Let's Play TMGS Premium 3rd Story: Push ALL the buttons!

Guys, I am saving Goro for last. I wasn't joking when I said he was my favourite. I must do all the other routes first!

I'd say it was well earned by then! And quite the impressive undertaking*

*I fail at any game that requires stat balance.

Goro's route is apparently easier than easy: Just don't achieve anyone else's desired stat, have a high Style, and read all of his columns. Oh, and work at the same store as him! Other than that, it's easy sailing!

The last day is reserved, as usual, for souvenir shopping! The Cutie-3 splits up for a bit because Karen needs to pick out souvenirs for her ballet club, Simon employees, parents, and model friends, but they're soon back together again. Karen suggests getting something commemorate spending their trip together, and Miyo agrees, asking P-chan to pick it out because her fortune's good today.


Miyo: "A glass mascot. This is... an owl?"
Karen: "Not bad, not bad! It's adorable, nice job, Bambi! This will be the Cutie-3 emblem!"
Miyo: "The owl is a symbol of intellect. I can feel its power."


Karen: "I want to come again, it's been such great fun! On our graduation trip maybe?!"
Miyo: "Bit too early to think about that."

Aaand there's our school trip! Of course, we look for a certain someone once we get back:


P-sama: "Seiji-sempai!"
Seiji: "P-chan. What's with that smirk?"
P-sama: "I got you a souvenir from my school trip! But since you said that, I guess I won't be giving it to you after all?"


Seiji: "Eh?"
P-sama: "After all the trouble I went through to get this for you, too... Wonder what I should do with it now?"


Seiji: "You..."
P-sama: "Hehe, just kidding. Here you go. ♥"


Seiji: "Thanks. ...A tin with bears and sea lions on it? Is there something edible inside?"
P-sama: "Of course."
Seiji: "I see..."
P-sama: "You like fine things like that, don't you?"
Seiji: "Not particularly..."
P-sama: "You don't like them?"
Seiji: "Well... If I had to say, I suppose I don't dislike them."
P-sama: "I put a lot of thought into picking it out, that's all."


Seiji: "I know, I know. I'll savour it."
P-sama: "Okay. ♥"

I missed you, Piano-sempai~ ;-;

At this point, I was still worried about managing 3P in time, but P-chan receives a call one night that assuages most of the worry! Seems like these calls are an indicator that the caller's finally broken into :).


Tamao: "Konno here. Sorry for calling at such a late hour."
P-sama: "Tamao-sempai. What's this all of a sudden?"
Tamao: "It's not really anything in particular..."
P-sama: "Nothing in particular?"
Tamao: "I, well, I just wanted to hear your voice for a bit. Sorry for taking up your time."
P-sama: "Hehe, is there something you want to talk about, then?"
Tamao: "Not exactly, just listening to you is enough for me."
P-sama: "I see. In that case..."
Tamao: "Ah, never mind that, just a bit longer!"
P-sama: "...................."
Tamao: "Sorry for saying that even though I have nothing in mind..."
P-sama: "Gosh, all you've been doing since you called was apologise."
Tamao: "Sorry. Ah..."
P-sama: "Hehe. Still, I guess that's one of your good points?"
Tamao: "Eh?"
P-sama: "Anyway, have a good night, Tamao-sempai."
Tamao: "Ah, what was that just no-" *click*
P-sama: (Looks like I'll sleep well tonight. ♥)

Poor boy, we totally hung up on him... and liked it? <3

Later that week, we're waffling around in the courtyard and considering heading back to class when we hear familiar voices!


???: "Here, look, there're freebies if we go on the same course."
???: "What's the difference?"


Tamao: "A soft-drink service on the bullet train."
Seiji: "...Whatever."
Tamao: "If there's something to be gained, then we might as well."

Just look at all that origami Piano-sempai's been folding, ahahaha. Those skilled pianist hands~ ♥


Seiji: "....I'm sleepy."
Tamao: "...Ah, this looks good too. A tour of a waterfall that isn't mentioned in the sightseeing guide. There's an option to take a look behind it!"
Seiji: "Is there even anything worth looking at behind a waterfall?"
Tamao: "Might be nice to see something you don't usually see."


Seiji: "Hnnn... I guess I'm fine with it if it's the Niagara Falls."
Tamao: "...I already told you that going abroad's not possible."
P-chan: "Seiji-sempai, Tamao-sempai!"


Seiji: "...Ah."
P-chan: "Good afternoon. What are you looking at?"
Tamao: "Travel pamphlets. I collected them from travel agencies here and there. It's still a bit early, but hearing all this talk of graduation trips got us worked up about it."


Seiji: "Speak for yourself, I wasn't that worked up."
Tamao: "Says the guy who got all high-spirited when it came to limiting where we could go."
P-chan: "A high-spirited Seiji-sempai..."
Seiji: "...What's with that expression."
P-chan: "No, it's nothing... Where will you be going, then?"


Seiji: "Where would you like to go? I'd be fine with that."
P-chan: "Eh, me?"
Seiji: "Konno shoots down everything I say, anyway."
P-chan: "...Is that so?"
Tamao: "...His suggestions are a bit too... global."


Seiji: "I can't say that things like going behind waterfalls, digging for fossils, and touring hell are my cup of tea."
Tamao: "Ehh, they all seem interesting to me..."
P-chan: (Doesn't look like they'll be making a decision anytime soon...)

P-chan: (I have a date with Seiji-sempai today! I've got to get ready soon...)

The phone rings as we get ready to go.


P-chan: "Huh, it's Seiji-sempai. ...Hello?"
Seiji: "It's me. Sorry, but could we cancel our plans today?"
P-chan: "Eh, completely?"
Seiji: "Not exactly. There's somewhere I'd like you to go with me tonight."
P-chan: "Tonight? I guess that's fine..."
Seiji: "I'll send the car over at six, so get ready by then. The preparations don't really matter, as long as you bring yourself."
P-chan: "? Okay..."

I'd say something about vague unexplained plans and typical protag-chan lack of self-preservation here, but this is Mr. Alien-Experiments-and-Nordic-Rituals, so I'm pretty sure we're safe.


P-chan: "...Uu, Seiji-sempai~."


Seiji: "Don't make such pathetic noises. It's fine, so just be quiet and let me take the lead."


P-chan: "B-but... Aah!!"

...

......

........Or are we? Why is it dark and why are we making noises like that what's happening??



Oh, okay. Vertical dancing. And we have a pretty dress and a pretty hair accessory and wow, Piano-sempai's that much taller?! Looking good there! (✿ ♥‿♥)


P-chan: "Ack, wai-... Falling! I'm falling!"
Seiji: "I've got you, I'm holding you properly. Move with more confidence."
P-chan: "B-but right now I feel so out of place!"
Seiji: "Even though that's a loaned outfit, you look fine. So relax."
P-chan: "But those people over there are looking this way and snickering..."


Seiji: "Don't worry so much about that. I'm the one who chose you."
P-chan: "O-okay."
Seiji: "It'll be fine. We're only dancing this one round, then we'll have something to eat."
P-chan: "You said that we're here on behalf of your parents?"
Seiji: "Father had some urgent business to attend to, and Mother didn't say that she'd be taking me along with her instead. It was supposed to be a male-female pair, you see."


Seiji: "I thought I'd spare myself from having to dance with my own mother. So..."
P-chan: "...That's where I come in?"


Seiji: "Is it that bad?"
P-chan: "I didn't say that..."
Seiji: "Then it's fine."
P-chan: "But..."


Seiji: "Don't be so long-winded. Come on, turn."
P-chan: "Waaaa~~~!"


hhnnnnngggg

Okay, there is no way that wasn't intentional.

Konami, you deserve awards.

Seiji, marry me.

If it were Mihara, he would have gladly gone dancing with his mother.

I was going to say "That's because Mihara isnt' a bit of a tsundere" but now I keep imagining Seiji mother asking him embarrassing question.

...also, is there any chance to end up with a photo of Karen? Stop judging me.

asdfjkl yeah they totally did that on purpose.

Looking fine there in that suit, Seiji. (And awwh, sweetheart, 'I chose you so I give no fucks what anyone else thinks and neither should you.' <3)

...!
*keyboard smashing noises and high-pitched squealing*

Well, I wasted a whole day on persuing 2D men and watching the Breakfast Club. The feels in that movie. the Feels. The deliquent guy ("Bender") is such a romantic at the end <3!

'Tis the season of lurveee ~

It really is rare that I like more than two people in a TGMS game. I like four (incl. Ruka and Kou). Now I want to get PvP > : D

you had this coming i cannot be the only one

I remember one day my sibling got the best fortune from a fortune cookie ever:

I was wheezing today when I read that line. I can't.

ahem

ASLJHLJKHADGADFADFH35QRL;IEYGUDFHXJLNMSE;BDFJLN[(l;

SEIJI-SEMPAI. HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL MY FANTASIES? Now, you just need a ''hmm? oh yeah, I wear glasses when I read" scene and a private concert for two scene and magical powers and BAM my perfect guy.....RED LIGHT, does he like reading? Because my ideal greatly involves reading. And glasses. But I'm willing to set aside the glasses maybe. Glasses are a MAJOR penchant with me for the viking and Nordic escapades. So cute. I can't. I NEED THIS PERSON IN MY LIFE. Oh, revered translators of the great and high heavens, please grace these unworthy mortals. The order of the empire depends upon it! I mean, nobody's going to go against the dictatorship of P-sama when they have these llamatastic guys to spend time with.

A few gifs to express my feelings to Seiji-sempai. I'm going to have to serenade him if he gets any more wonderful. And his voice, goodness his voice, haaah, hnnng, /don't mind me I'm sure my heartbeat and breathing will settle in a moment

Seiji: "Good timing. Want to head back with us?"

Sure, where are we going? :3

...Fine, the cafe it is.


P-chan: "What were the two of you like in middle school?"
Tamao: "Not all that different from what you see now. It hasn't been that long ago..."

"Just because we're one year older doesn't mean that we're already doddering old men, P-chan."


Tamao: "When we first met..."
P-chan: "Was Seiji-sempai any different?"
Seiji: "Nothing's changed."
Tamao: "You were. You were more..."
Seiji: "Nothing's changed."


P-chan: "I see... Then, in middle school he was more...?"
Seiji: "More, what? Stop having fun at others' expense."

C'mon, Tamao, man up and spill the beans! ;-; We never get an answer, though, probably due to Seiji dagger-glaring holes into the poor prez. Oh well.

We're walking down the school corridor one late afternoon when impassioned voices catch our attention.


Girl C: "What are your feelings, Karen-sama? Please, tell me!"
P-chan: (Hm? 'Karen-sama', could it be--)
Karen: "...Sorry!"
Girl A: "Karen-sama~!"


P-chan: "Uh, Karen..."



She dashes off without a word after giving us a heart-wrenching look. D:


Girl C: "Karen-sama..."
Girl B: "This is all your fault! You made Karen-sama--"
Girl A: "Huh? What did you just say?!"
P-chan: (...I've got to go look for her!)

Take charge, P-chan!


P-chan: (If I'm not mistaken, she should have gone up to the rooftop...)


Karen: "........................."
P-chan: "...Are you okay?"


Karen: "...This is me just talking to myself. Okay?"
P-chan: "I understand. I was never here."
Karen: "Hehe. .................."


Karen: "'Stop all this already.' That's what I said to the girls back there."
P-chan: "Ah..."
Karen: "I really detest all that 'special' treatment. The Hanatsubaki name... Even though I never wanted it, it's been a fact of life ever since I was born."


Karen: "That's why I moved out. I was always 'one of the Hanatsubaki'. Everyone I met would say... that Hanatsubaki?"
P-chan: "I probably said that, too... I'm sorry."
Karen: "It's fine, you weren't the only one after all. And my parents? I love them, and they're great, but... they spoil their children too much."


Karen: "It was oppressive, so I moved out when I entered high school. Both my parents and I wanted to get a new perspective on ourselves."
P-chan: "I see..."
Karen: "It's not as cool as it sounds, though. I couldn't actually live on what I made from work alone, so it's only with my parents' help that I could stay in the nice apartment I'm in now. Haa... I don't know what I'm doing..."


Karen: "...Honestly speaking, I wish I'd been born in a more normal family. I'd always wanted to be a smaller, cuter, normal girl."
P-chan: "Karen..."


Karen: "...I feel better now. My soliloquy is over!"


Karen: "...Huh? Bambi, when did you get here?"
P-chan: "Hehe. Only just?"
Karen: "...Hmmm, only just? Want to walk home together since you're here, then?"
P-chan: "Sure, let's go!"


Karen: "Fufu! ...Thanks, Bambi."
P-chan: (Looks like that took a little weight off her shoulders...?)

Awww, Karen <3 We love you for your own self!

And the game continues actaully doing character work pretty well. Konami really struck gold here.

Also, embarrassed Seiji is... XD Yeah. NOTHING'S CHANGED. BACK THEN I BELIEVED IN ALIEN VIKINGS, TOO.

Events events events!


P-chan: (Now then, I should be going. ...A text? From Seiji-sempai too, how unusual. It just says "Music Room"? Doesn't say anything about going...)

He probably laboured over that for 10 whole minutes. Cut him some slack, P-chan! She decides to head up there anyway.


P-chan: "Ah, Himuro-sensei."
Himuro: "Did you leave something behind?"
P-chan: "No, not exactly..."
Himuro: "...I see. Do remember to lock up before you leave."

We pass Himurocchi on the way - he doesn't seem to mind that we're rendezvousing with someone at this hour?


P-chan: "Seiji-sempai?"
Seiji: "...Are you an esper?"
P-chan: "Eh?"

First aliens, then the Norse, and now psychics? You think too highly of us, Piano-sempai.


Seiji: "I was thinking of sending you a text."
P-chan: "I'm here because I received one..."
Seiji: "Ahh, so it did get sent while I was on my way here. Himuro-sensei came in, so I panicked..."

Awww, cute.


Seiji: "...Well, it all works out. I'm going to be playing a piece, so sit down over there and listen."
P-chan: "......................."
Seiji: "What's with that inscrutable look?"
P-chan: "You always said that I'd distract you if I stood by while you played..."


Seiji: "Hundreds of spectators turn up for a music competition. You're just one person, so it's no big deal."
P-chan: "...Eh?"


Seiji: "In the end, it all comes back to the piano. It's time I stopped running away."
P-chan: "Seiji-sempai..."


Seiji: "...I participated regularly in international competitions when I was younger. I was so full of myself, picking up prizes and being called a child prodigy everywhere I went. Until the autumn of my second year in middle school..."
P-chan: "...What happened then?"
Seiji: "At that time, someone unthinkable showed up at one of my competitions... The moment I heard their performance, I realised I couldn't win."


Seiji: "It terrified me. The only thing I could do well was play the piano. If I lost, what would I have left?"
P-chan: "......................."
Seiji: "So I ran away. If I didn't even try, I thought, then I couldn't ever lose."


Seiji: "The piece I always play is the one I should have performed at that competition."
P-chan: "So that's it..."
Seiji: "I'm such a fool. I intended to keep playing until I got tired of it, then give up piano altogether when I finally lost interest. But I've changed my mind, thanks to you."
P-chan: "...Huh?"


Seiji: "I've mustered my resolve. From now on, I'll give it my all."


Seiji: "And I want you to listen to my very first performance."
P-chan: "Seiji-sempai..."


Seiji: "...Haaa, I wonder how long it'll take to regain my perceptiveness. The piano at home's not tuned for competitive use, either."


Seiji: "I'll show you the difference between competitive playing and playing for fun. ...Well, I've gotten pretty rusty, but still."
P-chan: "...Okay!"


Okay, so he doesn't say exactly how P-chan inspired him, but I find myself not really caring.



LET ME HUG YOU FOREVER AND EVER

Aw, touching instrument stories. No wonder he was pissy about her listening in before.

Don't look now, but I think Himuro-sensei ships it. :D

Which is an excellent argument for this being a Himuro who got an ending back in GS1. New headcanon!

That's probably why they didn't make him available in this game. As long as the cameos from the first game don't imply if the guys are or are not with someone, you can imagine that TMGS 1's protagonist is with whoever your favorite was.

I guess it's something like "Now that I pretty much have a girlfriend, I'm a winner anyways! There will always be someone around to LISTEN TO MY SONG"

Or possibly, "wait, giving up on something I want because it challenges me and I might actually have to put in some actual effort for it is... actually kind of lame, isn't it."

I love instrument stories! I'm deeply obsessed with Love Academy right now, despite it's annoying koyon system...

❤Seiji is so squee-worthy❤

Awww, Seiji-sempai... One day when I get this game I'm going to save his route for last so that I can enjoy it the most(since I'll probably know what I'm doing by then). This LP is making me want to play it so badly!

...Oh my gosh how am I going to not talk to him the whole time? He's just so cute!

I'm waiting

FEELS.

That is all.

The most glorious thing about fanart is that there is fanart of that.



Also, now that we're on Seiji/Tamao 3P route, it's time for MORE FANART

My favorite 3P will still always be judobros though.

BE STILL MY HEART

Status of kokoro: doki doki doki doki doki doki...

Just realized but Seiji has grey hair and plays the piano like a certain lovable sensei. Pretty sure Himuro sees some similarities.

That's what I figured, too. That Seiji's willing to play the piano is probably something he's happy about, and he figured it was because of P-chan. Probably because Protag-chan from TMGS1 had the same effect on him in terms of helping him loosen up a bit.

Yes indeed. <3

I can only read his comment as '...oh. So that's how it is. ... Well, as long as you two lock up when you're done.'

...I'm so proud of our dear uptight sensei. XD

We finally receive our long-awaited phone call!


P-chan: (Ah, my phone.)
Tamao: "Hello? Konno here."
P-chan: "Tamao-sempai. What's the matter?"
Tamao: "Just wondering if you're free at the moment. Shitara's with me right now, and he said we should invite you to join us too..."
P-chan: "Eh, he did?"
Seiji: "Shut up, you talk too much. If you're in your room at this hour, you should be free anyway, right? We're in the neighbourhood, so come over."

The image of Seiji complaining and snatching the phone from Tamao gives me much amusement. Of course, having worked so hard to get to this point, there's only one response we can give!


Seiji: "All right. We'll be waiting at the entrance of the forest park. Get over here as fast as you can."
Tamao: "She's a girl after all, she'll need time to get ready. Take your time, we did ask out of the blue. See you later."

One timeskip later...


Tamao: "...Oh? Time sure flies."
Seiji: "We've been chatting all the way ever since you got here."
P-chan: "Hehe, seems like it."


Tamao: "The three of us should meet up again sometime. There's still a lot to talk about."
P-chan: "Sure thing!"
Seiji: "Then it's settled. We'll invite you out properly next time."
Tamao: "If there's anywhere you want to go, feel free to invite us out as well. There's no need to hold back."

3P mode is go! Oooh I like Tamao's jacket. And Seiji's shirt.

A week or so later, we're approached at school with an invitation to the event hall for our first proper 3P date. It's entirely within character for Tamao to do most of the talking, but I somehow miss Piano-sempai being all proactive. ;-; In any case, they decide on a meeting place, then...


Tamao: "All right, got it. Shitara, can you remember that?"
Seiji: "Stop making it sound like I have a terrible memory."

It begins! Tamao's sidelong look really amuses me, because none of the other characters do it as much as he does (if at all), and he actually glances over when he's making sly digs at or otherwise addressing/being addressed by Seiji. The latter, on the other hand, doesn't do it at all. This little detail says a lot about their relationship, I suspect...

Fast forward - we arrive early on the day itself, but look who's already here!


P-chan: "You're both early."
Tamao: "Yeah. Everyone sure is conscientious, to all be here before time."
Shitara: "Look who's talking."
Tamao: "Be as that may. It's a bit early, but since we're all here, let's be off."


Seiji: "What are we doing today?"

Approach mode during dates seems to remain mostly the same, except that you have two opportunities per stage, one for each guy when it's their turn to speak.



...Witness Tamao giving us the hairy eyeball while Seiji smirks knowingly.


Seiji: "Sure, let's hold hands."

I'm a little disappointed we can't see Tamao's face at this point. <.<


Tamao: "What, didn't you look it up before we got here?"



Since Tamao's only at :), he starts off with a smaller and slightly more purplish heart, so we try to appease him with a smile. Presumably while still holding Piano-sempai's hand.

This is awkward.



Some nice symphonic music should help, right?


P-chan: "How did you find today's event?"
Seiji: "It was the worst."

B-but I thought we worked out your piano issues! :<


Tamao: "It was an enjoyable day. I have no complaints."
Seiji: "...I've nothing but complaints."

Then do the asking and some research next time! *smack*

Seiji is tsun about the things he love, we all know this about him! That or he's being a bit of a tit.

That date was so deliciously uncomfortable!

I bet that concert was entirely Tamao's idea.



I mean, look at that trollface. He's obviously egging Seiji on at every turn.

Also, I love Tamao's hoodie too. I'm surprised Seiji has his shirt unbuttoned quite that low, though not that I'm complaining

Seiji's always a bit of a tit. When I did 3P mode with the two of them, I had to work 2 to 3x as hard to get Seiji to like me as I did with Tamao.

Truth. I was agonizing with raising Seiji's affection just to get this one event in particular.

Luckily, his affection's high enough that we don't have to worry as much on that front.

They offer to walk us back after the date, which launches us straight into 3P Ex-Approach.



Because this was my first time trying the 3P version, I messed around with it a bit. Basically, they take turns (ostensibly to talk to us). The one on the right is who we're currently pressing buttons at, and Start allows us to switch to the other.


Tamao: "Let's talk again later."



Notice that the little press-Start-to-switch icon in the bottom left is gone - it only let me use it once. :<


Tamao: "It's about time I got another turn."

Surprisingly, Tamao gets jealous really easily. You have 57% to Seiji's 55%! Where's the fire? He forces us to switch over in the end, though I'm not sure what the criterion for this is.



We don't get the opportunity to engineer another swap, so we press his buttons a bit more. Reaching 100 nets us a conversational snippet.


Tamao: "Shitara said something interesting earlier."
P-chan: "Eh?"
Tamao: "Something about you being like the ugly duckling..."

What's that supposed to mean? ಠ_ಠ


Seiji: "Oi, Konno."
Tamao: "Putting in a lot of unseen effort into various things... Haha, he's getting angry."


Seiji: "I'm not getting angry, I'm just losing my temper."
P-chan: (Was... that a compliment...?)

I'm with P-chan on this one. ( ・◇・)？ And yes, Piano-sempai did admit he was getting angry... but with a different turn of phrase. No doubt just to spite Tamao. XD


P-chan: "Thank you very much for walking me home."
Seiji: "See you later. I'll call again."
Tamao: "As I thought, it was really fun with the three of us. See you."

We get texts from both of them! Tamao's comes in first:


P-chan: "It says... 'You're really good at livening things up. Even Shitara looked like he had no complaints today.'"

...I guess he wasn't listening. Either that or he's just used to it and saw through the mask of tsun!

Seiji's comes in later, no doubt due to his uh, great speed and dexterity at texting. Incidentally, I spent like 3 hours on Pixiv looking for a comic I read a while ago that had both of them competing by tapping away madly at their phones the moment P-chan turns away... Haruhi passed by walking a Harii-dog, too, which was adorable. I didn't manage to find it :< but I did somehow stumble over some Kou/Seiji? Not sure if good trade


P-chan: "It says... 'You were a little too clingy. Konno gets jealous easily, so we should keep that kind of thing to when we're alone together.'"

No problems with that~ ♥ Well, except that 2P dates while in 3P mode makes PVP more likely. Still, we're going to go on at least one more 2P date so we can pick up an event!

- Omake -

I reloaded a couple times to try things out during Ex-Approach, and it turns out that if you spend too much time on one guy, the other leaves in a huff.


Seiji: "Ahh, geez... I'm leaving."


Tamao: "Looks like Shitara got a little angry. Haha, there're a lot of other things on his mind, so don't worry too much about it. See you."
P-chan: (I feel bad for Seiji-sempai. I should be more careful next time...)

And if we cling too much to Seiji... it apparently makes me forget to screencap Tamao's parting shot.


Seiji: "It's not a problem. I got to see one of Konno's complex expressions at the end there. He always looks so unruffled and composed, so it's nice to see something else once in a while. Later."

But we have a smug Piano-sempai instead, who finally gets some back at Tamao with our help! I can't help but feel the teasing and playful jabs are a little one-sided, though I don't know if that's because Seiji just gets flustered more easily or because he's too apathetic to want to try too hard to crack the prez's composure.