Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom [Souji Okita Route]

So, this was my first route in the Otome game, Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom. TEARS.

Oki’s Review

Let me start off by saying that usually I whore guides like nobodies business. But you don’t need it for Hakuoki. No, hold up, you really don’t. Wanna watch your favorite scene again? The gallery replays them, so you don’t even need to keep a shit ton of saves. Mess up and want more affection? There is a freaking rewind feature. So I knew right off the bat, no thank you, I’m just gonna kick this ass myself. Keep this in mind. I’ve never seen the anime. I knew nothing of this game other than it was an otome game with samurais and shizz. So….wow. I’m really freaking impressed. And tearing up. So let’s get started with Souji’s route.

(pro tip. If you have trouble the answer is always MEDICINE TWICE, BLOOD THE REST)

You start off with the standard intro. WEIRD SHIT BE HAPPENIN IN KYOTO. Aw damn. Shit. And you get caught up in it, lookin fo yo daddy. BUT DADDY AIN’T THERE. INSTEAD, HANDSOME SAMURAIS ARE. Handsome samurais. WHO GONNA KILL YOU. What are you gonna do about that?!

Well, you tell them you have a vagina. Or where you live. OR NOTHING AT ALL! The choice is yours. YOU DON’T GET MANY CHOICES, SO ENJOY THEM. ENJOY THEM AND REWIND THE FUCK OUTTA EM. Honestly this was my first playthrough so it’s going to be a little more honest with you about the gameplay. I actually didn’t intend to get Souji. Not at first, anyway. Without the rewind feature and or saves, the game can beat you up. Which is how I ended up on Souji’s path. You’d think going to hang out with Hijikata half the time would tell the game, hey. I want to bone Hijikata. Nope, by the end of Chapter Two all my affection was in with Souji. He was literally twice as far as anyone else, and this was totally by accident. So if you’re worried you have to do everything right to get him…I got the good ending. And half the time I got different scenes. You do have to decide sooner rather than later, hey, I’d like to pursue this dude, but you have a lot of leeway in the beginning to test who you like best.

The great thing about Souji is that he grows on you just like he does Chizuru. I was like, oh great. Tsundere guy. Who’s an ass. I’m going to romance him next game. But then you’re like. Wait. This guy is actually endearing. and not in the whole, hur hur he’s hot way. I mean, legitimately, you feel yourself get drawn to him. I felt really close to him. The whole time, I just could feel the emotions. This is what an otome game is supposed to do. Games imitate life with life anew. This is what an otome game, or any dating sim, SHOULD be. And it’s flawless. Perfect. I really was bored at the concept of Souji in the beginning, but was proven completely wrong. Just like Chizuru was. In the beginning of the game, he threatens to kill you many many times. When he says it the last time, he has completely come full circle. This character is, FREAKING AMAZING.

~~Now Oki brings up spoilers, spoilers abound~~

Okita is. Wow. How do I put it. How do you explain characters like this? He’s an ass, but his turn to loving you is completely completely believable. Every scene with him makes you believe he sees you as worthwhile. He just comes in and accidentally sweeps you off your feet. With tuberculosis. Unfortunately your asshole brother tries to screw you over with the Okita romance. Multiple times. Luckily, here’s what happened

Me: You know Chizuru, I don’t entirely believe your brother about the whole demon blood thing.

Chizuru: Me either. But I’m not sure what to do…what if he is telling the truth?

Me: Oh easy. *saves*

Chizuru: Why didnt I think of that!

Later

Kaoru: Wahahh! See, I lied about the demon blood! Now he shall hunger for blood more and more and also I SHALL MAKE YOU A FURY SO LOL I WIN I AM A DICK

Chizuru: 😐 jackass.

Oki: SAVE STATES TO THE RESCUE

Kaoru: I hate you. I’M STILL MAKING YOU A FURY.

Oki: Don’t worry I’m sure Okita will stab you in the vagina later for me.

Okita: I will

So everyone was happy! I save stated because I was hoping for a sexy demon blood drinking scene (get this, you dont get it the first time. I had to go back through the game and be retarded and give him EVEN MORE BLOOD to get the sexy blood drinking scene. fuckballs.) but I was pretty sure Kaoru was a lying sack of shit. He was, I reloaded, and then gave him blood towards the end but mostly just gave him medicine. And it got me the good ending, which…guys. I just watched that again just now. Tears. Bitchcrying. WONDERFUL BITCH CRYING. It implies that you have no idea how much time Souji has left thanks to the tuberculosis, but he is happy to be with you now and his heart will always be with you. Fuck you game. Tears were shed.

Honestly it’s hard to say in just words why Okita is special. He doesn’t make a stark character change for you, instead completely as he is he learns to love you. And you learn to love the man he is for who he is. Okita is extremely popular (something I didnt know until Eva came to me upset I’d already started this entry LOL) and it’s easy to see why. Hakuoki is worth it almost for Okita alone. That sarcastic smile melts my heart. If Okita wasn’t a route you wanted to play before, heavens know why…, then add it. ADD IT NOW.

NOW!!!

On a final note, let’s talk about the ending interpretation. Eva believes, as you’ll see below, that Souji dies in the end. I do not. I think that Souji is afraid he will die soon and so tries to spend every instance he can telling Chizuru that he loves her and trying to reassure her that everything will be okay. To me yes, of course, you can take it as he dies. But why? To me it seems like the story wants to give you a moment of happiness between them to reassure you, and to make you happy. You know Souji dies young, hell if you read wikipedia it tells you the age he died. But I like to think this was a vision of how he spent the rest of his time: Happy, and in love with Chizuru.

~I’M AN OPTIMIST~

– –

Eva’s Review:
There’s one way to summarize Souji’s Route…

You don’t believe me? I’m not kidding. Fortunitely have proof right here. You can either skip it or read it, it’s up to you. The reaction can be found below this review and shares my heartbreaking experience that conveniently happened while I was having a conversation with Oki.

Eva’s Review

Souji’s route is one of the best of them all despite the inevitable tragic ending.
No matter what happens, you’re going to cry at the end, be it the good or the bad- because unfortunately our beloved couple can’t have their happily ever after.

I don’t remember how long ago, or rather more accurately, this is the first time I’ve ever cried so hard over a character. I mean sure, I cry all the time for animes, mangas, and once before while playing Persona 3, but this was different. My emotional breakdown was so bad, I can actually compare it to the time of how hard I was crying and grieving about my loss of my precious companion back in 2010. In fact, I don’t need a comparison, it was much too alike. I curled up into a ball, hugging myself andI was crying to the point my eyes felt swollen. I couldn’t even read the text on the screen because there were so many tears in my eyes and all I could see was a blur. No joke. I’m not exaggerating.

During the BAD END I completely freaked out (which you will see how reacted below). Not only I didn’t see it coming and it was a complete shock for me made my heart stop, but it had such an impact on me. No, it wasn’t because I got “GAME OVER” after devoting over 4 hours playing this. No, it was simply because I quickly grew incredibly attached to Souji, more than I expected to.

The GOOD END was even more emotional and I can’t help but think to myself, “Oh god… If I can’t tolerate a character dying like this, how will I ever face someone I know or love in this situation?”.
I was crying even more than the Bad End because Souji showered the Heroine with love until his last breath. (Oh god I’m starting to cry- and this is a day later after playing his route!) You can feel that love. That love that is so fragile, innocent and so pure. He says it over and over and it strikes a cord in your heart.

Souji was my second chosen route and I was expecting him to be a bit different than I had portrayed him to be. Of all the characters, Souji who suffered the most and on top of that is dying because of tuberculosis is by far the most positive character besides Harada. Every day and every time we see him, he brushes off his illness as if it were a small scratch and doesn’t let that bring him down. His positivity is what makes him so admirable and it what not only made my attached to his character, but respect him. He also deeply cares for his comrades and for the Heroine as well and is always looking out for them.

Everything about this route is bittersweet and beautiful. I would like to say, “EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURTS”, but that’s a lie. It hurts, a lot. The development, the chemistry, the relationship and Souji’s positivity, the heroine for being badass and everything but a damsel in distress- it’s almost perfect.
It would’ve been if we knew for sure he had survived. But having experienced that sort of ending far too many times, I can’t shake off that feeling that was his last breath and he wouldn’t be waking up again and be positive that he’ll be up again in a bit like some others can.

What I really loved about this route is the romance. It develops beautifully like a flower bud blooming, its sexy (cue to sexy bloodsucking scene) and not once had corny scene (which as you may already know, I have zero toleration for corny romance) which was definitely the most relieving part.
Their romance is truly memorable and their kiss/confession scene is by far the most beautiful one of all the routes. I love good romance, and let me tell you: THIS IS QUALITY ROMANCE.

It doesn’t matter when you decide to play Souji’s route. I might say save him for last, but that would a be a heartbreaking way to complete the game, so maybe any position but that. If you choose him first, you’d probably be happy to play Heisuke or Harada’s route next which would definitely cheer you up- but I’d recommend Harada and save Heisuke for the middle unless you’re in for a fun, lighthearted adventure.

Souji’s route is definitely one of the best and one of my most favourite route and character of the game. Even though it’s terribly sad and I really don’t want to repeat the experience of losing him (both ways) again, I’m definitely up to replaying it…. just not now. I’m still grieving for him.
Still even so, his route is a MUST play. If you skip or happen to hate him…
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

~*~

BAD END + GOOD END LIVE REACTION

WARNING, RAGING FANGIRLS, LOTS OF TEARS AND FOUL LANGUAGE AND PASSIONATE BASHING- VIEWERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED!!!

Eva: just finishing Souji’s route right now

Oki: Yaaaayyy

Eva: WHAT
NOOO
*SOBS*
WHY
HOW
WHY
HOW
WHY
HOW
WHY
HOW
WHY
NOOOOO
FUCK
FUCKING NOOOO
SOUJIIIIISIIIIII
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!

Oki: what did you give him?!
Did you give him blood everytime?

Eva: YES!
BUT FUCKING KAORU-

Oki: NO!
IDIOT! YOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO, I TOLD YOU!

Eva: NO D: FUCK

Oki: MEDICINE TWICE, BLOOD THE REST

Eva: FML, OTL, DAMNIT!

Oki: /SMACK
ITS OKAY

Eva: I thought you said blood

Oki: JUST RELOAD

Eva: FACCCCKKKK
OTL
RELOAD?!

Oki: NO I SAID MEDICINE TWICE THEN BLOOD EVERYTIME
I EVEN PLURKED IT
RELOAD

Eva: OTL

Oki: RELOAD AND GIVE MEDICINE

Eva: I SAVED AT CHAPTER 6, FUCK.

Oki: JUST LIKE, DUDE- REDO IT AND FAST FORWARD THE WHOLE WAY

Eva: FUCKING CHAPTER SIX FACCCKK
*SOBS* I’M CRYING! WHYYYYYYYY! FACK, THIS IS NOT FAIR! OMG I’M SOBBING OKI, THERE’S TEARS AND THEY WON’T STOP!!!
SOUUUUJIIIIIII

FML

Oki: ;_____; IM SO SORRY DARLIN
I MEAN
HERE’S HOW YOU PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING
OKAY

Eva: *SOBS*

Oki: MAKE 1 SAVE FOR EVERY FURY LOVER

Eva:I NEED CHOCOLATE

Oki: STARTING FROM THE BLOOD TIME
THEN
MAKE A SECOND TO PROGRESS
THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK
IM SORRY WAAAH

Eva: HOW MANY HOURS WAS THAT?!
HOW MANY?! FAST FORWARD! OTL

Oki:trust me its not too long

Eva: ALL MY TEARS

Oki: just fast forward all previously seen text
AND LISTEN TO MUSIC AT THE SAME TIME

Eva: I’ll do

Oki: IT’S WORTH IT

Eva: MY TEARS

Oki: ALSO I WILL HAVE THE WHOLE GALLERY READY FOR YOU

Eva: *SOBS* I haven’t cried this hard in a long time, for a character.

Oki: Yeah you will, I went back to get that ending.
I cried man
fucking cried…

Eva: not even for Shinjiro (Persona 3) in fact, I only shedded tears. Here I just broke down *HUGZ*
Hopefully I’ll do this right
iGOD
fastfowawrding
*sobs*

Oki: /pats
Incidentially if you didn’t read my memo

Eva: More like mismemorized it *SOBS*

Oki: hey I plaed that too, FUCKING TEARS
a lot of people have been getting that end though

Eva:*GLOMPS*

Oki: you know why?

Eva: because…

Oki: FUCKING KAORU AND HIS LYING SACK OF SHIT

Eva: KAORU IS A BASTARD
YES THAT

Oki: Yes

Eva: FUCKING BASTARD, DIE BITCH DIE!

Oki: I KNOOOWW

Eva: LETS BASH HIM, PASSIONATELY, AND GIVE HIM SHIT

Oki: OH GOD YES, LETS

Eva: HE DESERVES
DESTROY HIM

Oki: YOU KNOKW HE’S FUCKING SAD SACK OF SHIT LIKE “OH POOR ME!”

Eva:  FUCKING SELFISH KID
HE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN TO FUCKING MOVE ON, DEAL WITH IT

Oki: BUT HE PUSSIES OUT EVERY OTHER ROUTE AND NEVER APPEARS

Eva: HE THINKS THAT HIS SISTER’S LIFE IS SO PERFECT

Oki: PROBABLY BECAUSE HE ONLY HAS THE BALLS TO TAKE ON TUBERCULOSIS MAN

Eva: YEAH THAT FUCKING ASSHOLE
DON’T UNDERSTIMATE SOUJI

Oki: UGH AND HE’S LIKE, YOU HAD SOMEONE WHO LOVED YOU

Eva: (still talking about Souji) HE’S POSITIVE AND BRILLIANT

Oki: OH GEEZ UHM SORRY

Eva: AND AND
LOVABLE, DERPY, AWESOME

Oki: THAT TOO
also hot

Eva: THAT TOO
OMFGGG THE KISS AND BLOOD SCENE.
OMFGGG THAT WAS PERFECT.
FUCKING HOT!

Oki: Oh god dude like

Eva: ROMANTICCCC

Oki: that’s why i replayed it, to get the hot blood sharing scene

Eva: THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL
SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL
EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURTS
UNTIL THIS BASTARD KAORU HAD TO FUCK SHIT UP
IT FELT LIKE ANDRE AND OSCAR FROM ROSE OF VERSAILES BEFORE ANDRE’S DEATH DAMNIT. THEY MADE LOVE AND HE WAS BLIND AND THEN FUCKING DIES BECAUSE HE WAS SHOT!

Oki: BAAAAAAAAAAW

Eva: THAT SHOW IS DEPRESSING BTW, IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED IT

Oki: I HAVEN’T
UGH KAORU
ALSO THAT  TUBERCULOSIS RUINED IT

Eva: *SOBS* FUCKING DISEASE
SHOO SHOO
GO TO KAORU
SERVES HIM RIGHT
-MEDICINE TIME!

Oki: yaayy!

Eva: second medicine coming up
Right?

Oki: yups

Eva:

Oki: good way to check is clicking triangle, encyclopedia, status, looking at corruption

Eva: yeah i’ve been checking that
but STUPID KAORU made me think OH BLOOD! OKI SAID SOMETHING ABOUT BLOOD!
YEAH BLOOD WOOHOO!

Oki: LMAAAAAOOOO

Eva: WHO NEEDS MEDICINE!
AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!

Oki: lmao youre cray

Eva: yes i am, I’m special.

Oki: 😛

Eva: and blooddd the rest…
There’s another funny thing about Kazama…
“hey im tainted now you can’t have me lol” and then he and his friend is all like, “WTF AFTER ALL THIS TIME, IT WAS FOR NOTHING?!”
HUGIESSSSS!!!
I’m eager to play Hijikata’s route. Its like he’s calling me.
Both in souji’s and harada’s route he shows up all bishie and glorious

Oki: LMAO oh you

Eva: Fucking kaoru, GTFO!!!
*TWITCH*

Oki: ?

Eva: Kodo and Kaoru

Oki: Did you die??

Eva: no, I just hate this scene for it. I want to see Kaoru dead.

Oki: remember to only fast forward through seen text

Eva: xDD It won’t let me, no idea why- been clicking since errr…. Ninja dude saved us

Oki: Then good, that means you won’t die XD

Eva: AH NEW SCENE, WHEW! SHOWING US THE WATER OF LIFE- or maybe I missed it *SHRUGS* ANYHOW, GO SOUJI GO!
….
FUCKING THANK GOD
THANK YOU KODO
THANK YOU
A LITTLE REDEMPTION POINTS RIGHT THERE
YEAHHHH
KAORU DEADDDDD
final chapter
*SAVES*
its safe to save
right?
RIGHT?!
overwrite?!
SAFE?!
*TWITCH*

Oki: Yes

Eva: Oh no, I’m starting to cry.
I’m crying *SOBS* I can’t read the text- the tears are in the way, its all a blur

Oki: I KNOW ITS SO WONDERFUL

Eva: *SOBS* OMG, MY TEARS, I’M, I’M SOBBING!
SOUJI!
GOD DAMN IT!
damn it

Oki: /patpat
YOU SEE NOW, THE LOVE I FEEEEL!!!

Eva: MY HEART MY HEART

Oki: /PATPAT MY HEART TOO!

Eva: this is too much, Souji was so positive and this is what he gets…
FUCKING FATE
FUCKING DESTINY PICK SOMETHING ELSE TO PLAY WITH YOUR FUCKING DEATH GAME!

Oki: I thought it was sweet
T_T He loved every last moment, BECAUSE HE GOT TO BE WITH CHIZURUUUU

Eva: appears i missed three scenes, might be because of not saving the bad ending… looks like it.

Oki: yeah he’s got a ton xD

Eva: I’m glad I have tissues beside me

Oki: see now i can explain why i liked sano’s so much
after an ending where you get to hear the man you love say..well. THAT
AND SOB
AND CRY
SOMEONE WHO CAN ALWAYS BE WITH YOU TO PROTECT YOU
IS SO WONDERFUL

Eva: D: SO YOU’RE SAYING EVERYONE ELSE DIES?!
*SOBS* WHY

Oki: well no one else dies persay

Eva: better not, my heart will not be able to handle it.

Oki: souji doesnt even die
what are you smoking? XD

Eva: *SOBS* i’ve watched too many tragic dramas, to understand and stick in my mind- especially when she said, “good night”
fucking no
that KILLED ME

Oki: oh i didnt take that as he died

Eva: well that’s good, but I sure did and I hate that…
damnit eva why must you go with that
and i can’t stop crying because of it

Oki: DAMMIT EVA STOP IT OR I WONT BE ABLE TO UNSEE IT

Eva: im sorry, i’ll shut up

Oki: no its okay dude

Eva: my eyes are gonna be swollen tommorow

Oki: sadly you don’t even know what the whole sadness of this

Eva: my parents are going to be “WTF”

Oki: /patpat

Eva: why do you say that?

Oki: I don’t want to spoil you XD

Eva: if its about how based on the true story everyone actually died, then I know that, but now you’re scaring me if that’s not it.

Oki: no thats not it x_x

Eva: fuck

Oki: its what it means to be a fury

Eva: oh that i know

Oki: oh good the whole it uses up your life thing?

Eva: yeah

Oki: good then

Eva: >_> I’m a bit worried now

Oki: you wont be sad whn everyone else mentions how their lives have been severely shortened Xd

Eva: *SOBS* i’ll ignore it
as long as they don’t die in front of me like souji had

Oki: THEYRE MORE HAPPY THOUGH

Eva: because that killed me
take place off screen where i don’t know WHEN it happens
sounds more appealing, and then i can ignore the whole ‘kills off your life’ bs

Oki: Yeah
idk i still think souji lived but im an optimist LMAO

Eva: id like to think that way, I really do, I REALLY REALLY DO!
i’ll consider so tommorow morning, im just overwhelmed by two tragedies.

Oki: lmao

Eva: within an hour, for the same guy…
that’s TOTALLY overwhelming
YEAH SOUJI LIVED
HE JUST TAKING A NAP
BECAUSE LAYING IN THE SUN MAKES YOU TIRED
ITS NATURAL
HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE TIME

~*~