Completion date: January 28, 2026
Navigation: Riku / Tokisada / Yosuga / Kuroba / Himuka / Akaza / Final Thoughts
I played in the same order as I did in the base game. All endings are cleared because this game is also known for its bad endings. Now brace yourself for my gushing & a sea of pretty screenshots.
**All my reviews contain spoilers.**
COMMON ROUTE
I had to do a bit of digging for this, but it appears that this game starts kind of as a sequel to Akaza route, 2.5 years after the rainbow rain fell (which I believe in the original game only happened in Akaza route where Amaterasu’s faith in humanity was restored). The setting is that Olympia has a fiance (that we get to select at the end of the common route to enter individual route) but has not yet married. Kuroba has developed the cure to haku disease. Kanan served his sentence for his sins in the first game but already returned to Tenguu island with the criminal mark on his face.
One day, she was at the seaside, until a man who with white hair just like hair washed upon the shores of Tennyo island. Initially, he had no pulse and was thought to be dead. However, this man came to life and lost all his memory. He faintly remembers someone calling him “Aki”, but was given the name “Nathanael” (see where the names Olympia/Nathanael came from in The Sandman). Having a second “White” appear on the island, a male nonetheless, creates a series of inner conflict within Olympia about her identity, and what seems to be her fate and duty of procreating “white” heirs to continue her bloodline.
In individual routes, it is revealed that Himuka confessed his identity to the protagonist group as did Riku (as a child of hazushi).
Riku (CV: Shimazaki Nobunaga)
I did a double-take to see if this game was an FD or sequel because the two were so lovey-dovey in the beginning with those confessions and goodbye kisses before work like goddamn how is this route going to proceed from such a high. Shura is working on establishing the girls’ school that was mentioned in the main game. Riku is a changed man when going to Yomi and polite to the people he once thought were beneath them. In fact, as the next heir of the “blue” clan, Riku is actively working to abolish the “hazushi” laws (where people of different colour classes could not marry/be involved or face death/abolishment to Yomi), against much resistance.
Nathanael’s utility this route isn’t much other than to create annoying drama for the first half of the route, where the townspeople just forget that Olympia is engaged to Riku and all mindlessly want her to marry Nathanael instead so they can make “white” heirs lol. Olympia also spends quite a bit of the route being emo over the fact she cannot produce “blue” heirs, as did the “blue” council by throwing a hissy fit to Riku demanding him to procreate with other women to produce the heirs they want. This whole issue was already resolved in the base game where in Riku route Douma said people of “white” also had the power of batsu so this is not the problem (as the “blue” are widely revered for having access to batsu). Also from what we will soon see in this route, plenty of women who are not “blue” in the Yomi give birth to “blue” heirs which then get taken to Tenguu island and raised as “blue” clansmen without any issue… so what exactly is the problem here? Regardless, this drives a rift between the two lovers for a bit until Riku’s jealousy explodes and we get a little confession and CG lol.
When there is chaos, Kanan has to join and started stirring crap with his newspapers – even if he’s an ex-criminal who served his sentence with a mark of shame on his cheek just like his brother. I included this tidbit because one of the bad endings is actually Kanan’s ending. 😬
The other major conflict this route is Riku meeting his birth mother, Tomori, who signed a contract at his birth giving him up to the “blue” clan and never revealing her identity to him. However, the two were attracted to each other in a familial sense from their meeting. I especially love the detail where Tomori likes to make hamburgers for the children in Yomi, and we all know what Riku’s favourite food is haha.
The two also witness how women of Yomi are treated via Masuhana/Aohito’s child, who turns out to be “blue”. Sakyou tries to forcibly abduct the child to above Yomi saying this will grant them a better life than they will ever have – a life that Riku lived.
Eventually, rumours break loose about Riku’s birth as hazushi’s child, further challenging his claim to the clan. Shura finds Olympia. She clearly sides with them as she knows that the blues cannot keep inbreeding. She lets Olympia in on a bit of wisdom: To maintain rule over the people, either you keep no secrets from them, or you dispose of every single one that knows your secret. She asks Olympia to consider which path she wants to go down.
Bad End 1: Olympia gets taken in front of Kanan and Aogumo. However, Kanan pull a gun on Aogumo and finishes him. He then takes Olympia’s hand and says he will take care of anyone who gets in her way (e.g. spreading rumours about Riku). He coerces her with their secret that they will protect Riku-sama “together”. Damn…
Bad End 2: Olympia puts two and two together and figures that Tomori is Riku’s mother. Sakyou (who was the one who took Riku away from her) finds out and warns Olympia to stop the two from meeting, and says he needs to dispose of Tomori now because he can’t allow the two to meet. However, none of this matters because Olympia just gets stabbed randomly by a blue fanatic who cannot accept the fact that a non-blue is going to marry their future leader Riku. Ayo…
Riku holds a lifeless Olympia, saying all of this is his fault and he killed her indirectly. As a result, he vows to never marry or fall in love with anyone else for the rest of his life.
Happy End: If you’re wondering where the CGs went they are saved in the happy end! Riku finally reconciles with Tomori.
He decides to come clean to the people about his birth, that he is the child of a hazushi. However, this does not change his position as someone who came from the blue clan or his heart devoted to his people.
Olympia and Riku get their happily ever after as well as their big day.
At the ceremony, Riku thanks his three mothers: his adoptive mother; Shura; and Tomori. There was a cameo to Shura where she “hurriedly hides her face with her fan”, haha.
The two return to Tennyo island.
THOUGHTS: Overall, I really enjoyed this route as did I in the original! The middle got a little bit messy with a lot of side characters participating (but this is also the charm of this game, where a whole community was created and lively side characters who are not just NPCs like Nathanael so far in this route lmao). A lot of it is Olympia finding out who Tomori really is which I’ve saved time doing the play by play in this review. There were a lot of sweet scenes and don’t worry there are implied R18 CGs I just didn’t choose to include them here because they weren’t Satoi’s best work imo. I just put the prettiest ones here.
Tokisada (CV: Uemura Yuuto)
What I expected this route to be like:
What we got is a physically grown-up and mentally matured Tokisada who is ready to act like a MAN for Olympia:
The first half of the route was so boring and we were not even getting CGs. I was initially quite disappointed in the route as I felt the charm of Tokisada is that he is the 年下 character who will pout and call Olympia big sister, or ask ダメ〜？with puppy eyes. The sequel completely steered clear from this direction. However, towards the end I was accepting and also appreciating of why they chose this development for Tokisada. They choose to let him grow and tie it all back to his Christian faith: how he chooses to unapologetically and unconditionally love everyone equally, to the point of self-sacrifice.
If Riku’s route focused on family or internal affairs, as “marebito” Tokisada’s route focuses on the colour-class conflict of the island, mainly the “colourless” class. This name was given to people who were born with impure colours (e.g. a mixture of more than one) and thus, cannot belong to their original single-colour clan, and have to be stripped of their rights and banished to Yomi.
The crew run into Tomori (I know who you are now lady) but also Baraku, a “colourless” boy who harbours intense hatred for all who live above ground. Talking to Hairi and Akaza, they imply he’s been through abuse but don’t feel it’s their place to reveal what exactly. Tokisada, who has now been acting as the green clan leader for the past 2.5 years and I guess is known as the peach guy (having inherited a peach tree branch from the previous leader at the end of base game) – just like how Himuka is now the baker guy but I digress – tries to dissolve Baraku’s hatred by talking to him as an equal, and sharing peaches with him. However, Baraku is resistant and mocks Tokisada to stop wasting time and questions his intentions. He talks about killing Akaza and Hiruko (in front of Himuka), and anyone who gets in his way.
As for why he and Olympia are engaged for so long but not yet consummated the marriage, Tokisada’s reason is that he feels he hasn’t accomplished enough as green clan leader to be a worthy husband of Olympia, or son-in-law for Douma (as they have history). As an outsider, Tokisada struggles to comprehend the colour-class system, how it makes people like Baraku and Asuha accustomed to abuse and justify it because they are born with “ugly colours”. It only serves to divide people. Tokisada wants to change that.
This conflict is presented directly to Tokisada as a woman from his clan, Nishikigi, gives birth to a “colourless” son and flees the clan knowing the child would be taken away forcibly from her to Yomi, and separated forever. She begs Tokisada to banish her as well so she can stay with her child. This is considered an unorthodox decision, but Tokisada sided with the mother/child and hid them instead of banishing them, and faced tremendous pressure within the court and in public. Eventually, Shizuku (who is infertile herself, has an adoptive son Souju who is clearly of the purple clan that is supposedly extinct other than Yosuga – perhaps more in Yosuga route) from the “red purple” (I can’t every time the people in game pronounce it as the “sexy” clan… I can’t be the only one…) has graciously agreed to take in Nishikigi and her child.
Nathanael’s role in this role is again limited and serves as a catalyst for Tokisada to fight for Olympia’s attention, I guess? I’m glad they didn’t spend too much time writing a jealousy scene, because this route is already well-done without needing another cliche moment like that.
Baraku seems to be employed/manipulated by some party who is also supplying him with soul crystals. He is eating blue crystals with the delusion that just maybe he would be beautiful like those from the blue clan. He is filled with self-hate because he’s never been shown love, kindness, or grace. Tokisada makes a shocking deal with Baraku: Within a month, he will convince him to give up the idea of killing everyone. If he fails, Baraku can kill Tokisada. This seems like a crazy and unnecessary bet, but again with Tokisada’s Christian background, and the fact Baraku literally wouldn’t interact with the protagonists otherwise, it is understandable and in a way clever development as it is only doable in this route and not others (we’d look at the LI like he’s crazy). With how intense Baraku’s hatred is, Akaza shares that he was treated like an animal as a child, and abused and blamed for misfortunes that happened within his owner’s family.
To add insult to injury, Baraku mocks Tokisada for being a “failure of marebito”. Especially with Tokisada’s history in Japan and his insecurities in the base game, this wavers his resolve. He confesses to Olympia about his hypocrisy how he preaches everyone deserves to be loved without needing to prove their worth, yet he constantly feels inadequate to be Olympia’s husband or that he will not be accepted by Douma. This world is already so difficult for everyone. Being alive in itself is a feat that deserves to be celebrated.
Olympia takes Tokisada to Tennyo island. The two share a cup of tea together. Tokisada apologizes for bringing Olympia into this turmoil, to which she replies that she feels reassured and not a problem at all with the fact that Tokisada wants to face difficulties alongside her. They are a unit after all. This is also what I really like about Tokisada route is that he treats Olympia like an equal and listens to her opinions. He shares his struggles with her. He also wants to protect her, but doesn’t do stuff like “oh she is too delicate for this I won’t let her know about it and just be a lone wolf”.
Bad End 1: The endings are quite staggered this route. Olympia gets abducted by some noble on the island who wants to rape her and get her pregnant with his children. Tokisada draws his sword and kills the man to defend Olympia. However, because this is an otome game and no killing can be done or the characters are tainted forever so… (come on this is already a CERO D game can we stop using this trope)
Back to the good ending progress, the following is shared between Bad End 2 and Happy End. Tokisada tells the protagonists and not just Olympia about how he was beheaded in his previous life. He then visits Douma for the first time in 2.5 years and tells him that he does not regret protecting Nishikigi even if this is against the tradition of the island. He then shares his political foresight: The “pure-colour” clans especially blue are obsessed with inbreeding and this is causing their population to dwindle. People in Yomi ironically have better genetics due to the lack of inbreeding and obsession of keeping bloodlines pure. The population of Yomi or “colourless” is exploding and will eventually overtake the pure-colour clans, and they’re going to remember the way they were discriminated against. Hence, from a practical or moral standpoint, Tokisada is proposing change needs to happen from the island leadership. Tokisada describes a world where no child is used to being discriminated against, that no mother needs to go through the pain of being separated with her child or the child being treated as “ugly” or “inferior” by the world. Douma asks if Tokisada is going to go through this even if this drags Olympia into the mess and can cause her to suffer. Tokisada is embarrassed but replies yes, he will still choose to see his dream to fruition, with Olympia’s full support. Douma instead is impressed by this.
Eventually, the case of Nishikigi causes an explosion of discussion among the people and a public “trial” is held at the square started by Aogumo, who finds this ridiculous and wants Tokisada to step down. The tide turns as Akaza, Riku, Himuka, and Yosuga all step up to support Tokisada, making this not his lone fight anymore. What surprised me is that even Kanan was not a fan of Aogumo (I mean, if we remember Riku’s bad end) and conveniently shares with the public that Aogumo was the one who ordered “someone from Yomi” (Baraku) to assassinate Akaza. Kanan then concludes this public debate by suggesting that they bring it to Ishanaten for an official trial instead of yapping in public.
One month is up. Baraku acts as if Tokisada’s actions did not reach him and declares he will kill Tokisada now. However, as someone who’s been killed once Tokisada knows Baraku is bluffing and that deep down he is a kind and hurt soul. Baraku shares his backstory of abuse, and runs away crying saying that no one above ground including Tokisada would ever understand what he and his people have been through.
Bad End 2: Olympia gets kidnapped by the noble again, who employed Baraku to do the dirty work. Baraku’s conscience awakens at the very end and he kills the noble with his bare fists. He then turns himself in to Riku saying it’s all his doing and Olympia has nothing to do with it, asking for the death penalty…
I mean great, but where is Olympia’s batsu ability in both these endings? TF? Why she gotta just sit there and let the guys do the killing for her?
Happy End:
Kanan tells Olympia that his handgun has been stolen. Baraku storms into Akaza’s office and attempts to pull the trigger on him, but the gun was unloaded. He runs to the shore, where Tokisada/Olympia chases him. Tokisada forgives him (again in any other route I’d roll my eyes so hard but again it’s Tokisada and he’s our little angel T_T) and empathizes with what he’s been through, saying of course he has hatred because he’s been betrayed by the world including Hiruko. He takes Baraku to the peach tree and tells him he can have as many as he likes. Baraku, who is moved by Tokisada’s unconditional love and forgiveness, finally agrees to eat the peaches and open up to Tokisada.
With Baraku’s storyline resolving, we move onto the wedding half a year later on Olympia’s birthday. Olympia has a few outfits. They go to Ishanaten for the official wedding ceremony, then to the green clan where the previous leader blesses them according to the green clan tradition, then finally to Tennyo island where they spend the wedding night. Nishikigi shows up with her child and asks the two to name the child for her.
Baraku shows up and offers his congratulations as well.
Douma sends the two to Tennyo island and being the tsundere dad he is (hiding the fact he planned a lot of the wedding lol) offers his blessing to the newlyweds and entrusts his daughter to Tokisada.
After story CG is very pretty:
THOUGHTS: I’ve included my thoughts on the way describing the plot but overall I enjoyed this route a lot more than I thought I would! I think a lot of thought was put into writing this route, and it’s special to Tokisada’s character and setting. We got to see his personal growth to someone who is reliable and become the man he wished to be.
Yosuga (CV: Uchida Yuuma)
I was ready for Yosudaddy especially after being warned this is a CERO F route. TBH the route wasn’t all about “sexy times” except the opening CG.
Overall the theme of this route is “family” and is quite calm and romantic all things considered. We start this route with a loooot of PDA. Being the established man and jigoku tayuu he is, he doesn’t have any outstanding personal drama like Riku/Tokisada does and proactively proposes to Olympia on consummating the marriage in 6 months. Behind the scenes, he is deeply insecure about Nathanael’s arrival because the island people think the union between two “whites” are better. He even goes to Tsukuyomi, who tells both Yosuga and Olympia that as a deity, he knows Nathanael is not truly a “white” because Susanoo allowed him to arrive on Tenguu island past his waves. However, this reason is not enough to convince the public as in all three routes Nathanael also allowed his blood to be analyzed by the hospital who conclude his blood contains the same special properties as that of Olympia’s. Tsukuyomi reminds the two of the legend of how god created man and woman as halves that complete each other, and that if the two halves trust each other from the bottom of their hearts, there is nothing to fear. Olympia reassures Yosuga that she will take care to maintain an appropriate distance from Nathanael and try not to be with him alone in private, as his fiancee.
If there is no conflict in this game then the two just gets married, so a problem needs to be created for plot. That problem is that Aogumo is trying to prosecute Yosuga and give him the death penalty but for what? lol. Even though fortunately this was not the main conflict of the plot, it was so silly:
- I still didn’t understand what Aogumo’s accusation was. I know he is pissed that the protagonists want to abolish the colour-class system. However, this cannot be the reason for prosecution because then he has to prosecute like the entire protagonist group. Yosuga was not allowed to marry or procreate as a result of the purple clan’s history, but it was already resolved in the main game where he and Olympia were allowed to be together under the sun.
- How does Aogumo just go over the red and blue clans. Do Riku and Akaza have no say? Do Shura/Jigenn have no say? Lol who does this guy think he is?
As I pretend to take this issue seriously, Sakyou visits and drop a bombshell of a headline: Yosuga is not the last remaining survivor of purple. There is actually another child Souju who is now eleven years old that he wants Yosuga to meet. Souju was created by the coupling of red and blue people, under Sakyou’s experiments. He was raised in secret and only allowed to return to Tenguu island now. This is good news! Right?…
Unfortunately, Souju harbours a lot of hatred towards Yosuga. Having the blue clan’s bloodline, he is also able to use batsu. Souju attempts to kill Yosuga on their initial meeting, under the excuse of he needs Yosuga to “repent” for the purple clan’s sins. His real reason is that he needs crystals to cure “mother”‘s disease. Who is his mother and what disease does she have? We know from previous routes it is Shizuku but don’t know here yet.
While the protagonists try to track down Souju’s mother, Yosuga pays his future father-in-law a visit. Douma gives him a very hard time. He asks how Yosuga is going to marry his daughter if he is being prosecuted and potentially would carry the death penalty. He also asks Yosuga which role he values more, being the leader of Yomi or Olympia’s husband. I could tell Douma wished Olympia found someone else because this is such a BS question. How come he never asked Riku or Tokisada how they balance being her husband and clan leaders?? Yosuga navigates Douma’s interrogation with ease and basically says “lol I will just do both and won’t die”. Douma gets pissed and says he is a man of “small wits” (I am not sure how to translate it to English. He is not calling Yosuga stupid, but rather saying he does not have big wisdom aside from witty comebacks.)
Kuroba tells Olympia that Souju’s mother is actually an adoptive mother named Shizuku who is of the “red purple” clan. By pretending Daifuku ran into her house, Olympia finds an excuse to talk to Shizuku, who appears very gentle, weak, and feeble. She does not appear to be the person who told Souju to kill Yosuga for crystals.
An interesting little side scenario where the two run into Tsuwabuki, a girl from the yellow clan who is attending Shura’s girls’ school. Here, Yosuga also reminds Olympia that marriage is not all butterflies and glitter, and that there is a lot of suffering that women go through during childbirth (and not to mention the stigma they receive after if they don’t birth the “right colour”…). I think it’s moments like these where Yosuga shines. He is so yasashii and understanding.
Olympia goes home to Douma, who gives her more books to help her prepare her lessons at the girls’ school. Douma does not believe in the island’s popular saying “when a woman attends too much school they stop wanting to have children” and tells Olympia that the island needs to get rid of this colour-class system, or the curse of it will destroy this island and everyone on it. Olympia realizes that Douma has always raised her like a son in this regard, allowing her to read freely and learn whatever she wanted, and felt grateful.
Yosuga and Olympia visit Shizuku and Nathanael, who live in the same area. Olympia learns from Shura that Shizuku gave birth to two “colourless” children, and was thus banished from her clan. Yosuga and Nathanael have a surprisingly civil and friendly conversation. On their way back, Yosuga tells Olympia he understands how important Nathanael potentially is to her, because he himself knows what it’s like to know there is hope that someone is his family and clansmen.
Aogumo pulls up with the execution order (again how does he even get his hands on it; it’s not a fake. I don’t even) and forces Olympia to return to Tennyo island and retrieve white crystals from her deceased clanswomen?? Souju whispers to Olympia to do as Aogumo says. Olympia returns to the island and sees Tsukuyomi who gives her the crystals, telling her that all women of white die by batsu when their time has come, per island tradition. Aogumo gets his hands on the crystals. He wants to eat them (like Baraku) because he is obsessed with turning white and acquire the power of batsu. OK why not turn into blue who are the OG users of batsu… From what Kanan (who also hates Aogumo’s ass and still just wants to see the world burn) said here and there in this route, possibly Aogumo has an obsession or “love” towards Olympia… We don’t get to learn more in this route. So far this is not the most robust writing. We also don’t need yet another guy falling in love with Olympia (you will see what I mean soon) like is she the only woman on this island… Tsukuyomi appears and warns Aogumo and Souju that people do not get away with consuming white crystals. They likely will die if they try.
At this time, Souju shocks everyone by taking the crystals and fleeing. Little boy played Aogumo like a fiddle. Olympia finds Shizuku who truly had no idea that Souju plotted all of this. Shizuku confirms what Shura told Olympia, and also adds that because she had haku later on, she is now no longer able to bear children. Shizuku also agrees to step out of her shell and visit Yomi. She is shocked to see people of all colours roaming freely. She became startled at the sight of Asuha, who finds an excuse to be outside her sight as unfortunately, he is used to being viewed as ugly and discriminated against. 😦
But first date CG because we are in our CG drought era:
This felt really unnecessary. We basically confirm that Hairi has a crush on Olympia? Like isn’t he a child??? Isn’t Olympia like 21?? What is the point of this?? Just let Olympia be a sister or mother figure to him and leave it at that??
Olympia finds Touyama, who is the most experienced and senior midwife of Yomi (also the one who helped Tomori give birth to Riku), for the tea on where Shizuku’s children are, if they’re alive in Yomi. Touyama is such a sarcastic and interesting obaasan lol. She basically demands Olympia to get her some manjyuu which sold-out but fortunately Akaza gave her his portion. Touyama was then like lol I ain’t saying secrets that I promised to keep unless you literally pay 100 million (this will be referenced later). However, as a thank-you for the manjyuu she told Olympia her own life story.
Souju was found (read: captured). He is still obsessed with curing Shizuku and allowing her to birth children, and the colour she wants again. Kuroba, as an alumnus of the prestigious school Souju is accepted to, tells him directly that there is no “cure” that he is looking for and that Tsukuyomi was not bluffing. Instead, he asks Souju to look inward on his privilege of being the future leader of the purple clan on what he can do for this world and himself. Kuroba also learns of Aogumo’s motive and was like that man crazy!! Aogumo talked about Hiruko-sama, and there was a hilarious moment where Yosuga and Kuroba are like, Hiruko-sama… is currently selling bread at the square. XD
Souju is an 11-year-old boy after all. Olympia and Yosuga slowly win his affection… with a mouse?!
Aogumo continues to be into eugenics and spouts disrespectful nonsense towards Olympia such as asking her to “breed” with all sorts of men to see if the rumour of her only giving birth to “white” girls is true. And we finally got to see an angry Yosuga who beats him up.
Yosuga: “I’m a little bit upset rn”
We reach the climax of the route where Olympia brings back some cookies that Shizuku made for Souju. However, Souju finds a suspicious message from her saying “Please return the white crystal to Olympia and not leave Yosuga’s place for a while.” He says Shizuku is in danger so everyone (Olympia/Yosuga/Akaza/Riku) rushes to her place. While hiding, they see Shizuku taking the blame for Souju stealing the crystal with Aogumo. She also lies about having the crystal on her but wants to hand it to Aogumo at the cemetery where Nathanael was first taken to. Everyone follows. Aogumo threatens everyone to discard their weapons by holding Shizuku at sword point.
[This is where all three endings diverge. I played the good ending first.]
Happy End: However, Shizuku is not as feeble as she looks. She poisoned Aogumo with tea earlier which is now taking effect. Aogumo is incapacitated. Shizuku who doesn’t feel there is a point living in this world anymore with Souju going to the academy and leaving her, says she will end Aogumo’s life along with her own by jumping off the cliff. Everyone hurriedly tries to get her to calm down and stay, but it was Yosuga who surprises Shizuku by saying he has found that both her children are safe and sound in Yomi. The tide is rising. If everyone leaves Aogumo here, he would die. In exchange for his life, Aogumo agrees to take away the execution order on Yosuga and leave everyone alone. The group then also takes Aogumo to safety where he can receive judgement from Ishanaten.
Yosuga says his goodbye to Souju as he sees that Souju doesn’t want anything to do with him. Souju breaks down and cries. In those isolating 11 years he felt betrayed by this world. He asks why Yosuga never visited him once despite being his only family. (Yosuga: Bruh I literally didn’t know you were real) The two make up with Yosuga telling Souju to grow up into a good leader of the purple clan, and he will watch over him; that Souju/purple are as important as Yomi to him.
This scene pays homage to the seashells in the base game, where they finally shimmer their silvery shine under the moonlight. Later, Olympia asks Yosuga how he got Touyama to open up and whether he actually paid her 100 million. The way Yosuga replied softly “Yes I did” I replayed like 20 times… IYKYK… He is so gentle… no he didn’t actually, but he paid something that is worth more: he basically opened an obstetrics ward in Yomi so that women can access safe birthing care. Yosuga = #1 ally of women confirmed
Wedding time. I like this colour palette it really gives that underworld feel.
If Riku route’s wedding had two mommies, then we have the two daddies here for these two. Tsukuyomi also gave the two such a divine wedding blessing as he is literally a god himself loool. It just hits different.
Their wedding ceremony in Yomi takes a book out of Chinese traditional weddings where they drink the alcohol out of each other’s cups, and the huge red 囍 in the background – which is a Chinese character for “double happiness” – it’s not a Japanese kanji.
As a wedding congratulation gift, Souju gives Yosuga some special purple flowers that Shizuku grew. Yosuga starts crying because these flowers are supposedly extinct and were a symbol of the purple clan. He did not expect to see them still around in this world. Wow we got to see Yosuga get angry, beat people up, and cry in this route. Many firsts.
Tsukuyomi and Douma take the couple to Tennyo island. On the way, Tsukuyomi starts teasing Douma and spills the tea about him and Hakua HAHAHA. Olympia and Yosuga are like pls tell us more and Douma is like Hmph! and left lmaoooo
The good ending’s title is called “delicious curse”. Looks like the tale of Hades and Persephone also exists in this world. Olympia jokingly brings this up to Yosuga and says that she has eaten food in the underworld and belongs to him forever.
The after story CG. Yosuga supports Olympia in her endeavours as the leader of the mail station, teacher of the girls’ school, but jokingly asks her to not forget to spend time with her husband, awwww.
Bad End 1: Souju couldn’t control his anger or powers and attempts to use batsu against Aogumo. However, without systematic training he ends up absorbing the batsu himself and starts turning into crystal. Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done per Riku, who also warns everyone to stay clear of Souju because touching him will cause themselves to turn into crystal as well. Shizuku jumps in and decides to be with her son forever.
Bad End 2: Souju goes berserk and his batsu gets absorbed by Olympia who tries to push him out of the way. Olympia turns into a crystal. Yosuga carries Olympia to the fountain of life on Tennyo island (ok how did he not turn into crystal on the way though, let’s for argument sake say he only touched her by her clothing) but it cannot bring his lover back to life. He commits suicide.
THOUGHTS: This is by no means a perfectly written route but I am satisfied overall! There was a good balance of main plot and side storylines (that I did not include due to length) and had its lighthearted moments. I’d describe this route as not a dopamine-filled route but rather oxytocin-filled one. Yosuga is such a gentle soul who hides his kindness and emotion under his calm and friendly demeanour. He doesn’t brandish his power, never raises his voice, has empathy towards the less fortunate, and is always trying to make the world a better place. The writer again managed to showcase the charm of his personality in this sequel. I also enjoyed both bad endings. I was getting disappointed with the bad endings as I felt Tokisada’s were kind of lazy.
Kuroba (CV: Sugita Tomokazu)
I’m not sure if it was just me or Kuroba’s route was shorter than the others’. I finished in one sitting… Anyway, this is a calm route with not the most perfect writing, but better compared to the base game’s which was a landmine for many people myself included.
Again we start with a bombshell sex CG that I didn’t include here moreso because I felt the art was mid, but it was probably more R18 than Yosuga’s opening CG. Kuroba is a workaholic who doesn’t stop even after developing a cure for haku without turning the patient’s hair black. He is working on a vaccine to eradicate the disease. As a potential successor to the yellow clan, he visits Douma’s household often.
When the two bring up formalizing the marriage, Douma surprisingly gives Kuroba a hard time and reiterates with Olympia present about the story in the base game: Kuroba is the youngest and only living son of Hagane, the last yellow clan’s leader. Hagane was jealous of Douma for winning the heart of a woman from Tennyo island, and tried to force himself on Hakua (Douma’s wife, and Byakuya’s mother). Hakua did not allow him to get his way, and was killed by Hagane as a result, leading to Hagane’s three existing sons all contracting haku, with the first two dying, and Kuroba only living because he took the medicine to save his life at the cost of turning into the “worst” colour on the island: black. Douma also reveals that Hagane did not die of haku but was rather killed by his own hands to avenge his late wife. Douma is ripping the bandaid off and telling the two, if they truly want to become husband and wife, then they must view history in the fact and decide to either accept it or else…
In cliche fashion [otherwise we won’t have a route], Kuroba tells Olympia that maybe they should take a break and think about this…
Nagusa remains the antagonist this route (and he is still 🤡 from beginning to end). He has developed a makeup product that can hide even the scars from haku. He does not seem to have learned his lesson at all and still obsesses over Olympia. He insults Kuroba in front of her by saying she would not want to lay with a man of such an ugly colour, to the point Olympia had enough and was like WE HAVE SEX TYVM which sent Kuroba dying of laughter when the two were later in private lmao.
Olympia visits Tsukuyomi who again tells her that Nathanael is not a true “white” person but probably a marebito with coincidentally the same hair colour. He also tells Olympia that as a god of this universe, he created haku to punish the people’s hatred and discrimination for others. He finds it intriguing that Kuroba not only found a cure but vows to eradicate the disease. Olympia and Chigaya visit Tennyo island, where Olympia is pulled into the spring of life and relives the moment Hakua was killed by Hagane.
Finally, she visits Akaza who tells her of his plan to include people from all colours at Ishanaten and decide the island’s future and governance. Olympia teases him by saying you’re smiling too much for a “poker face”, to which Akaza replies that he has put that persona to rest.
A lot of commotion happens at the public square. The three clan leaders of red, yellow, and blue are all there. Douma suddenly announces Kuroba’s real identity and the fact he wishes Kuroba to become the next yellow leader. This catches Kuroba and the public off guard. Kuroba has not yet decided whether he wants to divert his energy to becoming a leader or continue devoting it all to his medical research; and as Yosuga points out those two require different skillsets. However, this news wounds Asuha the most. Since a child, he has looked up to Kuroba as someone who’s “made it” despite his colour. However, now with him actually being “yellow” and the son of the ex-clan leader, this takes away from Kuroba’s credibility and makes Asuha feel betrayed as a result. Asuha yells at Kuroba telling him he never wants to see Kuroba again.
Olympia reassures Kuroba that everything he achieved is from his own merit and not because people were going easy on him for his birth. Kuroba tells Olympia that Nathanael’s blood contains a certain rare element that only Olympia’s blood has, but the two’s blood is not exactly the same (I do not believe the latter half was revealed in other routes, and was leading us to believe that Nathanael is truly white).
I like Olympia in this route because she does not hesitate to communicate clearly instead of being emo by herself and playing the guessing game. At a date she confronts Kuroba on what his thoughts are on Douma’s announcement and whether he wants to be the yellow clan leader. Kuroba says that two and a half years ago, his answer would have been no. However, reflecting on his upbringing (where he entered the island academy and received a lot of discrimination, and was fortunate to find like-minded people like Akaza and Riku), he realizes that someone needs to be in a position of power to be the voice for those who are underprivileged and discriminated. This is something that only practicing medicine cannot achieve. He wants to join the path of Akaza, Riku, Yosuga, Tokisada and contribute to meaningful change to this island. Olympia smiles at his answer and tells him to go chase his dreams and become the next yellow leader.
Nagusa finds Kanan to plot against the protagonists again. However, Kanan is no longer interested. However, he says that “until the end of this world, I will play the role that is hated by her”.
This is a tidbit that is included in all routes that I haven’t mentioned. There is a bridge designing competition (between Tenguu and Tennyo islands) that Kaina wins, despite his hazushi status. Kaina wins again here. Hairi tells Asuha to stop blaming Kuroba and asks if he really thinks Kaina won because he’s also an ex-yellow clan member. Asuha admits that he knows Kaina and Kuroba are both where they are because of their own merits. Hairi tells Asuha that unfortunately, the status quo now is that people like them will be discriminated against. He tells Asuha the best way to respond to them is to shine brightly and achieve amazing things like Kuroba and Kaina, instead of sulking and feeling betrayed.
In classic men/boys fashion, Hairi and Asuha “punch” Kuroba. After the punches are thrown, they are brothers again.
Nagusa basically has a super clown plot against the protagonists that ends up with him poisoning the yellow clan’s drinking water by making it look like Hiruko/the gods are angry with Kuroba being the next yellow leader, because of his colour yadi yada. Akaza/Sakyou/Kuroba/Olympia do a bit of sleuthing and make a public announcement to the people that this is not a disease but someone poisoned the well (Kaina’s part was hilarious in this). They also hint at Nagusa that they know he is involved but will allow it to slide if he doesn’t try stuff like this again. This is because of the political pressures Akaza is already facing for trying to implement change to the hazushi laws. His political opponents won’t sit with Nagusa being convicted. Nagusa is also allowed to roam on the island without a criminal mark because his father used money to bribe the law system (again, how does this just fly over the clan leaders’ heads but OK). Meanwhile the writer is setting up for Nagusa to become forgiven in the end. His makeup powder has helped a lot of people be able to be out in the open despite their haku scars. This news even travels to Shura (who also has scars of haku).
Kuroba and Olympia spend the evening at Douma’s home. Looking outside her room window, Kuroba tells Olympia that Douma gave her the best spot to look at Tennyo island and reminds her that her father loves her more than she thinks. Olympia complains about Kuroba always pecking her on the forehead to which Kuroba replies that he wouldn’t be able to control himself if he kissed her properly (saving it for the wedding duh).
Happy End: Of course clown Nagusa doesn’t stop at their warning and kidnaps Olympia and Kaina, and threatens Kuroba to kill himself in exchange for their lives. However, he is so incompetent (probably why Kanan wanted nothing to do with his plans) that Kuroba/Kaina come out of their restraints and turn the tables on Nagusa lol.
Kuroba tells Nagusa that while he doesn’t agree with or even want to be friends with Nagusa, he understands how insecure and scared he feels for his class being “replaced” “taken over” by people of “lower colours”. He understands Nagusa has his world view which is not inferior to Kuroba’s. He asks Nagusa to have a level conversation with him and the others on equal footing and fight for what he thinks is right, as the pride of the yellow green clan.
Nagusa breaks down and (surprisingly) demonstrates a lot of self awareness. He knows he is good for nothing, and his father has been pulling the strings including faking his submission for the bridge contest by letting him take credit. He cries at the protagonists that they must think he is a joke (I mean, yeah), that he cannot achieve anything on his own, has no vision of the future, and only knows how to be mad and jealous at the protagonists… Olympia tells Nagusa that he is not good for nothing. His powder has helped many people. His existence also has meaning and that he has already made many people’s lives better.
Kuroba and Nagusa shake hands in the end, though Nagusa shouts that he will make Kuroba’s life hell and fight him on every single thing.
Kuroba makes a public announcement and officially accepts Douma’s nomination. His dream is to “not lose any more people (to disease, or genetic defects from inbreeding) on this island”.
Together, they will achieve their dream by shaping the island’s future.
Wedding day
Douma hosts the ceremony at Ishanaten, and surprises Kuroba in the end by taking him to meet Himuka I mean Hiruko, who as a god blesses Kuroba with a second yellow colour and accepts him as the leader of yellow clan.
This is one of the prettiest CGs I’ve ever seen OMG… Wedding photoshoot
Bad End 1: Aogumo’s expression and actions make this look like a yandere drama CD lol. He kidnaps Olympia…
He pulls Olympia into his embrace but kills himself with a knife while doing so framing her as the killer. As Aogumo slips towards death, he confesses he is a lowly and filthy existence. He will never have Olympia, but Olympia will surely never, ever forget him. He is sure that Kuroba and everyone will cover up what happened tonight, and wishes her a “happy life” with Kuroba… OK Aogumo definitely has some backstory but we still don’t get to learn it in this route so it’s going to be in the locked routes.
Bad End 2: “And thus, the white clan is extinct.” Wouldn’t be a Kuroba route without a double suicide bad ending lol. Kuroba stands Olympia up on a date, then meets her several hours later telling her to choose between double suicide vs. finding another husband. Nagusa’s father poisoned him so he is infertile. With Olympia’s status she cannot be with an infertile man. Olympia replies that Kuroba is her soul’s other half and that she will be his ride or die. They go to Tennyo island, where Olympia puts on her wedding dress and the two have sex in bed… before they eventually jump into the sea to meet their deaths.
THOUGHTS: Hmm despite how childish Nagusa’s plot and the two making up was, I kind of liked this route. There was no drama. Kuroba and Olympia were two mature adults who navigate their history and relationship together. Douma definitely pushed their relationship forward by exposing things under the sun and forcing them to face their fears. I especially like both bad endings. I am curious to learn Aogumo’s rationale. The double suicide ending was handled much better than the first game’s and Sugita’s acting was so good omg…
Himuka (CV: Horie Shun)
I am putting my verdict first here. I am quite disappointed in the writing in this route. Himuka again ends up being the convenient vessel to lore dump and I assume, to set up for Akaza route. The only saving graces are the art and voice acting.
1. We learn who Nathanael is:
Nathanael is a marebito and his previous self is Emperor Sutoku given they literally quote him in the route.
Sutoku’s legacy is that after his death he is said to have become a vengeful spirit, which is what his other personality is. At times, Nathanael uses a deeper voice and is seen to be in a fit of rage, talking about what “he” did to “mother”, before snapping out of it and apologizing and saying someone took over him.
Even though in real life Sutoku is actually the child of his “grandfather” who raped his mother, then on the surface said he is his “father”‘s son, my guess and likely yours too is that a god also resides within Nathanael’s consciousness and is angry at what Himuka did to Izanami. However, if you expect some deity drama in this route, you are painfully mistaken because that would be actual plot and character development in Himuka route and we can’t have that!
2. Aogumo’s backstory because why not, let’s cramp the backstory of the main antagonist in first five routes in this too:
Aogumo is the child of two hazushi. He was abducted from Yomi as a child of “blue green” because the clan leader has trouble siring children. In this route, he causes a lot of drama, including getting various young women who are not even legal (15!!!) to marry his 50-year-old dad. He is grateful for the colour caste system because without it, he would never be recognized as upper-class and have his rank in the military. Hence, he is angry that Hiruko and Akaza & co. are not actively protecting but even trying to destroy the system. At the same time, he is deeply insecure and full of self-hate because of his birth. So this is what he meant in Kuroba bad end…
To incur his downfall and trigger the good ending, Olympia needs to form an alliance with Kanan, who I like more and more in the sequel. Kanan has dirt on all the minor clan leaders and their families, including Aogumo. He tells Olympia what caused him to pull the trigger (no pun intended) is because after Aogumo’s father tried to go after a young woman of the orange clan; but also he still loves Olympia in his own way and wants to help her out.
Even though we have to make the choice of forming the alliance, Kanan actually asks for nothing in return.
3. Kanan and Hairi
So Kanan and Hairi supposedly had their memories wiped after what transpired in Himuka route in the first game. Well surprise they still have their memories. I’m not sure what the point of this is because the writer didn’t do anything with this. Izanami/fountain of death was quiet this entire route. Might as well made them lose their memories?…
Anyway, Aogumo blackmails Hairi to do his bidding (to kill Himuka with batsu to protect the caste system because he truly believes he is too “filthy” as a colourless to marry Olympia) by threatening to tell Kaina that Hairi killed his dead lover (and he ended up doing this anyway, only Kaina forgave him) and Asuha about Hairi’s double identity. Hairi supposedly served time in prison but for some reason he doesn’t have the mark of crime, because he was an ex-executioner? I don’t know why.
Hairi and Kanan both hate Aogumo and want to kill him. Even Souju, who is sick of Aogumo insulting Shizuku over and over, goes to Olympia and asks for an alliance to kill Aogumo. Kanan shoots Aogumo several times and Hairi attempts to use batsu on him. When Kanan finally finds the resolve to shoot Aogumo at the centre of his chest, Olympia jumps out and literally attempts to block the shot…………………….. yeah by how many periods I typed you know how I feel about this. Anyways, Aogumo lives on in the good ending. Given the things that transpired and political sensitivity, Aogumo is only said to quit the military on his own notice and no further actions were taken. Wow, he literally tried to murder Himuka, Akaza (by ordering Baraku), a pair of young lovers (because he wanted the girl to marry his dad), but OK privilege is real I guess.
Finally, Yosuga apparently knows all of this as Aogumo was a child of Yomi, but didn’t tell anyone including Akaza, and not even Olympia in his own route? I find this kind of crazy. Aogumo was taking out an execution order on Yosuga, and he didn’t think for one second, wait, I have dirt on this guy? Major plot hole.
4. Finding Himuka
No, really. Where is Himuka in his own route? He has no character development whatsoever. At the end of the base game Himuka gains a real human body, and tells Olympia that the era of the gods is over. He attempts to repent for his sins of not realizing the damage of the colour system to this island sooner. His heartstrings are pulled every time a pair of lovers had to separate or even commit double-suicide because they felt there was no other way out (similarly in the base game, a pair of lovers committed suicide and left a note saying they are sorry for betraying the god Hiruko by falling in love with each other).
Himuka could probably be removed from all the major events (expect the oh so brave moments that Olympia declared “but Himuka has a beautiful soul!” and protected him in front of the gossipy townspeople) that transpired in this route and nothing would change. We are literally seeing an extension of the common route, where it’s everyone else’s business, then Himuka aka Tenguu Jesus jumps out and tells the victims “It’s okay, change will happen! You are allowed to love who you love! You can’t change that!” It got old after like, 4 times. That’s why I am able to get away with using point form and not even writing the plot because there is a lot of overlap with previous routes, and frankly irrelevant to Himuka as a character. I honestly would much rather read a route where he and Olympia bake bread for 6 hours…
5. Bad Endings and oh my god what did you guys do to Hairi
Bad Ending 1: Himuka dies in the crossfire.
Olympia eats his bones despite Tsukuyomi telling her that the saying where you eat a deceased loved one’s bones to make your wish come true is a myth. Because what else can she do. It is also implied that this time, Olympia/Amaterasu will be the one who curses the world.
Bad Ending 2: Hairi blocks Aogumo’s hit for Olympia in the crossfire and dies in front of her. He confesses to her (but takes it back because he’s a little tsundere) and kisses her on the lips with his last breath.
So, I know this was already hinted in Yosuga’s route. Again, I am mad that they chose to make Hairi have romantic feelings for Olympia. He is literally a child. He’s like 14 max! I know they wanna make use of Kobayashi Chiaki’s voice and the CG is gorgeous but I just can’t… so unnecessary…
6. Good ending aftermath and CG dump (thank you Satoi)
Himuka decides to take leadership of Hokaze area which has no restriction on what colour the inhabitants are. Tsukuyomi hosts their wedding at Ishanaten.
Himuka reveals his real identity to Shura and Jigen, but really just Shura as Jigen knows Himuka is Hiruko (and told Olympia in the route that “god has become a man, and to marry a human girl”). However, to the public Douma declares that he has talked to Hiruko who has provided his blessing to this union, and told the townspeople to shut up.
Akaza (CV: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu)
Buckle up because this is the truth route which is like double the length of all other routes. Other LIs never had a chance… This is hands down the best route out of both games in terms of plot and that destined feel, and a beautiful finale to the sequel.
Bedside the sea, Jigen asks Akaza why he wants to be the leader of “red” and tells him that before he has an answer, he will not give up his position to him. (I mean, can’t he just answer to change the island..?)
We then get a cozy CG of Akaza who stayed the night at Olympia’s cottage. He even made her breakfast the next morning, aww. Akaza brings up to Olympia first that he wants to marry her in half a year on her birthday.
Olympia tells Jigen (who has a cute blushing sprite) and Douma separately. She asks Douma about what Hakua was like, and what she liked. Douma gets flustered and tells her to “go back to your room” LOL
The story of this route revolves around Nathanael, or rather, whoever is under Nathanael’s skin. On the surface, he seems like a refined, timid person of education and status. However, at times he continues to let the mask slip. When he is Nathanael/Sutoku, he uses watashi to refer to himself, but when he is ??? he uses ore. Olympia also encourages people to call him Aki, which is the name he remembers [Sutoku’s posthumous name is Akihito], instead of Nathanael, the lover to Olympia in the story – this was a twisted idea of Aogumo’s which was explored in Himuka’s route: he desired Olympia, but felt not worthy of her, hence wanted to live through “Nathanael” to fall in love and destroy “Olympia” like the story.
Aki, Tokisada, and Olympia get invited to Ebisu tower (Kanan’s place) where Aki shows interest in a butterfly-shaped container for Buddhist scriptures. He seems to recall that he died by a sword in his previous life. He again briefly goes into his vengeful, angry personality briefly. Olympia and Akaza agree that something is up and that Aki should not be left alone.
Olympia visits Tsukuyomi who begrudgingly accepts the man who looks like Susanoo is chosen by his beloved Olympia to be her husband. He gives her an elaborate hairpiece as a betrothal gift and says it will be of use to her someday. He also tells Olympia that Aki is not “white”, however, “his fate lies within your hands”.
We have a little friendship interlude. Akaza takes the day off to have a date with Olympia, then the two run into Riku who invites Akaza to go fishing together. Sensing that Akaza has not hanged out with his friend for a long time, Olympia considerately proposes that the three go together. Akaza tells Olympia about how Riku entrusted him with the secret that he is the child of hazushi, and how this was the seed that prompted Akaza to reflect on the colour-caste system and whether it is really necessary for this island. It is a childhood promise between the two boys to one day stand next to each other in Ishanaten as leaders of their clans. Akaza tells Olympia that “people want to treasure, to protect, to be next to, to feel, to make someone else happy. These emotions should never be the basis of crime or cause anyone to lose their life.”
Steamy CG because we gonna be running plot for pretty much rest of the route:
Akaza loves watching Olympia’s sleeping face:
Olympia and friends frequently visit Aki, sometimes under the guise of matchmaking his mouse Mukurogi with Kanaria’s Juliet. Aki warms up to them and confides that he feels the other personality in him seems to have intense hatred for this island. However, when Akaza listed the names of the gods of this island, he does not recognize any of them.
On their way back Akaza and Yosuga share an interesting childhood story together. Again, they mention going to the palace of the dead as children and the saying that eating the deceased’s bones will grant you a wish. Yosuga added that right before he was going to eat the bones, he got grossed out and didn’t want to get sick, so stopped. Akaza seems to be having a headache and appears uncomfortable, but tells the two he is fine.
Akaza and Olympia ask Tsukuyomi on how to talk to Susanoo and ask him why he let someone like Aki, who at times wants to destroy the island, through. Tsukuyomi says there is no other way other than to let Susanoo awaken within Akaza himself, as Susanoo is just a soul without flesh. The two go to seaside and yell at Susanoo, who does not answer but washes a little bottle on shore. The bottle contains a letter from the girl in Tokyo that was Olympia’s penpal in the first game.
Aki comes over to Yosuga’s place and immediately notices the secretive door behind which Tsukuyomi lives. Tsukuyomi agrees to meet him. Unfortunately, Tsukuyomi can’t figure out who is the other personality within Aki, and only suggests to talk to Olympia more. He tells Aki briefly about what happened in the base game Akaza route and said Olympia is a girl who can turn “curses into blessings”.
The next day, the crew heads out to sea. On the way, Aki asks everyone what their mothers were like. Olympia tells the story of Hakua’s death. Aki appears sympathetic and asks if she wants revenge. Olympia is like well Hagane is dead. Aki says okay does he have children, they should pay the price for their father. Olympia says she doesn’t think the children are responsible. Aki disagrees and insists the children are responsible. He then alludes to his own life and vows to never forgive the cruel world that did not forgive him and killed him. Olympia isn’t sure which personality he is talking from. Olympia tries to clarify and asks Aki who his enemies are, to which ?Aki replies:
He then has another rant. He crosses over to the other personality as this person does not even remember who Douma is – who provided him lodging when he arrived on the island, before snapping out of it. The group advises Aki to turn back as he appears unstable, but he insists on going to the palace of the dead. Unsurprisingly he has another fit there and passes out.
Sakyou and Aogumo are finding Aki a “housekeeper” but they need to be female. Of course they’re actually finding women to bear his children to experiment on what colour of babies they can make. Sakyou tells Olympia that Aki himself consented so she couldn’t complain. Yosuga gets very angry and eventually Kuroba confronts Aki, who explains that he thought this was his only way of repaying the kindness of being allowed to live on the island. Weird but okay…
Unfortunately the situation is so fucked up that even married women are going to his place. Olympia also sees flame-red butterflies coming out of Aki’s house, who look like the green butterflies she sees at Tsukuyomi’s place. Mukurogi tells the group through Kanaria’s interpretation that Aki is no longer himself. He woke up last night and said “at last, I’ve returned…”
Olympia asks Tsukuyomi again who goes like bruh idk why don’t you ask my dear old brother Hiruko. So the group goes to Himuka who says he isn’t sure either, but is probably someone who was not human aka a god. After everyone else has left, Himuka recalls that Aki has a magical mouse and says “wait, could he be…”
The married woman from “red” who laid with Aki contracts a mysterious disease and is hospitalized. Olympia’s group all came into close contact with Aki but none of them is sick. Later, Akaza’s secretary gets the same disease. Aogumo stirs chaos and calls this Hiruko’s punishment to this island because Akaza is promoting abolishment of the colour system. He then openly asks Akaza and Douma if Hiruko is even real, as Douma is supposedly the only one who can hear his voice, what if it’s just Douma making things up? Douma is angered, but replies he can bring Aogumo to hear for himself. Eventually, this attendance became expanded to representatives from every single colour class including Yomi.
The next day at noon, everyone went to Ishanaten. Himuka sits behind the curtains and helps Akaza out in his way (wow, wouldn’t it be great if he just did this in his own route instead of empty promises and self-pity). As Hiruko, he clarifies that the disease is not a punishment to Akaza or anyone. He encourages the people of the island to unite together against this challenge.
The leaders including a reluctant Aogumo relay this message to the people. However, Jigen vomits blood and evidently is the next victim of the disease. Douma takes Jigen in. As an ex-Onmyouji he recognizes this “disease” as a curse. There are only two ways to end a curse: to kill the person who cast it, or make them withdraw it. In the end, Douma tells Olympia that it is easy to call oneself the “leader of white” but now is the time to show her resolve and step up.
For all the ass the people kissed Nathanael in the first five routes, they start to turn on him and wonder if he is the source of the curse. However, before Akaza could respond, Souju comes and asks the group to go to Hokaze quickly. There, they see the houses being infested with red butterflies that ate away Shizuku’s beloved flowers. The butterflies are immune to fire. (Hint to who Aki’s double personality is!) The group finds Aki?, who nonchalantly replies those butterflies don’t live long and that he needs to go back to writing scripture.
Himuka figures out who this deity is behind Nathanael/Aki: Kagutsuchi, the god of fire. He says that Amaterasu probably took pity on this little brother and called for him to return, hence Susanoo let him past the waves at her request. Himuka senses that the souls of the people who are cursed are under Kagutsuchi’s control, yet they are still connected to the flesh. Himuka says it is crucial that the souls do not let go of their corporeal body or there will be no return.
Kuroba also reports back that the woman is now in better condition at the hospital, but all she will say is “I must dedicate all my love to Him…” which is an odd expression because usually people just say “I must love him” but here it is implied that this “Him” is a higher being, and this is not simple romantic love.
The people of red are now convinced that Aki is behind everything and asking Akaza to support them in killing him, believing that everything will be restored to normal if this outside is dead. While Aki is suspicious, there is no concrete proof. Akaza does not want to set a dangerous precedence:
The group goes to find Aki only to see Kanan at the entrance trying to take a girl from orange, who is clearly infatuated with “Nathanael” and chanting the same words, home. They talk to a sad Aki who says his life is in their hands; if they wish to kill him thinking this will lift the curse, then so be it. He talks about his tragic life as Sutoku and gives up on living. Akaza and Olympia spare his life.
They then go to Tsukuyomi who tells Olympia she already has the item to solve this dilemma. The hairpiece that he gave her in the beginning is Amenoohabari, aka the sword that Izanagi cut off Kagutsuchi’s head off with, in another form. Tsukuyomi tells Olympia that this can turn into any item she wishes, but only once. If she chooses wrongly, then the world will sink into eternal darkness.
The night before the finale, Akaza confides into Olympia that when he and Yosuga went to the palace of the dead as children, he did end up eating a piece of marebito bone. This was when Riku’s “mother” died and Riku had that confession with him. He also tells Olympia that he has been afflicted with the curse for longer than all those other victims. Those were his headache attacks. At times his vision becomes bloody red. He went to the hospital who couldn’t find anything wrong with him physically. He asks Olympia that if at one point she had to choose between his life and this island, he asks her to protect the island.
More and more people are afflicted by the curse which is now spreading to the entire island. The group goes to Aki’s residence whose owner is done pretending and says he has “collected enough curses and hatred” and is basically ready to transform into his final form. Kagutsuchi says Sutoku offered his body as his vessel to end this world and carry out his revenge. As he leaves, all the paper scriptures light on fire in the room. Kagutsuchi turn to Akaza and says “Susanoo, I await you at the palace of the dead.” An earthquake erupts and the island where the palace is located has a volcanic eruption.
Tsukuyomi meets the crew on their way to the palace. The only way to access the island through Kagutsuchi’s flames and heat is for Susanoo to take over Akaza’s body. He also gives Daifuku a peach that is grown from water from the spring of life. He tells Akaza to not let go of his soul and the point of all his friends and lover going with him is to help anchor his soul within his flesh.
Akaza goes to a hair salon and cosplays as Susanoo:
The group enters the cave who is now a living hell with flames. They encounter the women who are infatuated with Kagutsuchi who breathe out cursed flame butterflies from their mouths, chanting how they will devote their love to their god:
Kuroba volunteers to stay behind while the rest proceed.
They then see Baraku and Aogumo (aka Hairi and Kanan version 2) with markings on their forehead and controlled by Kagutsuchi, who transforms. I now understand why they asked Hosoya Yoshimasa to voice him …
Kagutsuchi seems to harbour guilt towards Izanami and wants to finish what she was not able to accomplish in the first game. Assuming the myths are identical on Tenguu/Japan, Kagutsuchi was literally an incarnation of fire and that killed Izanami by burning when giving birth to him. Izanami was separated from Izanagi, who later went to the underworld to find her. Izanami made Izanagi promise to not look back at her appearance before they returned to the land of the living, but Izanagi broke it and was scared by Izanami’s ugliness and fled. Izanami became angry and ascended as the goddess of death and destruction.
Kagutsuchi tells Akaza the bones he ate as a child belonged to Sutoku, which is the beginning of this curse, awakening Kagutsuchi and allowing him to come back with Sutoku’s flesh as a vessel. He then starts torturing all of Akaza’s friends in front of him and Olympia. As his best friend, Riku was wounded the most. They cannot harm Kagutsuchi with mortal weapons because he is a god.
At this point I actually thought Riku died when the narrator said “and he became motionless” and was like no way… did they actually kill off a character (before coming to my senses and realizing this is an otome game)
Himuka/Hiruko steps out and keeps Riku’s soul (that jawline tho) within his body, thus Riku alive. Kagutsuchi tries to provoke Hiruko by saying he is the only one with the power to destroy him, as the oldest, ugliest, and most powerful sibling of them all. Himuka refuses but says he will not let his friends die. He also addresses Kagutsuchi directly and reminds him that they are brothers.
Akaza’s sword glows – Susanoo has blessed it with the power to wound a deity. With the support of his friends and Olympia, Akaza holds onto his soul and identity for the final battle.
I was flying through this part but probably because there was some curse in Susanoo’s right eye (lol sorry), there was a CG where Susanoo plucked out his eye and positioned his sword towards Kagutsuchi. Susanoo tells Kagutsuchi that he is gravely mistaken for thinking Izanami wanted the world to end.
This briefly startles Kagutsuchi but he remains fixated on the fact that Akaza “took” away the only opportunity for him to repent for his sins, and earn mother’s “forgiveness”. He knocks out Susanoo/Akaza as well. Only Olympia, the girl who looks like Amaterasu, stands before him.
Olympia closes her eyes and recalls Tsukuyomi’s words that Amenoohabari is the key to solve all of this, but she only has one shot at deciding what it turns to. She makes a wish.
The world quietens.
The two are transported to a place where only clouds lazily roam in the sky, leaving both confused.
Kagutsuchi: Girl, what did you just do?
Olympia: I didn’t do anything. All I did was make a wish.
She shows Kagutsuchi Amenoohabari, telling him that Tsukuyomi entrusted it to her.
Kagutsuchi: All I see in your hands is a fan, not a sword.
Byakuya: I use this item not to destroy you. I use it only to pray for you. So that you can feel my wishes for you.
Kagutsuchi: … Pray?
As Byakuya dances for Kagutsuchi, wishing to cleanse to hatred in his heart, Aki smells a familiar scent – the same herbal concoction that Yosuga made for Aki when he told him that he had trouble sleeping.
Byakuya: Amaterasu told you that it was not your fault, right?
Kagutsuchi: ……
Byakuya: Hence, you came from the other side of the sea.
Kagutsuchi: … No, it was all my fault. I burned my Mother to death. Because of me, she lost her beloved husband, became the ugliest being in this world, and ended up cursing the universe. I took away everything from my Mother… That’s why I wanted to repent.
Kagutsuchi: Why… was Susanoo forgiven? He insulted Amaterasu so badly.
Byakuya: Kagutsuchi-sama, will you stay in these seas and protect us?
Byakuya: Are you not… lonely all by yourself?
Byakuya: It is the duty of clan of “white” to express appreciation for the gods, after all. Amaterasu would have liked this for you too.
Daifuku pops out and gives Kagutsuchi the peach and says in mouse-language that his clan also welcomes him to the island too, and that the peach is a gift from Tsukuyomi.
The sun shines ever so brightly. Aki wakes up and says he does not feel Kagutsuchi anymore. He thanks Olympia and Daifuku for his short but memorable time on the island where he got to experience friendship and make memories together.
Olympia returns to her world. The palace returns to normal. Everyone is wounded, but alive. Aki is nowhere to be found. From the volcanic eruption, a new island is formed, with a tiny sprout of peach tree.
The camera pans to modern day Tokyo, where “a certain writer” talks to his assistant about his story and the girl who has been exchanging letters through the floating bottle with Olympia.
The wedding commences. I love how this route makes us relive many classic lines between Akaza and Olympia in the first game.
Happy Akaza!! Himuka also comes out and says since the rainbow rain before this game, Amaterasu is already satisfied so she lifted the curse that “white” woman can only bear white children. So we actually don’t know and await eagerly to find out what colour their babies will be! Regardless of what colour, they will be loved.
After the two are delivered to Tennyo island, Olympia receives a congratulations from an unexpected penpal (as well as Susanoo who brought the letter):
To those who regarded me as a friend,
How are you? I am currently in “Tokyo”. Even though this is still part of “Japan”, it is very different from the Japan I know.
I was found unconscious by the sea again. As I thought that this is truly the time I meet my end, surprisingly not this time either.
Did Mukurogi marry the lady mouse? Please tell him I am doing alright.
I am learning how to bake bread and searching for good hamburger stores here. “Tokyo” has many ice cream stores. I with I could buy them for Tokisada to try.
I am getting more into incense but have yet to find the same scent that I experienced on the island. However, I enjoy the process of refining my incenses to recreate the scent while reminiscing my times there.
Olympia and Akaza, it’s going to be your wedding day soon, right?
As I extend my fishing line, I genuinely pray for both of your and this island’s happiness.
– Akihito
To collect all the CGs, you must read all the short stories (not just the after stories of LIs) which will unlock Tsukuyomi’s letter. Then, upon returning to the homescreen the “final scene” will play. Ten years after what transpired in Akaza route, Kagutsuchi awakens from his slumber and decides to stay on the island. As to who woke them up? Akaza and Byakuya’s two beautiful children.
Bad End 1: Kagutsuchi mind controls Byakuya to join his harem but he’s still empty inside.
Bad End 2: Byakuya gives into hatred and tries to destroy Kagutsuchi, who feeds on hatred and curses. And we get a 3P ending among the sibling gods??? Staying true to mythology I guess???
Final Thoughts
I feel all the boredom including the disaster that is Himuka route can be forgiven because of the finale in Akaza’s route. I’m so happy this was a sequel and not a simple rabu-rabu FD because the writer told a compelling story. I got goosebumps when Byakuya danced for Kagutsuchi, going back to how the game started with her dancing to Amaterasu. She may be naive, childish, and privileged, but she truly is the chosen one who turns curses into blessings.
Does the game have flaws? Of course. There are plot holes. There are times where the characters talk too much and do too little. However, overall this is a very well-done game and a strong start to the year of otome gaming.
Character ranking: Yosuga > Riku > Akaza > Tokisada > Kuroba > Himuka
Game rating: 9/10
otome hitorigoto 