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!***

In many instances, you see how close Harada is with the rest of the Shinsengumi, especially the lower rank as he knows them all by name. At the Battle of Ikeda Inn, he knows the name of each of the fallen men, and gives a word of praise to each of them. Also, when Saito and Heisuke join the Guards, Chizuru talks to Harada when you pick the option of getting the opinion of someone close to the lower-ranked soldiers.

As always, your potential lover has to have a demon counterpart to fight at some point. In this case, Harada fights Shiranui multiple times, but they never finish their battle due to a different circumstance each time. Although, it seems like a gun and a spear are equally matched for some reason.

Shiranui and Harada fighting each other, and are one movement away from giving the other a fatal blow.

The CG you get after Chizuru trusts the Shinsengumi to save her from Kazama and co.  Chizuru feels like she 's causing trouble, but Harada comforts her saying that is not the case.

Heisuke joins Harada and Nagakura to protect Chizuru, as well as fight off Amagiri and Shiranui. Heisuke is back with the Shinsengumi, but turns into a fury for the same reason found in Heisuke's story.

During one of the battles where Chizuru is told to stay inside while everyone is fighting outside, Shiranui comes in and is surprised to see her, like always, since he doesn't understand why a demon like her would want to stay with humans. Chizuru denies that she's a demon until Shiranui shoots a bullet to her head, and she is able to dodge it all Matrix style, since she saw the bullet go in slow motion. Harada comes in to check on Chizuru, and fights Shiranui, but was clearly unable to do anything to protect Chizuru as she gets shot in the shoulder, but her injuries heal so quickly that Harada can't believe his eyes. Shiranui leaves, satisfied with the reaction he left on Harada's face.

Nagakura and Heisuke hear what happens, and try to reassure Harada that it was normal that he couldn't even touch Shiranui because Shiranui is a demon. This just makes Harada frustrated, and he ends up avoiding Chizuru. Chizuru thinks Harada is avoiding her because he's seen what her demon body can do, and he can't accept it. Sanan notices the magnificent healing potential Chizuru has, and asks Chizuru if he can experiment on her. Chizuru says that she'll think about it, and Sanan reminds her constantly about his offer, and how she would be able to help the Shinsengumi by creating better furies. But Chizuru doesn't want to help the Shinsengumi in that way as there must be other ways for her to be useful. Since Harada keeps avoiding her, Chizuru makes up her mind to leave.

Just when Chizuru was about to leave, Harada stops her. (Just great...) Harada tries to calm her down, but of course Chizuru can't calm down because she thinks Harada and the rest of the Shinsengumi will hate her or will continue to see her as someone different that just can't become part of the Shinsengumi no matter how much she feels like she's a part of them. After a lot more emotional dialogue by Chizuru (I started to cry because I totally understood Chizuru's trail of thought T_T) and more and more confused looks from Harada, Harada kisses Chizuru! You'd think that this would show how much he loves her, but he just says that this is the only way he knew to stop a girl from crying. (What?! I had faith in your love for her, and that's what you tell her?! *hmpf*) Harada admits that it's probably because of him that Chizuru has been thinking this way, but he just didn't know how to face Chizuru. He wasn't able to protect her from Shiranui. How can he live up to the ideal of men protecting the women if he's up against a demon? Harada thought it would be best to avoid Chizuru, instead of opening his mouth about it. Chizuru feels bad that she didn't consider Harada's feelings. Harada tells her that if she hates him or the Shinsengumi, then she can leave, but if that's not the case, then she should stay.

Later on, more dialogue is exchanged between Harada and Chizuru, and we find out that Harada's dream is to get married, settle down, and live a quiet and peaceful life. This surprises Chizuru that Harada would want something so simple and stable. However, she knows in her heart that there is no way she can be the person Harada will marry because she's a demon, and only trouble will follow her.

Western clothing time! Another battle happens and Chizuru finally sees her father after the Shinsengumi are surrounded by furies that are active in the daylight. Kodo is proud of his "children", but Chizuru can't believe her "father" is doing such a thing. Since Shiranui hates furies, he decides to form a truce with Harada to defeat the furies, but they are eventually outnumbered. Shiranui helps Harada and the other Shinsengumi captains to escape, since he'll be able to escape just fine on his own because he's a demon.

Because of the daylight furies that are proficient in using guns, Hijikata says how they are now in the times where swords are useless, and that he'll use the Fury Corps as bullet shields. But because the enemy has improved furies, he wants to create better furies as well. Hijikata wants to use Chizuru as Sanan had intended for quite awhile because he would do anything for the Shinsengumi. However, the conversation changes, and Hijikata ends up hinting to Harada that he and Chizuru need to leave the Shinsengumi in order to protect her. Nagakura also leaves because his ideas continue to clash with Kondou's, and he can't stand watching more of his men die when they don't even stand a chance in the first place. 

Even though Harada, Nagakura, and Chizuru are happily living a peaceful life away from the war and the Shinsengumi, Chizuru is still eaten away by the fact that she's a demon, and she loves Harada, but there is no way that she can be with him. After seeing Harada give directions to a woman, Chizuru gets jealous and thinks that Harada would be much happier living with a human woman, and would be able to live the quiet life his dreamed of vs being with her where only trouble would happen, and Kazama would still be after her.

Chizuru tries to leave again, but Harada won't let her until she can explain why. Chizuru tries to be honest, and says that she's worried about her father doing these horrid experiments. Harada expected that answer, but refuses to let her leave even more. Chizuru does her best to tell him that she doesn't want him to get hurt or get involved in a demon's battle. Harada is hurt that Chizuru thinks that he's not strong enough to protect her. Chizuru doesn't deny Harada's strength, but she refuses to admit that she wants to help Harada achieve his dream of a peaceful life, and to be married to a human woman. Harada still won't let her leave. Chizuru finally spills the beans that she's doing this to protect his dream. Harada suddenly hugs her tightly, and says that she's the one that doesn't understand. He can't bear to see the one he loves get hurt. Chizuru still doesn't get what Harada means her until he says that he loves her, and that he left the Shinsengumi for her. Harada says how he's not a demon and he wants to be with her, while Chizuru says that she's a demon, and they can't be together. But Harada doesn't care whether Chizuru is a demon or human, he just wants to be with her forever. Chizuru can't believe the words she's hearing, and asks if it's ok for her to want him, to be with him,  marry him, and live a happy life together. *blush* (My heartstrings are being pulled.)

While Nagakura goes to Utsunomiya to fight, Harada and Chizuru stay in Edo to see what the situation is. They bump into Shiranui who explains that Kodo was hoping for a war to start in Edo to feed his furies, but it didn't happen. Harada and Chizuru start to worry that the furies will go after the Shinsengumi heading north, but Shiranui explains that the furies won't be able to catch up, and they need blood now, so Kodo is planning to slaughter the town filled with women and children. Harada tells Chizuru that they should meet with Nagakura at Utsunomiya, and explain to him that they'll be going back to Edo to fight Kodo and his furies. So they leave Edo to meet up with Nagakura at Utsunomiya, and just as Harada was about to tell Nagakura their new situation, Nagakura doesn't give Harada any time to talk and convinces him and Chizuru to stay and rest. Harada and Nagakura then end up drinking and reminiscing about the past. Chizuru feels bad separating such a strong friendship that has lasted so long, and would rather go to Edo alone so that Harada won't have any regrets.

So Chizuru speaks to Harada, and tells him that she wants to leave again. (Maybe 3rd time's a charm?) Harada explains to Chizuru that he had many chances to live a quiet life as many girls were interested in him, but because he was with the Shinsengumi, there was no way he could guarantee that he would be alive the next day, and so couldn't take that final step towards his dream. Chizuru understands what he's saying, but she can't let Harada throw away his friendship with Nagakura for her. Harada explains that Chizuru chose him, and he's made his decision, and chooses her. (Aww...) He reassures Chizuru that he'll talk to Nagakura about it, and that they'll go to Edo together to deal with Kodo. In the meantime, Harada gets on top of her, and... well... you know... they... they... they do it. >.< *super blush* Of course, you don't see anything, other than a CG of their hands clasped together, but the narration says he took off her pants so... *cough* From then on, Chizuru starts calling him Sanosuke.

The next morning, Harada finally tells Nagakura that he won't be joining him in battle. Nagakura gets pissed, and they decide to duke it out. They are evenly matched throughout their duel, until Harada sees an opening and takes it. Nagakura lets them go, and Chizuru hopes that these two friends will meet again. Harada and Chizuru head to where Kodo and his furies are most likely going to pass by. They see the army of furies, and Kodo in the middle of them. Shiranui appears, and starts shooting at the furies, and the dead furies are being eaten by the furies that are still alive. Harada comes out of the bushes, and helps Shiranui out. Chizuru takes this opportunity to go up against her father, and she stabs him in the stomach, only to find out that he's healing extraordinarily fast because he took the Water of Life. Chizuru knows that she has to kill her father, but Harada decides to do it for her, so that she will not stain her hands with this deed. After Harada fights a bit with Kodo, he starts getting tired and slowly injured by Kodo's attacks, until he finally pierces Kodo in the heart. Shiranui joins them after he finished off the furies, and saw that they took care of Kodo. Shiranui explains how he was with the Choshu for his human friend that died in battle, trying to protect Japan, and he was doing his best to honour his friend's wishes. Shiranui leaves to spread the will of his dead friend to the Choshu, hoping that they can learn something from it.

In the end, Harada and Chizuru live together, and they have a baby boy! (You know where this baby came from.) Chizuru is happy that her child is a boy, so demons won't go after him. Harada understands her sentiments, and they both stare at the little bundle of joy they created together. Happy ending~

Other points of note

Harada's story is very straightforward because he's the only Shinsengumi captain you date that does not take the Water of Life and turn into a fury. Because of that, Chizuru never ends up going back to her childhood home. So Harada actually lets you live a normal life without worrying when your significant other is literally going to bite the dust. >.< 

This playthrough also talks a lot about the involvement of foreign countries such as France, England, Russia, and the United States. Because of all this talk about foreign countries just waiting to snatch up Japan, Kodo wanted the furies to become Japan's army to defend Japan from being taken over by the foreign countries. 

Shiranui and Harada's relationship is akin to Saito and Amagiri's relationship. They obviously saw each other as enemies at some point, but also respect one another's skill in battle, and simply part ways in the end. Heisuke and Kazama's relationship is a bit similar (although they bicker a lot), but I'm not sure how much Kazama respects Heisuke's skills because it's Kazama. XD