Let's Play Tokimeki Memorial 4: Tokimemo for Duders

Meteo eat your heart out. That was beautiful.

You may just be psychic (or capable of reading katakana) because that spell actually is called "Meteo".

Edit: Not sure if this is something that needs to be explained to this crowd, but just in case: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Meteor

Suddenly my respect for Yuu has risen considerably. Not that I didn't respect her before, but I mean, wow.

Hey something funny happened, i aced all exams, attendend all meetings (Even joined the council) and got a fine job. then to my surprise I GOT KAI REBEL ROUTE ENDING, it was totally unexspected but i didnt mind.

Im only Yuu and Aki endings left, after this iim going to play tokimemo 2.

Back to updates later tonight, and yes I am only posting that so I can't change my mind and weasel out of it. In the meantime, here's Aki's tokimeki sprite for your amusement.

Horrible-kun doesn't seem too happy about that.

I'm fairly sure his happiness ceased mattering the moment Mr. Bunny won popular vote.

FAIR ENOUGH.

Señor Bunny is always watching from the shadows. Always.

Horrible is sad because if you see closely at Mitsuki soccer ball you can see that Tsugumi is loading a Tokimeki Bomb right at Horrible playboy face (See up for a bomb icon).

Btw i got Aki sempai ending, Yuu i couldnt get her now im kinda mad.

Actually, that was all me. If you're wondering why updates are slow, it's because he now refuses to speak to me except through his agent.

Oscar: (Finally break time. Man, I'm beat.)
Oscar: (Huh? Somebody left a plastic bag lying around here. What's up with that?)
Oscar: (There's some tea, a rice ball and a note inside it. It says . . .)
Oscar: ("You looked busy so I just left this here. Eat if you're hungry. Ryukouji")

I can't think of anything clever or snarky to say about this. It's just genuinely sweet.



Work continues for the motorcycle exam, and it only makes sense that I'd study for that by BEEFIN UP. I need an average of 200 in humanities, science and fitness to pass; You can see above that I'm at 196, 206 and 178, which should be fine for the two or three months I have left. If things go seriously wrong I can always slot in stopgap talents that grant flat boosts to the required stats.



God dammit kid, cheer up already!


Itsuki: "Oh, it's you. Need something?"
Oscar: "Feel like going home together?"
Itsuki: "Yeah, sure."

In a particularly rare event, I catch Itsuki on the way home. Itsuki's talent causes her L/R button prompt to zip by your screen at lightning speed. I have never actually managed to catch her without equipping the skill that disables the girls' impeding talents, much less take a screenshot of it.


Kai: "Uh, hey . . . have you ever tried doing photo stickers?"
Oscar: "Let's give it a shot."
Kai: "Uh, okay. I guess . . . we can. Hahaha."

You may be familiar with the term "Purikura", short for "print club". TM4 actually uses a slightly different word, probably due to copyrights, but they mean the same thing: Photo booths where you can apply various doodles and effects to your mug and then have them printed on sticker paper. They're generally for a) girls and b) young couples, which is why Kai is applying the dere.

You can find them in arcades and game centers though they're often walled off by signs that basically say "ATTENTION LONELY DUDERS: CREEP ON THE GIRLS IN HERE AND WE BOOT YOUR ASS OUT", so I never tried one due to lack of a girlfriend to legitimate my presence. A friend of mine (plus Japanese girlfriend) did, and the machine automatically removed his five o'clock shadow and gave him a Dracula complexion thanks to weird Japanese beauty standards. Cultural experience!

Kai: "Hey. Wanna team up for the three-legged race?"
Oscar: "Uh, sure."
Kai: "Yeah, sorry. Can't really ask the other guys."
Oscar: "You can't?"
Kai: "Yeah. You know, because of my reputation."

Excuse or not, doing the race with Kai is always handy for an easy win.


Kai: "Dolphins . . . are, uh, actually kinda cute, aren't they?"
"- Yeah, I guess they are.
- What? 'Cute?'
- . . . they sell dolphin dolls at the gift shop, you know."

One of the more obvious dialogue choices in the game.


Kai: "Really? Uh, no, I . . ."
Kai: "Sorry, I just gotta take care of something. Wait right here!"

You really have to work on your poker face when even a dating game protagonist can read you.


Oscar: "Perfect answers!"

Overpowered skills allow me to take top place in exams again. TM4 really becomes quite easy once you figure out how to game the more powerful talent combinations.


Yuu: "I'm not really sure I'm comfortable with this place."
Oscar: "It's okay, girls come here too sometimes."
Yuu: "Eh? To places like this? Really?"

If dragging the demanding senpai character to places she hates just to spite her gameplay requirements is wrong then I don't wanna be right.


"- Sapphire Earring: 30 Rich
- Magnesium Ribbon: 9 Rich
- Upper-class Smile: Priceless"

You've already figured out whose birthday this is. Also, that sure is one hella expensive magnesium ribbon.


Oscar: "I just noticed, isn't that song they're playing now the one you can hear all over town?"
Rhythmy: "Yes."
Oscar: "It's a nice tune. I wonder who made it?"
Rhythmy: "I did."
Oscar: "What?! Really?"
Rhythmy: "Yes."
Rhythmy: "I finished this song's melody first and set it into a rhythm afterwards."
Rhythmy: "I wanted to work on the bass a little more, there wasn't enough time . . ."
Rhythmy: "But there's quite a few places using it now so I suppose that's good."

A little exchange that exposes another side to Rhythmy's character: Her side job as a composer. Not that that will come as a surprise to anyone.



Maki may be the stereotypical cleric character with close to zero offensive potential in battle, but her special attack still manages to be overpowered: "Healing Wings" literally renders both party members invulnerable for its duration. As usual, I'm not much more than an accessory to dispatching the thug.

Every update, Kai gets cuter. Every. Update. =3

(Someone find me fanart of her playing with her dolphin plushie~)

Miyako is sad that you think Kai is cuter than her... Look, you made her cry!

AHAHAHA~ Thanks so much~

(sorry Miyako, Yanderes aren't my thing. Unless there's a lot more dere.)

Oscar: "Alright, I did it! I passed! I can ride motorcycles now."

Success! The only hurdle left is to actually buy one. The motorcycle is the most expensive item in the game, but you can cut an enormous chunk off the price with the talent that gives you a percent-based discount on all your purchases.


Kai: "Hey, what's that over there?"
Oscar: "That's the goldfish scooping stand."
Kai: "Oh, so that's the goldfish scooping thing? Looks pretty fun."
Oscar: "Wanna try it?"
Kai: "Hm, yeah . . . ah, wait! What's that over there?"

Off to the August festival with Kai for the first time (again). I'm trying to remember if this is something you can only do in the third year or if I even bothered to invite her in the second, but I don't think that's something I'd have forgotten.


Kai: "Alright, let's go check everything out one by one!"

Bonus shot of me in my slobby t-shirt. Sometimes it's nice playing the guy's dating sim. Furi-what?


"First day of training camp"

Training camp passes with exactly zero occurrences because Aki has graduated and is off studying at university. No drugged curry this year. :(


Manabu: "Oh, hey."
Oscar: "Hey, Manabu. Out shopping?"
Manabu: "Yeah, going to pick up a reference book."
Oscar: "Oh, right. Since we're third years and all, huh?"
Manabu: "Yeah, it ain't easy."

When you're out shopping there's a certain chance to run into one of your bros who will then give you a free bonus item. Unfortunately, he doesn't ask me what I'm shopping for. You'd think he would, because here I am with my sweet new ride.


King: "YO, you been messin' with my buddies! This is payback, YO!"

Uh oh, looks like I've finally thrashed enough flunkies to attract the attention of the King. I think I've already mentioned that a girl's battle capabilities can roughly be measured by her fitness. So who was my date today?


Itsuki: "Awright, let's DO THIS!"

Oh you poor bastard

The King fights by throwing an indefinite number of flunkies at you, but they only serve to fill up my party's super bars. Once he's exposed, Itsuki's recklessly powerful "Golden Leg" attack takes him out in a single shot while dealing collateral damage to the protagonist in the process.


King: "Yo, I'm sorry! I'm breaking up the gang, they won't bother anyone anymore, YO!"

And that's that. As mentioned, the supreme gang boss career path requires starting a run with an eye for pugilism from the beginning, but that's for another playthrough.


Kouga: "You should be able to make it into a second-class university but you'll have to step it up a notch for a first-class one."

Career advice with sensei. Second-class isn't a terrible career choice by any means, but I have something else in mind for now.


Itsuki: "Nnn? Oooooooohhhh!"
Itsuki: "A motorcycle! Nice, niiiiiiiice! Hey . . ."
Oscar: (Uh-oh . . . )
Itsuki: "Let me mess with it!"

I arrange for a proper date with Itsuki to commemorate busting up the gang but more important matters take precedence.


Itsuki: "Aw man, motorcycles really are on a different level from scooters! They're fun just to take apart."
Oscar: (So this really is just disassembly . . .)

Itsuki sure does enjoy messing with your rides, but as far as I know letting her do so doesn't have any actual effect on gameplay.


*brm! brrrrrr . . . brrmbrrmbrrmbrrm!*
Oscar: "Whoa!"
Itsuki: "Well? Feels better than before, right?"
Oscar: "Yeah, this is great. The tuning's right on."
Itsuki: "Heheh, 'course! Ain't no machine the Maeda family can't service!"
Itsuki: " . . . not sure where these two screws went, though."

. . . probably.

Can we go after Itsuki next time? Or after we do Aki, maybe?

Bah, a few stray loose screws can't hurt anyone. Isn't that right, Mr. Bunny?

]

Here guys some images of the girls school trip events, sorry for the bad quality.

Im incredibly fond of Rhitmy and she is so beautiful.

I kind of want to see Itsuki route + Gang Boss next time.

Sorry for the sudden delay! Hey, it's still 2012, right? Which girl were we dating again?


Kai: "Hey, the girls are gonna change in here. Need you to leave."
Oscar: "Ah, sorry. I'm just looking for something, I'll leave right away."
Kai: "Yeah, sure. I don't think you'd be up to anything weird."

I'm still not sure what the rationale behind these scenes is. Displaying that the girl in question has come to trust you a little, I suppose.


Maki: "The culture festival's soon, right? How are the preparations for your club's display going?"
Oscar: "They're going okay, I think we'll be ready in time."
Maki: "That's good to hear. A yearly occasion's a big deal after all."

What club were we in again? Oh yeah, chemistry. Being in a culture club means you have to get a display ready, though this doesn't really have an effect on gameplay and you still have free time to hang out with a girl.


Oscar: "Huh? Kooriyama-senpai?"
Aki: "Hello. How's it going?"
Oscar: "You came all this way just to check on us? Thanks a lot."
Aki: "I'm hardly worried after leaving the club to you. I just heard from a first-year that you're handling things quite well."

Apparently I'm even in charge of the club now. Aki stops by from university to grant her seal of approval.


Oscar: *pant pant* " . . . can't find her anywhere."
Kai: "Hey. Whatcha doing?"
Oscar: "Finally! There you are!"
Kai: "Uh, what? Something wrong with that?"
Oscar: "No, I was just looking for you so we could check out the festival."
Kai: "Oh, sorry. Sure, let's do that."

Same as the first run, Kai only shows up for the final culture festival. You've seen the rest of this event already.


Kai: "Huh? I never knew you had a motorbike!"
Oscar: "Yeah, I do."
Kai: "Could've told me that earlier! Come on, let's go on a ride!"
Oscar: "Eh? Not that I mind, but really?"
Kai: "Of course! Got a spare helmet?"

Finally! This, to recap, is what half the run was planned around because it's a little tricky to get the stats needed for the bike exam while messing around with your morale stat. Also, I think it's cute that the game takes pains to mention helmet safety.


Oscar: "Yeah, I got one."
Kai: "Huh, you really got everything ready."
Kai: "Hoping that a girl would hitch a ride with you or something? Hmmm?"
Oscar: "Uh, no, nothing like that."
Oscar: ( . . . right?)

Right.


Kai: "Aaaah! The wind feels great!"
Oscar: "Hang on tight, it's dangerous!"
Kai: "I know!"
*squeeze*
Oscar: "Ooooh!"
Kai: "Ain't you glad you got your wish?"
*squeeeeze*
Oscar: (Aaaah!)
Oscar: (This is happiness!)


Kai: "Hnnnn, today was the best! Thanks."
Oscar: *stare*
Kai: "Hm? Something wrong?"
Oscar: "Uh? Uh, no, it's nothing."
Kai: "What, just spacing out? Hahaha!"


Kai: "To be honest, this was always a dream of mine. Going on a bike tour like this."
Oscar: "It was?"
Kai: "Actually, the idea was to drive myself. Well, I can still make that happen some day. We should hit the road again that time."
Oscar: "Yeah, sounds good."
Kai: "Ah, don't worry though. I'll still ride your bike with you from time to time, hahaha!"

Cross that off the bucket list. It's a straight line to the ending from here.

Kai: "Ah . . ."
Oscar: "Oh, Kai. You're attending too?"
Kai: " . . . well, whatever."
Oscar: "Whatever what?"
Kai: "Nothing. Let's sit together?"
Oscar: "Naw, I'll draw by myself."
Kai: "Wha! Come on, somebody invites you and you just turn them down like that?"
Oscar: "Kidding, kidding. Let's go find a spot."
Kai: "Why you . . . fine, let's go! Good grief."

Horrible-kun being difficult at the sketch meet, probably because he had to beg and whine last year. It's usually him getting jerked around, to be fair.


Oscar: "Phew, I'm stuffed after that lunch."
Aki: "Yes . . . and the sun's so warm that I'm feeling rather sleepy."
Oscar: "Yeah, me too."
Aki: "We still have time, so how about an afternoon nap?"
Oscar: "Eh, right here?"
Aki: "That's right. Don't you think the autumn scenery makes for a good spot?"

Having a motorcycle means I can go on dates to previously expensive spots like the mountain for free. You only ever get to use this advantage for about half a year before the game is over so there's no time to waste in putting it into effect.


Oscar: "Um, senpai, are you still awake?"
Oscar: "Ah, looks like she's fast asleep."
- *gulp*
- Cover her with your jacket.
- Leave her alone.

No, I don't know what that first option is about and I'm picking the jacket one lest this end in tears.


Aki: "Oh? Thank you."
Oscar: "Gah!"
Aki: "It's nice that you're considerate, but you'll catch a cold if you take off your jacket."
Oscar: "You were awake?"
Aki: "Why yes, I was watching for Kouhai-kun's next move."
Oscar: "That's underhanded, senpai . . ."
Aki: "Fufu, sorry. A researcher never stops observing."

The gulp option was pretty tempting but that was just a little too obvious a trap.


Kai: "Hmm, the ferris wheel can actually be pretty nice after all."
- "It's good to just relax for a while."
- " . . . did you eat something funny?"
- "Bleh, boooooring."

The "Did you eat something funny?" option shows up at like every second date with Kai now, and while it's funny in a dysfunctional sort of way I can't bring myself to try it. There are girls that are fun to mess with and Kai isn't really one of them.


Tsugumi: "So you ended up getting mine. Well? Pretty nice, isn't it?"

I land Tsugumi's present at the Christmas party, a fancy book cover. I probably could have guessed that Kai wouldn't show up, but since the alternative was bear wrestling . . .


Kai: "I got . . . Fortune, looks like."
Oscar: "Ah, that's pretty good."
Kai: "Haha, yeah. Guess I'll have to work to make this come true."

I myself get Great Misfortune, but eh. What can possibly go wrong this late in the game?

Manabu: " . . . the hell are you grinning about?"
Oscar: "Oh, Manabu. I was grinning?"
Manabu: "Yeah, you were. What, you're expecting something today? Grrraaaahhh, damn you!"

The final Valentine's rolls around with the usual MO: Tadashi hiding under a rock and Manabu shouting at anyone who'll listen.


Kai: "Um, hey, if you want . . . I, uh . . ."
Oscar: "Uoh, chocolate?!"
Kai: "Don't say it out loud, dammit! Ah . . ."
Oscar: "Oh, uh, 'scuse me."
Kai: "Ahem! S-see you."

I don't actually end up getting that much this time around, probably because I've been messing around with stats a lot. It's made for a pretty slow third year since less girls expect me to stay in touch with them.


Oscar: "Today's the career exams."

I don't think I've ever really explained career choices, one of the more important decisions you work towards during the game, so here goes. Your options are divided into three categories: Universities, finding a job and "Other".


- Super first class university
- First class university
- Second class university
- Third class university
- Other career choices

You're probably wondering what's up with the first option, and here's the answer: Nothing. It's obviously the hardest university to get into but there's no girl who actually expects you to do so, so it's purely bragging rights.

There's also specialized universities for subjects like chemistry or music which is where the girls with particular talents end up going. They require you to build the associated stat to 500 before you can even apply. I'm floating around an average of 250ish with some of the most overpowered talents in the game, so that's fairly difficult.


- First class corporation
- Second class corporation
- Third class corporation
- Other career choices

You can always choose to aim for an office job, though this isn't where the interesting unlocked options go. Those are all in the "Other" category:


- Public construction
- Home delivery
- Racer
- Other career choices

This is where you get additional possible jobs based on your activities and stats; If you're really, really pretty, for example, you can begin work as a model, or if you're rolling in money you can become a private investor. I got my construction site job fairly late, but I still was there long enough to get it as a career choice. Home delivery is unlocked by having a scooter.

Racer, on the other hand, requires a motorcycle and a high willpower stat: Just you, your hog and a lotta chutzpah. Plus, it counts as an A-class career choice to satisfy the pickiest of ladies. Hell yeah!


Oscar: "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Kai: "I'm gonna go meet my dad now."
Oscar: "Oh. You going to be okay?"
Kai: "Dunno. I just want him to accept what I've decided."
Oscar: "Sounds like trouble."
Kai: "Yeah. Not sure what's gonna happen, but I want you to be the first one to hear it. Let's meet after graduation tomorrow."

Ending next!

Oscar: "It's already been three years since I entered high school. Man, that went fast . . ."
Oscar: "Oh yeah, about that tree thing."
Oscar: "The couple who become lovers under the legendary tree will live happily ever after . . . right?"
Oscar: "Maybe . . . I should confess to somebody?"


Oscar: "'Can we meet at the legendary tree after the graduation ceremony?' . . . there. Alright, sent!"


Oscar: "The graduation ceremony . . . it's pretty moving."
Oscar: "Looks like Hoshikawa's holding the speech. The hand she's holding the manuscript with is trembling."


Oscar: "Not gonna see this classroom again either . . ."
Oscar: "I should get going to the tree now that the ceremony's done."


Oscar: "Satsuki-senpai . . . sorry to drag you all the way out here after you've graduated."
Yuu: "That's quite alright. Ah, congratulations on graduating."
Oscar: "T-thank you."
Yuu: "So, what's the occasion?"
Oscar: "Um, well . . . truth is, uh . . ."


Oscar: "I love you, Satsuki-senpai! Please go out with me!"
Yuu: "Ehh? You're in love with me?"
Oscar: "Yes. I've always been!"
Yuu: ". . ."


Yuu: "I'm sorry."
Oscar: "Wha . . . !"
Yuu: "To be honest, you've been a good kouhai, but I can't bring myself to think of you as an ideal man."
Oscar: ". . ."


Yuu: "Friends in my class would make fun of me for being with you. I was really ashamed."
Yuu: "I was very happy when I graduated and thought I'd be spared any further embarrassment."
Yuu: "So that's why it's really quite impossible for me to see you as a boyfriend. I'm sorry."
Oscar: " . . . no matter what?"


Yuu: "Yes, it doesn't matter how often you confess. I don't think my feelings will change."
Yuu: "You shouldn't waste any effort. Finding somebody else to love would be better for your own sake."
Yuu: "The world's a big place. I'm sure there's a girl somewhere who'll come to love you."
Oscar: "B-but . . ."
Yuu: "I'm sorry, anyway. I'll be praying that you find a wonderful girl who isn't me. From a distance. Goodbye."


Oscar: (Urgh . . .)
Oscar: (She really hates me that much? I should've . . . I should've tried harder to improve myself!)

This concludes my third and final playthrough of TM4. Thanks for reading! Sorry for the long break, but I had all kinds of trouble, PC and otherwise, that you're really not interested in hearing about in detail. I'm happy to have capped it off, in any case. There's a couple of other things I'm itching to move on to.

Also, Happy New Year!

We got jilted by Kai again? What does this game have against our delinquent girl ending? D:

Yuu is cold. Hilarious, but cold.

I think it may be just Horrible-kun getting his Ph.D in horrible, here...

(and happy new year as well)

Wow! I was happy to graduate so that I could finally be spared the shame of being seen with you? Yuu is the queen of burn

Okay, okay, sorry. I just wanted to do that at least once because I think it's funny that for such a happy go lucky game, TM4's rejection endings will destroy your soul. Yuu's isn't even the worst.

I already screencapped Kai's ending and will put it up later tonight.

You did this to mess with us.

Your avatar makes so much sense to me now.

You got me there... oh you! I was about to rage.....!!!!



Good thing there will be the original happy ending later. Yay!!
By the way: This is an exceptionally well done "Let's Play", and I've really enjoyed this thread! Happy New Year!

You dastardly masterstroker! now I want to see the worst ice burn rejection ending

My money's on Mad Scientist-Sempai.

Sempai gives chemical burns (sorry)

Bring on Horrible-kun's pain. I must see the worst soul destroying rejection now.

(I'm a very bad bunny)

Unfortunately, I never met Fumiko this run.

So anyway, the last ending was achieved by means of the "Courage to Confess" skill which lets you pick an ending of your choice . . . with the caveat that you're getting shot down in flames if you're dumb enough to choose a girl who doesn't like you. The following is what happens in the current playthrough with no such faffing about. Choose your own canon!


Oscar: (I haven't seen Kai at all even though it's graduation day . . .)
Oscar: (Oh yeah, didn't she say she was going home? I wonder if something happened?)


Black Suit: "A moment, please."
Oscar: (Eh? Who's this?)
Black Suit: "I am an envoy from the Ryukouji house. Mistress Kai wishes to meet with you. Please come with me."


Oscar: (Holy crap, this place is huge. Kai's folks are seriously rolling in it.)
Black Suit: "Please enter . . . and take care."
Oscar: ('Take care'?)


Oscar: "Kai!"
Oscar: (W-what the hell is this? What's going on?)
???: "So it's you! You're the fly trap!"
Oscar: "F-fly trap?!"
???: "I am Kai's father, Tadataka Ryukouji!"
???: "I myself shall exterminate the fly trap who dared seduce my daughter!"
Oscar: "Uh, you're Kai's dad? Let's just calm down a seco-"
???: "When did I give you permission to call me 'Dad'!"
Oscar: "Yeeeek!"


"Tadataka Ryukouji advances upon you!"

THAT ONE. THAT ONE IS CANON. I never knew Kai was related to the Beast from Beauty and the Beast.

Horrible-kun, you're horrible! And wow, if Yuu had any appeal to me before, she just lost it.

BOSS BATTLE WITH THE DAD. This was meant to happen.