[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by luap1138

Edit: Okay, just read those changes you made to Interlude 9. Great additions, especially the (Jamaican?) merchant.

I have no idea how you'd render it in Japanese, but yeah, he's Jamaican, mon.

Originally Posted by luap1138

The player starts out with access to only three routes: Alien, Time Traveler, and Esper. Each of these routes must be played through twice (once for the main route, and once for its subroute) before it is considered cleared by the game.

You don't have to beat the subroutes to get access to Divine, but you do have to beat the main route to unlock the subroutes.

Otherwise, yeah, that's correct.

Originally Posted by Magnificate

Question: Is considered normal, as in standard design feature, for visual novels to make the player replay the game that many times to be able to reach all possible options? From what I understand in that project after the first three routes you are essentially forced to play in the order provided by the game designer.

We're kind of unique in that regard, I believe. But the game's structure makes sense once you understand the plot, trust me.

Originally Posted by GDB

That is quite a lot of routes, though.

Clannad has 11, counting the Baseball Route and After Story, and 12 if you count Koumura even though he really isn't anything other than a mandatory bad end.


Moving on... I have this.

Spoiler for September the Sixth, Day 5, Memories: Flashes in Space (Melancholy's End):

Flashes in Space (Melancholy's End)

---

Flashes.

Every few seconds, lightning flashes across the grey sky, cutting it into a jigsaw puzzle.

And, as always, I fall into memory.

This time, there is no commentary. Only a story told by an idiot, which signifies nothing.

---

The following is a story from mid-May.

---

It was all just a dream. That is, I wish it was.

After class that day, That Whore Taniguchi came up to me and told me that she had discovered Yuuki and Kyon in a 'compromising position' the other day. She had apparently had photographic proof, but Kyon had confiscated it.

As usual, I pretended she didn't exist, figuring that it was just That Whore Taniguchi's jealousy acting up again.

I wish I was wrong.

When I got to the clubroom, I found Mitsuuru-kun and Kyon playfully wrestling over the right to use the computer mouse. Kyon was laughing. I've never seen her laugh before.

But what really got me was that Mitsuuru-kun managed to cop a feel. Although I'm proud of him for having the balls to do so, it still pisses me the hell off.

They haven't noticed me yet, so I take the opportunity to snatch the mouse out of Kyon's hand and scare Mitsuuru-kun into submission.

Shoving Kyon aside, I flop into my Commander's Chair of Surpreme Amounts of Manliness (that's written on the back, by the way.)

...?

A hidden folder labelled “MITSUURU”... What could this be?

“Haruki, wait.” Kyon says. “That's...”

If you tell me to wait, I'll just press the button or click the mouse. Never let it be said that I am patient.

Huh. It's those erotic photos of Mitsuuru-kun in a maid outfit... I'm getting excited just by looking at them.

I look at Kyon and grin. She must have been saving these for, heh, personal use.

So you has a maid fetish too, Kyon? That's awesome. I should show you my secret notebook some time, kuku.

I scroll down. “What else is in here...?”

Kyon continues to fidget a lot... as I uncover her secret shame... the photos of her in that delicious bunny suit.

“Heh. I guess this means you enjoyed wearing it?” I continue to grin at her evilly. “Maybe I should make it a rule that you should wear this in the clubroom from now on?”

Kyon hastily agrees. ...That was easy.

Ah, this is gonna be so great. I'm gonna have both a pretty maid serving me tea and a cute and sexy bunny girl being, uh, cute and sexy. And bathmouthing me. But that's sexy too. A whole different kind of sexy.

I should get Koizumi-san into some kind of outfit, too... maybe a spy catsuit. Mmm, catsuits. Or whips and leather and chains, those'd work too. And maybe I'll give Yuuki a fruit hat as well, to make the place more colorful. And then my SOS Brigade will be truly complete.

I mean, sure, that wasn't the original goal, but fruit hats? God damn those things are awesome.

There's one more image. I scroll down to see it.

...

...

...

...

...

That Whore Taniguchi wasn't lying.

It's a picture of Yuuki and Kyon in a 'compromising position'. Kyon is looking at the camera with a surprised expression. Her hair, like now, is no longer in that awesome ponytail, and her clothes are all messed up. Yuuki looks the same as ever, except for the lack of glasses... hell, he's not wearing them now, either.

...What else am I supposed to think?


I don't remember what I yelled at Kyon, or what she said to me. I only remember being angry at everyone and accusing her of liking little boys and weak men, and that I might have called her a slut. I forcibly ended the argument by storming out the the clubroom, hurt and angry.

Kyon had basically rejected me, and in the worst way possible. I didn't even get the chance to convey my growing feelings. Do you know how much that hurts? It hurts as much as having a goddamn heart attack!

I knew this was a waste of time.

I headed home and to my room, ignoring everyone.

This is all just a waste of time.

I wish that everyone would just disappear.

---

Do you know why humans have dreams? No, seriously, I don't actually know. Could someone please tell me?

I'd like to know why I'm having this dream, right now.

I woke up, fully clothed in my uniform, in the courtyard of my high school. Well, I suppose “woke up” is the wrong word.

Let's just say I “regained consciousness.” Wait, no, that's wrong too.

Hmm. Whatever, you understand my meaning.

This feels oddly real. I pinch myself. It hurts, although I've never thought of that as a good indicator of your current state of awareness.

I look up.

...This is weird. The sky above me is grey. There's no stars. In fact, all the light in this world is grey.

“In this world”? What... does that mean?

Where the hell am I?

Oh, also, lying next to me, also in her uniform, is Kyon, fast asleep. ...She even has her hair up in a ponytail. Maybe she knows what this place is?

I wake her up with a combination of shaking and yelling. For a minute, I was worried that she wasn't going to wake... er, 'regain consciousness' or whatever.

“Nnnnnn?”

“You finally awake? Do you know where this is?”

Kyon doesn't respond, but as she gets up, she look around with an expression of bewilderment, and, then, finally... understanding.


"When I woke up, I found myself here, and you at my side. What's going on here? Why are we at school?"

Kyon shakes her head, and still doesn't respond. ...She pinches the back of her hand and even tries to pull a bit of hair out, wincing from the pain. Hey, I already did that. If you'd ask, I'd tell you that it doesn't seem like a dream. Maybe.

Well, that's a subjective experience to begin with.

“Haruki, are we the only ones here?”

"Yeah… last I remember, I was asleep in my bed. Why are we here? The sky looks so... dead."

"Have you seen Itsuko?"

"Koizumi-san? No.” Why'd you mention her? I mean, I'm glad you didn't bring up Yuuki or Mitsuuru-kun, but...

"No reason, just curious." Kyon seems to know exactly what's going on. Huh. This must be a dream. She doesn't look worried at all.

After a bit of deliberation, we decided to leave the school, but... when we got to the entrance, there was an invisible wall blocking our path.

What the hell?!

The wall had the consistency of cold washed vegetables covered in plastic wrap. It's disgusting, but also kinda cool.

We traced the wall a bit, but seemed as though the invisible wall surrounded the entire school.

We're cut off from the rest of the world.

“Let's try the back entrance!” I believe that one should always have hope.

“I have a better idea,” Kyon said. “Let's look for a phone.”

That is a great idea! No way the phone lines will be cut off by the huge invisible wall.

Schools are creepy places at night. ...It's like every time you turn a corner, a monster could jump out at you out of nowhere.

Normally, I'd think this was awesome, but tonight, in this world...

Kyon flipped all the light switches she could find was as we passed. In ancient times, people believe that light would drive away the evil around them... I know how they feel.

The staff room was locked, so I threw a fire extinguisher through the window and got in that way. Predictably, the phone wasn't working.

Looks like there's no way to contact the outside world, so...

“Maybe we should get higher up...?” We should get our bearings.

We decided to head to our classroom. All buildings, even relatively new ones like our school, make noise at night. ...Kyon is a lot more nervous than I though, since she jumped at every little creak and crack. The second time this happened, she grabbed ahold of my jacket.

...

“If you're that scared, then grab onto my arm. It looks more natural that way.” Please.

“Dumbass.” Even though she said that... she didn't let go.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

The view from our classroom windows was stunning. We could see the whole city from up here, all the way across to the horizon.

There is no light anywhere. Everything is dead.

It's like the end of the world.

So why is it just the two of us here?


Why?

What do I really want?


Adam and Eve? Don't be ridiculous.


I took Kyon to the clubroom. She offered to brew tea for me, but I think I got upset and left again.

I told her to stay behind, ostensibly for her safety.

I'm such an idiot.

But, still. This is... actually pretty awesome. I think this might be what I've really wanted all along.

And so, after I thought that, or perhaps because I thought that... Something awoke nearby, suffusing the grey world with a blood-red light.


Kyon has got to see this. I burst into the clubroom at full tilt.

“Kyon! It's happened! Something's appeared!” I saw that I was about to run into her and stopped myself just in time. "What is that? It's huge! Is it a monster? It doesn't seem like an illusion. You think that's an alien? Or it could be a superweapon created by the ancients, waking up from its long slumber? Is that thing the reason we can't escape from school?"

Now THIS is a mysterious event.

The giant suddenly moved... and fast. Uh oh.

I pushed Kyon down to the floor as a massive tremor shook the whole complex. I felt a few chunks of ceiling hit my back, but they didn't hurt in the least. As long as Kyon is okay, that's all that matter, I think.

“…T-thanks. You okay?”

I coughed, smiling despite myself. “Heh, this is nothing.” I get the feeling we're going to have to get out of here. That giant is gonna destroy the school, and it's going to be beautiful. “Put your arms around my neck.”

“Huh?”

“We need to get out of the building. Put your arms around my neck so I can carry you out of here!”

For once, she listened to me with a minimum of complaints... and with her on my back, we escaped from the school.


...I'll skip ahead a bit, since I think you already know the ending.


Kyon didn't want to stay here with me. She wanted to go back home, to that boring world where nothing ever happened.

She's just like the rest of them. I've been rejected in a whole different way.

We were on the sports field, and more giants had arisen, continuing their destruction of the school. ...I'd always hated that place.

No one cares about me. I just want to die.

Those kind of thoughts went through my head around then.


But...

"Haruki, listen to me. These last few days, I've experienced some very interesting things. Though you may not know it, there are all sorts of people who are really interested in you. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to say that the world literally revolves around you. Everyone believes you are a very special person, and they've tried to back up those beliefs with actions. You may not know it, but the world is headed in a very interesting direction."

...What is she on about now? I turn to face her. She places her hands on my chest.

The sudden contact makes my heart skip a beat. Kyon looks as though she wants to say something, but can't find the words to do so.

This isn't right. I'm being set up for more pain again.

"What is it now...?"

"You know, I-I really appreciate what you did for me back there in the clubroom."

"Huh?"

"I'm actually not into bookish guys at all. I'd like a man who'd be my knight in shining armor!"

...The hell? The hell is this all of a sudden? Where did this come from? Who decided on this plot device? Hey! Listen to me!

“Don't get it, huh...”

She grabs my tie and pulls me into a kiss.

...

...

Well. I certainly wasn't expecting that.

In this situation, a man can only do one of three things. He can choose to reject her feelings and push her away, he can do the womanly thing and stay like this, or he can grow a pair and do exactly what he feels like doing.

Normally, I'd do the latter, but I think I should have some consideration for ah screw it I want this. I pull her into a tight hug. So tight that she opens her mouth in shock, whereupon I take the opportunity to force my tongue inside.

Kuku, I'll make your first kiss a memorable one if it's the last thing I do. Struggle as you may, I'm not going to let go...!

I'm never going to let go again.

And slowly... ever so slowly... she relaxed... and slid her arms around my neck.

This is the first time I've really felt 'love'.

Oh sure, I've had feelings for girls before, but nothing like this.

It's not a disease, or a mental illness. It's something special, magical, and idealistic. It's something that everyone wants to have. It's a secret to everybody. It's the subject of sonnets and poems and stories and songs. It's a mysterious event.

I am in love. And this alone... makes me realize once again that life is worth living.

The real world isn't boring at all! It's filled with strange and wonderful things! I've just been looking in the wrong places all this time!

I'm such an idiot... how could I not have seen it when it was right in front of my face? Stupid, stupid. Kyon was right. So stupid.

She kisses me with more passion than I ever thought she was capable of. ...I'll have to reevaluate my opinion, it seems.

I don't want to stay in this grey world. I want to go home. I want to go back home and share this life of mine with her. No, not just her... with Koizumi-san, with Mitsuuru-kun, and even Yuuki.

And so, in a whirlwind of light and sound... my melancholy comes to an end.


I wake up on the messy floor of my bedroom. It seems I was making out with my sheets.

...It... it was all just a dream after all?

What!?

Oh well. No biggie.

I've already discovered what really matters, anyway.

I've already found out what it means to be human.

My lips still feel warm. I'm happy.


I got to school early, grinning from ear to ear. I was practically bouncing up and down with pent-up energy.

That Whore Taniguchi and That Slut Kunikida looked at me as though I had leprosy, but I didn't care.

I was waiting for Kyon.

When she finally arrived, only minutes before the start of class, she was wearing both a ponytail and a pissed-off expression. It was tied up with a cute yellow ribbon. The ponytail, not the expression.

I greeted her cheerfully. "Yo, how's it been? Listen, before you say anything, I want to apologize for yesterday. I was totally out of line, and I'm really sorry." That's the least I can do.

“Whatever. It's over and done with, so it really doesn't matter anymore.”

I was wrong... she isn't pissed, just really tired. “You don't look so good.”

“Ugh... I had a horrible nightmare last night.”

Really? I had the best dream of my life. I bet you wish you were there. Oh wait, you were, heh.

She just gives me her usual glare and looks out the window.

How to rectify this... hmm. I know.

“Hey, Kyon.”

“What?”

"You look great in that ponytail. Don't ever take it off again.”

She turns a deep scarlet, mumbling her thanks.

These are the moments when I truly understand love.

Please Enjoy~.

TWO. SCENES. LEFT.