can I possibly do...
And then he just walks off!
I like that Sou did not become violent and was more concerned with making sure Kisa was ok. He rubs her back and says it's ok to cry when something scary happens, but she's safe now.
Kasai, the first year Onyx Jack with a thing for Kisa who went to middle school with Sou, was the one who told Sou he saw Kisa and Momonashi walking into the mountains. I didn't mention it before but in one of the other routes I ended up seeing a whole sequence of very cute, shippy Kasai scenes ending in him outright saying "I like you and want to travel the world acting with you".
Sou talks about how it seems Momonashi, like himself, lacks self confidence, and this warps how he sees the world. But instead of putting everyone else on a pedestal and hating himself like Sou, Momonashi doesn't let himself see other people's good points at all. Both of them are so desperate to be noticed they can reach for some way to be loud and showy.
Sou: But I still can't forgive him. Anyway, I've been talking too much, and it's late, I should let you rest...
Kisa: I want to hear your voice :(
Sou: o.O Uh... OK LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BOOK NEJI RECOMMENDED ME...
And then he rambles about all the praise everyone gave her, their childhood etc. When she wakes up next to him (on the couch, I think) the next morning, he smiles and says they should get to class.
That was pretty cute.
Amber arrives in time to see the end of Quartz's rehearsal.
Utsuri: Ugh why does Chui keep watching Kisa >:(
Momonashi: This play is boring >:/
Utsuri: Did you just express an emotion lol. Is Quartz getting to you that much?
Momonashi: It's just unsettling how satisfied they can be with such a boring play. It isn't right.
Momonashi you just strangled a classmate
Utsuri actually looks a little concerned for him, aww.
Neji: I thought I sensed a menacing mood, and here's Amber, just on time!
Momonashi approaches Kisa and Sou and says in the flattest, emptiest tone imaginable, with none of his usual fake polite cheer: I will prove I'm not empty when I defeat you.
Sou I'm not saying I don't enjoy you talking about how Momonashi pulled you in with his dark eyes etc, but I feel like beating him at Best Play is less important than dealing with the threat of continued physical violence.
Sou: I still struggle to draw out the passion in my acting unless I focus entirely on you. Maybe I like you TOO much haha...
Sou tells Kasai he wishes he could be as straightforward and free of worry.
Onyx seniors: Lol Kasai's constantly curled up in the corner angsting
Kasai: I sure am! And you're worried because you want to do your best, right? That's super cool!
Onyx does a two Jack show with the Jack Ace and Kasai and noone says it's NOT a romance so that's what I'm imagining.
Haa I guess we're exploring what it means to be a Jack Ace because they're actually discussing the Rhodonite Jack Ace's onscreen acting (powerful yet elegant) instead of just him teaching singing and complaining about his classmates.
There's a chilling description of Momonashi's empty eyes as he plays the princess, which is a little undercut by the otherwise cool CG of him and Chui as a creepy pair on a murder spree... in blindfolds.
"The princess's empty eyes slowly filled with love. But the demon thought only of death."
From what I've seen of Jack Jeanne fandom, people are more into Chui/Utsuri, but Chui/Momonashi sure is something. If not something good. I personally like the idea of Utsuri and Momonashi somehow working things out together in their own weird creepy way.
Neji: To defeat two such dominating performances... maybe we need Sou's flashy Jack Ace after all.
Sou: But he's so selfish!
Mitsuki: I think you've adjusted your horizons enough to play him now. You'll be able to adjust to him, right, Kisa?
Kisa realises that Sou wants to play the supportive version, more like his real self, instead of the flashy Jack Ace, but doesn't trust himself to pull it off well enough.
This feels like a metaphor about toxic masculinity.
Kisa asks him to just honestly talk about his feelings, instead of feeling like he has to figure everything out in his own head. Suzu agrees.
And so Sou talks about how he loves all of Quartz, and wants them all to shine.
Mitsuki: Come on then, we're late.
Sou: But...
Neji: We would only change it if you were struggling. But our Jack Ace is ready :)
Everyone in Onyx, especially Kasai, agrees that one of Kisa's strengths is how she always mixes Jack and Jeanne traits whoever she is playing, with a 'powerful androgyny'.
They discuss whether anyone will be able to overcome the emotional emptiness created by Amber's performance and Dante (who I, based on incredibly flimsy evidence, think has a thing for Sou) says it will need a Powerful Clown, and then Sou walks onto the stage.
I don't think I've described his character, Isaac, but he's interesting: 'Off-stage" his character is a lot like Sou, serious and a little neurotic. But 'onstage' he's the circus's clown, with a very dark and dry approach to humour (plus the occasional pratfall since there's no way Sou is doing actual acrobatics lol) He wears a goat's skull when 'onstage', and his opening routine in every route is to start with a little ad-lib joke to break the tension about following Amber, and then say:
"I am the goat-headed Isaac! What's that? Why do I have such a head, you ask? It's a bit of a long story, but when my father visited a farm one day, he fell in love with a female goat, and... Ah! The local officers told me not to tell this story! They asked that I not disrupt the moral standards of [Evil Dictatorship]."
In other routes he does stuff like rib the watching principal's outfit. In this one he says he was so transfixed watching a show "with a sheen of amber" he was nearly late to his own show, then leads the audience in a cheer calling for the rest of the circus 'Kielce' to show up.
Utsuri: How is the audience excited? Our aura covered them completely!!
Chui: The fake plating is coming off.
Momonashi, with all the cold fury of an anime villain: Yonaga Soshiro >:(
Isaac gleefully and wildly introduces all the other circus members, getting the audience pumped.
In every route I've seen so far, Fumi's character dances onto the stage alone, and then Neji's character offers his hand and is led into a mildly shippy dance. In Fumi's route, Fumi also dances with Kai, and it's a whole... bittersweet last dance for the old partnership thing.
When it's Kisa's time to come on stage and talk about how she wants to join the circus, she ad-libs the same shout of 'Kielce!' that Sou got the audience to do before, making everyone feel connected to her feelings.
Sou: ...everyone was so excited!! Quartz is so cool!!
Suzu: Because YOU'RE cool and got us all pumped!
Me: This song is pretty, but maybe it would have more meaning for me if I looked up the translation.
Wiki lyrics: Even if the cracks disappear, the ash continues to smolder back hair fluttering leave hometown dream road blowing in the wind
Me: Hmm. I can probably find something better... oh look, this youtube account has all the songs with lyrics!
*watches the songs with lyrics*
*has feelings*
*spends several hours writing a post about these feelings*
OK. BACK.
Interesting, I only noticed after seeing the translated lyrics, but the last two plays both use horse imagery for Kisa's character as a marginalised female worker. Maybe that has some extra meaning in Japan?
Isaac: When we promised to perform together on the border wall as children... I thought I was doing it for me. But we were both trapped behind that wall.
THE WALL OF GENDER (that really is part of the metaphor here. And more enjoyable than the literal meaning of 'us colonisers are enslaved too' lol)
Audience: Kielce! Kielce!
Dante and Kasai: It's like us in the audience are seeing the same performance Isaac and Sissia were so inspired by as children :)
Momonashi: Do they want to destroy the performance by shouting like that? The Jack Ace is so boring, yet everyone is smiling... None of this is entertaining at all. I don't understand >:(
Kasai: Maybe think about it some more. You're the top student in our year, right? :) It must be lonely not to understand the value of supporting people. Have you ever supported anyone? Has anyone ever supported you?
Momonashi: :)
Sou: This last scene is just the two of us... it's a bit lonely not to have everyone around, huh?
Suzu, as his character Chance: It's going to be a great performance! Sissia's always been a cut above. And any performance with Isaac is a success. He's a friend I trust, and one of the best actors around.
Sou: Chance... Suzu... ;_;
Suzu: I'm sure he could even do somersaults :D
Sou, who cannot do somersaults and Suzu knows it: ...that's definitely Suzu...
Neji: Somersaults might be too much but he could definitely write scripts.
Fumi: How about you teach him then.
Kai: Didn't you teach him dancing?
Fumi: Yes but I think he just wanted to impress Sissia ;)
Mitsuki: But he's also thinking about his other friends in Kielce.
Kai: Just as he loves Kielce, Kielce loves him.
Kisa and Sou: ;_;
Sou: Finally, we're standing on this wall together. I can see the other country (metaphoriically: womanhood)... the houses look cold. But every one of those lights is a person. You once lived in this country too.
Kisa: Yes, it feels strange, looking over it with you.
GENDER
Sou: And every day with you, and everyone... I haven't been anxious. It's been so much fun!
Kisa: Thanks to you, I haven't been lonely. You remembered our promise, after all.
Isaac, dying: I'm pretty arrogant... I think I'm the only one who's suited to be with you... that's the one thing I won't give up. I love you so deeply, there's no one else whose existence depends on you more than mine.
Me, having put off this route to romance literally every other boy: >.>
Sou: Sing for me...
Kisa: I'll sing this song, just for you...
Sou, ad-libbing: Actually... sing it for everyone... I'm so selfish sometimes that I want you to only sing for me... but singing for everyone else suits you more... and I love you for it. You are my treasure... but so many others feel the same way. Please, stay on the stage as long as you live!!
There is a montage of romance scenes, with rather more Suzu/Sou moments than one might expect.
Overall I'd kinda like to be able to read this all as Sou Discovers the Joy Of Polyamory but it generally feels more like Sou Discovers The Joy Of Nakama. Which is fine in theory, but something about the execution rubs me the wrong way.
Momonashi: So this is what Chui wanted. The transparent vessel is being filled with the purest feelings towards Theatre. He was able to support it all.
Suzu, offstage: Sou... Kisa...
Mitsuki: You are blessed with such talented students in your year. You'll be able to run forward with them to your graduation.
Kisa: You've always been by my side, and always will be... so watch me. I'll sing for you, and for everyone else.
*sings*
Kisa: My dear clown, won't you tell me one last joke?
Sou: Haa... once, there was a little boy and a little girl... *dies* THE END
Chui: The audience has been filled with emotions and memories, where "I am Death" only took.
Momonashi: Was I not good enough?
Chui: Think it over.
Onyx guys: Wow, Chui sure is kind.
Me and Momonashi: Is he??
Kasai: He gave you what you needed.
Me and Momonashi: DID HE ?????
Man, Momonashi is not a great guy, but I do kind of feel for him here. I don't get it either, buddy! Maybe I'm empty too!
Dante gives some advice to Sou on not holding onto past performances but always trying new things to grow.
Sou: Ha... but that is so difficult and scary.
Kasai: That's alright, we're all human. Right Momonashi?
Momonashi: ...Kisa. I apologise for the other day.
Me: Aww. Growth!
Momonashi: Although if Chui maintains his interest in you the same thing may happen again.
Kisa: Uh...
Sou: Hey!
Me: Baby steps.
Monomashi: But watching you today... I understand a little. And Sou... you were entertaining. A little.
Suzu: Wtf is up with that guy??
Sou: Momonashi is amazing. He's going to keep growing from here onward. So I have to make sure I don't lose to him.
Kisa and Sou get joint gold awards.
Fumi: You worked really hard, Kisa, to polish Sou into a man.
Boo whatever. We have TORN DOWN THE WALL BETWEEN GENDERS, Fumi!
Sou: I used to think I had to be standing beside you to have a deep connection to you. But on stage, I felt connected to everyone. So maybe...
Kai says Sou reminds him of himself, and showed him another way to be a vessel. He says he'd have liked to perform with Kisa again, and now that I've seen what Kai's like when actively pining it's not hard to read him as always being a little in love with Kisa.
Haaa, Sou helped Neji tidy up the chaos of his office, taking notes on everything Neji had to say about theatre as he went.
Suzu asks Kisa to practice with him, and says he has missed being her partner ever since they were paired up in the first play.
Suzu: I still want to be Jack Ace, with you the Al Jeanne at my side. Sou once told me I was his rival... and I think that's true. Your partner might already be decided, and there's no place for me any more. But I still won't give up. Class is more fun that way! I want everyone to see how we're always trying to take you from each other! And you're my rival too! I don't want to lose to you, but if I have to lose I'd want it to be you. Until we graduate, the three of us will always be together. I'm so glad you two were in the same year as me!
That's kind of a weird dynamic but I guess as long as they're all happy. I suppose you could read Suzu as not in love with Kisa and genuinely just wanting to act with her, but it does generally seem to be used pretty consistently as a romance thing.
Fumi goes on a ramble about seeing small pink flowers, which reminded him of meeting Kisa last Spring. "You were small, but cool and refined. You watched me dace with a fire in your eyes that gave me tremors. You've come a long way and changed everyone, including me. But I got the feeling you experienced pain we didn't see." He asks if she's happy here and she says yes, and he says that will keep growing until she graduates, and he looks forward to seeing it. He can definitely also be read as at least a little in love with her.
But I don't read Mitsuki and Neji as being super in love with her cos we know what that looks like and it is not subtle haha.
Sou says he was always jealous of how close Kisa seemed to whoever she was partnered with, which is why he was so desperate to be a Jack Ace. But like Kisa said as Sissia, he's always beside her. And so now he'll do whatever he can, whether it's acting, writing, whatever supports her and Quartz. Then he will be stronger when he does stand beside her, with a Jack Ace only he can play.
Sou: Though when you're partnered with other people I may imagine all sorts of things.. I'm a lot of trouble.
Kisa: I love that part of you too.
Sou: Ahhhhh you can't spoil me like this when I'm trying to be independent! I'm worried you'll run out of patience for me.
Kisa: That won't happen :)
Sou: Ahhhhhhh... then... I'll work hard so you like me even more!
A child Sou writes Kisa a letter, saying that he wants to go to Univeil so he can perform for her, and for them to be together as adults, because he loves her. But he never gets to deliver it before he moves away.
Sou wakes crying in Kisa's dorm room (WHAT ARE THESE KIDS UP TO) and she asks what he was dreaming about. He starts to tell her what was in the letter.
THE END
Most of that was basically fine. But I really do miss the weirdo 4 weirdo energy. It was the same with Neji, Kisa kinda just becomes a Nice Supportive Girlfriend and while they are onstage together there wasn't much focus on them creating things together like there had been previously.
Also it's kind of funny, having finished Suzu's route first, that NONE of the other final performances so far have had kiss scenes in them, not even Neji's. Neji was just messing with Suzu specifically, I guess.
Finally got around to finishing Sou's route.
It grew on me a bit, and I liked some parts, but is still my least fave so far.
I was actually ok with the gender stuff in the end, it was a kinda bland and heavy handed but basically ok "You don't have to fit this one narrow box of masculinity to be a real, loveable, competent man" moral. But the romance felt a bit like him... being too creepy/possessive for her, and it making her sad, and he learns to be more Acceptably Devoted. I preferred the Weirdo 4 Wierdo vibes the route had more of earlier, this felt more like Nice Girl/Slightly Weird Guy which, eh.
Ok it stopped being so unpleasant in the VERY NEXT SCENE, hooray.
Also I got around to uploading my favourite scene with these two, back when they were playing unhinged teen brothers:
Peak Romance!
Anyway.
As a reminder: Sou was persuaded by Weird Amber Jeanne Momonashi that the only way he can be a good enough Jack Ace is to define himself entirely in terms of Kisa, making all his emotions revolve around her and wanting her to focus only on him. When acting, he kinda ignores the other characters and sucks up all the energy in the room. Kisa is increasingly uncomfortable but Sou seems oblivious.
Suzu calls Sou out for ignoring everyone else and focussing only on Kisa, and not even even really seeing her.
Sou: Noone understands Kisa like I do! Noone knows the things about her that I do!
Suzu: I... I know about Kisa too. But that's not what defines her! Can't you see you're making her unhappy?
Suzu knows Kisa's a girl and is just being nice about it?? Is that always true then??? I have underestimated you, Suzu.
Afterwards Suzu says he shouted at Sou because he's Sou's friend. He seemed personally hurt that Sou didn't care about him as a friend and castmate. *has mild ot3 feels but also kinda just wants Kisa to run off with Suzu*
Sou feels awful, and says he thought this was the only way he could help Kisa or Quartz. But he's realised he was focussing too hard on fitting a mental ideal of a flashy Jack Ace, and winning awards, and not enough thinking about who his character is and how to work with everyone as a team to create a good performance and make everyone shine.
Fumi and Kai are like... yeah we used to believe stuff like that as first years too, Sou will figure it out. But we had help from our upperclassmen, especially Tsuki, and we need to help you guys the same way.
Kisa brings Sou Valentines chocolate but he's all 'Why? I don't deserve this'.
Kisa: Because my feelings for you haven't changed. I love you, you know?
Sou: ;_;
Whenever either of them says something romantic they both get super blushy.
Fine, fine, they're cute.
Neji gives a sweet pep talk about Sou recognising his own charms and not limiting himself.
Sou figures out how to play his character, less flashy but still compelling, and creating space for everyone else to shine as a team. The rest of the cast immediately leap to follow his lead, starting with Suzu, creating a vibrant scene.
Suzu: No apologies. Just have confidence. Haven't you wanted to stand by Kisa all this time? Watch over your partner, don't push Kisa away. Or I'll take your spot, I want to be Jack Ace and stand by Kisa too! Get ready, rival :D
Sou: ... yeah!
Momonashi: Something is getting in the way of you focussing purely on Kisa >:/
Suzu: Back off Sou is doing a great job and inspiring everyone!
Momonashi: What a burden it must be to have someone so stupid so close to you.
Sou: Before, your words were like daggers, I couldn't ignore them because they contained some truth. But now they don't affect me. I'm Quartz's Jack Ace and I fight for Quartz.
Suzu: Lol what's up with that guy.
Sou: In some ways we're similar. He taught me something about myself I wasn't facing. But in other ways we're different. So, who wants food? :)
Chui: You are empty, a plain black bird who dresses itself in the bright feathers of others and calls them your own. You are not even a vessel. I cannot help you.
Momonashi: Then why did you pick me to be Al Jeanne?
Chui: There is noone in Amber worthy to be a Jeanne, let alone Al Jeanne.
Utsuri: >:(
Chui you are a bad sempai.
Monomashi asks Kisa to come with him up into the mountains, implying he knows something she wouldn't want spread around. Kisa has a bad feeling but can't risk ignoring him.
Momonashi: You must be hiding a very dark secret to follow me all this way. Tell me, is that why Chui is so obsessed with you? Why he helped you, when you don't even know how special that is...
The vibes are rancid enough that Kisa decides it is Time To Leave but he grabs her, and then caresses her face, saying "Is it this face, I wonder?".
Momonashi: I can be even more beautiful. More pure, if that is his wish, or as tainted as he desires...
Far be it from me to defend Chui, but I can just imagine his distaste at the idea that he would choose a costar based on something so irrelevant to acting as sex.
Kisa, calmly: Momonashi. Stop.
Momonashi: Maybe it's your high voice...*grabbing her throat* Such a slender neck. I can't even see your adam's apple. Has your voice not dropped yet? It's beautiful. But you lack the strength of a young man, almost like an ordinary female actress.
There is a CREEPY ASS CG of him grinning as he strangles her because the artist knows what he likes to draw and it's creepy twinks. Like I have seen *counts* at least seven CGs of Chui and his creepy Jeannes being sexy/menacing at people/each other, and literally one CG focusing on any other non-romanceable characters that wasn't a big group shot.
Momonashi: There's no point examining what's on the surface. I'll have to examine every part of you :)
Kisa: D:
Sou: GET AWAY FROM KISA!! WTF MOMONASHI??
Momonashi: Why do you and Chui desire him so much? I am totally devoted to Chui, if I'm told I'm empty by you, what more can I possibly do...
And then he just walks off!
I like that Sou did not become violent and was more concerned with making sure Kisa was ok. He rubs her back and says it's ok to cry when something scary happens, but she's safe now.
Kasai, the first year Onyx Jack with a thing for Kisa who went to middle school with Sou, was the one who told Sou he saw Kisa and Momonashi walking into the mountains. I didn't mention it before but in one of the other routes I ended up seeing a whole sequence of very cute, shippy Kasai scenes ending in him outright saying "I like you and want to travel the world acting with you".
Sou talks about how it seems Momonashi, like himself, lacks self confidence, and this warps how he sees the world. But instead of putting everyone else on a pedestal and hating himself like Sou, Momonashi doesn't let himself see other people's good points at all. Both of them are so desperate to be noticed they can reach for some way to be loud and showy.
Sou: But I still can't forgive him. Anyway, I've been talking too much, and it's late, I should let you rest...
Kisa: I want to hear your voice :(
Sou: o.O Uh... OK LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BOOK NEJI RECOMMENDED ME...
And then he rambles about all the praise everyone gave her, their childhood etc. When she wakes up next to him (on the couch, I think) the next morning, he smiles and says they should get to class.
That was pretty cute.
Amber arrives in time to see the end of Quartz's rehearsal.
Utsuri: Ugh why does Chui keep watching Kisa >:(
Momonashi: This play is boring >:/
Utsuri: Did you just express an emotion lol. Is Quartz getting to you that much?
Momonashi: It's just unsettling how satisfied they can be with such a boring play. It isn't right.
Momonashi you just strangled a classmate
Utsuri actually looks a little concerned for him, aww.
Neji: I thought I sensed a menacing mood, and here's Amber, just on time!
Momonashi approaches Kisa and Sou and says in the flattest, emptiest tone imaginable, with none of his usual fake polite cheer: I will prove I'm not empty when I defeat you.
Sou I'm not saying I don't enjoy you talking about how Momonashi pulled you in with his dark eyes etc, but I feel like beating him at Best Play is less important than dealing with the threat of continued physical violence.
Sou: I still struggle to draw out the passion in my acting unless I focus entirely on you. Maybe I like you TOO much haha...
Sou tells Kasai he wishes he could be as straightforward and free of worry.
Onyx seniors: Lol Kasai's constantly curled up in the corner angsting
Kasai: I sure am! And you're worried because you want to do your best, right? That's super cool!
Onyx does a two Jack show with the Jack Ace and Kasai and noone says it's NOT a romance so that's what I'm imagining.
Haa I guess we're exploring what it means to be a Jack Ace because they're actually discussing the Rhodonite Jack Ace's onscreen acting (powerful yet elegant) instead of just him teaching singing and complaining about his classmates.
There's a chilling description of Momonashi's empty eyes as he plays the princess, which is a little undercut by the otherwise cool CG of him and Chui as a creepy pair on a murder spree... in blindfolds.
"The princess's empty eyes slowly filled with love. But the demon thought only of death."
From what I've seen of Jack Jeanne fandom, people are more into Chui/Utsuri, but Chui/Momonashi sure is something. If not something good. I personally like the idea of Utsuri and Momonashi somehow working things out together in their own weird creepy way.
Neji: To defeat two such dominating performances... maybe we need Sou's flashy Jack Ace after all.
Sou: But he's so selfish!
Mitsuki: I think you've adjusted your horizons enough to play him now. You'll be able to adjust to him, right, Kisa?
Kisa realises that Sou wants to play the supportive version, more like his real self, instead of the flashy Jack Ace, but doesn't trust himself to pull it off well enough.
This feels like a metaphor about toxic masculinity.
Kisa asks him to just honestly talk about his feelings, instead of feeling like he has to figure everything out in his own head. Suzu agrees.
And so Sou talks about how he loves all of Quartz, and wants them all to shine.
Mitsuki: Come on then, we're late.
Sou: But...
Neji: We would only change it if you were struggling. But our Jack Ace is ready :)
Everyone in Onyx, especially Kasai, agrees that one of Kisa's strengths is how she always mixes Jack and Jeanne traits whoever she is playing, with a 'powerful androgyny'.
They discuss whether anyone will be able to overcome the emotional emptiness created by Amber's performance and Dante (who I, based on incredibly flimsy evidence, think has a thing for Sou) says it will need a Powerful Clown, and then Sou walks onto the stage.
I don't think I've described his character, Isaac, but he's interesting: 'Off-stage" his character is a lot like Sou, serious and a little neurotic. But 'onstage' he's the circus's clown, with a very dark and dry approach to humour (plus the occasional pratfall since there's no way Sou is doing actual acrobatics lol) He wears a goat's skull when 'onstage', and his opening routine in every route is to start with a little ad-lib joke to break the tension about following Amber, and then say:
"I am the goat-headed Isaac! What's that? Why do I have such a head, you ask? It's a bit of a long story, but when my father visited a farm one day, he fell in love with a female goat, and... Ah! The local officers told me not to tell this story! They asked that I not disrupt the moral standards of [Evil Dictatorship]."
In other routes he does stuff like rib the watching principal's outfit. In this one he says he was so transfixed watching a show "with a sheen of amber" he was nearly late to his own show, then leads the audience in a cheer calling for the rest of the circus 'Kielce' to show up.
Utsuri: How is the audience excited? Our aura covered them completely!!
Chui: The fake plating is coming off.
Momonashi, with all the cold fury of an anime villain: Yonaga Soshiro >:(
Isaac gleefully and wildly introduces all the other circus members, getting the audience pumped.
In every route I've seen so far, Fumi's character dances onto the stage alone, and then Neji's character offers his hand and is led into a mildly shippy dance. In Fumi's route, Fumi also dances with Kai, and it's a whole... bittersweet last dance for the old partnership thing.
When it's Kisa's time to come on stage and talk about how she wants to join the circus, she ad-libs the same shout of 'Kielce!' that Sou got the audience to do before, making everyone feel connected to her feelings.
Sou: ...everyone was so excited!! Quartz is so cool!!
Suzu: Because YOU'RE cool and got us all pumped!
Me: This song is pretty, but maybe it would have more meaning for me if I looked up the translation.
Wiki lyrics: Even if the cracks disappear, the ash continues to smolder back hair fluttering leave hometown dream road blowing in the wind
Me: Hmm. I can probably find something better... oh look, this youtube account has all the songs with lyrics!
*watches the songs with lyrics*
*has feelings*
*spends several hours writing a post about these feelings*
OK. BACK.
Interesting, I only noticed after seeing the translated lyrics, but the last two plays both use horse imagery for Kisa's character as a marginalised female worker. Maybe that has some extra meaning in Japan?
Isaac: When we promised to perform together on the border wall as children... I thought I was doing it for me. But we were both trapped behind that wall.
THE WALL OF GENDER (that really is part of the metaphor here. And more enjoyable than the literal meaning of 'us colonisers are enslaved too' lol)
Audience: Kielce! Kielce!
Dante and Kasai: It's like us in the audience are seeing the same performance Isaac and Sissia were so inspired by as children :)
Momonashi: Do they want to destroy the performance by shouting like that? The Jack Ace is so boring, yet everyone is smiling... None of this is entertaining at all. I don't understand >:(
Kasai: Maybe think about it some more. You're the top student in our year, right? :) It must be lonely not to understand the value of supporting people. Have you ever supported anyone? Has anyone ever supported you?
Momonashi: :)
Sou: This last scene is just the two of us... it's a bit lonely not to have everyone around, huh?
Suzu, as his character Chance: It's going to be a great performance! Sissia's always been a cut above. And any performance with Isaac is a success. He's a friend I trust, and one of the best actors around.
Sou: Chance... Suzu... ;_;
Suzu: I'm sure he could even do somersaults :D
Sou, who cannot do somersaults and Suzu knows it: ...that's definitely Suzu...
Neji: Somersaults might be too much but he could definitely write scripts.
Fumi: How about you teach him then.
Kai: Didn't you teach him dancing?
Fumi: Yes but I think he just wanted to impress Sissia ;)
Mitsuki: But he's also thinking about his other friends in Kielce.
Kai: Just as he loves Kielce, Kielce loves him.
Kisa and Sou: ;_;
Sou: Finally, we're standing on this wall together. I can see the other country (metaphoriically: womanhood)... the houses look cold. But every one of those lights is a person. You once lived in this country too.
Kisa: Yes, it feels strange, looking over it with you.
GENDER
Sou: And every day with you, and everyone... I haven't been anxious. It's been so much fun!
Kisa: Thanks to you, I haven't been lonely. You remembered our promise, after all.
Isaac, dying: I'm pretty arrogant... I think I'm the only one who's suited to be with you... that's the one thing I won't give up. I love you so deeply, there's no one else whose existence depends on you more than mine.
Me, having put off this route to romance literally every other boy: >.>
Sou: Sing for me...
Kisa: I'll sing this song, just for you...
Sou, ad-libbing: Actually... sing it for everyone... I'm so selfish sometimes that I want you to only sing for me... but singing for everyone else suits you more... and I love you for it. You are my treasure... but so many others feel the same way. Please, stay on the stage as long as you live!!
There is a montage of romance scenes, with rather more Suzu/Sou moments than one might expect.
Overall I'd kinda like to be able to read this all as Sou Discovers the Joy Of Polyamory but it generally feels more like Sou Discovers The Joy Of Nakama. Which is fine in theory, but something about the execution rubs me the wrong way.
Momonashi: So this is what Chui wanted. The transparent vessel is being filled with the purest feelings towards Theatre. He was able to support it all.
Suzu, offstage: Sou... Kisa...
Mitsuki: You are blessed with such talented students in your year. You'll be able to run forward with them to your graduation.
Kisa: You've always been by my side, and always will be... so watch me. I'll sing for you, and for everyone else.
*sings*
Kisa: My dear clown, won't you tell me one last joke?
Sou: Haa... once, there was a little boy and a little girl... *dies* THE END
Chui: The audience has been filled with emotions and memories, where "I am Death" only took.
Momonashi: Was I not good enough?
Chui: Think it over.
Onyx guys: Wow, Chui sure is kind.
Me and Momonashi: Is he??
Kasai: He gave you what you needed.
Me and Momonashi: DID HE ?????
Man, Momonashi is not a great guy, but I do kind of feel for him here. I don't get it either, buddy! Maybe I'm empty too!
Dante gives some advice to Sou on not holding onto past performances but always trying new things to grow.
Sou: Ha... but that is so difficult and scary.
Kasai: That's alright, we're all human. Right Momonashi?
Momonashi: ...Kisa. I apologise for the other day.
Me: Aww. Growth!
Momonashi: Although if Chui maintains his interest in you the same thing may happen again.
Kisa: Uh...
Sou: Hey!
Me: Baby steps.
Monomashi: But watching you today... I understand a little. And Sou... you were entertaining. A little.
Suzu: Wtf is up with that guy??
Sou: Momonashi is amazing. He's going to keep growing from here onward. So I have to make sure I don't lose to him.
Kisa and Sou get joint gold awards.
Fumi: You worked really hard, Kisa, to polish Sou into a man.
Boo whatever. We have TORN DOWN THE WALL BETWEEN GENDERS, Fumi!
Sou: I used to think I had to be standing beside you to have a deep connection to you. But on stage, I felt connected to everyone. So maybe...
Kai says Sou reminds him of himself, and showed him another way to be a vessel. He says he'd have liked to perform with Kisa again, and now that I've seen what Kai's like when actively pining it's not hard to read him as always being a little in love with Kisa.
Haaa, Sou helped Neji tidy up the chaos of his office, taking notes on everything Neji had to say about theatre as he went.
Suzu asks Kisa to practice with him, and says he has missed being her partner ever since they were paired up in the first play.
Suzu: I still want to be Jack Ace, with you the Al Jeanne at my side. Sou once told me I was his rival... and I think that's true. Your partner might already be decided, and there's no place for me any more. But I still won't give up. Class is more fun that way! I want everyone to see how we're always trying to take you from each other! And you're my rival too! I don't want to lose to you, but if I have to lose I'd want it to be you. Until we graduate, the three of us will always be together. I'm so glad you two were in the same year as me!
That's kind of a weird dynamic but I guess as long as they're all happy. I suppose you could read Suzu as not in love with Kisa and genuinely just wanting to act with her, but it does generally seem to be used pretty consistently as a romance thing.
Fumi goes on a ramble about seeing small pink flowers, which reminded him of meeting Kisa last Spring. "You were small, but cool and refined. You watched me dace with a fire in your eyes that gave me tremors. You've come a long way and changed everyone, including me. But I got the feeling you experienced pain we didn't see." He asks if she's happy here and she says yes, and he says that will keep growing until she graduates, and he looks forward to seeing it. He can definitely also be read as at least a little in love with her.
But I don't read Mitsuki and Neji as being super in love with her cos we know what that looks like and it is not subtle haha.
Sou says he was always jealous of how close Kisa seemed to whoever she was partnered with, which is why he was so desperate to be a Jack Ace. But like Kisa said as Sissia, he's always beside her. And so now he'll do whatever he can, whether it's acting, writing, whatever supports her and Quartz. Then he will be stronger when he does stand beside her, with a Jack Ace only he can play.
Sou: Though when you're partnered with other people I may imagine all sorts of things.. I'm a lot of trouble.
Kisa: I love that part of you too.
Sou: Ahhhhh you can't spoil me like this when I'm trying to be independent! I'm worried you'll run out of patience for me.
Kisa: That won't happen :)
Sou: Ahhhhhhh... then... I'll work hard so you like me even more!
A child Sou writes Kisa a letter, saying that he wants to go to Univeil so he can perform for her, and for them to be together as adults, because he loves her. But he never gets to deliver it before he moves away.
Sou wakes crying in Kisa's dorm room (WHAT ARE THESE KIDS UP TO) and she asks what he was dreaming about. He starts to tell her what was in the letter.
THE END
Most of that was basically fine. But I really do miss the weirdo 4 weirdo energy. It was the same with Neji, Kisa kinda just becomes a Nice Supportive Girlfriend and while they are onstage together there wasn't much focus on them creating things together like there had been previously.
Also it's kind of funny, having finished Suzu's route first, that NONE of the other final performances so far have had kiss scenes in them, not even Neji's. Neji was just messing with Suzu specifically, I guess.
