Starry★Sky in Autumn -Hoshizuki- Epilogue and Afterthoughts
Well here we are everyone, the final entry in the final route of these games! How did Tsukiko’s future with Hoshizuki turn out? Let’s take a look...
We open on the white screen of low budget, with Tsukiko’s narration commenting on how she’s coming out of a pleasant dream where she’s together with someone she loves. She comes slowly awake to the sound of birds outside and thinks to herself that the dream made her so happy she’s almost sorry to wake from it…
But then a soft, slightly bemused voice asks if she’s awake and she opens her eyes.
… to one of the best things you could possibly wake up to because that is hot. First time I played this game I couldn’t believe my eyes and it’s the only non-wedding ending that I’m a-okay with an alternative ending.
That hair, that sexy neckline, that comfortable af looking bedding, and the nice touch with the wedding ring. Unf. Also Ishida Akira because always Ishida Akira. Anyway.
Let’s calm down and keep going.
Tsukiko turns over in her sleep and gazes up at her beloved Kotarou as he calls her a sleepyhead and pets her head. She tells him she still sleepy, and he says yeah, he knows, they had a late night. (otome game code for they had sex) But they had plans today, remember? So time to get up. He doesn’t mind staying in bed, but she’s been looking forward to what’s planned for the day for a while, hasn’t she?
Tsukiko knows this, but she playfully pouts anyway. She’s still sleepy.
Oh, is she? Fine with him, he plays along. Does she want to ‘sleep’ some more then, together with him? He leans in and kisses her behind the white screen of low budget because they didn’t make an alternate CG of his kiss!face with the sexy nightshirt. (damn them)
Tsukiko knows where he’s going with this and promises she’ll get up. She’s getting up now.
“That’s too bad… I was just thinking I wouldn’t mind staying in bed all day with you today.”
She rolls her eyes at him and he laughs, yeah yeah, go get ready. It always takes her forever anyway, right? She counters that she likes to look good when they go out together and he calls her cute, pulling her in for one more kiss.
When they part, they gaze fondly at each other and Tsukiko asks if he remembers when they first moved in together. She’d just graduated university and together they decided to live together for awhile before getting married. She’d wanted to get married right away, but he had insisted they wait.
He gets a little defensive, saying he didn’t want to rush things with her.
She knows, she tells him, and buries her face in the pillow to hide her wide smile of joy out of embarrassment. She still remembers clearly when he sat her down and explained he didn’t want to get married right away because he cared about her so much. He knew he loved her, but she was still young and her feelings might change, and if they had to get a divorce or something it would just cause unnecessary strife. He could wait until they were certain. At the time she’d been happy he cared about her feelings so much, but was also a little sad to think he thought there was even the slightest chance she could ever stop loving him. He made her so happy, but always with that twinge of negativity hanging in the background.
She points this out to him and he laughs a little, remembering how she yelled at him over it at the time.
Tsukiko: It’s your fault for being such a downer.
Kotarou: Can’t help it, I’m an old man.
Pff, he’s like 30 at best here but then again, I know quite a few 30 year olds who bemoan that they’re old now, so I guess it’s all about perspective.
Tsukiko tells him he’s silly for always putting her happiness ahead of his to a fault. While she’s happy he cares for her, it still makes her sad to know he’s always ready to let her go. It feels like he doesn’t fully believe her.
He explains that’s just how he is, and it’s exactly why he suggested living together before they got married. And in the end, did her feelings change, even though they didn’t get married right away?
Tsukiko: Of course not! And I always want to be with y--
He stops her from saying the rest with a finger to her lips.
He playfully scolds her not to say another word and steal his thunder. That’s his line. He’ll tell her when he finds the right words, so can she wait just a bit longer?
Wait, does that mean…?
He takes advantage of her surprised silence to steal another kiss.
(Okay, I guess they aren’t married yet and the artist didn’t get the memo. OH WELL)
Wait, how much longer does she have to wait? She asks. He smiles sheepishly and says, not much longer. Just long enough, because he wants to make sure he does it right. Is that okay? She says it is, happy that he cares for her.
And that’s the important thing for these two, they’re happy together, without any of the usual trappings or formalities. Just waking up by each other’s side is enough. He tells her that every day he loves her a little more, to the point where it surprises him, and kisses her again, she’s already lost count this morning.
Tsukiko thinks to herself how glad she is to have met him, and how happy they are together.
The end.
Afterthoughts
Not sure what to say that hasn’t been said somewhere already. I like this route. It’s a good solid second favorite after Miyaji’s route, close enough that I’d almost say I like them equally. I like that Hoshizuki’s hit a lot of my fav cliches and never got too annoying or veered too far into wtfery that it prevented suspension of disbelief and reality set in that oh shit this is a teacher and student relationship that’s not cool.
Also kind of fun that we ended the let’s plays of these games on the guy who ends up running the school in the end. :D
But yeah, good route is good, gorgeous art is gorgeous, I never would have ever considered Ishida for a romantic lead role just because this is the first I’d ever encountered him in one and now I adore the idea of it.
In general, Starry Sky was a lot of fun and will always be my first deep dive into otome games. Sure it’s dated and ridiculously chaste and didn’t do enough with its chosen theme at times imho but no regrets. Fun game was fun. Fun drama CDs are also great. Someday I will find time for you, After Seasons games... someday......
All in all, thanks to everyone who read my snarky commentary and meta? fun-with-translations. If I ever do get around to playing the After Seasons games, I most likely won’t do this again because this past year or so it’s been a real struggle fitting it into my schedule. (x_x) Oh yeah, thanks again too for all your patience whenever I fell behind!
I don’t really have anything to plug, except I wrote a silly Sailor Moon fanfic that I may or may not continue, you can find it on archive of our own here if you’re interested but otherwise, we’ll leave things here. Thanks again!











