Winter’s Wish Genjuro Route: BEST ROUTE, BEST SHIP
Wow, I really enjoyed this route so much. It was difficult to choose who to start with at first because this game actually doesn't have a firm set of highly recommended routes to play in a specific order. I heard iffy things about Kunitaka's route and since I rage quit my previous otome game in the last route, I wanted to go for someone I knew wouldn't let me down. And boy, he did not. Just like Serge's route in Genso Manege, I don't have anything bad to say about this route at all. I love it so much, it has risen high in my best otome routes. Anyway, as this is my first time playing it, I included some of the common route at the beginning to get myself situated in the game.
Suzuno is ostracized in the village she lives near, having to live a bit away from it. She can see threads around people’s necks and each color represents a different emotion. Tomonari appears to tell her she is summoned by the shogunate and reveals that he is part of the oniwaban, a group that conducts spy operations for the shogun. Really loving the designs for the blightfall, they fit in perfectly with the setting of the game.
Yabuta and Kyoshiro look like my type!! I wish they were LIs…Tomonari and Suzuno definitely know each other somehow but I’ll have to wait until his route to find out. The sparrow Komame is so adorable! Now Suzuno has a pet companion to bring along with her. Along with Komame, Suzuno reunites with Miharu, a form folk she created from an obi cord.
Mitsushige is really giving off Kondo vibes. I am so thankful there’s an MC who actually trains! We get to see Suzuno train with Yoichi fully. Usually otome games half-ass the training or say the mc has been trained and then have her not be able to defend herself or fight despite saying she’s capable of it. Everyone needs a wingwoman like Miharu! Seeing Genjuro hold Suzuno’s hand made me fangirl hehe I’ve seen the cg before but I’m glad I can finally place it in the game.
Suzuno asking to be bait for the kamikiri is another reason why I like her. I hate praising the MC for simple things but when you play otome games where MCs are always dumb and weak, you really notice when they are actually smart and good characters.
Genjuro’s a foodie! We only ever see him drink but apparently he goes to lots of food places all over Edo. Or so you think lol I got my hopes up. I knew the truth but ugh, you can let him be an even better LI! He heard her quiet declaration to protect him while he pretended to be asleep hehe it turns out he was born from a wakizashi. The game really did well when discussing Genjuro’s half human half vessel issue. Genjuro himself was struggling with what was going on with him and I still honestly cannot tell if he was serious about ending his existence so I’m very thankful Suzuno eloquently made him see reason.
The forced proximity in the litter was absolutely genius. It didn’t feel forced at all and I found it very entertaining. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better she had to embrace him as cover, which totally made both of them awkward, it was great! Now I want to know what Genjuro was going to say…
Genjuro’s owner was revealed to be the one who Hanzo seeks revenge on. And once again another great conversation! I knew he would ask her if he could hug her!
His seal is broken! And it broke when Suzuno was about to be attacked too. It was almost a confession but Hanzo just had to ruin it and possess him. Once again pleasantly surprised Suzuno actually tried to fight until the very end. She’s so well written in this route, I hope it’s the same for the others.
Pfffft why would they show Genjuro a lewd photo??? Poor Suzuno was flustered and nearly had a heart attack. He proposed!!! They’re already a little family with Komame hehe and he admitted to wanting to do that with her!!
In the sorrow end Hanzo reveals he had a collaborator who fed him info…I wonder who it was. He planned on using Hanzo as bait for a god but Hanzo overpowered the god and plans on making his informant rely on him. Poor Suzuno was forced to watch as he possessed the man she loved and killed everyone, even bringing her Miyaji’s head. I thought he was going to do something unspeakable to her but he killed her…all while Genjuro had to watch.
