Shizune's Route Discussion *Spoilers*

[cheuk4]

I just finished Shizune's story and I wanted to ask, "Is it just me, or does Shizune's Story seem weird?"

Events kind of happen without reason, nothing much gets explained. Why Lily and Shizune hate each other gets touched on a bit with the scene between Lily & Hisao, but that came out of nowhere and no follow up either. Things get decided on with no real build up it seems to me.

I don't even know when Shizune & Hisao "officially" got together. They just had sex, then off-handedly seem to have the title "Boyfriend" and "Girlfriend" tacted on without any reasons as to why.

Is the point of the route how life isn't a drama and things just happen? I kind of can't put how I feel in words, so I just wanted to ask others i guess...

[MrDogsniper]

Hisao asked her to be his girlfriend.

[Daitengu]

Shizune's personality makes it hard for her to do more than one thing at a time. When she does something it's "all in" while she's doing it.

[alien.marksman]

Alot of discussion about Shizune and her Story Arc has been covered,

Here: "Am I the only one that enjoyed Shizune's route?" http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5251

Here: "Shizune's storyline" http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5892

and Here: "Shizune's Path" http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4788

Plus: "Why the hate for Shizune" http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5771

I'm sure once you've made you way through those, any questions you may have will be answered, plus any you ask along the way will be resolved also.

[cheuk4]

Thanks for all those links! Will be going through those right now.

*EDIT* Yup, more or less all the problems I have with the Route are discussed and detailed upon. I don't hate Shizune the character nor do I not get the "point" of the story, but as a GAME I find it less appealing. It doesn't help that my first playthrough happened to be Hanako's Arc, and my second became Shizune's. Gave me the false impression of what KS as a whole is.

Shizune's Story is a slice-of-life that very much focuses on real life qualities, and not drama quailities. Life just happens, Shizune doesn't need "saving" or "fixing", people don't change 180 degrees for a person you've only met for half a year, and life goes on. No "Oh my God, you've changed my life!" dramatization.

However, having Kenji and Jigoro being so sterotypically fake makes it hard for me to stay in that mindset. Whenever they appear, it resets my mind into wanting a game story with drama-like tropes.

[Megumeru]

I could give you a four thousand word essay of why 'Shizune's route is the best/canon', but it'll take too much space--and cause 'Unlimited Rage Works' within the factions in this board.

But yeah, those links should answer them. Her route might be weird to most people, but once you actually get the subtlety and grasp the concept, you'll appreciate what was going on in and around Shizune as a whole

[encrypted12345]

But yeah, those links should answer them. Her route might be weird to most people, but once you actually get the subtlety and grasp the concept, you'll appreciate what was going on in and around Shizune as a whole

Yeah, honestly speaking, as a visual novel player, I'm not used to analyzing any subtleties that the characters have. In most visual novels, it's usually pretty obvious what type of person the heroine is by the time you finish. Shizune's route demands your attention more than even Rin's route.

Well, I guess all the heroines have aspects of them you have to dig a little to fully realize. That's why there are people bashing Lilly for being a Mary Sue, Hanako for being a Sympathy Sue, Emi for being a slut, Rin for being... Rin, and Shizune for being bitchy. They don't bother to analyze the characters enough. It's honestly refreshing to read something that doesn't insult your intelligence.

That being said, Shizune demands way too much out of the average person. I only got her somewhat because she reminds me of one of my cousins and even then, that was only scratching the surface.

... Just like Shizune to demand the best out of you.

[cheuk4]

I could give you a four thousand word essay of why 'Shizune's route is the best/canon', but it'll take too much space--and cause 'Unlimited Rage Works' within the factions in this board.

But yeah, those links should answer them. Her route might be weird to most people, but once you actually get the subtlety and grasp the concept, you'll appreciate what was going on in and around Shizune as a whole

Haha, so very true. Forum factions are pretty hard to deal with sometimes

Edited my previsous post with my thoughts on the links. Guess I'll need to play the other 3 girls' arc before I can say too much about KS in general. I didn't even realise that each story is written by a different author until I visited the forums. I came in with the preconception that KS would have one theme/genre like most regular VN companies.

Yeah, honestly speaking, as a visual novel player, I'm not used to analyzing any subtleties that the characters have. In most visual novels, it's usually pretty obvious what type of person the heroine is by the time you finish. Shizune's route demands your attention more than even Rin's route.

That's what I really like, and at the same time really dislike, about Shizune's route. It forces the player to actually think about what they've read, analyze and re-analyze the situation. Makes a much deeper story, and definitely more interesting. Unfortunately it wasn't something I was expecting, and analyzing the game broke the flow of the story for me, making me think that I wasn't "playing the game right" or something. :p

[Megumeru]

But yeah, those links should answer them. Her route might be weird to most people, but once you actually get the subtlety and grasp the concept, you'll appreciate what was going on in and around Shizune as a whole

That being said, Shizune demands way too much out of the average person. I only got her somewhat because she reminds me of one of my cousins and even then, that was only scratching the surface.

... Just like Shizune to demand the best out of you.

Well, look at it like this. Each route represents a girl--that is a fact. But each route also could represent the character of the girl--this is often overlooked.

Lilly is friendly, social, very much susceptible to friendly advances--your older sister type who would care for you regardless of your fault; that is why her route appealed to most players, as her character often shows a lot of affection towards Hisao which is attributed to her personality.

Emi is energetic and friendly, the vibe you get when you pick her route with all the exercises and routine. But she is also frail, unwilling to face her past and often uses any means possible to dodge the subject e.g.:bed, anal, more bed--you actually can get some of that feel from Hanako's route considering the resemblance, but Emi isn't as traumatized or timid as Hanako.

Hanako is timid, shy, but is also strong. No, seriously, strong. If she's weak, she'd be hanging in the ceiling even before the entire story starts--with a trauma like that, some people would chose the 'easy' one-way ticket to the heavens. Her route--especially her act one--reflects her character. It's filled with 'hide and seek' between Hisao and Hanako; be honest, most of the time you're reading her route you WANTED to seek for her while she avoids YOU throughout the act until Hisao managed to get close. She is also strong because...well, get the bad ending and you'll get the picture.

Rin is...Rin. Weird, strange, creative, but is also lonely. That's what you would often feel when going through her route--loneliness. Hisao constantly tries to seek Rin, but nonetheless she's somewhere in cloudland. You would often feel that 'disconnect' with her when she starts talking and you start having question marks floating above your head--fear not, Hisao is also feeling such. If her arc is confusing you, then Rin in real life would do the same to you.

Shizune is strict, VERY strong, but also extremely insecure. Most who can't stand her character is understandable--they wanted to understand her, managed to get a little closer, but ended up being pushed away by herself--that is her character and her route. She draws in many, often voluntarily or involuntarily, but then pushes them away if they started to get a little too close to her. Those who left walk on, but those who persists are rewarded with her genuine trust as long as you don't break that (her bad ending gives a good example of this. If her route made you feel like Shizune had kept you at a distance--and probably the main reason why many people disliked her--then that's normal; that is who she is. Her route demands your persistence, your patience, and your concentration to fully understand her character and the background that shaped her. Just like her route, her very strict and strong mentality is all a facade of her insecurity considering her surroundings (Hisao's the only person who managed to crack this facade because he learn to speak the same language)--either she was afraid of taking misconceptions due to her lack of hearing, her care for her friends more than her own good (who the hell in their right mind would take responsibility of a TWO-MAN Student Council?), or her own fear of hurting others (bad end is a good example). So yes, that's Shizune for you.

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...I think I played too much or I over-analyzed. DAMN YOU IB!!!

[encrypted12345]

...I think I played too much or I over-analyzed. DAMN YOU IB!!!

HOLY FUCK!! It's really is a small world!! I took International Baccalaureate, too!! It takes an intellectual to fully appreciate a cripple porn game.

There's nothing wrong with overanalysis. Without overanalysis, we would have died back in high school. So many horrific and fun memories.

[Synthus]

Your high school literature classes were about serving up gourmet piles of bullshit too, eh?

I'm thankful that I concentrated on science.

[encrypted12345]

Your high school literature classes were about serving up gourmet piles of bullshit too, eh?

I'm thankful that I concentrated on science.

Hey!! Don't be mean to the piles and piles of slice of life novels my class was forced to read. There's a reason why we were forced to learn about them and analyze them painstakingly. I actually like reading books, so I found them charming and can see why they were acclaimed.

But yes, in the end, analysis is completely subjective and bullshit.

[alien.marksman]

I could give you a four thousand word essay of why 'Shizune's route is the best/canon', but it'll take too much space--and cause 'Unlimited Rage Works' within the factions in this board.

I am quite interested in reading this.. You could PM me a link or similar.
After all Shizune is the Thinking Man's Love Interest.

[Megumeru]

HOLY FUCK!! It's really is a small world!! I took International Baccalaureate, too!! It takes an intellectual to fully appreciate a cripple porn game.

There's nothing wrong with overanalysis. Without overanalysis, we would have died back in high school. So many horrific and fun memories.

Yes, yes indeed. It takes an intellectual to fully appreciate a cripple porn game. Indeed it is...

Oooh what are those again? Personal Pro--*omitted*, Extended Ess--*omitted*, Group 4 Sci--*omitted*

lots of sleepless nights...

Now it gets me wondering if Yamaku uses the IB program...

Your high school literature classes were about serving up gourmet piles of bullshit too, eh?

I'm thankful that I concentrated on science.

I concentrated on social science

But it is how we came up with our own abbreviation of IB: Intricate Bullshit.

I am quite interested in reading this.. You could PM me a link or similar.
After all Shizune is the Thinking Man's Love Interest.

wow man, slow down...I'll write them someday...maybe...

and w00t for the 100th post!

[encrypted12345]

I could give you a four thousand word essay of why 'Shizune's route is the best/canon', but it'll take too much space--and cause 'Unlimited Rage Works' within the factions in this board.

I am quite interested in reading this.. You could PM me a link or similar.
After all Shizune is the Thinking Man's Love Interest.

Something as long as an Extended Essay on Shizune's route, huh? Well it's certainly possible even if extended essays usually need two books. You're going to have to analyze Hisao, Shizune, Misha, Jigoro, Hideaki, and even both Lilly and Kenji pretty intricately to squeeze out that many words. Plot structure, allusions, character interactions, diction, and even the most minor of plot details must be squeezed out for all they are worth.

..... Actually, now that I think about it, it'll be much easier than it sounds. Shizune's route is pretty damn deep. If you did everything I told you, you could even hit the 10,000 word mark. I only remember using about 20 ish quotes (It's been a while, so I don't quite remember) for my extended essay.

Of course, the Rin route is the best route. Just sayin'