Notes:  Some of the spelling of the various places may change as I get more info. Everything in ** is in a larger font in the game for emphasis.

Runevinus, a comparatively small country among the numerous countries on this continent, is a country based on magic.

Most of the citizens can use magic to some extent, and the industries there also revolve around magic.

In the history of the continent, it's survived numerous wars through the power of its magicians, and at times has been victorious....

In other words, Runevinus is the land of magicians.

Those with powerful magic are the elite, and skilled magicians have a high status. Magic is central. Magic is everything. Hurrah for magic.

And, the princess of this country.... *is not me, of course.*

I'm a normal student, trying to decide on her course of study.

(I shouldn't be running away from reality, dreaming of being a princess... I've got to live in the real world.)

And like that, I, Alice Liddell, live in reality as much as possible.

I reject the opinion that a magical kingdom is in itself unrealistic. That's the setting, so I can't do anything about it.

Here in Runevinus, most students continue their studies after completing basic education. Of course, I intend to do that as well.

The problem is.... what sort of school I should choose.

Lorina: A boarding school? Don't go to one... There's a lot of schools you can commute to from our house.

Alice:  But nee-san, isn't it hard on you if I'm here? If I'm gone, you'll have more free time.

L:  That's not true. I love to spend time with you. So you don't need to worry.

L:  Heh heh, you're a very kind girl, Alice.

A: ......

I wish to attend a boarding school, in order to ease the burden on my older sister, who's acted as a mother to my younger sister and me after our mother died when I was young.

I'm aware of how much of her time and hard work she's given to her younger sisters.

If I leave the house, she will be able to have more time for herself.

My father, who I have to rely on financially, has given me permission to attend a boarding school.

However, the most direct opposition is from my sister herself.

It seems my gentle sister may have suspect that I'm forcing myself to go to a boarding school for her sake.

A younger sister, gallantly enduring misfortune. ....Although, I think I've been fairly blessed.

(...I'm not that good of girl)

My sister might be that sort of overly doting parent. I have a feeling she looks at me though rose-colored glasses.

L:  I've also researched a bit. The school you that to go to now is a boarding school, isn't it?

L:  There's a school nearby that has pretty much the same curriculum, where you can study the same things. What about going there?

There's nothing pushy in her voice as she suggests this gently. She's acting with consideration.

Though kindly, and at the first glance soft, she's a splendid woman who has inner strength. That is my sister, Lorina Liddell.

A:  But, nee-san...

L:  Then... Alice, could there be... some reason you don't want to be at home...?

After I had tried to argue, my sister looked saddened and uneasy.

Realizing that I had made my gentle sister sad, my chest tightened with guilt.

A:  No way! That's not true!

I care deeply about my family.

I love my father, who's rarely home, my younger sister Edith, and of course, Lorina. Family or not, I think there's no one who would dislike my sister.

But, there's just one small thing.

Being next to my sister, flawless, beautiful, an ideal lady... I'm spoiled by being under her protection, but I've ended up finding it difficult.

I'm fortunate be able to feel this way, so it's a selfish personal feeling. I don't need to tell this to my sister.

L:  That's good then...! You've still got time, so you can think it over again.

She smiles, sincerely happy at my words, and with a sigh of relief.

Seeing her like that, I can't bring up the subject of boarding school again.

For my sister to accept a boarding school, it would have to be a special school with a particular curriculum found only there.

(Is there a convenient school like that... )

A:  Yes, I'll do that.

Replying to my sister, I swallow the sigh rising from my throat.

Though my sister had said there was still time, time continues to gradually advance.

The day where I've got to decide on my course is definitely coming near.

I've gathered materials on some boarding schools and schools I can commute to, but...

In the end, I haven't even opened them.

I'm only continuing to study hard, running away by claiming that it'll be fine whichever one I choose in the end.

(This is... a fine way of avoiding reality. Even if I study now, it's not a decision.)

(Speaking of running away from reality... maybe I only want to leave the house. Am I being self-centered and making trouble for my sister?)

(....)

(....No. If I stay like this, the time will pass and I'll end up staying here.)

The opportunity to break out of this situation visited my house one holiday afternoon.

A:  Ye~s.

Thinking about it now, I should have checked to see who the visitor was.

Or better yet, I should have pretended not to hear the doorbell.

...However, I neglected to check.

Though it's a safe area, I was too careless. I can't excuse myself by saying I thought it was the mail.

I'm a realist. I can't deny what actually happened.

I opened the door, and as a result of that, my life was greatly changed.

A:  Who is it?

Peter:  *Alice!!!*

A:  ....

P:  What's wrong, Alice?! Shutting the door without saying a word?!! Ah, you're embarassed? You're always so cute!

While I was trying to shut the door, the visitor wedged his foot in it, with a practiced air.

(...tsk)

P:  Aah, my beloved! Please don't be so shy!

A:  I'm not being shy. I'm disgusted.

He may be saying sweet things, but this man and I have never had even once a relationship like that.

A:  ...Like always, you haven't changed.

P:  Yes! I am always in love with you, wherever I am! No matter how far apart we are, these feelings won't change!

A:  ...I'd like them to change. Since you've gone away.

This man, Peter White, is my childhood friend, although that's a rather favorable way of saying it.

To put it more directly, he's a longtime stalker.

Though he's a childhood friend, I haven't seen this man since he went to a boarding school, so I had thouroughly forgotten about him...

I gave up on shutting the door on Peter and reluctantly opened it. Peter grinned broadly.

But, I don't intend to let this stalker in the house. I've only opened the door.

I'm still holding the doorknob. Keeping the door open to the smallest possible extent, as if responding to a salesperson I don't want to buy anything from.

P:  This time away from you, has been like hell...! Aaah, Alice, I am so moved to meet you like this...!!!

If he keeps quiet, Peter might look like a handsome man, with an intellectual air to him.

But, speaking excitedly at meeting me, with moist red eyes, he's without a doubt a maniac.

(His face is good, but.... it's too bad.)

Whenever I meet this man, the phrases "a waste of aptitude" or "talent wasted" come to mind.

His appearance is good, and he has a sort of talent. Since he's lucky enough to be attractive, this man should remember to act in a way that puts his looks to use....

(....Huh?)

What is it? I have a feeling there's something odd.

Such as *those two long ears* growing from Peter's head.

In a second, I have a strong feeling there's something wrong.

A:  P-Peter?

P:  Yes, what is it? Ah, the sound of you calling my name, why is it so wonderful?!!!

Peter seems happy to hear me say his name, and he trembles with feeling (he's totally a maniac).

And on top of his head, the rabbit ears twich, as if shuddering with the same feeling.

A:  Um... What is... Have they always, been there...?

Peter is my childhood friend and... a human.... Human...?

(He should be... human, in this setting.... )

Though he's a maniac you can't talk to, to the point where he might seem to be nonhuman, my childhood friend should be a human.

P:  What is it? What's wrong, Alice?

One of Peter's ears droops.

(Um...Um...)

How do I deal with the fact that my childhood friend has rabbit ears?

The most bothersome part is that I can't remember at all having a friend without rabbit ears.

When I force myself to imagine it, it's somehow painful. Like, if his ears were ripped off, what would happen? [Not sure about this part; maybe it's more like "how could you rip off his ears?']

P:  Alice...

P:  There are things in this world you mustn't inquire into too deeply, you know? Although it's not that I don't understand your feelings....

Peter sighed boredly. I have a bad feeling about this.

P:  First of all, putting this group into a school parody was a mistake to begin with. What about the ages, like her majesty, for example.

P:  She's clearly not the age to be a student. Come to think of it, what do you think the age range for a student is?

(Darn it)

*He's blown it*

A:  Ahhhhhh!

I burst out of the door and covered Peter's mouth.

I heard the door close behind me. It's enough of an emergency to make me rush outside without putting on shoes.

P:  !? (muffled noises)

I'm forcing him to shut up. Many things were suddenly at risk of breaking down.

(Ah, that was dangerous)

I took my hand off Peter when I had made sure he was totally quiet, with a sigh of relief.

A:  What is it all of a sudden, my *childhood friend*?

P:  Actually, my dear *childhood friend* I had something to say to you.

Our phrasing confirming the setting is fairly forced. But, we can't worry about that.

This is reality. Not escapism.

(...cough)

I've been worrying about whether I should go to a boarding school. Asking Peter, who's already chosen that path, would be helpful.

I turned away from Peter, and opened the door and got my shoes.

Today I had been in the house all day, so I was feeling dispirited. I thought I'd have him go for a walk with me.

And then, there were many things I want to ask him. Although his personality is in shambles, he's extremely capable.

A:  By the way, Peter, it's good you came. I had some things I wanted to ask you about the school you're going to...

P:  *!!!!!*

Peter's eyes widened a bit exaggeratedly at the words I said while turning back.

It's like he's been struck by lightning. After turning around, I was shocked.

P:  You've taken interest in the school I'm going to....! This can only be said to be destiny!

A:  ....That's going a bit far. What's this destiny....

P:  It's destiny! I came today to talk about that!

I stopped placing my shoes by my feet, and raised my head.

A: ....you came to talk about school?

P:  Yes, that's right!! Although I don't like how the school doesn't easily give permission to leave!

Could it be that my sister consulted him?

(Then, he deliberately came back?)

Although he's drifted away from here, a childhood friend is a childhood friend.

Of course, my sister knows about Peter. If he was asked for advice, he wouldn't ignore her.

A:  ...Your school is a boarding school, right? It's natural that they wouldn't give you permission to leave quickly.

P:  But, because of that I haven't been able to come and see you, so you've been lonely.

P:  But!  From now on we'll always be together, don't worry!

A:  Lonely?

Hmph, I scoff. I'm totally fine, so there's no problem on that front.

Rather, I'd like to send my thanks to the school administration for not giving Peter permission to leave. But, I'm more concerned about what he said after that...

P:  You are indeed kind, to act strong in order to console me...!

P:  In return for your kindness, from now on *we shall not be parted, even for a second!*

A:  *Get away from me this instant*

After saying that, I peel myself off of Peter, who's trying to stick to me.

P:  No! From now on, we will be always together! No one will be able to tear apart our love!

...As usual, I can't communicate with him. Because our ways of thinking are so different, I feel like I'm talking to an alien.

No, since he's got rabbit ears, he's definitely a magical being or something, definitely an nonhuman....

(....No, no, I can't think too deeply about that.)

I'm a realist. This is reality.

Since this is reality, I must accept it.

(More importantly... ....*from now on we'll always be together?*)

My face twitches, because I have a really bad feeling about this.

Peter smiles meltingly at me. Sleepily.... as if dreaming of love

If I didn't know of his character, it would be a happy, beautiful expression, enough to enchant. But I know what he's really like.

You can't let down your guard around this man, or view him optimisticly. Instead, I only have a hunch that this is bad...

P:  This contains my feelings....! Please accept it!

What he presents to me as if he were giving a love letter, is a large envelope.

It closely resembles the still unopened envelopes of applications and school materials in my room. No, it looks like one of those.

On the front of the envelope, the school name is written in a beautiful script.

A:  ...!? Symphonia Advanced Magic School?!

I dropped the shoes I was holding. The name is that shocking.

P:  Yes, that one. Symphonia Advanced Magic School.

P:  You know the school I go to! Ah, as I thought, you love me, and so cannot help knowing...

A:  It would be stranger if I didn't know it! Peter, you go to Symphonia?!

I had known that Peter was an outstandingly excellent magician. But I was amazed that my childhood friend was going to Symphonia.

I had only known that he was going to some great school somewhere. Peter himself hadn't spoken about that when he came back.

Or, he was always chasing me around, so we never had a proper conversation.

(Wow, he's going to Symphonia Advanced Magic School...)

Symphonia is an extraordinarily elite school, where only the top students are accepted for attendance.

It's a famed school with a long history, and well known as the world's top magic school.

I'm dazed. Although it's a boarding school like the ones I was trying to apply to, the level is too different.

My skills are definitely not bad, but if you asked me whether I had the talent to apply to Symphonia, I'd shake my head.

I'm honestly not sure what I would do with the informational materials for such a school. Perhaps he's giving them to me out of kindness.

A:  ....Sorry, Peter. It's a bit beyond me.

No matter how much I look at the materials, there's no way I have the talent to go to that school. Even if I ask him about it, I don't think I can make use of the help.

P:  What's wrong? Could it be that you don't like Symphonia?

A:  It's not that I donn't like it, it's purely that I can't with my skill. I'd be a fool to even take the exam.

Generally, there's a rumor that for Symphonia, it's necessary to be qualified in some way to take the exam.

Many youth gather from all over the continent, regardless of country, but since it's an extremely prestigious school, there are many students of high rank.

I've heard that because of this, there's a strict investigation into the background of the students, and in some cases a letter of introduction is necessary.

They're chosen before the exam. Although it seems unreasonable, perhaps it's necessary.

P:  No, no, you don't need to take an exam. That's why I'm here!

(....Hmm?)

What's this about not needing an exam? I suspect this conversation is going in an unexpected direction.

I once again look over the front of the envelope I had gotten from Peter.

A: Guide for... new students?

I was speechless after reading the front of the envelope.

(... Guide for new students? It's not an application?)

Usually this guide is a document sent only to students who will be attending.

But, naturally, I have no recollection of ever contacting Symphonia Advanced Magic School.

If I don't recall having taken the exam, then I hadn't even sent in an application.

P:  I made the arrangements for you! Then in spring, we can go to the same school!

P:  Going to the same school as you is like a dream...! Let's have a happy school life, Alice!

A:  A..arrangements...? Arrangements....

A: ....????

P:  Please don't worry? It was close, but I was able to do it without doing any *dark deeds*!!

A:  A, ah.

P:  It's thanks to your excellence! It wasn't necessary to do anything very bad...

A:  I, I see. Nothing very bad...

P:  No, for your sake, I was prepared to do anything. For you, there's nothing I wouldn't do!

A:  Uh, whatever dark deeds....

While I was saying that, Peter's snow white ears twitched proudly.

P:  I had many things prepared, but I was able to avoid using the *card up my sleeve*.! I knew you could do it...!

(It was close, dark deeds... The card up his sleeve...)

That it was close, and he didn't need to act underhandedly, meant that his hands were clearly stained by a grey zone. I'm already scared to hear that it got up to his secret plan.

(What is this rabbit up to at the famed Symphonia?)

P:  Oh? What's wrong? Alice, you've gone pale?

Peter turns his sparkling eyes to me, like a dog... no, rabbit, waiting for praise from his master.

(Is this for real....?)

(...No, it's definitely for real, with this guy)

A man who will actually do things that seem like a joke. That's Peter White.

If his words are true, then this document is indeed an entrance guide from Symphonia.

A:  Y, yeah, I've really gotten pale....

I wanted to yell at him, but I'm so surprised my voice has lost strength.

(Symphonia.... ...It's Symphonia?)

I look down at the envelope I'm holding once more. The elegantly written words on the front don't change.

As always, they continue to say "Symphonia Advanced Magic School:  Entrance Guide."

When I think about how this is a guide from Symphonia, my hand feels like it might start to shake.

It's a special school with no peers, and all students board. This is a ticket to a school that fits my requirements exactly.

When you get a chance, you should take it...

A: ....No, I can't do it.

A:  No matter how you did it, I can't attend this school.

I said this quietly, expelling a deep breath

P:  Why? Ah, are you dissatisfied with Symphonia? YOu don't like it?

A:  No. It's pathetic to admit it...

A:  I'm not good enough to be a student at Symphonia. ...Even if I went there, if I couldn't keep up it would be meaningless.

I don't know how he did it, but it's not only an introduction. The admission process must be proceeding smoothly.

But, it's fradulent, as he himself said that he "barely avoided dark deeds" to do it. Even if I can attend Symphonia, it would be pointless if I can't keep up with the classes.

A:  That's why I won't accept this.

I return the envelope Peter had gone through so much trouble to get to him.

P: ...Aaah, Alice. You are such a high-minded and beautiful person!

P:  But be assured! Though I definitely was on the verge of darkness, this was done by gathering the necessary documents about you!

P:  Please relax, your attendance has been properly accepted by the principal of Symphonia! Look, here's your acceptance!

Just like the the guide, Peter casually presented the acceptance letter.

An acceptance letter from Symphonia Advanced Magic School. The unparalleled Symphonia...

A:  ....

A: ....*Now I can't relax for an entirely different reason.*

What are these documents about me? Probably they're school-related, about my current grades, but....

Those documents are normally carefully restricted by the school since they're personal information.

Since he used certain methods to get them, and use them without my permission to apply, Peter's actions are definitely "pitch-black."

(How could they have so easily accepted me... I hope he didn't forge my grades or record. )

In any case, an original must have been needed.

P:  So, Alice, will you go with me? This is yours.

He pushed back the envelope I'd been trying to return to him. Strangely, I stopped wanting to refuse it.

When I looked up from the envelope I was holding, Peter grinned happily from the bottom of his heart.

A:  .....

A:  ....I'll think about it.

P:  Being able to share school life together, it's like a dream come true!

A: ....I said I'd think about it, so why are you acting like it's been agreed on?

However, although I was annoyed at Peter, in my heart I had already decided.

Along with those easily seen-through words, mixed with a sigh, a smile appeared on my face. I deliberately turned the corners of my mouth up.

I'm grinning.

P:  Alice....

A:  ...Peter. There's something I want to ask you.

While carefully holding the Symphonia admittance documents, I picked up the shoes which I had dropped. I no longer felt like taking a walk with Peter.

There's something more important than that.

P:  Yes, what is it? Aaah, Alice, I'm overjoyed by your interest in me!

A: Oh, really? Then rejoice. I'm really interested in you now.

I now throw the door open, no longer quibbling about unwanted door-to-door sales. I let go of my shoes, as if tossing them.

Then once more, I turn to Peter with a smile.

P:  R, really....? This time I'm the one who's feeling shy, Alice!!!

(No, I wasn't embarassed at all that time, though...)

A:.... How much did you find out about me, how did you get those documents, and where are they kept now? I'm ve~ry curious about that.

P:  ...Uh. Um, um, Alice? You're making a scary face? Huh? Alice?

A:  Hehehehehe. Shall we talk about this slow~ly?

P:  Ah, aah, you're bold, Alice...!? I'm happy to be invited into your house...!

P:  I'm happy, very happy, but... Wah, gyaah! I can't breathe, Alice....!?

I'm thankful that now I can see a way foward on the path which was troubling me. ....But, this is a separate matter.

Anyway, it's necessary to have a thorough talk with Peter. Yes, a thorough one.

P:  Aaah, Alice, it hurts... Ouch...!? Wha, it could it be.... that you're into this kind of thing?...

That evening, I called on my sister, making sure it was after my younger sister Edith had returned to her room.

A:  Hey. There's something I want to talk to you about.

Lorina:  A talk? ...What could it be?

L:  Could you wait a bit? I'll pour some tea.

Before I could say I didn't need any, she headed to the kitchen, elegantly lifting the hem of her skirt.

It somehow felt like she was trying to stall for time.

(... I've gotten a bit dispirited.)

Since I had missed the opportunity to help her, I sat obediently on the sofa.

On my lap is the Symphonia introductory pamphlet I had received from Peter that afternoon.

(...Uuuh)

Though I actually hadn't been waiting much, the time it took for her to return felt very long. I had gotten anxious.

(She's here...!)

I straightened up. Seeing me, my sister chuckled after she entered the room.

L:  What's wrong, you've gotten so stiff. ...Aren't you a strange one?

A:  Um...yeah.

My sister put the tray holding two servings of tea on the table, and then put one before me.

A:  ....

Out of nervousness, I want to wet my throat, so I take the cup. As I'm bringing the lip of the cup to my mouth...

L:  You've decided, haven't you?

A:  ....!!!

Her foice was soft, but within it there could be felt a firm core. When she asked me this, the tea in my cup rippled strongly.

A:  H, how'd you...

L:  You're a stubborn girl. I know that once you say something, you won't listen.

A:  ....

For some reason I began to feel guilty.

Although I said it was for my sister, in the end this is my own will. Compared to her, I'm merely a child.

As I look down and stare at the surface of the trembling surface of the tea, my sister gently smiles.

L:  Heh, you don't need to make that kind of face? It's fine, I know that you took great pains to come to this decision.

L: ...A lot of things must be bothering you this time. Then, if this is the conclusion you've come to... heh, it can't be helped.

A:  ...Nee-san.

L:  So which school is it? You'll tell me that much, won't you?

She asks me this while bringing to cup to her mouth elegantly.

A:  It's... Please don't be shocked, but...

L:  What? It's a school that'll shock me?

L:  If you've decided to go to a boarding school, I won't say anything more... But if it's a terrible place, I'm going to be against it.

She's knitted her brows anxiously. She's probably worried as a guardian that I might be so tied to the idea of boarding school that I might have chosen a school below my level.

...In reality, it's the exact opposite result. I put the entrance documents in front of her.

A:  It's Symphonia.

Her eyes widen, as if she can't believe what she's heard.

Unsurprisingly though, she doesn't drop the cup she's holding. When I had heard that name before, I had dropped my shoes.

L:  S, symphonia?... That Symphonia...? The.... best magic school in the world?

She put the cup of tea back in its saucer.

Though she's normally not the sort to do this, the cup and saucer made a noise as they touched, perhaps because of her shock.

Then, she carefully reached for the entrance pamphlet I had placed before her.

She's handling it as if there's a risk it might bite you if you touch it.

L:  ......

L:  Is it... real?

A:  ...Yes. It's real.

My sister said this, although she doesn't think that I'd like to her like this.

That's how hard it is to believe that I've been admitted to Symphonia.

Though we're more than middle class, it's a school that even nobles have difficulty entering. It feels like winning the lottery.

L:  Uh, er... that's right. You're not the sort to tell lies....

L: This is... the real thing.

L: .....

L:  ...It' real.

My sister silently began to look through the entrance pamphlet and the accompanying documents.

She paid special attention to the acceptance letter which gave me permission to enter the school.

After she looked at them enough to be satisfied, she sighed deeply. My back, which had been straight up to that point, now relaxed and sank into the sofa.

A:  Ne, nee-san...?

I softly called her. She looked at me and smiled wryly.

L:  ...I'm surprised. Really...

L:  When did you apply to Symphonia? I was so shocked I thought my heart might stop.

(I feel the same)

I answer her in my mind. When I had heard about it, I was about as shocked.

But, I can't tell my sister that I didn't apply.

Telling her that Peter got me admitted using grey zone, nearly black zone methods is out of the question.

A:  If I went at it openly... it would be a bit too high of a goal?

I let my shoulders droop a bit.

I wanted to act as if ... Sypmphonia was far too lofty of a school, so I couldn't admit I was aiming at it.

(This is sneaky...)

L:  You're saying stuff like that again... If you had told me about it earlier, I would have cheered you on more.

A:  I"m sorry... But I didn't think that I would pass either.

*(No, I didn't even dream of it)*

Who would imagine that they'd be accepted to a school they hadn't applied to?

L:  My sister is going to Symphonia... To the best magical schol in the world...

She's deeply moved, saying this softly as though she were dreaming.

When she speaks like this, she reminds me of my mother, although we're not that far apart in age.

If my mother were alive, would she be happy for me like this?

I try to imagine, but since that role had already been missing for a long time in our household, it was difficult to do so smoothly. It's because I would see my sister's face.

L:  Heh heh. This evening I'll put in more effort and make your favorite meal.

A:  Huh?? You don't need to do that.

L:  What are you saying, Alice? You're going to Symphonia.

L:  It's natural to celebrate. And...when you've gone to Symphonia, I'll miss you.

A: ....

She looked sad, as she said.

L:  Until then, I'll make you a lot of your favorite foods. Eat a lot, ok?

A:  ...Yeah.

(Yes... That's right.)

(...I'll miss her. When I go to Symphonia... I won't be able to eat her cooking for awhile)

Thinking about that, although I was trying to be independent, I felt something tighten in my chest.

A:  ....Let me help you?

L:  It's your celebration, so you can't... is what I want to say, but shall we make them together?

L:  Let's tell father and Edith at dinner. I'm looking forward to seeing the look on their faces.

A:  But... they might be against it. I'm not looking forward to that.

L:  Even if it's Symphonia?

A:  Even so, it's possible.

No matter where, it could happen.

Our family gets along well. Although we had issues after my mother died, now everything is going very well.

(Enough for them to be overprotective)

It's not that I never find it troublesome, but that's mixed with a smile. We get along miraculously well.

Thinking of how I could be considering independence if things weren't like this, I'm pretty fortunate.

I think I'm happy. Now everything has come together, so I've become afraid as well.

Now everything is almost frighteningly perfect. I imagine if things weren't working out well now.

(Being afraid of my imagination)

A:  Edith might be against it. Father gave his permission, but if he were to change his mind...

Though I talk like this, I also will feel sad if they don't oppose it.

Really, how spoiled of me. This time which allows this.

L:  Yes... Heh heh, but, if they oppose it... I'll be on your side.

My sister chuckles and looks very happy. She's glad that I'm going to a well-known school like Symphonia.

When I think of this, I'm a bit... just a little bit, grateful to Peter.

We chat together until we finish the tea. Then we go to the kitchen to wash up the dishes.

I stand up to take the two cups.

L:  You always called him a stalker and other terrible things, but... You and that childhood friend get along well.

L:  Enough for you to follow him to the same school. Heh heh.

No way... hearing that loaded statement, I nearly dropped the cups.

I feel like revealing everything about how Peter was involved in this situation.

(No no no.... I can't do that.)

I force myself to stop. After once again firmly gripping the cups that had been about to fall, I sighed.

A:  *This is a big misunderstanding, nee-san.*

It's too big for me to leave it alone. I've got to clear it up without touching on the central matter.

(No matter what it takes...)

So basically, the main character, Lydia, is a mermaid princess of an underwater kingdom, Miretis (no idea about the romanizations of the places) It is not so clear whether there are other merfolk (I’ve been informed that this is the current word for merpeople) kingdoms in the world. The merfolk live under the sea and avoid contact with humans. If a human ingests merperson blood, then they will become immortal. Giving blood to a human is against the rules, but when she was younger, Lydia gave her blood to a human boy and saved his life. For this reason, she is imprisoned for ten years. Two years before the start of the story, the sea around Miretis turned black (although there seems to be no other effect), and the prince of Armeriya, the human country near it, started to try to capture the merfolk, but has been unsuccessful. 

Lydia’s sister, Laura, is the only person to visit her in jail. Laura is also batshit insane and declares frequently that she wants to stuff Lydia and make jewelry out of her corpse if she dies, because of Lydia’s beauty. Er, ok. Laura eventually decides she’ll try to bust Lydia out of jail, but their mom, the queen, ends up trying it instead. However, they’re caught and the king tells Lydia that if she finds out why the sea turned black he’ll forgive her. Lydia does so by asking Loki, a magician who lives under the sea, about it and he gives her a newspaper article stating that Prince Basil is behind the change in the sea. Then the king goes back on his word and instead says that she has to assassinate Basil in a year. 

Lydia then goes to Loki and makes a deal to grow human legs. The two conditions are that a) she can’t tell the person she loves that she loves them, and b) that if she kisses Prince Basil she’ll turn into sea foam. Elias, Lydia’s stalker childhood friend, has followed her and also a deal to get legs too. 

So, besides Basil, Loki, and Elias, the other LIs are:  Gawain, Basil’s devoted guard, Galileo, the palace doctor, Yahiko, a pirate captain from Ran, an vaguely Japan-like country to the east, and Botan, who seems to be the first mate on the pirate boat (?). Also, there’s Dan, an information seller who looks like a young boy. 

So Lydia goes to the shore and takes the potion Loki gave her, meets the pirates, and then runs into Basil and his retainers. She makes up a story about how she is new in the area but knows nothing because her dad’s policy is that she be imprisoned in their house. Basil then shoots a warning shot at her because she might be a mermaid. But then he allows Lydia to live in the palace. 

I chose Gawain because he was one of the characters suggested (really this game kind of has you choose right after you barely meet the characters). Gawain is obsessed with his job as Basil’s guard, and really distrusts Lydia, who is indeed trying to assassinate Basil. Unfortunately, Lydia has zero assassination skills, and is a terrible spy. Granted, there is no reason to imagine that Lydia could successfully carry out an assassination, as she seem to have no fighting ability and no talents other than singing. But she’s also really bad at lying, always showing her emotions on her face. She also feels like her best shot is to insist on meeting with Basil, which only increases Gawain’s suspicions. 

So some parts of this route are a bit repetitive, since Lydia continues to do suspicious things, and Gawain insists on watching her, etc, they continue to argue and bicker, eventually they fall in love, although for awhile Lydia is oblivious to her feelings. In some of the bad endings, Basil lets Lydia stab him, which is pointless because he’s immortal. 

But anyway, we find out that Gawain is terminally ill with some lung condition and medicine can do nothing for him. Lydia is shocked, and after failing to assassinate Basil again (and being easily forgiven by him) she decides to stop trying to assassinate Basil and instead persuade him to stop hunting merfolk. 

At this point she’s more concerned with trying to convince Gawain to drink her blood, but Gawain refuses even after she reveals she’s a mermaid. (Also she tells Basil the truth about who she is and how she rescued him, and in return Basil agrees to stop hunting the mermaids, and Lydia’s father pardons her since Basil stopped the hunting; also the way the sea turned black doesn’t seem to be Basil’s doing... and its color seems to be magical in some way since those who are near death see it as blue). But then Elias decides to pretend to go nuts and try to kill Lydia, which makes Gawain agree to drink her blood so that he can protect her. So then they get married and presumably live happily ever after. 

I liked Gawain and enjoyed this route, although there were some parts that were pretty repetitive (yes, we get that Gawain does not trust Lydia, and then after that the belabored conflict that Gawain is terminally ill but doesn’t want to become immortal etc.) I also laughed when Gawain was first like “we must not sleep together until marriage..... no wait, changed my mind, let’s get it on.” Up to that point the route had been pretty chaste, as it took forever for them even to kiss, and I was like, hmm, is this really a 17+ game? heh. 

So in the beginning Alice is like: Gray is too respectable! He is TOO SANE to be a resident of this world! Now I will stare at him for no reason, trying to find some flaw.  

Then she's like later:  Gray! You should scold me because I was mildly rude to you or something because I was upset about Julius and the tower going missing. I am bad and deserve to have you get mad at me.

(as someone on Discord was saying, is Alice a masochist? Did she like it when Julius scolded her? Ok.... )

And Gray is like:  ??? No, it's totally ok, I just feel sorry for you.

Then Nightmare is like:  ZOMG Alice, why do you always take Gray's side?! You are fooled by him, and he is a bad man!

And now Alice is all like:  I'm just going to stare at random people now while walking around with Gray because I'm consumed with the idea that somewhere Gray has a girlfriend. She's probably SOMEONE LIKE MY SISTER. But I can't become my sister. Wait, is that what I really want to do?

(Damn Alice has issues. She puts Lorina on a pedestal and openly declares her to be the perfect woman. This makes me feel sorry for Lorina. )

Anyway, so Alice tells Gray that she admires this man, and Gray is like don't be fooled by appearances! And Alice is like no, I don't know him that well, but he seems like a good person. Gray is like but really? No, you're def being fooled by this guy and he is probably not a good person. Do not confess to him!

Later, while whining about having to do the meetings, Nightmare tells Gray and Alice he'd rather have a ball like the one Alice went to in the previous game. However Alice just ended up drinking with Ace and Julius, lol. (Remember this is the route where it was just drinking). Gray seems pleased that she didn't do any dancing, for some reason. I really don't remember this scene from the original game... One interesting thing we learn from it though is that the meetings are just happening because it's a rule they happen after the moving, but the special event in the Country of Clover is something else that Nightmare can choose. (After he's done with the meetings.)

Also, Gray and Alice go walking again, but this time Gray stares at random people because he wants to find the man she was talking about. But sadly Gray could not find himself. Gray once again says that Alice should definitely avoid this man and that he wants to reveal the truth about him.

(...how deep. XD)

So anyway I was just throwing up my hands when finally Alice point blank asks Gray whether he is in a relationship and Gray says he’s single, and then she asks if they can PRETEND TO DATE (恋人ごっこ), after he turns down a fling. Frankly I have no idea what this is. I gather it’s when two people pretend to be in a relationship, not to fool other people or because they want the status of dating, but because they want to enjoy all the trappings and activities of romance without actually being in a relationship. I don’t know whether this is a thing that people actually do IRL or whether it’s a shoujo trope (I mean, I’ve seen fake dating plotlines, but they were usually because the characters needed to fool other people, not for the experience.) 

I don’t know what the hell Gray is thinking either, as he is serious about Alice. He seems to have entirely forgot the pretending part and just acts like he’s in a relationship for real, although maybe all of this is because Gray has never been in a serious relationship (just one night stands or less) and does ridiculous things like inviting Alice to his room and then being all Victorian and shocked that Alice’s ex invited her to his room! Yes, he dared to do what you are doing this instant. 

Alice’s strange behavior also continues when she goads Gray into sleeping with her by misrepresenting her relationship with Julius. Gray soon learns that they weren’t really lovers, but he still is jealous of Julius’s friendship with Alice, probably because he believes that Julius was in fact INCREDIBLY FRIENDZONED, like, sleep in the same bed with the girl you’re crushing on but have it be entirely platonic friendzoned, leading Gray to worry that Julius will use his many underlings (...besides Ace they don’t really seem to be that troublesome though) to get revenge for this NTR. 

So anyway, after this point they proceed to get even more romantic while Alice still angsts that this isn’t a real relationship. Both Gray and Alice both have really positive views of each other, but negative views of themselves, and both feel like they’re unworthy of the other person. 

Also in this route you get the explanation of why Gray serves Nightmare. After you play Diamond Mirror World, a lot of this reads less abstractly. 

Anyway, I just finished playing Blood’s route, which got me 14% of all scenes. (A lot of this route is “telling everyone we’re in a relationship is like, totally the same as telling Alice I love her, RIGHT? IT IS, RIGHT? I don’t need to actually tell her that....” while Alice is like “stop telling everyone that we are FWB.” 

Toma’s route, cont’d:  In the end Toma ends up asking both his parents and MC’s parents for permission to marry MC (because she wants to continue to live with Toma, but he feels that it would be wrong to do so without being engaged), but hilariously they already totally were just like expecting it. 

Ikki’s route:  MC and Ikki move in together, claiming they are “roommates” but come on, let’s not kid ourselves, they’re shacking up in a one-bedroom apartment. MC’s dad is still mad about this but then only makes himself look more ridiculous by complaining that his daughter has hooked up with a womanizer when he recalls that when she was a little girl she would plead with him to stay but instead he HAD to go out and date those women because it was a promise to them! I mean, you don’t need to have read all of Freud’s works here to see what’s going on, lol. 

But eventually he decides to accept that Ikki has changed, especially when Ikki gets down on his knees and begs him to let him marry MC. Oh yeah, and there’s more Rika apologia. Anyway I always thought the family drama between MC and her dad was the most interesting part of Ikki’s route. 

Kent:  Kent was one of my favorite routes, besides Ukyo’s, in the original game, but I found his route in this game kind of boring. It’s interesting to note that in the other routes, Kent is typically the chef at Meido no Hitsuji, but in his own route, he knows the MC because he was her tutor, and he doesn’t work there... and also, he doesn’t know how to cook at all. Nor does he know how to properly put on a futon cover, which is pretty bad when he’s attempting to live abroad. But with MC’s route, Kent soon learns how to cook and bake. (Kent is probably especially suited to baking). 

Ukyo:  I liked this route since it has more plot to it, in that it focused on how Ukyo had a split personality, and how MC was learning of this and also slowly remembering the events of August (which she had forgotten). Also Orion briefly shows up. I also really loved the part where Ukyo had been communicating with his other personality (俺=normal Ukyo, オレ=other Ukyo, but how the heck does this get through in spoken speech... How would you translate that also? Hopefully not as “katakana me” XD) using a notebook (Ukyo due to his experiences has gotten super lax about housework, but his other self insists on cleaning things properly and also throwing away expired food), but then MC finds this and thinks that Ukyo has been living with another person. Then she confesses her doubts to Rika, who then dramatically confronts Ukyo on her behalf! In the end everything is resolved and the other Ukyo reveals that he no longer has murderous intent towards her, so that’s resolved. 

Orion made a chart of the relationships between the characters in this world. 

Rika and Mine in yukata. (Rika is saying that a rose and a lily both have their types of beauty.) 

Ikki and Kent. Orion is saying he’d like to ask where Kent got that belt-patterned obi from. 

Anyway, at this point you can unlock the After Stories for the love interests, Waka San World (different scenarios with different Wakas) and short scenes with the female characters, where they all have a get together just with the girls. 

It turns out that the MC last year was really moved by the fireflies they saw at their group outing (for Meido no Hitsuji), so all the characters want to find fireflies for her again. But only in Ukyo’s scenes do they actually find them. (I suppose this is Ukyo’s privilege as the “true route”? 

In the After Stories (these take place after the ending in the original game) Orion is gone, so things feel really different, since now we hear the MC’s own thoughts and feelings, and don’t have Orion tagging along as a Greek chorus/tsukkomi. 

It’s been a long time since I played the original game, so I had forgotten a lot of details and had to refresh my memory. 

Shin:  I found myself rather annoyed with Shin in his story. (TBH I felt that way a bit in the original game too) Jeebs, boy, stop being so pushy. Just slow down, especially after all of this has happened! Also, everyone is super forgiving of Toma, to the point that Shin and MC entirely cover-up his wrongdoing to the other characters, so they all think that Toma is just overreacting to accidentally hurting the MC. I had to also side-eye the way Shin is still IN HIGH SCHOOL but is already proposing. It’s like Shin saw the other routes where everyone else proposes to MC and decided that he has to also! Boy, you are still worrying about your college exams?! 

This is a screenshot of when they go to the zoo, but the background is the amusement park. 

Toma:  I was curious about this one. In this one, the MC continues to parade around her extraordinarily saintly (or doormat-like, depending on your perspective) character by forgiving both Toma and Rika for their misdeeds against her. (The game in this route and the Ikki one partially justify Rika’s behavior as saying she must act harshly to the fan club in order to minimize the harm they cause to Ikki and others, but I still don’t know...)  To an extent, the game is more self-aware than you’d think it was from reading a summary, as if they’re aware of the criticisms a lot of fans have. 

Toma:  Of course, this time I won’t lock you up, or tie you up either. 

Uhhh.... 

It makes me laugh that at first Toma is sleeping on a futon, and then thinks that he should go sleep in the cage (?!) which has now been put out on the balcony, BUT THEN he gets into bed with her and tells her that she can’t turn around because it would be too exciting. 

Probably the strongest aspect of the game was the art:  really liked the character designs and the manga-like way they had of illustrating scenes, especially action ones. This was effective and interesting to watch.The CGs are also nice, and the overall attention to detail in the menus and other graphics was good too. 

The system was complicated, but while intriguing, it eventually became tedious and repetitive in practice. So this is one of those games where there’s the conceit that we’re on a calendar system and you have to choose what to do every day (in practice just choose the character or even to experience), but the random events are often boring, and even some of the regular events were surprisingly short and perfunctory. The quick-time event battles are relatively few and painless. On the whole I found the most annoying thing was the way you had to get one of the three endings for each character (which I discussed in a previous post). Plus, all of the endings are really short! Sometimes that was ok, and sometimes I was left wondering ‘what was the point of making that a separate ending’? 

As for the story:  to avoid spoilers, I’ll be vague here. The premise of the story is that on the Italian-esque island of Regalo, an organization known as the Arcana Famiglia shares power with the local lord, and in practice (although in aesthetics they resemble the mafia) they’re like some kind of local government. The head of the Famiglia, Mondo, awakened the power of the Arcana (named after the major arcana of the tarot cards). Each card binds to its user and allows them a certain special power (and they can use it to power up their normal fighting abilities), but this comes at a certain cost. The theme of the price of this power is unevenly handled in the story, I felt, even though it is one of the central themes. Sometimes the problems seem to be very serious, yet other times are resolved awfully easily. (This is something that continues through the story). The heroine, Felicita, and the other major characters, possess the power of the Arcana, and at the beginning of the story, her father, Mondo, declares that they will have an Arcana duel in order to determine who will marry her:  but if Felicita loses, she will have to stay inside of the mansion for the rest of her life. The reasons for Mondo’s bizarre decision are explained through the course of the story. 

Anyway, the writing is really good when dealing with some of the backstory and the friendships and family relationships between the characters. There’s a lot of really hilarious ensemble scenes with the characters which are maybe the best parts of the game. But I felt that the romance is often much weaker. Not that I didn’t appreciate the strong platonic relationships between the heroine and the love interests, but I guess I prefer games where the beginning of the romantic relationship occurs mid-route, rather than at the very end. (Maybe it’s because this game is rated for a relatively young-ish age and more often play the 17+ games? (Comparable to a M rating in the U.S.)) Also added to this was how short a lot of the endings were. However, in pure plot-focused exposition, sometimes things felt really under-written (I felt this was really bad in Debito’s route, especially). While VNs are often bloated and too long, this game actually felt too short for some of the stuff it took on. (When I read on Japanese blogs that this was supposed to be like a shounen manga x otome game, that made sense to me. Usually a shounen manga goes over twenty volumes in telling a story. There wasn’t enough enough space in this game to really fulfill the potential of the story, IMHO. ) Maybe the other two games fix these issues, but in a VN you’re supposed to do it all in one game, I think.