We’re going to pick the top choice, since this is Shizune’s route. Now, you might think that the “Ask about Shizune’s deafness” choice would make more sense - and you’re absolutely right, it would - but surprisingly, that choice is for Rin’s route.
: “Eeh.. if you say so.”
I don’t know if I mentioned this, but when I played through this game the first time, I only did one of the five routes. I remember seeing this and being like “I wonder if Misha is actually a faithful interpreter, or if she’s purposely trying to get Hisao together with Shizune and he has no idea.” I honestly have no clue what happens.
Seriously though, I think that’d be a pretty neat plot idea for a love story, an interpreter trying to play matchmaker.
Meet Hanako. She’s the other half of Lilly’s route.
In retrospect, what I think is a little strange about Hanako being here (and not having this happen before the cafeteria scene) is that we’ve actually already passed the point where we could start her route - that’s what we’d get if we had asked Misha about the library. In fact, we’ve already passed the point of no return for every route that isn’t Shizune’s or Emi’s.
: “…”
: “…”
I think my favorite part of working on this LP is that I can just copy and paste Shizune’s dialog. I think ol’ whatshisface from Gemini Rue really could’ve learned a lot from her.
: “You’ll find your way around here, I’m sure of it.”
: “Ah! Wait! The teacher said I’d have to see the nurse. Where do I have to go?”
: “Is that so? We can at least show you that much~!”
: “Come on, the nurses have their own building, so we have to go outside.”
I think this is the first (and maybe only) point at which the game confirms that Hisao is in his senior year.
: “This is the auxiliary building here. There’s a lot of official and important stuff inside, like the Yamaku Foundation office and all the nurses’ offices. They even have a swimming pool!”
: “How is that official?”
: “…”
: “Don’t be silly, Hicchan! It’s for physical therapy of course.”
: “Anyway, all the nursing staff facilities are in there too. The head nurse’s office is on the first floor.”
: “You’ll be fine from here, right~? We’ll be going then! See you tomorrow!”
I find it kind of amusing that the head nurse doesn’t even get a name - Mutou does, and the nurse has about as much screen time as he does. I’m not sure if this is because the nurse was added late in development, or because they couldn’t agree on a name or what.
: “Erm, are you the nurse?”
While I’m on the subject of game design choices, I have to wonder why they gave the nurse a portrait - animated and everything, no less - but couldn’t do that for Hisao. I don’t see Katawa Shoujo as one of those games where you’re supposed to insert as the protagonist.
: “Why yes, I am. It says so on the door, no?”
: “You can call me by my name, or just ‘the nurse’ like everyone else.”
: "Right, err.. my name is Hisao Nakai. I’m a new student and my homeroom teacher told me to come and meet you.
I swear, this facial expression makes the nurse look like he’s about two seconds away from partially unbuttoning his jacket and going “Hey Nisao, yaranaika?”
… I wonder if he’s got the same anime disease Misha has. Yaranaitis.
: “Some kind of chronic arrythmia and related congenital heart muscle deficiency, right?”
: “Eh, yes.”
: “Good. Well, you’ve probably been briefed about the school enough, so I’ll just go over this quickly.”
: “We have all kinds of facilities available, mostly physical therapy and such.”
: “There’s always someone from my staff around, even at night, so never hesitate to call us if there is a problem.”
: “Wow, this is like a hospital.”
: “Well, not exactly. For instance, we don’t do brain surgery here.”
Then explain Misha, you monster!
: “Yeah.. it’s just really weird to have so many medical people at school.”
: “You’ll get used to it.”
: “Now, let me just find your file again..”
The sprays they have to use when Misha’s hair gets too long and she starts drilling through walls and floors, the brain surgery ward.. you know. That stuff.
: “So.. you already have medication for the arrythmia. Just remember to take your pills every morning and evening or they won’t be much help.”
: “Apart from that.. do you do any sports? Rash stuff like.. I don’t know, boxing?”
Hisao no Ippo, where Hisao puts his gloves on and wrestles a bear.
: “Eh, well.. I played soccer occasionally with some classmates.”
: “All right. I’m afraid I’m going to have to recommend you refrain from doing that. At least, for the time being.”
: “Oh.”
: “Was the previous one caused by a sudden concussion to the chest area? There’s no mention of the cause in your papers.”
: “Err.. not exactly.”
And that’s exactly what we’ll be doing.. once we reach Emi’s route. I’d like to end this update with something I remembered existed just a few days ago: to this day, the title banners on 4chan contain at least five Katawa Shoujo themed ones - half of which are Shizune and/or Misha related. I’ll post a few of them.
Who could that mysterious third character be? We’ll find out in another update.