Hakuoki: Harada's Story

Fell for 3 guys out of 6 so far. Who will be the next guy I fall for... *cough* I mean Chizuru falls for. ^_^"

For my 4th playthrough, I decided to follow Harada's story. From previous playthroughs, he's portrayed as the most friendly of your potential lovers, and is also very popular with the ladies.

To get onto Harada's path, you have to choose "attempt to explain my situation", and then choose "gave up". Harada says how he likes the determination in Chizuru's eyes (love animation), and gets into a stance as if he's going to cut her down. Saito stops him, saying that they have not finished discussing what they should do with her. Harada says he knows, and just wanted to play with a girl that has so much guts to call for the captains of the Shinsengumi, and then submit to her fate. Of course, Heisuke and Nagakura are surprised Chizuru is a girl, etc.

***BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD!***

Hakuoki: Heisuke's Story

So I finished by 3rd playthrough of Hakuoki! Can you tell how much I love this game? I decided to go after Heisuke for my 3rd playthrough. When I first looked at the art, I didn't like Heisuke at all. He looked too much like Goku from Saiyuki (mostly because of the eyes). However, after playing through Hakuoki the first time, I really liked Heisuke's personality, and I couldn't wait to play through his story after I finished Okita's.

When you arrive at your first option, choose "attempt to explain my situation". Conversation happens, and Heisuke is all like "a man should just admit to his fate" or something like that. Then choose "tell them that I wasn't a boy", and that really shuts up Heisuke for saying what he did. Strangely enough, you get a love animation. He's also the only one that makes you call him by his first name, since he prefers being called by his first name, and Chizuru is close in age with him anyway.

***BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD!***

Hakuoki: Okita's Story

So I'm off to fall in love with another guy in Hakuoki. This time, I picked Okita Souji because he's one of the first guys you meet in the game. Since there are many times when he's with Saito, I thought that he wouldn't be too different from Saito, other than that he talks a lot more. I was so wrong on this one. (Note: all pics are taken straight from the opening.)

For Saito, he would never say anything to hurt Chizuru because he always chooses his words carefully, and he gets unexpectedly romantic near the end (after chipping away the ice to uncover all the warm fuzzies).

All I can say about this pic of Saito is "rawr" *blush*

Okita, on the other hand, is actually pretty mean in a teasing kind of way, but that kind of personality gets me agitated, confused, and flustered all at the same time though. When you get to your first option, I chose "find a way to escape". Of course, if you try to escape, then they'll kill you. So Okita is all like "It looks like we'll have to kill you now", and Chizuru says "just do it then", since she did break her promise, and then Okita laughs it off saying that he didn't mean to frighten her and be so mean. I then get a love animation with him. Seriously?! I get a love animation for telling him to kill me. This already sounds like a strange relationship.

***BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD***

Hakuoki: Saito's Story

Last week, I finally got the chance to play Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~ after it had been sitting on my shelf for a good 2-3 months. This is the second Otome game I've played, the first one being Princess Debut on the DS (which I will eventually finish someday).

*This pic is from the Hakuoki fankit at www.hakuoki.com

Hakuoki takes place during the rise and fall of the Shinsengumi between 1864 to 1868. You see the growth of the Shinsengumi from being a group of unappreciated samurai keeping the peace to protecting the shogun to eventually being wiped out by Western weapons, such as guns and cannons, rendering the way of the sword as useless. Beware though, this game is text heavy to explain the history, but you can skip through text you've seen before when you play through it again.

The story of Hakuoki follows the main female protagonist, Yukimura Chizuru (her first name can be changed, but not her family name). She had been sending letters to her father who is in Kyoto, but stopped receiving replies from him all of the sudden. She gets worried about her father and decides to leave Edo for Kyoto. Having heard stories of Kyoto being a dangerous place, she dresses herself up as a boy. Once she gets there, she is suppose to meet up with her father's friend, Matsumoto. Unfortunately, he just left town a few days prior and won't be back for quite awhile. Chizuru is upset since she had sent a letter to him beforehand that she would be arriving in Kyoto, but it seems like he left before he even received her letter.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hey everyone, I hope you all treated your mother to something special today.

For Mother's day, I went with my family and a few relatives to visit my grandparents on my mother's side at the cemetery. It's actually been my first time to see their gravestones since their passing. My mom always brought flowers and soil, but I got to see first hand what they do every year for Mother's day (and I suspect it's not that different for Father's day). I asked my mom to guide me through what my sister and I should be doing to properly pay respects. I should mention that I'm half-Chinese, and that half comes from my mom. 

Sakura Kara no Tegami

About a month or two ago, I watched this AKB48 drama called Sakura Kara no Tegami. It's basically about a portion of the AKB girls in their last year of high school and they need to figure out what they want to do in the future. Usually, the homeroom teacher helps them out, but their homeroom teacher is very distant from them, and everyone thinks that he doesn't care about anyone except a dying Sakura tree in the middle of the school grounds, which is a symbol of the school and the reason why the students are called Sakura maidens (it's an all-girl school by the way). 

What causes the lives of these girls to be shaken is that their homeroom teacher suddenly announces that he will no longer be their homeroom teacher because he has pancreatic cancer. Of course, the girls don't really care that he's no longer their homeroom teacher because he didn't do much for them in the first place, but what shakes them up is the personalized letter that he gives to each of them that he says might be his will. Some try to read the letters, but can't understand the message, and the others stuff it in their bags. 

Throughout the series, you eventually find out one by one what the letters mean and how they end up solving the problems of each girl and guiding them to who they should be or what they should do. You even find out why the homeroom teacher was so distant, and his strained relationship with his daughter. When the girls realize how much their homeroom teacher did pay attention to them, they wanted to repay him somehow. During this time, the principal decided to cut down the Sakura tree becomes it seems like it's dead. However, the students do their best to protect it and make it grow before graduation. They try everything to revive the tree, but with no success. So they decide to make Sakura flowers and stick it on the tree to make it appear as if it is in full bloom. Their homeroom teacher is wheelchaired to see their work and he is proud of every one of them. He then passes away a few days later, leaving his students changed for the better. Eventually, the Sakura tree does come back to life again and all the students come to visit it and reminisce about their last year in high school. You can check out all 17 episodes (which vary from 5 mins to 1 hour in length) subbed at vid48.com (starting from page 3).

Formspring Question

I received a Formspring question a few months ago asking the following: "How hard was it to learn a new song and dance in Japanese for you?" I tried to answer this on Formspring, but I have a lot to write about, so I think it's better that I make a blog post about it.

The simple answer is that it's pretty difficult. Japanese is not my mother tongue, but I really like the language. When I listen to a new song that I want to learn, I often don't pay enough attention to the words themselves. If I did, I would understand the context a lot better from the start. ^_^" It's something I need to work on and pay attention to, but it often slips my mind because I'm so into the music of the song. In terms of which is more difficult to memorize between the lyrics and the dance moves, it would have to be the lyrics hands down. It's usually what slows me down and takes the most time for me to learn. 

When it comes to learning a new dance, it's always difficult to follow at first. You have to first start in the right position and then remember which arm or leg moves first, etc. However, when the dance is broken down step-by-step, it becomes a lot easier to follow (watching videos at half speed help a lot). The tricky thing about learning dances is that it is not as simple as it looks. Often times, I replicate the moves as I see them, but they don't look the same as what the original dancers are doing. A good example of this is in my cover of Majide Suka Ska! where in the beginning part, I have to first put both hands on my hips and then both hands behind my back. But when I watch my cover, both parts look exactly the same. This was because I didn't practice in front of a mirror. 

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 12

It's the final episode. What does everyone think about math now?

Nina is confused why her sister, Machida Kina, is here. Kina explains that she's here to fight Nina. Kina explains to Kazuki and Sayuri that Nina came to this school to find Kina and find out what happened to her after she became Math Boss. Nina is still confused and Kina says that she wants to rule over all the mathematicians in the world. (What? Why?) Kina wants to wipe out all the math schools using her position as Math Boss, even this one. Kina didn't want any mathematician to get in her way of ruling the world.

Nina is in shock. The sister she knew would never act like this. She would be so happy and excited about math, but the person she's looking at has dead eyes. Kina says it looks like she has to fight Nina and destroy her. Nina accepts the challenge and will defeat this impostor. Kina is so confident that she'll win that she tells Nina that this will be her last battle.

Team Nina and Kina are in a classroom, where Kina explains that the book she's holding holds 1200 years of math history, including 20,000 math problems that have been unsolved during all those years. Kina says that she'll choose a random unsolved math problem and Nina accepts. The problem Kina chooses is "Clearly prove that 1 + 1 = 2". Kazuki comments saying that everyone knows that answer is correct, but how would you go about proving it.

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 11

This episode starts right away with the results of the second round of poker where Reiko has 3 queens, Nina has a pair of jacks, Sayuri has a pair of 9s, but Kazuki has a lonely 8. Reiko wins the second round. Team Nina feels very defeated at the moment. How can they win at this rate?

Nina knows that their approach of trying to win with 2 pairs is not working. She knows that they need Kazuki to pick a card that either matches Nina's or Sayuri's cards. Reiko discards one card. 

Nina then realizes that the suit of the card (hearts, spades, diamonds or clubs) is just as important as the denomination of the card. They would have the highest chance to get a flush if they all have cards from the same suit. Nina discards a 7 of spades and king of clubs. Nina then picks up 2 cards, from her face, it looks like she's got 2 cards from the same suit. Sayuri tries to figure out why Nina would discard both cards, and comes to the conclusion that Nina is aiming for a flush. Sayuri discards a 7 of diamonds and looks at Nina for reassurance. Nina nods and says to herself that they are going for a flush of hearts. Nina and Sayuri both stare down at Kazuki hoping he'll understand, but Kazuki ends up changing cards in panic.

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 10

3 more episodes left! Let's do this.

The episode starts out with Kazuki's monologue (it's been awhile since the last time an episode was introduced like this), where he talks about how time has flown, and that he's getting over his fear of math, but that everything is going to crash because of one girl. (Is he talking about the girl at the end of the last episode?)

The male teacher introduces a new transfer student whose name is Shirokane Reiko (played by Mano Erina, the only soloist in Hello! Project). She enters via red carpet put out for her by her assistant Meguro Yuu (played by Miyamoto Karin, one of the most well-known H!P eggs). Reiko has a very haughty, royalty type personality and way of speaking and says that she entered this school because of her love for math. Kazuki feels that Reiko wouldn't fit in with their class, and Reiko is already picking a fight with Nina through fiery eye contact, causing a thunderstorm to suddenly start. 

Reiko: Fear my flaming eyes!

Suddenly, the male teacher calls for a class meeting during break time. Reiko announces that there are changes to the school regulations. Everyone in class doesn't understand what's going, including Mami. Reiko explains that there are things that she can't stand in this school, so she wants to get rid of them. Sayuri asks how is she even allowed to do this? Reiko is super rich because of her father's company and her father will do anything that she asks him to. Reiko says that she's studied up on the school before coming and has a list of things to be banned including dialects (which Nina uses quite often), saying that everyone needs to speak beautiful Japanese like her (although, Kazuki is quick to point out that she doesn't speak that beautifully). 

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 9

Let's keep on going!

This episode starts off with Nina wondering about what she saw last time concerning her older sister. Nina is sure that's it's her, but if it was why didn't her sister say anything to her. Nina decides to stop thinking about it or else she'll go crazy trying to figure it out. In the meantime, Mami is trying to get Kazuki and Sayuri to read this "romantic" novel that has a thief, a princess and a detective in it. She's in love with what she thinks is a romantic line, but Sayuri says it's just cheesy because Mami only reads detective novels, so she doesn't know what love is all about. Mami says that Sayuri never had a boyfriend so what does she know. Sayuri says that she just can't get one and points the finger at Mami saying that she's learning about love through books. Mami retaliates saying that she could get a boyfriend anytime she wanted to, but Sayuri doesn't think so. Nina tells them to cut it out.

The episode cuts to Mami reading her favourite part to Kazuki and Sayuri, but they are both sleeping. Right when she's about to get to the key part, the male teacher walks in with another guy. Mami completely falls for this new guy, named Imawaka, who is going to a be a student teacher. He introduces himself and asks everyone to call him "Waka-sama". That's just... wrong... Anyway, Mami gets up and removes her elastic to show off her long hair. This is a big case, Mami's heart has been stolen!

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 8

5 episodes left to watch and review! I wonder what math problems are waiting to be solved. :3

This episode starts out with Nina and Sayuri fighting. Supposedly, Sayuri threw the mentaiko bread to Nina, but it ended up flying out of the window instead. Sayuri was just trying to help, but Nina is upset with her. Sayuri ends up saying a whole bunch of mean things about Nina and Nina says Sayuri should apologize to the god of mentaiko. ^_^" (Even though her bread was safe and sound on the window ledge. @.@) Since Sayuri stormed off, Kazuki runs after her and ends up following Sayuri into the "Elite Area". Sayuri wants Nina to apologize to her, but doesn't at the same time since that would be so unlike Nina and Sayuri doesn't want to see that kind of Nina. (What complicated feelings, eh?)

Once Sayuri actually lifts her head and clears her mind a bit, she realizes that they are in forbidden territory, but Kazuki is confused. They try to leave, but get caught in the process by 3 elite students, who are Yotsuya Yuko (played by Hagiwara Mai from ºC-ute), Komaba Satoko (played by Nakajima Saki, also from ºC-ute) and Mita Tomoko (played by Okai Chisato, also from ºC-ute --> This means that all members from ºC-ute have been featured in Suugaku Joshi Gakuen!)

These elite students have classical music playing behind them and lift their glasses with their index finger one by one, saying how they don't permission to be in this special area of the school. Kazuki is still confused and Sayuri begins to explain that the school is divided into Inner Circle and Outer Circle. The elites are part of the Inner Circle and they are very rich (get all the nice stuff: teachers, classrooms, etc), and everyone else is part of the Outer Circle. Because Sayuri wasn't able to explain why they were in their area, Sayuri and Kazuki get tied up. Satoko talks about how Sayuri may be helpful to them for the Intramural Math Battle, which pits the Inner Circle vs the Outer Circle students. Whichever side wins will be able to have additional classrooms, etc. When the elites find out that Kazuki is the "dumb transfer student", they let him go and Kazuki is extremely upset. 

Suugaku Joshi Gakuen Ep 7

I know that I'm really behind right now, but I'm slowly catching up one episode at a time, so let's go~

This episode starts off with Sayuri talking about how there are groups of first years that admire the older students such as the 4 girls from the Shibuya Police Squad who aspire to be like Mami, and the Gluttony girls who aspire to be like Fuyumi.

Nina also has her own fanclub called Team Nina, comprised of 3 girls named Hakkeijima Natsu, Daiba Aki and Maihama Haru. They look like 3 mini Ninas with the same clothes and hair and even eat Nina's favourite mentaiko bread too. They even try to imitate how Nina talks too. The male teacher notices the 3 and says that even though they admire Nina a lot, they should act like themselves, but Haru tells off the teacher in a Nina-esque way, getting praised by Natsu and Aki. The male teacher gives up and walks away. The 3 also have pictures of Nina that they walk around with. As they are heading to class, they end up noticing Nina just sleeping in the courtyard. Fangirl squee galore and debate whether they should talk to their most admired sempai.

The next day, Sayuri shows off her new smart phone. Kazuki replies saying that Sayuri loves to have new things. Nina doesn't care too much about it and Sayuri wonders why. The episode cuts to Team Nina where they are looking at their pictures of Nina and talking about her. They also wonder how can they get her cellphone number and email address. With their determination to get this information, they run over to Nina's class where they see Sayuri still trying to impress Nina with her smartphone and Nina is still not excited about it. Kazuki asks what kind of cellphone Nina uses, only to find out that she doesn't have one in the first place. Nina says that you don't need that fancy technology, but the truth comes out that she's just really bad with technology. She's had bad experiences where she can't seem to record her favourite shows or make photocopies. Everything seems to just "blow" up on her and stop working. ^_^" Kazuki and Sayuri can't stop laughing about it and dares to ask if she can use a computer. Nina says that once she touches a computer, it breaks. @.@ Team Nina can't believe that Nina knows nothing about how to use smart phones, tablets or even computers and says that Nina is so old-fashioned.