Hakuouki – Souji’s Route

Finished two routes in Hakuouki so far – Souji’s and Saito’s. Initially I was aiming for Hijikata but I changed my mind after hearing Souji’s soft voice and seeing his half-exposed chest along the way…! It was too tempting… During Souji’s route, I became more interested in Saito thus I went for him after Souji… Will go for Hijikata next ;;^^! (Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD, don’t proceed if you do not want to see the CGs and read rants on the storyline!)

Souji *o*

Background

Hakuouki is based around the time when Japan was experiencing internal conflicts with regards to whether it should open for international trades or to close off completely. In the end, the government had no choice but to open the country due to international pressure. Many patriotic Japanese did not want that so they formed extremist groups aiming to overthrow the government. As a response, the government set up a group of police named Shinsengumi, whose main responsibilities were to keep Kyoto safe and to restrain active extremist groups.

Our bishies are of course the Shinsengumi members! So far I have babbled on about real history. Real history is not enough to make a Otome game interesting though, so in Hakuouki we have the protagonist dressing up as a guy to mix with the Shinsengumi; the Shinsengumi bishies lusting for blood and a random bishie attempting to kidnap the protagonist in order to have babies with her… *dies* Despite the fantasised elements, the eventual fate of most of the Shinsengumi members was death (in the game and according to history). It was sad to play through the game knowing that the protagonist would not be able to stay with them for long! This explains why the game is called ‘Hakuouki’, which literally means ‘A ghost resembling Sakura’ – the Shinsengumi members led a beautiful life, like the flower Sakura, yet their life was fleeting like a ghost.

About Souji

Souji is the captain of the first regime of Shinsengumi. He is one of the best swordsmen out there at the time, along with Saito and Shinpachi. Personality-wise, he has a bad-mouth and he always talks about killing people, violence and blood etc with a really gentle and sweet voice! He also says bad things with a cunning smile, which reminds me of Benkai from Haruka 3. He has a BIG crush on commander Kondou, since he talks about him 24-7 ;;XDD.

In Souji’s route, there is a lot of ‘alone together-time’ since the beginning because of his illness. The protagonist tends to stay with him in the Shinsengumi residence instead of working with everyone else. If you don’t go for Souji, he would eventually die from tuberculosis in the middle of the game. I really like his route because I tend to fall for bishies with a bad-nature he is really sweet towards the end and both the good and bad endings are tear-jerker!

Souji’s Route

Won’t be able to go over all of the scenes, but I will talk about some of my favourite ones *_*!

The protagonist overheard a conversation between Souji and the doctor and found out that he was suffering from a fatal illness. The doctor advised him to leave Shinsengumi immediately; go somewhere with fresh air; eat good food and rest. However, Souji refused to take his advice, saying that being here in Shinsengumi was his everything. The protagonist was discovered by Souji. They sat together, not knowing what to say for a while, then Souji broke the silence; denied that he was suffering from an illness and threatened with his killing soft voice (he should be punished for it!) that if she were to tell anyone, he would kill her. It was so sad to hear him say that with such a gentle expression! Soujiiii-kun you can cry on my shoulder!

Complete fan-service! *ajakekake*

So onto one of my favourite scenes! Shinsengumi was under attack by the evil bishie and his sub-ordinates who wanted to steal the protagonist in order to have babies with her. Kondou defended the protagonist and ordered someone to take her away. She was thrown (yes, thrown) into Souji’s room (very typical Otome game story line! YOU have to throw her into a bishie’s room, moreover a DARK room). She landed right on top of Souji! Souji teased the protagonist saying:

“This is open of you to crush into my room!”

“Is it that comfortable lying on top of me?”

The protagonist got incredibly embarrassed and kept apologising! Souji teased her more:

“I am hurt since you kept apologising! It is as though you hate me.”

This scene describes Souji’s playful personality perfectly! And that chest in the CG *tries not to stare*…

Souji became ‘Rasetsu’ here. He drank a special drug which made him lusted for blood, but in return he gained incredible strength and fast recovery from physical wounds. The drug was created by the protagonist father and Souji was offered it by the protagonist’s brother Kaoru. Kaoru hated the protagonist because he didn’t receive any love from his foster family due to his sex, whilst she was well-cared for. Anyway, Souji decided to drink it because his illness was preventing him from fighting and he wanted to regain strength to make himself useful again. He slashed a few enemies thus the blood in the CG. Really adore his serious expression here (and that chest again…!).

The protagonist trying to stop Souji from going berserk because of his lust for blood and he was worried about Kondou’s injury.

Souji got shot by Kaoru! He believed that Kaoru was the one who injured Kondou so he was trying to fight him… (Can’t believe that 2 CGs are dedicated to Souji’s affections toward Kondou! It’s as though the protagonist is stealing Souji from Kondou in Souji’s route!)

Towards the end of the game, Souji couldn’t hold back his lust for blood anymore, so the protagonist offered her blood to him. He promised her that he would not drink anyone else’s blood: he would only drink hers to keep himself sane. he was struggling to be human and to keep his morales, but he continued to be strong due to the support he received from the protagonist. This scene was not as toki doki as I would have expected! It was more sad and beautiful, especially after hearing Souji’s confession.

In this scene, the protagonist and Souji were searching for Hijikata after finding out that the new government planned to execute Kondou. Souji talked about his childhood and his relationship with Kondou. He explained that Kondou was like a brother to him and that he was very important. The protagonist replied that she would trust Souji with his decision. Then he embraced her suddenly without notice!

“Sorry for holding your so suddenly.”

“I don’t really understand why, but right now I can’t stop myself from wanting to hold you.”

“An unstoppable feeling of wanting to treasure you is overflowing…”

“You are really a strange child…” (He likes calling the protagonist child)

*DIES*! He was making a love confession without knowing it himself! So cute! I wanted to hug him during that scene! Although he can be cunning and cheeky, really he is just a big kid inside!

The long-awaited kiss! They were making their way back to the protagonist’s village to confront Kaoru and her dad. Kaoru offered them the chance to join them and create a kingdom where everyone is ‘Ratsetsu’. The protagonist was doubting whether to join her family or not. Souji said he wanted to grant everything that the protagonist wanted, and he knew that in her heart she wanted a peaceful world; not a world where violence dominates and everyone lusts for blood.

“If you were to lose yourself, if you were to give up on what you truly believe in, I would kill you for your sake.”

“I won’t give up in believing, so please keep on believing, so that I would be with you forever…”

*Faints* So… so touching! That scene alone is enough to make me love Souji-kun!

In the good ending, they stayed away from the battlefield and lived in a small village together. Even though they were both cured of ‘Ratsetsu’, Souji still suffered from tuberculosis and his life-span had shortened for becoming ‘Ratsetsu’ before. It was a nice day, so they decided to rest in the sun. The protagonist was about to go to sleep…

“Don’t sleep… I love you.”

“I love you. How about you?”

“I want to know how you feel about me.”

(Of course the protagonist said that she loves him too)

“Thank you. … Please don’t forget that I will always pray for your happiness.”

“I will try my best to not make you feel lonely.”

“I love you from the bottom of my heart. Even if I would have to leave you someday… My heart will always belong to you. Please believe me.”

Then Souji closed his eyes! His arm around the protagonist relaxed too… He looked as if he was in a deep sleep. The protagonist confessed her feelings too then fell asleep with him… and the game ended here! It does not clarify whether Souji fell asleep or was he… dead!? Such a vague ending… and it is terribly upsetting to know that they would not lead a long life together. Souji’s ending is one of the best Otome games endings that I have come across. It is not the typical ‘they lived happily ever after’ ending, which made it memorable and bitterly sweet.

I will need to play the fan-disc soon to get more Souji love and to see more of his chest~ Planning to buy the PS3 version of Hakuouki and the fan-disc which is out in June!

Best to summarise Souji’s route with a fan-made video! I really like the song in the video, does anyone know who sing it?

I will do Saito’s route next, will not rant on for so long in the next update I promise XD;;. Have you played Hakuouki before? Who is your favourite bishie?

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