Amatsutsumi mainline clearance, this is the summary I wrote two days later, in the mood of preparing for an interview. So I want to write this text in the middle of the night to commemorate my game impressions.
Background Description#
Amatsutsumi mainly tells the story of the male protagonist, Makoto Shibu, who has the power of language spirits. He escaped from his village where he had lived since childhood because he longed for the life in the human world (as seen in comic books). Fortunately, he was picked up by Makoto Kokoro (??? while walking in the mountains), and thus began his life in a small town. In the town, he became a part of the Shibu family using his own power, replacing Makoto Kokoro's brother who had been away for many years. He met Nagiko, a shrine maiden who is not good at speaking. His fiancee, Ai, also came out with him. The male protagonist also experienced school life and met his best friend, Koichi. However, as expected, every game will have a mysterious girl, and she is undoubtedly the female protagonist, Hotaru. Hotaru is not affected by the male protagonist's power of language spirits. Therefore, she helps the male protagonist live a normal life in the town. During their interaction, the male protagonist discovers that Hotaru is a strange girl, so after pushing down almost all the female protagonists, the male protagonist begins to explore the background of this mysterious girl, thus opening the prologue of this great drama...
Understanding the Plot#
Sin: From the perspective of Japanese, it refers to behaviors that violate laws, social or religious regulations. It is often used in religions. Originally, it referred to actions that violated the taboos of gods.
Tianjin: In the sky Guojin: On the ground
Tianjin Sin: Taking it comprehensively, if we look at it from its original meaning, it means sins that are not allowed by the gods. The subject who commits such forbidden actions is still human itself. However, in this work, this meaning has been extended, referring to the act of depriving souls that want to survive, and both gods and humans will be punished. Here, the "gods" refers to the male protagonist, and the "humans" refers to the true Hotaru.
The Bond Between Siblings#
It mainly tells the story of the male protagonist and his nominal sister, Makoto Kokoro, spending a peaceful time in the "family". In the conversation between Hotaru and the male protagonist, Hotaru expresses her concern that the male protagonist will abuse the power of language spirits, and the one who will ultimately be harmed is not others, but the male protagonist who uses the power of language spirits. Therefore, Hotaru and the male protagonist made a promise to "make everyone happy and not be harmed". In the process of getting along with Makoto Kokoro, the male protagonist gradually discovered that his feelings for her went beyond ordinary sibling feelings, but the male protagonist did not want to hurt her feelings, so he pushed down his nominal sister (??? Ah, this plot...). However, their mother's health was deteriorating, and in the process of getting along, Makoto realized that he had fallen deeply in love with this peaceful family life, and also realized that his power of language spirits required life as a cost. If you want to save someone, you need the life of the language spirit user as a cost.
In the end, the male protagonist voluntarily used his own life as a price to exchange for his mother's recovery. The power of language spirits took effect, and the male protagonist walked unsteadily to the lake, intending to silently disappear from this world. However, "What a fool, not cherishing one's own life."
The prologue is really awesome, I can only say that, Mikage, you're really amazing!
Friends from the Past#
After experiencing life and death, Makoto, who wanted to maintain the hard-won family relationship, rejected his sister's request to become his wife (?). He started his school life, but on the first day, there was a new transfer student?? Her name is Ai!
It turned out that Ai divided a part of her life using the power of language spirits in order to save Makoto's life.
Makoto and Ai, as two gods (compared to ordinary students), began to enjoy school life. Makoto gradually discovered a classmate who was not good at speaking: Kyoko. After some investigation, it was discovered that Kyoko was not unwilling to socialize with others, but after experiencing an incident, she became able to see ghosts and the like. Therefore, awkward situations often occur, so Kyoko gradually stopped communicating with her classmates.
After being frank with Kyoko (?), Makoto learned that Kyoko had a good friend, Reika, when she was a child. The two had a good relationship. But one day, when Kyoko was playing in the water and accidentally drowned, Reika went to save her, but never came up again. Kyoko blamed herself and believed that she had caused Reika's death. However, Reika appeared in front of Makoto and Kyoko, and gradually regained consciousness.
However, Makoto knew that this was just a temporary phenomenon. Kyoko's life was rapidly passing away, but she wanted to leave and exchange for Reika's survival. In the end, with the efforts of the male protagonist and "Reika", Kyoko let go of her own worries. At the river lantern festival, she saw the real Reika and let her go to the other side.
Summer with Snow#
Makoto rejected the request of his "Kyoko" who wanted to serve him for a lifetime (?), and Ai gradually felt lonely. And Makoto gradually became addicted to the life in the small town and was unwilling to go back. Ai was worried that the male protagonist would sacrifice himself for someone again. So she went into a rampage mode and asked the male protagonist to think carefully!!
The hidden Hotaru actually found Makoto and, after a conversation, Makoto discovered Ai's thoughts. So he came to the stormy classroom when Ai was about to lose control. He activated the power of language spirits and transformed himself into Ai's sister, Kibiki, allowing Ai to lift the curse.
I wrote less about this part because the plot is a bit sweaty in my opinion 😓
A Week of Life#
The big one is finally here. Makoto finally turned his gaze to the mysterious girl he had been curious about-Hotaru.
In the process of getting along with the male protagonist, Hotaru gradually revealed her vulnerability, and the male protagonist also confessed his feelings to Hotaru. However, the answer he received was "Confess to me again next Monday."
The confused male protagonist came to Monday and walked with Hotaru by the lake. They accidentally found a field of flowers and countless fireflies. The creatures emitting a faint light with the same name as the girl in front of him have short lives but warm people's hearts. Makoto confessed to Hotaru, and Hotaru was moved as if it was the first time. When she heard the male protagonist say that he would confess again this week, the girl's expression seemed to understand everything.
They spent an unforgettable week: Hotaru, the sign girl, Hotaru, the cat girl, Hotaru with a sunshade, and so on. They made an appointment to be honest about their origins on the last Sunday.
They came to the field of flowers, and Makoto looked at the tearful girl in front of him. The girl looked at her lover and emitted a faint fluorescence. "Shh, don't try to save me with the power of language spirits."
Tears fell from the girl's eyes. "This week has been the happiest time for me." With the disappearance of her voice, Makoto sat paralyzed on the ground. However, the phone beside him showed an incoming call-Hotaru.
With confusion, he answered the phone and went to the hospital, finally-all the confusion was resolved. "Hotaru" was created, and the real Mizuki Hotaru had cancer and was about to die at the end of summer. But she didn't want to leave this world, but wanted the male protagonist to help her survive, just like saving his mother, Makoto Kyozuki. However, Makoto no longer had the power of language spirits, even if he burned his life, it was not enough to save Mizuki Hotaru. Faced with the accusations of the girl in front of him, Makoto's decision was-
In the last week, even knowing that they would eventually disappear, Makoto and Hotaru spent the happiest week. They announced their relationship to everyone, walked around every corner of the small town again, and regained their feelings at that time. Finally, in the school auditorium, a wedding ceremony attended only by the two of them was held, and they read the vows they had decided. Makoto said, "Don't move here, have a beautiful dream."
Tears fell from his eyes, and Hotaru, who watched Makoto leave the church, shouted hoarsely, unwilling to see her lover leave here and burn her life for herself.
He went to the hospital and said the words he had prepared long ago. Those were malicious words that would make himself fall into hell-"You are a fake. The real Hotaru is my wife. Depriving someone who wants to survive of their life has already violated the Tianjin sin. Then let's fall into this hell together."
On an ordinary Monday, the girl by the lake opened her umbrella and looked at the blue sky, saying-"Your color now must be the same as this blue sky."
True Ending#
Makoto knew that the Hotaru in front of him had committed a sin, but he was unwilling to deprive her of the right to survive because it was his promise with the girl-"to make everyone in the small town happy."
In the conversation, Makoto also learned about Mizuki's intentions, and after being frank with each other (?), Makoto decided to help her. Although he no longer had enough power of language spirits to save her, he had other methods.
On the last night, Makoto, Mizuki, and Hotaru came to the field of flowers that determined their fate. The two girls finally confessed their feelings to each other. It turned out that neither of them wanted to disappear. The male protagonist decided to fulfill their wishes, even if it meant losing his own power.
Although his power of language spirits could not restore Mizuki's body, because it required a complete soul, these were two real souls. So the male protagonist began his language spirits-"My words can do good, my words can do evil, I am the god of language spirits." "Let the two souls merge into one." As time passed, Makoto's physical strength gradually declined. Just as he was about to faint, he saw Reika's soul smiling at him. "I don't want to see you now." So the male protagonist regained his spirit and shouted to the sky-even if he took away his own power, he would fulfill this wish!!
Makoto and Hotaru, the lovers, finally became a couple and walked together by the lake. Makoto asked about his color, and Hotaru said-"Then it must be the same as the blue sky in front of us."
Summary of Impressions#
After clearing the game, my mood couldn't calm down for a long time. The length of the game text is moderate, and the plot is commendable but also has some flaws. I still can't resist the story of a mysterious girl as the female protagonist being saved by the male protagonist, the destined encounter, the wish that I don't know if it can be fulfilled, and the confession that sacrifices one's own life. All of this makes people reluctant to forget, but my own sense of touch is getting less and less as I grow older, I wonder if this is maturity.
Undeniably, as a gal game, it has brought me enough touch. But as a novel, there is still room for improvement in its plot, expression, and some aspects. If it could have fewer sweaty plots, it would probably become even better.