hontou ni sou omou?

Introductory note. The dynamics in the game are very different from the anime because a decision is made by the player for Rin very early on; the game prompts the player to choose on 16/6 (Shia / Nerine / Kaede / Others) which is the second time such a prompt appears.

The anime, in contrast, is much less focused which results in the “complicit harem” situation. In contrast, the “involuntary harem” situation is where although the guy loves only one girl and is very clear about it, the other girls chase after him anyway.

In the game, once Rin’s choice of girlfriend is decided, the other girls rapidly recede into the background. As such, the back stories of the other girls will not be revealed much if at all and I suppose finding out those and the conquest of the H-scenes are the incentives to play and successfully complete the other threads.

The anime has to resolve the tension of dealing with each girl’s backstory while moving Rin towards a decisive end. Well, at least I feel it should be a decisive end. One of those wishy-washy prolonging-the-status-quo cop-out endings will ruin the series for me.

My Japanese is rudimentary so inevitably the translation of the game play will need more work. Any input on errors and omissions will be greatly appreciated!

13/6 (Sun)

Rin meets Midoriba Itsuki and an unnamed man (Demon king Foebeshii) at school. Chat. Interrupted by teacher Benibara Nadeshiko who completely defeats Itsuki as usual. Rin meets Shia in the supermarket and then Nerine in the park. Later wonders how they know his name.

14/6 (Mon)

Kaede wakes Rin up. Two grand new houses have appeared next door. As Rin and Kaede arrive in school, Rin gets the backpat from Asa. Much like the anime except without the “Hontou ni sou omou?” Nadeshiko questions Rin about meeting children from other dimensions.

15/6 (Tue)

Eustoma and Foebeshii are introduced, followed by Shia and Nerine.

First game choice. (Doesn’t matter which you pick for the Asa ending.)

The two families invite themselves over for a party.

16/6 (Wed)

Going to school together Kaede, Shia and Nerine.

Rin meets Kareha and Asa in the canteen. The school is ablaze with the news about Rin having to choose between three girls. Asa asks who Rin has decided on and teases him about it.

Choice: Shia, Nerine, Kaede, Others.
Choose Others. Duh.

Asa is surprised and a bit incredulous that Rin doesn’t want any of the three princesses of the school as his lover. Kareha mentions that Asa likes festivals. She suggests that Rin and Asa could go out and would make a nice couple. Both are surprised and embarrassed as Kareha goes on and on, playing on the words how Rin and Asa’s “feelings are the same” by taking them out of their original context of not really wanting things to change. [This exchange between Asa and Rin, sans Kareha, takes place in the anime episode 7] Kareha goes into Mamamaa mode. Asa emphasizes she understands Rin’s lack of desire to have a relationship with Shia, Nerine or Kaede. She adds that she doesn’t know who Rin will choose in the end but encourages him with a hearty “Ganbatte ne!”

20/6 (Sun)

Rin meets Asa by coincidence in town. Rin reflects on some history about how they got to know each other as she was Kaede’s senior and instructor in the Cooking Club. He recalls that Asa likes cakes and is good at baking them.

Asa has made an appointment with Kareha to visit a cake shop and teases Rin on who he is dating today. Rin replies that Asa looks like she is enjoying herself and he is just out shopping. Asa gripes that Rin is always so guarded and points that it is a crime for Rin not to date any of the three beauties or does he prefer guys. Rin denies it and states that he is a healthy like an ordinary guy. He then asks Asa if she is dating anyone and she calls his question a painful counter move. She says that she has no interest in dating at present. Because Kareha is always around her, guys generally don’t look much at Asa. Rin reflects that Kareha is also one of the great beauties of the school but also says that he thinks Asa is on the same level and that they are a great combination to behold. Asa is speechless and blushes at Rin’s assessment that she is cute. She tries to deflect his praise by saying that Rin always says things to please people and no wonder he is a master at picking up girls. But it won’t do him any good to flatter her. Rin denies he is trying to flatter her.

Asa then asks since Rin is alone, if he would like to go on a date with her. Rin asks her not to make fun of her junior and reminds her that she was supposed to meet Kareha. Asa is surprised he remembered. Asa sticks out her tongue at Rin. Rin can’t get her weird attitude towards love. Asa excuses herself and adds that next time, both she and Rin will really go and have cake together. Rin thinks to himself that he really enjoys time with Asa but that it is also very tiring…

Rin meets Primula at the arcade and she follows him home. On the way, they run into Itsuki, But not Ama as in the anime. Another big difference is that Nerine, rather than Foebeshii, is the first to recognize Primula and her father offers an explanation about Primula’s origins as a created life form from powerful magical research. They also try to get her to go back, especially since the research hasn’t been completed but she determines to stay. [Foebeshii is a lot gentler, right from the start, with Primula in the game compared to the commanding tone he uses in the anime.]

Choice. I am a loli-pedo-kun. I am not a loli-pedo-kun.
Duh! In this thread, you are going after an older girl, ya know!

There’s a bit of a debate blah blah. I think choosing the non-pedo choice shows Rin expressing reluctance at taking her in during the discussion but Primula comes to stay with Rin and Kaede in the end anyway.

[General impression of Asa-chan so far is that she is a lot more aggressive and flirtatious in the anime, compared to the game. Her best lines like “You really think so?” (ep 1) and “I’m a biiit disappooointed!” (ep 2) seem to have been added to the anime by the studio. In the game thus far, Rin is really the one who has clearly indicated that he is not interested in going out with Shia, Nerine or Shia so that is really a sign to Asa that the field is still wide open and that the most serious competition has been ruled out. With the third choice being made above (which is essentially asking the player to choose between Primula and Asa), gameplay will now focus on how Rin and Asa establish their boy-girl-relationship and Asa’s backstory will play its role in their courtship.]