We are the chick. The world is our egg. Let's play Kara no Shoujo.

^I agree.

Also, isn't one of the doctors an anaesthesiologist? Considering that I think Kusaka used morphine he got from somewhere and Tojiko's limbs show signs of anaesthesia, that guy seems kind of salty.

Can you also post the correlation diagram, and the profiles for anaesthesia doctor, Kusaka, and Shinzo? And the first bad end and the phone calls still makes Nene seem super duper suspicious, could we see her profile too?

Also, just curious, but is there a bad end associated with Tojiko like there was with Orihime?

I'll get to the other stuff later, but to answer this one:

Correlation diagram -

I think the newest thing on here is Yaginuma.

The anesthesiologist's profile I just posted recently:



Hasn't changed since then.

Kusaka:

Still dead.

Shinzo:

We know some things about him but we still haven't officially met him.

Nene:

... her profile's pretty blank, we haven't really been hitting her events.

We do have an Evidence Bullet (that is, an entry on the evidence list) about those documents she was looking at:

(labeled as 'Documents Regarding Toko') Not really much info there though.

The map of crime scenes for both cases so far:


And just for good measure, Yaginuma's notebook entry:


Okay, now that I've piled up all that information...

Still need one or two votes on actvities!

Just want to make sure this was clear, but my votes were in agreement with Shirato's, Ouba Academy and Shinjuku Station.

Moon World and the Academy.

...i just wanted to stay happy for a full 24 hours.

throw my votes to the wind/pick randomly. THE GAME HAS ALREADY ENDED FOR MEEEEE. /sobbing

I wasn't kidding when I said you guys should bail out at the Easter Egg scene if you wanted any glimmer of hope! IT GETS WORSE.

... well, or not worse, depending on how you feel about various characters. But in terms of the game being mean THIS GAME CAN ALWAYS GET MORE CRUEL GOOD GRIEF THIS GAME.

... it's like a proper British Christmas special, it is.

I'm kind of curious whether the killer is the same person or not. I mean, what links the three crimes is that only limb meat has been found, but why did this killer throw away Tojiko's limbs instead of shredding them and stuffing them into eggs?

In a few days worth of development you guys are going to be explicitly asked whether you think it's the same killer or not (for an Inference section) - you can start your debate early but you may want to wait for more data. :)

and muh, I generally like to get at least three votes in the same direction before going ahead, we have a clear yes to the academy but no consensus on the second location. I guess I can go on and do the school at least.

Since today's Saturday, there are barely any students around. The few I do see look like they're going home in groups.

In the midst of them, I spot Mizuhara Toko, walking alone with her head down.



Mizuhara looks up and gasps upon recognizing me.

She immediately lowers her eyes and begins to pass me by.

Reiji: "Mizuhara-san----"



Reiji: "I think you should leave together with somebody---"



She cuts me off with her retort.



Reiji: "...Why don't I walk you back?"

Toko2: "No, thank you! ... Excuse me."

Toko shoves past me and storms off toward the bus stop.

I doubt anything will happen to her on the bus----

But what was that outburst about? Is it because Tsuzuriko was killed? No... It must be because Toko isn't here.

(Melancholy at the weirdness of Lesbian Yandere Toko, Reiji wanders off without entering the school. So, where to next?)

Toko2 is making me think (not so fondly) of a certain pair from the anime Strawberry Panic.

which is making me...wary.

Moon World.

I'll switch my vote to Moon World.

Kyoko: "Welcome, Tokisaka-kun."

Reiji: "---Heya."

I nod to Kyoko and take a seat at the counter.

Kyoko: "Coffee?"

Reiji: "...Yeah."

Kyoko: "You don't look so hot. Something happen?"

Reiji: "...Another girl was murdered."

She freezes.

Kyoko: "...I see."

After a few moments, Kyoko resumes moving as though nothing had happened.

Reiji: "She came here from time to time. I... Wasn't able to protect her."

Kyoko: "...You can't blame yourself for these things."

She sets a cup before me.



I drink my coffee in silence. The bitter taste fills the inside of my mouth.



Hatsune calls out to me timidly.

Reiji: "Yeah... Thanks, Hatsune-kun."

Somehow, their encouragement leaves me feeling revitalised.

I drain the rest of my coffee in a single gulp, leave my money on the counter, and stand up.

I don't have time to brood over this.

I go outside.



Yaginuma: "---The crime scene's close by. Are you going to take a look?"

He starts speaking, even though I haven't addressed him. I ignore him and walk past.

Yaginuma: "Hey, hey, is everything okaaay, sempai?"

(His voice here is taunting, NOT sympathetic.)

He grabs my shoulder.



Reiji: "...Of course I am."

I shake off his grip and look him in the eye.

Reiji: "---You can just sit back on your throne and preen. I'll deal with the killer --- Mark my words."

Yaginuma: "Heh. I'm looking forward to that, Sempai."

Yaginuma leaves, but can't resist that parting shot.

I really don't want to get into a pissing contest right now, least of all with him. I've just got to do what has to be done.

The living room table is set with dinner for two.



Reiji: "I'm back. ... Are you okay?"

Yukari: "Yeah... I think being depressed won't do any good."

In spite of her words, she can't keep the loneliness from her voice.

Yukari: "I feel sorry for Tsuzuriko; she wouldn't want to see me like this..."

Reiji: "...I suppose not."



Yukari sits down in her chair and puts her hands together.

Reiji: "Yeah, you're right---Thanks for the meal."

I pick up a pair of chopsticks and my rice bowl.

Yukari: "I made boiled cod, since it was on sale today."

Reiji: "Hmm--"



Yukari: "And about insects and stuff... About the growth rate of maggots on corpses, and how fast snails move --- We'd often talk about things like that."

Reiji: "Yukari---?"

It's rare for Yukari to talk so much.



She's crying.



Even as the sobs wrack her body, Yukari still tries to continue.

Yukari: "I... I'm sorry... Nii-san..."

Reiji: "Yukari... There's no need to apologize. You don't have to hold anything back."

I get up, sit down next to my sister, and cradle her head in my arms.

Yukari: "Ah..."

Reiji: "... It's all right to cry for Tsuzuriko today... So that you can smile again tomorrow... Right?"

Yukari: (crying) "..."

(Okay, this is actually written as "Uuu..." which bears some similarity to some of the sounds she's making, but looks stupid in English.)

We stay like that for a while.



It looks like Yukari's calmed down a bit. She's not one to let things bother her for long.

... Nothing like me.

I wonder how much I closed off my heart when the same happened to me.

I should be able to take action more quickly this time around.

I have to free myself from regrets about Tojiko, no matter what.

Does thinking this way mean that I've matured, or...?

Today... is Sunday.

I guess I'll go out and gather some information... Somebody saw that person dressed in black. If I ask around, maybe I'll find someone who's seen even more.



I call out to my sister in the living room.

Yukari: "Okay --- Be careful."

Reiji: "...Are you all right?"

I'm concerned about last night.



Yukari nods.

Reiji: "...I see. Just make sure you take it easy, okay?"

Yukari: "You too, Nii-san. Please don't push yourself too far."

After Yukari says that, I leave the house with a bitter smile on my face.



I have a photograph of Tsuzuriko with me. I wonder if I'll dig up any info about the person clothed in black. I can't leave any stone unturned----

Not wasting any time, I begin to ask around, showing people the photo.



Reiji: "---Thanks, I appreciate your cooperation."

Student: "I'm sorry I wasn't of any help."

I canvass the area, asking countless pedestrians and store employees.

The final results are not promising. There were people who had seen Tsuzuriko before, but all on different dates and times---no leads there. Nobody knew about the person clothed in black --- Not even any rumors.

Damn it... we won't get anywhere with this.

The connection between Tsuzuriko and the person in black -- until I've figured that out, I don't have a prayer of establishing the suspect's identity.



After 6:00 PM on the 5th, Tsuzuriko left her home in Nishi-Ogikubo. She did not head straight for my home in Kinpukuji. Instead, she took Itsukaichi Avenue to Kichijoji... She might have come to buy something.

And on her way, a person clad all in black called out to her. They had a conversation... And then they both vanished.

Did the killer offer to accompany her to my house? No, a conversation wouldn't have sprung up if it wasn't someone she knew.

... Perhaps our murderer asked her for directions, and she offered to show the way. If that's the case, then the killer might have just picked her by chance---

And how is it related to the other cases? Not so much the flesh-filled eggs... rather, it resembles Kusaka's spree---

Each possibility just raises more questions. This is bad -- I've gotta find something.

Woman's Voice: "Ummm---"

I raise my head upon hearing the voice.



Reiji: "Oh, Kuchiki-san."

She's looking at my face in curiosity --- No, make that anxiety.

Chizuru: "By any chance... Are you busy...?"

Reiji: "No, not at all. I was just resting for a bit."



Reiji: "...Yeah."



Reiji: "...How's she doing?"

Chizuru: "...She's depressed. After I told her the news, she immediately shut herself inside her room."

Reiji: "I see. Please try to be there for her, as much as you can."



(Told you the adoption thing was a bigger deal in Japan.)

Chizuru hangs her head.

Reiji: "...That has nothing to do with it. You've been together as a family for all this time, haven't you?"



She nods repeatedly, as if trying to convince herself that it's true.

Chizuru: "I'm sorry to trouble you with this..."

Reiji: "Not at all. You can come to me anytime for advice --- If you trust me, that is."



After bowing a farewell, she walks off toward the station.

... Well, what do I do now? Should I keep poking around here for a while? If I don't turn up anything new, I'll head elsewhere.



I guess I've no choice but to go somewhere else...

I doubt I'll pick up anything relevant here, but ----



I guess that's because it's Sunday. I guess now's as good a time as any to ask how Kazuna's doing----

With that in mind, I look around before spotting Dr. Murase.

Reiji: "Dr. Murase ---"



Murase: "...You are aware that there are no examinations or visitations today, yes?"

Reiji: "Yeah, but I have other business here."

Murase: "...I have to go all the way up to Suwa for an examination today. Get lost."

He turns on his heel and stalks off. What is that guy's problem, seriously...



This certainly hasn't turned up any leads.

There are too few eyewitnesses. I think it's time for a different angle ----

Reiji: "... I'll try asking him."

Perhaps we'll try a human wave attack.

My mind made up, I head over to Ueno.

////

Reiji: "Takashiro, are you there ---?"

When I open the door to the Takashiro Detective Agency, Takashiro is there reading a newspaper.



Reiji: "----I've got something I'd like your help with."

Shugo: "Are you talking about this?"

Shugo shows me the newspaper. There's an article about Tsuzuriko's murder.

Shugo: "A student at Ouba Girls Academy... That's the thing you asked me about the day before yesterday, right?"

Reiji: "Yeah... I want you to collect information about a person wearing all black that was said to have met with her. I don't mind if you do it in your spare time."

I hand Tsuzuriko's photograph over to him.



Reiji: "Yeah. We don't know whether or not they're related."

Shugo: "After I'm finished with my previous request, I'll be able to concentrate on this one. I've gotta keep working for now... For Kazuna's sake."

Reiji: "...Thanks. If you find out anything, give me a call."

Shugo: "Sure, I got it."

Reiji: "I'm counting on ya."



All right... Time for some more legwork.

(Map choice time! This is a toughie... all of these scenes are worth seeing, but you can't see them all in one playthrough.

Ouba Academy - A chance of encountering Nene or Toko2?

Moon World - More consolations with Kyoko?

Natsume's Hospital - Talking over the case?

Shinjuku Station - A chance meeting...

Ueno Station - Another chance meeting...

You can only pick two. What do you want more? Clues, friendship, or mystery doors?)

I want more clues about the case, so let's go to Natsume's Hospital and Ouba Academy.

I definitely want to go to Natsume's Hospital, but I honestly have no idea whether I should pick Ueno or Shinjuku; I guess I'll pick Shinjuku for the sake of arriving at a majority decision faster.

The thing about Ueno is that... isn't that where Shugo is? If there's anything important happening there, there's a chance we'll hear it from him later. Or we might just run into him again, and since we literally just asked him to help us out, I don't think he'd have much of substance for us at this point.

The person you will meet in Ueno is not Shugo. I'm trying to balance how much information to give out since the game's quite weird about this - they don't give you hints at all, but the only way you can possibly unlock all the scenes in the game is by knowing who's where when and choosing to encounter them... which means to play the game fairly you have to do what I did and go everywhere, taking notes. But that's not practical for this format, so I'm dropping hints where reasonable.

If the Ueno encounter were just going to be "You meet Shugo and he doesn't know anything new" I would have hinted that already to steer you away from it, because that's boring. It would also be predictable, because Reiji does know that Shugo lives around there. There's *no* way Reiji could possibly predict the encounters in Shinjuku and Ueno at this point, they're quite random, which is why I have nothing to say but "chance encounter".

None of these five scenes are things that you'll find out about later if you miss them. It's a toughie.

... Not to mention that I'm going off my notes here and I did sometimes forget to write things down, or sometimes events are changed by choices we made in the past, so even I don't always know for sure. I was quite surprised that (particular thing) didn't happen...

I personally want you guys to go to

but I have an ulterior motive so I'm not going to force that or even say it outside of spoilerbox :)

I guess I'll switch my vote to

I really want to know what's in those random encounters, though... but I'll trust your ulterior motive.

Hmm... Ouba and Natsume's Hospital sound like the most plot-related ones, so I'll go with those.

I'll go with Natsume's Hospital and the spoiler place.

Come to think of it, Stella wears all black and has met Tojiko, right? Although you'd think that her hair is distinctive enough that witnesses would remember it.

...is it a bad ending? Not that I'd mind, but...

I feed off inspiring paranoia. Dance, my puppets!

(No, we're not going to instantly die or anything like that. Incoming soon.)

It's a Sunday, so it's not surprising that I don't see any students. They're probably on break from club activities as well.

However ----



Mizuhara Toko is there, seated in the same spot where Toko's always painting her picture.


(This image should look familiar... well, mostly familiar.)

Toko2: "---What is it?"

She keeps on moving her brush without looking at me.

Reiji: "...Whatcha doing?"

Toko2: "Can't you tell just by looking? ... I'm painting."

Mizuhara's in a sarcastic mood today.

Toko2: "I'm waiting for Toko. We made a promise to paint together."

Reiji: "...She hasn't come yet?"

Toko2: "...Why do you feel the need to rub it in, Sensei?"

She glares at me.

Reiji: "No, I'm not doing it to be mean. It's been dangerous lately, with what happened to Yosomiya-san---"

Toko2: "That has nothing to do with us."

Her tone is cold enough to give me the shivers.

Reiji: "That's not true. All the recent murders have targeted girls around your age."



Reiji: "That's not the point."

I'm using all my willpower to keep my voice alm, but Mizuhara still starts trembling at my words.

Toko2: "...Anyway, it's none of your business, Sensei."

She averts her eyes.

Reiji: "...Just be careful."

Having said all I can, I depart.

///



I wonder if there'll be any new developments ----



The moment she lays eyes on my face, Natsume-san offers that by way of a greeting.

Reiji: "Nothing from the police either?"

Natsume: "I don't know about them, but it seems like they're debating whether the flesh-filled egg case and the dismemberment are related."

Reiji: "If they are... Then the only thing linking them is the ages of the victims. However, that's the same as the case from last month----"



Reiji: "You're right... There's gotta be some kind of reason for that; we need to think about the method..."



Reiji: "If that were true, wouldn't they have figured that out after the first one?"

Two corpses stuffed inside eggs, and then Tsuzuriko -- Why was she simply dumped like garbage?

There's got to be some reason behind this ----

(see? No instant death...)



(... hang on, what have we here?)

(Stuff is about to get weird.)



(then, suddenly, the music stops, and we hear a voice saying:)

Nene (on the phone): "---You're seriously telling me that Kuchiki Toko doesn't have a father!?"

"--?" (audio: Toko gasps)

She can't contain a gasp upon hearing her name ---- And the mention of her father. Acting on impulse, she presses her ear to the door.



(My notes from the first time playing this part: "WHAT." And yes, that is all Nene speaking.)

(Back to Reiji)



I ask Yukari after dinner.

Yukari: "Yes, I do..."

Reiji: "I gave the last one to Takashiro because I asked him to help in the investigation. If you've got another one you can let me borrow, I'd appreciate it."

Yukari: "...Please wait a second."

Yukari disappears into her room, then promptly returns.

Yukari: "Here you are."

Reiji: "Thanks."

I accept the picture of a smiling Tsuzuriko."



Reiji: "Yeah, I know. I'll have Takashiro return the one I gave him, too."

We'll... never be able to take any more photos with Tsuzuriko in them.



I close my eyes and relax, but no matter how much time passes, I can't fall asleep.

I wonder why that is -- Why am I so restless?

Giving up on sleep, I get out of bed. I put a cigarette in my mouth.

The moonlight is dazzling. It's a beautiful night ----

(And now we need a choice! Reiji is restless... should we go to Moon World or Inokashira Park?)

Think I'll vote for Inokashira Park, as nice as it would be to see Kyoko again. |D;

• Goddamn, Toko II's being bitchy. Even moreso than usual.
• Natsume's scene wasn't as helpful as I expected, but it does bring up a good point; what's inhibiting the killer from stuffing the limbs into eggs? We know from the killer's scene that he intended to dump the limbs, that it wasn't a sudden impromptu decision...
• WHAT THE SHIT, NENE. I guess Toko-II might not be the only person with a fixation with Toko-I. That has got to be way too invasive for it to be typical school nurse duties. Who's on the other line, and why does Nene seem to have a vested interest in Toko-I's bloodline? Does she know Toko-I's parents and family? And what inheritance? Maybe Toko-I's?
• Is the old guy maybe Mamiya Shinzo?
• Can we see Stella's profile?

Also, I want to vote for Inokashira Park, but mind if we get hints on what happens at both locations?

I'll put up Stella's profile next time I launch the game (I have to do some handwaving to get it running so I don't want to bother just for a brief check.)

If you go to Moon World you'll hang out with Kyoko as you might expect. If you go to the park you'll catch sight of someone else wandering around at night.

As much as I love Kyoko, I'll vote for Inokashira Park in the hopes of getting something new.

Same here. Inokashira Park.

Chromosomes from one parent? The only way I think that would work would be to have a true hermaphrodite parent with fully-developed gametes of both sexes, who self-fertilized through in-vitro fertilization.

That, or somebody is lying.

I also get the feeling that they're talking about Toko's inheritance, given that they're talking about her bloodline.

Or it's the ~* miracle of Christmas *~

I'm tempted to ask while in this timeframe (this is just after WWII, right?) how accurate a statement like that could be.

All this for me too.

These April nights are still pretty chilly.

I walk along the road, the cigarette still clenched in my teeth.



It's practically deserted; well, I guess that's because it's late at night.

That feeling of unease hasn't abated yet. What could it be...



Cherry petals are mixed in among the sediment; they've started to turn brown. The cherry blossoms have begun to fall.

... Their existence is quite ephemeral.

Reiji: "Hmm--?"

Something white flashes by the corner of my vision.

Reiji: "That's..."

There's a person dressed in white running along the opposite shore. He has long hair. Is that Kuchiki Fumiya...? He's got a rather grave expression on his face ----

I soon lose sight of him. I consider chasing after him, but discard the notion at once. To get over there, I'd have to go all the way around.

I can't see Fumiya anymore.

I'll wander the area for a little whilte, and if nothing else happens, I'll go home.



All is quiet. The cherry petals are fluttering about, almost as if it's snowing.

What was he up to...? He couldn't possibly have been making a house call at this hour.

Of course if I can't locate him, then there's nothing I can do. Looks like I've no choice but to go back home...





The night sky is exquisitely beautiful. Toko stretches her arms out, basking in the moonlight. It's almost as though she's getting a surge of vitality.

"Hehe---"

With bare feet, she walks into the lake stretching out before her. It's a bit chilly, but that, too, serves to wake her up.





Is what Toko is thinking.

Dying of cold in a place like this... Wouldn't be so bad.

This me that nobody knows; it should just disappear. It certainly wouldn't trouble anyone.



She recalls the time they fought.

She loves Toko.

She's important to her.

But Toko is Toko; she's definitely not me.

Toko doesn't understand that.

"... Even though Sensei understands me."





(Hard to convey without being able to hear the voice here: "Sabishii yo, Sensei..." Sad, longing... For Toko fans, this line is heartbreaking.)