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neerons · 2 months

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Masquerade Kiss 💋

Revenge & Challenge event | All stories' summaries

[Warning: this is a long post. I have left aside the stories "That was actually..." as they were very short and didn't mention anything important about either the characters' development, or past]

ᴋᴀᴢᴜᴏᴍɪ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US)

① In this story, Kazuomi surprises MC by visiting her at her new office (as a freelance agent). He suggests to her to go somewhere she might like, but she turns him down as she has something already planned which is… eating noodles! Instant noodles, something Kazuomi had never tasted in his entire life. MC asks him if he wants to try eating it as well, and as Kazuomi is adventurous and never misses a chance to try new things, he discovers the taste of instant noodles.

Kazuomi compares them to the flavorless noodles he had back in college and say they’re complete opposites. Kazuomi doesn’t seem to hate the taste too much, and MC says the taste is quite addictive, and that she will make him discover more flavors and foods common people would eat, and that he had never tried out. Kazuomi agrees but insists that he wants them to have steak for dinner later.

② It’s evening and time for their dinner date, but Kazuomi is late. MC waits for him in his living room at the Raven while watching the latest drops to a streamer. She then recognizes a location used for a movie, which happens to be the Raven. She's surprised, and this is how MC learns that not only a movie was shot at the Raven, but also had Kazuomi take part as an actor for a scene. Kazuomi comes back home right at this time, and seeing what she's looking at, he explains to MC he had a cameo* role in that movie years ago. He had also attended the awards ceremony. Kazuomi had to play his own role from real life, which is the owner of the Raven hotel.

MC thinks about how he looks younger, has a youthful energy on screen and acts a bit differently despite playing his own role. MC rewinds the movie to watch his scene again, but to MC’s disappointment Kazuomi snaps his finger which turns the screen off. He mentions they should get going or they’ll be late to dinner, and MC tells him he can tell her about this experience over delicious steaks. He agrees and smiles, and they eventually leave his place.

(*Cameo: a very brief appearance in a movie or play, usually played by celebrities or actors)

Fun Picnic Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: Japan)

① In this story, MC gets assigned a mission that leads her to fly to Japan. Kazuomi surprises her yet again by waiting for her at the airport, and knowing that her mission is not urgent, takes her somewhere.

Kazuomi and MC go on a picnic in a park in Japan. Among all the other families present there, MC mentions they both stand out and look out of place, like they don’t belong here, especially Kazuomi. Confirming her feeling, women whisper loudly enough for them to hear that they think Kazuomi looks like a celebrity. People soon gather to get a bit closer to see him, but still keep their distance. MC thinks to herself that in the US, people see Kazuomi as a hometown hero while he comes off as intimidating to Japanese people.

As they walk to find a nice picnic spot, they hold hands which reminds MC that they never really had classic, ordinary dates like this one. They end up finding a good spot on an open field, and as Kazuomi and her set up the blanket for their picnic, MC laughs about how it’s very strange to see Kazuomi doing this, not used to seeing him do ordinary things. She explains to him that he has to put weight on the corners of the blanket, to prevent it from moving because of the wind. He listens as he never did such things and isn't used to it.

② They start eating the bentos with the typical Japanese homey food Kazuomi brought for their lunch, which was made by a chef. Kazuomi, in a sort of somber tone, mentions how the food tastes really good, "too good, even". MC understands that it sounds like there’s a deeper meaning to his words, but doesn’t question him and enjoys her date with him.

They soon finish eating everything and relax by lying on the blanket. Out of the blue, Kazuomi starts telling MC a little bit about his past. He explains that his mother once brought him to a park to have a picnic between the two of them just like this. He doesn’t know why she suddenly did that, considering that it’s not something they ever did in their family. We learn that his mother came from a rather wealthy family, and that she never had to cook or do anything on her own due to this.

Despite her lack of knowledge, his mother had prepared a bento herself for the picnic she had planned for her and Kazuomi. She didn't know how to cook, but still tried. An overly sweet Japanese omelet. Burnt fried chicken. These are the traditional foods she tried to make for them. Kazuomi thinks back on these memories, which makes MC remember his earlier words about the food the chef made being "too good". She realizes that due to nostalgia, burnt chicken might taste better than a meal prepared by a chef to Kazuomi.

Understanding that this memory comes with sadness for him, MC decides not to ask anything and proposes to play badminton together, as a way of making him associate picnic to a happy memory instead. Smiling again, Kazuomi agrees and they start a bet for their match.

Redacted Lover: The Depths of His Heart 1 & 2

(Location: Japan & The US)

① In this story, Kazuomi suddenly wakes up from a dream in the middle of the night. Heart pounding and covered in sweat. He’s in his bedroom at his place in Japan, and had a dream he often has, especially when it’s Christmas. We don’t learn what he saw in that dream, but we understand it’s linked to the memory of when he lost everything.

Kazuomi once again is reminded that "forever" might not exist, which makes him think of MC and their relationship. He turns to look at his side, but she’s not lying next to him. She’s on a mission, so he’s sleeping alone. Kazuomi is thankful that she doesn’t have to see him in that state, as he doesn’t want to show her how pathetic and weak he can be. He doesn’t want anyone to see him like that, but especially her.

As he ponders on how he used to be like before, he mentions that not even Yuzu and Kei know the old him. Naive and sweet. He used to foolishly think that "her" love was forever. We understand he’s talking about his mother. He used to think a mother’s love lasted until death, but he was wrong.

(MC’s PoV)

Luca (Hugo’s cousin and MC’s new coworker) tells MC she got assigned a new mission by somebody she used to work for back when she was at the EAC. Being in the US, MC flies to Japan to work her mission, and she is led to a residential neighborhood with luxury homes. She’s done with her mission and prepares to head back, but she suddenly and surprisingly spots Kazuomi near her, looking at a house that seems even more luxurious among the other ones.

She wonders what he’s doing here, and realizes his behavior is strange compared to usual. He seems to not have noticed her presence, which is weird coming from him. She goes to walk towards him and wants to call out his name, but she stops herself. On Kazuomi’s face is an expression she has never seen before. A look of pure hatred and coldness.

She wonders what that house means to him. She decides it’d be weird to not talk to him, so she walks near him and casually greets him as if nothing happened. Kazuomi seems panicked to see her. It’s the first time she sees that expression on his face as well and is confused about his reaction. He asks her what she’s doing here, something he had never been concerned with whether she was working or not, which confuses MC even more.

Kazuomi appears to be shaking and looks down momentarily to gain his composure back. MC thinks he’s not being himself, and understands that the house he’s looking at must be the one he grew up in before losing everything. MC asks him if he wants to have a glass of champagne at the Raven since she’s done with her business, and he agrees in a small voice and starts walking along with her without looking at MC.

MC asks him where his limo is, and Kazuomi responds he came here alone. MC is surprised since it’s long to walk from the Raven to their current location, but when Kazuomi asks her if she wants him to call the driver, she refuses, as she feels like walking.

② Kazuomi and MC arrive at the hotel, and share a glass of champagne. Kazuomi is very quiet and doesn't look at her. MC remembers that during all the time they've been together, they had never pointed out each other's weaknesses, therefore she never asked him anything about his past. MC asks him if she can stay around with him a bit longer, and without saying anything, he shows his approval by pouring her another glass of champagne.

MC then notes how far they're sitting from each other, when normally they would be sitting next to each other and talk non-stop. She says their usual conversations increasingly became like tennis matches since they met, and were filled with banter which felt like home to them both. Now they're both sitting quietly as Kazuomi acts differently.

Considering how he has always accepted her for who she was no matter what, MC decides to see him for who he is as well, and asks him if he can tell her what happened. Kazuomi eventually opens up to her about his past.

(Kazuomi's PoV and flashback)

We learn he used to live in a grand house in Japan, with staff (butlers and maids) who greeted him when he came back home after school. His father was a self-made man with a successful business. His mother, (named "Mrs. Shido" in-game) came to see him and waited to have dinner for him even though he was a bit late coming home from school that day. She mentions she doesn't mind waiting for him as she likes to eat with him. Kazuomi, however, wonders if she actually means it, but deep down he hoped it was true.

He surprisingly mentions how he doesn't look like her at all. But how he's in fact the very spitting image of his father, like twins. We then learn that Kazuomi's father had many mistresses, and he doesn't know whether or not his father's wife is his actual mother. Kazuomi had checked the official documents of his birth, but he mentions that his dad could have very well changed the information about his birth mother to hide who his actual mother is.

Kazuomi remembers how his father was rarely coming home and would have done everything for his business. It's heavily hinted that his father got his hands dirty to make his business successful, too. He even sometimes came home with a group of threatening men with whom he had private conversations in a room.

Kazuomi recalls that despite the luxury and friendly staff, somehow the home was cold. He then mentions that the "too bright lights" and faked smiles of the staff were all used to better hide the truth. He couldn't stand any of these things anymore, except for one: his mother.

Despite not knowing if they're linked by blood, he says she loves him... or not. He thinks she only loves his father, who she's loving through Kazuomi since she's often ignored by her husband when he comes home. She was left feeling lonely and gave her affection to Kazuomi instead.

Kazuomi then tells MC how at that time he thought everything would last forever, but... He couldn't finish his sentence, stopped by his painful memories of the truth we have yet to discover. MC tells him that she won't ask any questions unless he wants her to, that she's focusing and is here for the current Kazuomi, and doesn't care about his past. Kazuomi smiles at that. They continue their night holding hands on the couch while sipping champagne.

Later on, they go to bed without being intimate with each other and sleep. Kazuomi wakes up again in the middle of the night, and at his side, there's MC sleeping, dreaming about Kazuomi taking away from her her DVD with Tom Cruise, which makes him laugh since she doesn't seem to have changed even though he confessed some revelations to her earlier.

This time, he didn't have a nightmare. Kazuomi appreciates that MC didn't ask him anything more about his past, as she valued what was important to him more than what she could have learned. His love for her is also even more affirmed as she wasn't weirded out by him or shocked with the way he acted. He thinks this:

"This is why you mean so much to me. This is why I want you my side. Maybe you are someone in whom I could confide everything."

He mentions how he tried to replace his old painful memories with new ones with Zack, the family, and motel. But he can never forget his mother and the past. He then asks MC something out loud while she's sleeping. About whether or not she'd still love him if he showed his true, actual self, and saw how pathetic he really is. He wonders if her love would sway upon learning how stuck in the past he is. But despite not believing in forever, he hopes that's what will define their relationship. He wants their relationship to last.

We understand finally that, the current Kazuomi Shido acts the way he does as a sort of persona, but that his behavior might be an act he uses to hide his past. He acts the way he thinks people, and even MC would want him, Kazuomi Shido, to act. But one day, he'll gamble everything, such as his life, and will risk losing everything again to hope taking everything back. Everything that was stolen from him back then. When that time comes, he'll have to let go of MC's hand, as "nothing is forever in this world".

ᴋᴇɪ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: UK)

① Kei comes back to his hotel room at the Raven where MC greets him. Lately, MC mentions that he always goes straight to the bathroom to take a shower right after coming home, without coming near MC. MC says that ordinarily, this would look like he'd be cheating on her, but she knows him well enough to know he wouldn't do that. MC thinks that he must be trying to wash away scents that he doesn't like.

(Kei's PoV, at GoE's headquarters)

Kei and Josh try to find ways to improve security around the headquarters, but Kei asks Josh if he would want to build a tree house in the forest. Josh recalls that they always talked about building one as kids, but never got to do it. Kei thinks back to his past, where he, Maru (the puppy they found) and Josh found branches they could use for the tree house. In the end, they couldn't make that wish come to life.

MC came to headquarters and, as she found no one in the basement, followed the footprints in the back of the church which lead her to them. She sees Josh and Kei build the tree house based off of plans made by Victoria in the forest. She's surprised as she sees Kei climb a tree. She realizes in that moment he had been taking showers to wash off the dirt. Kei meaningfully tells Josh they're finally doing what they couldn't back then, and that there will be more to come. MC leaves the two friends as she doesn't want to intrude.

② MC is at GoE headquarters, drinking tea and eating cookies she brought from the Raven with Josh. Josh starts saying how he wishes he knew how to make cookies like these, to sell them faster for charity. MC starts to wonder if Kei should have kept religion as a part of his life, seeing how Josh turned out. She also wonders what Josh thinks of Kei giving up his faith, and ends up asking him if he thinks Kei has changed. MC assumes that Kei must have changed a lot compared to when he was a child, however Josh tells her he's very much like the Kei he knows, a protector and a leader.

We then get a flashback to Kei and Josh as children living at church. Kei gets openly angry at the priests and argues they don't feed them enough despite getting money from charity. The priest responds that it's to keep them from committing the sin of gluttony. Kei replies that he knows they keep all the food and drinks to themselves and leave them weak. Kei thinks they do this on purpose so they can't resist, since they usually barely feed the children when it's that time of the month. The time when the devil comes.

Josh tries to calm Kei down so he doesn't get punished, but Kei has a plan and violently throws a chair at a priest and starts pulling out his hair. This is a plan elaborated so that, hopefully, one of the sisters will discreetly share more food with them.

Hearing the story, MC wonders if the current Kei she sees is gaining his original self back by protecting others, like he used to.

Redacted Lover: Leading the Remains 1 & 2

(Location: France)

① This story happens around two weeks after Kei was involuntarily hospitalized by MI6 after a mental break. In order to try to recollect more of Kei's repressed memories, he and MC went from London to Paris, and have then taken the train to go to the Romleys' winery, located away from the city. They get a bit closer physically as they are sitting next to each other, and MC notices his body is seemingly colder than usual, like a doll's. MC eyes Kei looking at the mountains while on the train, and she recalls that Kei is often struggling to keep himself in the present moment as he often dissociates with his year-old self lately.

Kei asks her again if she really is okay with following him to the winery, and MC confirms that she'll keep her word and always be there next to him, which makes Kei smile. MC thinks that they both know how risky it is to try to discover Kei's repressed memories by going to the place where his traumatic experience began, but Kei is compelled to go. In order to stop Caleb who is an immediate danger, Kei wants and has to recover everything he can to be more stable quickly.

MC doesn't agree with Kei's plan as she is scared for him, but she knows Kei couldn't care less about his own pain and will respect his wishes. They arrive at the winery when it's still light outside, and they go to see Libre*, another horse that was then replaced after the last one with the same name was killed by Caleb. Kei greets the horse and he seems relieved to see him. Kei tells the horse apologetically that for his safety, he (the horse) will have to go to London for some time and that he can't stay here. MI6 will watch over the horse until things are over with Caleb.

(*Libre means "Free" in French)

MC remembers her conversation with Caleb from before and that he has taken the first Libre's mane after killing him. She also recalls how she learned that Caleb loves Chad, which is why he targeted Kei and Libre. She also learned that Chad and Anne are special agents who worked for MI6 before. MC hasn't told Kei about this conversation, and has a dilemma of whether she should tell him or not.

After that, they get closer to a storage building near the winery where unused barrels and tools are kept. Kei asks her if she remembers the time he told her he had built a secret hideout there. She says she does, and Kei starts walking towards the storehouse by taking little steps. He explains that his secret hideout served the purpose of hiding. She understands what he means when he says that, and Kei continues to mention it was to escape from Caleb. Kei mentions Caleb kept visiting this place even after what he had done to the original Libre.

MC asks Kei about Chad's and Anne's opinion about Caleb, but Kei replies he probably has never told anyone about what Caleb did and what happened at this winery, so they didn't have anything to say about Caleb still coming here. MC tells her she remembers that when Kei first took her to this winery before, he mentioned that he has wanted to be a "good boy" for his family. MC asks him if what he meant back then, about being a "good boy", meant that he had to keep what happened with Caleb a secret from Chad and Anne. Kei and MC are holding hands, and Kei starts gripping her hand more tightly. She looks at him, and he faintly nods.

They finally arrive in front of the storehouse, and Kei is visibly tense, which is very unusual of him, as he often wears a pokerface or mask. MC thinks that who he was the first time they came here and who he is now are like two different people. She thinks how now, Kei has changed so much and reclaimed his emotions, how he lets himself feel and want things. Reuniting with Josh, who he thought he had lost, also helped him recover his memories. She wonders, if Kei hadn't met her, would he have lived his life without remembering these memories? If he hadn't opened his heart to love her, Caleb wouldn't have targeted him. She thinks all of this happened because he met her. That all the root of his suffering is her presence in his life, as well as their love and romance.

Kei tells her to wait outside, and lets go of her hand. They're standing in front of the wooden double doors, and he says he needs to do this part alone. He opens the door with an old key, which can be a metaphor of Kei opening the door to the memories he's kept back.

② We are following Kei through his PoV as he enters the old storehouse. Since the area they're in is known for its safety and being low-crime, the caretaker of the storehouse once told Kei there isn't really a need to lock up the storehouse. That explains why Caleb managed to come here as he pleased. Kei mentions that if he had remembered that sooner, he wouldn't have taken MC into this hell. He thinks back on the choker, now tainted with bad memories for him and MC. Kei calls it cursed.

Kei finally opens the doors and closes them behind him as MC watched him enter. Kei finally remembers that this place isn't really his secret hideout, but a place he had built desperately to hide from Caleb. "What happened that night, the night that's stained with Libre's blood?". Kei remembers his shirt at that time, soaked in a deep red color.

(TW: the rest of the summary might become too graphic at some point, so please take caution)

We have a flashback of Kei as a child, with Caleb. Caleb calls Kei a good boy after the latter changed his clothes soaked with blood, and is now wearing a clean white shirt. Caleb and Kei are going to have dinner, which has been prepared by Caleb. Kei instantly recognizes the meat served on the plate. It's Libre. Kei recalls what just happened to Libre, and how he has vomitted. The 8 year-old Kei thinks that since he was raised in the dark in that church, he has adapted well to abnormal situations. He thinks that if he makes the wrong choice here, it could be fatal and he could die.

Caleb then proceeds to tell Kei they shouldn't wait too much to eat since the dish will be cold, and Libre would be sad if they don't enjoy the meal. Kei asks him "...Why Libre?" and if Chad said it was okay to eat him. Caleb tells him it's a secret from Chad.

C: "You're a smart cookie. You can understand that some secrets are born from love."

K: "Yeah. They told us that at the church, too."

Kei follows him along to protect himself from harm, but doesn't want to hear what Caleb wants to tell him any further. Kei keeps telling himself: I don't want to hear it. I don't want to eat it. However, seeing that the marquess has already taken his knife and fork, Kei does the same. Caleb then starts mentioning that he feels the deepest love for Chad (Kei's grandfather), but explains that Chad has Anne. He tells Kei about how good of a couple they look, that their love is beautiful. Kei agrees with him. He then tells Kei that he'll be satisfied with getting Chad's love indirectly instead. Kei, very quiet, proceeds to ask if that's why he's going to eat the horse that Chad loves, and Caleb confirms it.

Kei feels he's going to throw up. His hands are shaking, and he's scared that his knife and fork will clatter against the plate and make a sound. Knowing that Caleb takes manners very seriously, Kei wants to avoid offending him and get on his bad side. Kei quickly takes tiny piece of meat into his mouth, puts his knife and fork down while squeezing his fists in his lap. He chews and tries not to vomit.

Caleb talks more of his twisted version of love, and how people in love often want to become one, and he teaches Kei to always remember that "to love is to eat". Kei wonders if everyone who talks about love is a nutcase, because he already had bad experiences with the men at the church, and now him. Kei starts to think at this very moment that "Love" is disgusting. Kei downs a whole glass of water after finally swallowing his piece of meat.

Kei then asks him something else. About how Caleb said Kei's father is with him "too". Kei starts dissociating from the moment, too shocked of what has been going on that night. Like he's not really present. Kei realizes too late that he shouldn't have asked that question. He wants to get away and run, but his body won't move. Caleb starts telling him...

Suddenly, the flashback takes an abrupt stop as Kei, in the storehouse, starts dissociating after recollecting these memories. He sinks to the floor, panting hard. Kei finally remembers something he repressed. The memory of Caleb eating Kei's father. We follow the flashback again, and Caleb tells Kei that by being with him, he is with his father as well, as he is now inside Caleb. Kei doesn't particularly feel anything upon hearing this, as he had no parents growing up. He was also taught in church that the line between what's normal and what's not is blurry.

Kei is quite calm, but starts to wonder if he's going to eat him, and Chad or Anne. Since nothing happened to the Romley's, Kei realizes Caleb has a line drawn between who he will eat or not. He tries his hardest to stay part of the second category. To do that, he remembers that the men who came to visit them, children, at the church to abuse them once every month wore a mask. With a mask on, their ranks and identity were forgotten. Kei decides to start wearing a mask to protect himself, and change everything into "a dream of pleasure".

The current Kei then recalls what Caleb had shown him in his summer cottage. What remained of his father. Blue eyes, encased in a liquid. A strand of blond hair, same color as Kei's. And something (mysterious to us readers?) that was frozen, which according to Caleb was the most delicious part. Kei kept it all a secret to not burden the Romleys with his discoveries. The current Kei still remembers the blue eyes looking at him that day, and tells them to stop looking at him. Kei struggles to breathe, and accidentally turns over a barrel near him while trying to breathe properly again.

MC hears the sound of the barrel and runs inside. Kei keeps himself from dissociating by digging his nails into his neck. MC asks Kei if he's with her mentally, and he replies with a smile that he is, that he remembered things, even if maybe not everything, and that it will be over. Kei now understands the reason he repressed these memories. Caleb's version of love. Kei's disgust of others' warmth. He had put all that on his experiences in the church and rejected that other part of his life. In his mind, he had to bury these memories because he thought Chad couldn't know this. Because he wanted to protect the Romleys. So he erased himself.

MC touches his neck, now bleeding. Kei worries that now that he remembered all of this, he will find it difficult to accept MC's touch as well. Kei however thinks of how he is able to hug her, and how he finds himself relieved in her arms. He says he's glad she's here. She strokes his hair and doesn't press him for answers. He thinks that's very her, to not ask questions about what he remembered. He thinks she's spoiling him with her kindness. Kei then tells MC about something he had kept hidden in this winery.

They go towards a hiding spot of Kei's, and after opening the inside of a barrel with a knife, Kei retrieves a leather-bond journal. This journal had been kept by Kei at the time he lived in the church. Inside, there are notes written about the enemies he had, what they did to them (the children), and when. Kei tells MC that she always does everything in the name of justice, and he says that what he's going going to do might be justice, but what he does, the fact that he wants to protect the ones he couldn't protect back then, is because of her. She seems reluctant to have Kei face his past so openly as she is scared, but after a few seconds, she tells him she has faith in him, no matter which path he chooses. That she'll walk with him.

Seeing her, Kei tells himself that no matter how many times his heart is crushed, no matter the struggles he'll have to go through, one day, he'll give her what she wants. They smile at each other, two accomplices in their work, and two lovers. One day, he wants to tell her the words she wants to hear.

Caleb in London Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: The UK)

① It’s a few weeks after the GoE team has completed their mission with Caleb. Yuzu and Kei aren’t here, so MC, Josh and Theo are having a conversation. They start talking about Kei and MC informs them that he went to the Romleys’ winery recently and found a book he kept as a child where he wrote down about anyone who wronged him and the other children at church. Josh calls it a revenge book, and adds that he didn’t know Kei kept such a book back then. MC informs them that Kei is working on finding the individuals written in the book. The talk continues and they bring up Yuzuru. Theo wonders if he’s alright and if he’s traumatized after what he experienced. MC says that Kei referred him to a psychologist and that he’s doing what he can.

They all worry about Yuzu since he hasn’t undergone psychological and physical training to work on the field. Theo mentions that since he’s their technical advisor, he’s more suited to stay at SHIBA or GoE HQ than be on the field. Josh says that Yuzu actually thinks about joining the field and start training for it, that he doesn’t want to back down after what Caleb did. MC mentions that Yuzu doesn’t like to lose, to which Theo jokingly adds “That’s Italian men for you”.

Suddenly, they hear Yuzu run and enter the HQ base, out of breath. He tells them with difficulty while trying to breathe that Caleb was chasing him through the streets of London, and that he had to run. Yuzu is angry at Caleb and downs the glass of water Josh quickly offers him. They’re all shocked to know that Caleb managed to escape from the London police and is now walking in broad daylight without caring. Theo mentions that he seems to be in good physical shape to run that many kilometers, so his training might actually go well if he undergoes it.

They all start to worry about telling Kei that Caleb is back, since he is currently experiencing dissociative amnesia and would rather avoid triggering him any further if possible. Speaking of the devil, Kei enters the base and asks why they’re saying his name. They all keep quiet and avoid his gaze. Kei tells them that whatever they’re going to tell him is fine, and he reassures them that he’s not being his 8 year-old self right now. Josh tries to find an explanation, but Theo intervenes and says that Yuzu has ran kilometers all the way here through the streets of London, as a part of his training that he has just started. Kei congratulates Yuzu, and it’s secretly decided between them to keep the information about Caleb’s new whereabouts hidden from Kei.

② Without Kei, the team gathered for an emergency meeting. They had decided to keep tabs on Caleb and gather intelligence on him by figuring out his movements pattern. They are worried that he is going to try to see Kei in person. They want to keep Kei safe psychologically from any more truth he might not remember yet, just in case. They’re also worried about Kei dissociating and becoming his 8 year-old self in public if he sees Caleb, since if it were to happen, his public image would be compromised by the media instantly and add more trouble to the table.

MC and Kei are in a park, on a bench, after she suggested to him they should take a break from work for a bit. She actually wears a earpiece and is in contact with the other GoE members, as they are observing Caleb’s movements, if he’ll come or not. Kei and MC talk and she wears a scowl on her face, which makes Kei teasingly ask her if she’s really trying to relax from work given the face she’s making. She says she’s fine and is only looking to see if the ice cream van Kei likes will come.

Kei looks at the time and says it should almost be time for the van to be here. MC is right away informed by Theo, Yuzu and Josh that Caleb is trying to buy the ice cream van as an apology gift for Kei. Josh sounds sad as he says that this van is incredibly important to Kei and him, as they had promised each other as kids they would buy an ice cream from that van in the future.

MC tells Kei she is thirsty and will get drinks, and tells him to wait for her on the bench. She walks away to communicate with the team about Kei’s location and asks them about Caleb’s. It turns out they are both in opposite directions. Not knowing if Caleb will be headed towards Kei after buying the van, MC decides to be safe and leave the park with Kei, and asks them to keep Caleb far away as long as possible. They hear that Caleb is negociating for the price of the vehicle and wants to deliver the van to the Raven, which might be a hint that he doesn’t know Kei is here at the park.

MC thinks the delivery might just be a trick that’s part of Caleb’s game, and decides to stay safe and get out of the park. She goes back to Kei and finds the excuse that it’s getting cold and asks him to go to a café instead. He agrees, and she takes his hand and starts walking but he tells her they can stay here longer. She wonders why he’s saying that, and Kei says she might want to keep tabs on Caleb. MC is shocked and asks how he knew about it since they kept it secret.

Kei says she shouldn’t underestimate the boss and that he knows what his team does. MC is actually not surprised to learn Kei knew everything. They decide to work on the intelligence gathering all together, and Kei strongly affirms that he won’t let Caleb turn the ice cream van into a bad memory. MC thinks Kei is so strong despite having gone through a psychological break, and she thinks she needs to become stronger as well alongside him.

ʏᴜᴢᴜʀᴜ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US & Japan)

① MC is at Yuzu's place cooking in the kitchen. Yuzu comes home from work and overhears her humming a song. Yuzu wonders why she particularly seems in a good mood. MC tells him to go wait at the table as she's almost done, and kisses him on the cheek. As they eat, Yuzu discovers that she cooked the kind of food he likes. Yuzu asks her if she's going to tell him what put her in such a good mood, and she announces her surprise: Victory Duck, a gift Yuzu gave to her, has been chosen as the official Mars exploratory duck.

She made it possible through an acquaintance of hers at NASA. Apparently, Victory Duck would be soon able to capture footage and take samples from Mars. By the time she announces this, Victory Duck was already on Mars. Yuzu looks at the footage through the tablet MC shows him. Yuzu thanks her as it is a lovely surprise and smiles.

② They're in Japan, and MC spends time over at Yuzu's place whenever she's free from work. MC asks Victoria if Yuzu is still working in his "secret room", to which Victoria notifies that he entered the room a bit less than a hour ago. MC then decides to get something to eat and discovers a brand of yogurt she recognizes in the fridge. It's the type Yuzu said he didn't like as a kid and decided not to buy them when he and MC were grocery shopping before.

MC mentions that he must have bought them due to nostalgia, after all. She finally hears Yuzu get out of the room, and goes to greet him. She notices that he left the door to the secret room open, and she sees a paper craft farm inside. Yuzu ends up showing to her what he was making, and explains that the yogurt labels are parts of a set. He has currently collected 42 of them.

He mentions how he never got many as a child, so he never was able to complete the set. He wanted to do it as an adult, but felt bashful about doing something so childish in front of MC. MC reassures him that it's nothing to be embarassed about. MC likes crafts as well, and asks him if she can help him put it together, Yuzu smiles and agrees, and they end up eating yogurt for the rest of their stay in Japan.

Redacted Lover: Italian School Days

(Location: Italy, Yuzuru's middle school)

① MC accompagnies Yuzuru as he was invited as the founder of SHIBA by the middle school he attended in Italy, for their homecoming celebration*. Yuzuru is giving a speech and everyone is very focused on what he says, when mostly people would not care about speeches. Knowing that this is SHIBA's CEO, the students are very interested in him. The audience applauds him once he is done speaking, and MC and Yuzu move to a classroom for a break.

(*Homecoming: the reunion of former students or members of an organization or school to celebrate said organization or school.)

MC asks him if this is the first school he attended once he came to Italy. Yuzuru explains that it was his first school and that in Italy, middle schools are from ages 11 to 14, but that he attended that school before turning 11 and went to high school before turning 13. He only stayed for about 2 years in this school. MC asks him if he's looking forward to the class reunion tomorrow, but Yuzu claims he won't be going and says that he only accepted the task of the speech to be of help to the students.

Yuzuru seems firm in his answer and furrows his brow, which makes MC think that he probably doesn't have good memories with this school. They end up leaving the school.

We then follow Yuzuru through his PoV. He remembers his past here, a country he never really felt at home. He recalls a conversation with Jun when he was younger. He got mad at Jun and told her he wouldn't go to a school in Italy, as he doesn't know any Italian. Jun responds that the best way to learn a language is to hear and speak it, that they'll teach him the language and other things, so that would be killing multiple birds with one stone.

Yuzu is still reluctant and doesn't want to go, but without a choice he starts attending the local middle school. We then witness the sad events that happen to him at school, as he gets bullied by the kids. The boys often grabbed him by the hood and stuff him in the locker. Yuzuru was quite big among the kids his age, but he was no match against these Italian middle schoolers. Being studious was seen as a negative quality by the other students.

Yuzuru remembers his school in Japan, where kids were mean to him as well. He felt lonely back there too, as he was separated from Takumi, his little brother. However, to him, it was better in Japan than here, in Italy. Suddenly, a girl named Carina rescues him from the locker. She's a popular girl from a grader higher than him. Yuzu thinks she's his ally until he discovers that she mocked him when he tried to thank her.

Everyone laughed at him when she "turned him down" and mentioned that Carina would never like someone like him, when he simply wanted to show her his gratitude. They then tied him to the basketball hoop at the gym, with the entire school watching and walking by. Yuzuru decides to get out of here as he didn't survive to end up in such a situation. He decided he would become the best physically as well, as he can't just rely on his wits for survival.

We're back with MC's PoV, and she's at Jun's looking at pictures of Yuzuru when he was a child. Jun mentions to her how she wished she could have sent Yuzu to a school for gifted children, but sadly she didn't have the money. As she hears Jun talk about Yuzu's experience, MC understands that rather than getting special treatment, Yuzu had a really hard time here and finally gets why he didn't want to go to the class reunion.

MC then goes back to the hotel she's staying at with Yuzuru. Once there, she asks him if he wants to get his revenge on his old classmates by turning up, now that he's internationally a known and respected figure. Yuzu, however, says that he doesn't see the value in that and would be left with disgust for his pettiness if he did that. MC gets what he says and thinks that they can even make fun of him for his success now. She has a hard time accepting how painful it must have been for him, but respects his feelings.

② It's the day after, and MC is reluctantly helping the school with the guests list for the homecoming celebration. It was originally Jun's task, but she asked MC to replace her since she had a business dinner she couldn't avoid. Jun is an old friend of the principal and often helps out the school with tech and art programs, so MC wanted to help Jun with this even if Yuzu told her she didn't have to.

MC notes that his classmates were all older than Yuzu, so they're now around 35 years old, which is Kei's age. MC notices that time doesn't bless everyone the same way compared to Kei (lmao girl that's savage I love you. Sorry. I broke out of my serious narrator phase. I'll be back) She understands why Yuzu wants to analyze Kei since he's like a vampire.

At that time, MC gets hit on by three guys who ask her what year she was, and someone who helps manage the event tells them she's only here to replace Jun. Hearing that name, they call Jun "Yuzuru's crazy old lady", which makes MC grateful Jun couldn't come, as she would probably have grabbed the guys by the ear and drag them behind the school if she had heard that.

A guy then puts two and two, and asks her if the reason she replaces Jun is because she's with Yuzuru. MC stays ambiguous and says she'll let them imagine whatever they want. MC came as Mia, an alias, and won't affirm she's dating him since he's a public figure. The men keep hitting on her and say she's wasting her whole self if she's with Yuzuru, and keep trying to get her to dance with them.

MC is wondering what the right move is, and as she's about to find an excuse, Yuzuru enters and ask them what they want from his partner, revealing their relationship. MC didn't expect him to come and is surprised, along with the other guys. As they see Yuzuru, they mention how tall he is now, but make a way of mentioning they know how small he used to be back then. Yuzuru replies to them in a smart and elegant way while approching, showing the big difference in height between them now.

He looks down at them. They're intimated and MC notes that Yuzuru really radiates the aura of an actually successful person, which scares them away since they can see it in person. A hierarchy forms and the guys think of an excuse to go away. MC asks Yuzuru why he came and he replies that he just felt like it. That the child in him was being asked to come. That when he's with MC, he can stand proud anywhere. Yuzuru helps MC out at the welcome desk until time to close the desk comes.

They decide to stay a little longer, and find out a dance is about to start in 10 minutes. Yuzuru goes to give his hand to MC but a woman tries to take his arm, happy to see him again. This woman is Carina. Yuzu asks her to let go of him, very displeased. Carina mentions how she's so happy to see him on TV. MC evaluates her and sees that she's a gorgeous woman. Carina asks Yuzu to dance with her, and says thzt she couldn't say it when they were kids, but that she ahd a crush on him.

MC sees that she's only saying it because Yuzu is now famous. Thinking that this woman tricked and humiliated Yuzuru before, MC thinks twisting her arm is called for. However, she decides to go away to let them dance, but Yuzu stops her. Yuzu tells the other girl that there's only one person he'll be dancing with. That there's only one woman for him. Yuzu says all of it sincerely and seeing how he has zero interest, Carina gets mad and childishly says that she's still the one everyone wants to dance with, even now. In true Yuzu fashion, he matter-of-factly replies that she can then dance with whoever she likes.

He ignores her and takes MC to the dance floor. As they dance, MC asks Yuzuru if it wouldn't have been better for him to dance with Carina, as she is the most popular girl. If he had danced with her, he would have gotten the last laugh and show everyone how successful he became. However, Yuzuru says "Objectively speaking, you're clearly the best woman". Yuzuru then explains that he doesn't need to show anyone anything of who he became. He understood that he wasn't bothered anymore with this school, that he didn't feel anything bad towards it anymore.

Other attendees are dancing, but everyone is looking at Yuzuru. Yuzuru keeps talking with MC as they dance, and Yuzu expresses his gratitude to her and whispers that he is only able to face his past because of her, as she holds his hand along the way. He realizes that while he doesn't love being here, his past troubles are now insignificant to him. That it's meaningless to carry these troubles with him.

MC says she had always wished to have a dance at school, and that she's happy to have it with Yuzuru. Yuzuru then retorts that she wouldn't have said yes to a dance with him if they were at school at the same time. She denies it and says she would have had a huge crush on him. Yuzu smiles and replies he would have probably watched her from afar. With affection, MC thinks to herself that it's pointless to compete over that, since she doesn't even know for sure who fell for the other first when they first met

Squirrel on Memory Lane Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: Japan, Yuzuru’s home & Inokashira Park + Zoo)

① Yuzuru and MC are hanging out in Yuzuru’s living room. MC gets a mail adressed to her birth name from her out of her bag. She doesn’t receive a lot of mail adressed to her actual name. Yuzuru asks her how she receives her mail since she has a particular lifestyle, and she explains that the EAC has a box for each of her aliases and birth name where she receives her mail. She explains that she often doesn’t get a lot of mail for her real name and it’s mostly junk. She finds out that this letter is from her college from when she was a student. It’s an invitation to a homecoming celebration.

Yuzuru asks her if she’ll go, since she did tell Yuzu to go to his own back in Italy. MC tells him that she probably won’t. He asks her why, and she replies that given the nature of her job and the years she’s been doing it, she finds it safer to avoid going to a gathering where there might be people she has met on missions. Therefore she prefers avoiding seeing people of the past. Yuzuru then remembers and says that he thought she didn’t talk about her visits to Ehime (where she was raised) often, and figured she just didn’t mention them, but now that he thinks about it, he asks her if she actually visited there. She replies she didn’t.

She mentions that she doesn’t even go back to her parents’ home, and only calls them from time to time, including a few video calls sometimes. However, since she doesn’t know if the calls might be traced, she tries to keep them as short as possible. While remembering these things, she remembers that before meeting Yuzuru, the only people she could open up to were Hugo and Theo. And even then, she didn’t tell them about personal things. Yuzuru tells her it must be lonely, and she agrees. Yuzuru tells her that while it’s not healthy to think this way, when they did the VR, he was a bit jealous of her school life and wished he was there to see it.

She says it’s normal to feel this way, reassuring him. And she mentions that if she had went to school with Yuzu, MC wouldn’t have let Carina do what she did to Yuzuru. Yuzuru is then reassured to know that it’s normal when you love someone to want to know more of their past and change things that made your lover sad. Yuzuru tells MC he’d like to know more of her past, if that’s okay with her. She’s surprised he wants to know but agrees to show him the areas she used to visit when she was younger, as a college student. Since Yuzuru doesn’t know what college life is like in Japan, he’s looking forward to it. They decide to make plans to visit the places the next day they have a day off.

② MC and Yuzu are hanging out together, visiting places MC often went to when she was in college. Their little tour led them to the Inokashira Park Zoo. MC explains she used to go there with her friends during the cherry blossom season. They start looking at the animals, and Yuzu stops to stare at the ducks. Seeing him, MC asks him if he likes ducks. Yuzu denies it and wants to change the subject.

Finding it odd, MC makes him confess what's on his mind, and Yuzuru tells her that Kei actually once said MC looked like a mallard duck. MC is surprised and asks Yuzu if he thinks the same. He adds that Kei said MC seems to like clothes that are the same colors of a mallard duck's head, and therefore claimed that Yuzu must like the color of mallard ducks.

MC says that she can't really claim Kei is wrong, and Yuzu reassures her that he likes the way she dresses. MC thanks him, but thinks deep down that she'll never be able to forget mallard ducks whenever she dresses now. They start walking only to stop again, as Yuzu sees squirrels. MC is happy to see their area has changed to a more natural environment, and Yuzu mentions that he noticed MC seems to really like squirrels. She confirms it and says that they're cute and don't carry diseases.

MC asks Yuzu to enter the squirrels' area, but he seems reluctant. She insists that they're safe for humans, and goes inside without noticing Yuzu furrowing his brow. Once they are in the area, MC finally notices that Yuzuru isn't comfortable. He tells her that he remembered the cage broke 10 years ago, and all the squirrels fled. They came back later once the cage was rebuilt, but there were more squirrels than before, which means there were wild ones as well.

Yuzu is scared a squirrel is wild and is going to bite him. Just when MC goes to tell him there are low chances of that happening, a squirrel stares at Yuzu, jumps on his leg to go all the way to his right ear, and bites him. It runs away soon after, and both MC and Yuzu are shocked. MC worriedly asks him if he's okay, and tells him they should get him some hand sanitizer, but Yuzu claims he has to go to a hospital.

MC thinks he's overreacting, but considers that since Yuzu grew up with limited access to medical care, it might be important for him to care for his health that much. MC apologizes to him for bringing him here, but Yuzu tells her it's okay. He says he lost this round, but that he'll have his revenge on the squirrels one day, which makes MC think Yuzu is really cool for admitting his defeat without giving up

ʙᴏss

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US, Seiichi's hideout)

① MC often goes to visit Seiichi at his new hideout whenever she isn't working. They're both hanging out in his living room when Seiichi goes onto the balcony and calls MC by the name "Akari", her old alias, and tells her to come here. MC wonders why he's suddenly calling her by that name considering she's not working but still joins him. She asks him what he wants, and he tells her he actually didn't mean to call "her". MC doesn't understand, but soon realizes a cat is coming to rub against Seiichi's feet. He was actually calling that cat "Akari" and he tells the cat it's time for dinner.

Seiichi feeds her and wears an expression of tranquility on his face, which MC had never seen before. She tells him she never pictured him as a cat person, to which he replies that in case she was wondering, he didn't adopt the cat, the cat is the one who decided she was going to live here. MC suddenly hears another cat coming from behind her, and soon a second cat joins to eat. Seiichi calls this one "Chloe", another one of MC's past aliases.

MC is surprised he called the cats by her aliases, and Seiichi says that he remembers how MC always wanted to choose her aliases herself. He also mentions that her actual name is special to him, therefore it can only belong to her. She's relieved to hear that, and mentions that she finds it a bit weird to name cats after your lover.

MC playfully asks him if she should keep rabbits and call them Nogi and Kazuya, Seiichi's own past aliases. He actually turns to her, seemingly unpleased with the suggestion and asks her if she means that. MC finds his reaction funny considering he can't take his own medicine. She's also very pleased to see that Seiichi, who always wears a poker face, is showing her this expression to her only. Seeing him, she smiles.

② MC is petting Akari's fur and feels at ease while doing so. She is thinking of Seiichi, and about how it must have been hard for him to leave the EAC and his past life as a result. She whispers to Akari to be a good companion to Seiichi. Seiichi comes back right at this time from the kitchen with a sake bottle and cups on a tray, asking "Sharing secrets?"

MC playfully replies that she's telling her secrets about him that only MC knows. He says he's curious, to which, as usual, MC replies he really doesn't look the least bit curious like he so claims. He actually tells her he really is, with a serious look on his face. They stare at each other seriously, and erupt into laughter simultaneously. MC tells him he never changes, which makes him ask her if she wants him to. SHe denies it and says him never changing is the greatest gift she could ever receive.

Hearing her say that, Seiichi says it's difficult for him to say it, but he suggests drinking sake together. MC is surprised, as he originally prefers drinking beer and asks him if he gave it up. Seiichi mentions he's grown homesick, but jokes and mentions it was simply a gift from one of his clients. They cheer and drink a cup of sake. Seiichi says he might like this occasional drink, and that it feels good to drink when he's not on a mission and smiles. MC notes that he looks very relaxed.

MC asks him if he doesn't do this kind of thing often, to which he replies he can't even remember the last time he did. He also mentions she's the only one he has drinks with. MC realizes that ever since leaving the EAC, Seiichi never had someone to relax with or open up to. Instead, he fought for justice and worked missions on his own. She hopes to help him find ease when they're together at least.

She asks him if she could make him his favorite Japanese-style rolled omelets. He says her idea sounds great, and actually tells her he had ordered jakoten, MC's own favorite dish from her hometown. MC tells him he's the best, and he sends the compliment right back at her. They had both thought of giving the other their favorite dish. They decide to give another toast of sake to celebrate their reunion and unchanging relationship. MC is joyful as she is spending time with the man she loves, eating food that she loves. They never run out of things to talk about, and keep talking about things to make up for the lost time, even after the sky grows light.

Partners in Work Again Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: The US, Seiichi's hideout)

① We are following this story through Seiichi's PoV, and MC suddenly asks him if he wants to work with the EAC. Now that MC is a boss at the agency and Seiichi an agent working in the shadows, she suggests it to him to help out with a mission through a contractor. Seiichi is surprised, and even though he thought of this possibility he didn't imagine it would become a reality.

Seiichi asks her why they need a contractor, and MC sarcastically answers that they don't have enough people, and that she wonders why that's the case, saying in a subtle way it's his fault. He tells her she should find a new person to hire, the same way he found her. She says they're working on that, but training them will take time. Seiichi playfully answers "Like it took time for you?" and she replies "No comment"

The reason why the EAC has less agents now is explained through Seiichi's thoughts. After leaving the EAC, he has taken with him the agents that had turned bad within the agency, therefore disposing of the "rot". Seiichi has been living well with the cost of leaving the agency but feels bad that MC is now in a difficult situation, now that the EAC is short on agents. He tells her he might be of help.

She understands that him working with her will depend on the conditions, with he agrees and adds that he's currently without employment. He has to hustle to earn his keep. MC shows his three fingers and asks him if that amount would do it for him. He says it depends on the job. She says it's simple intelligence gathering, which is child's play for him. He thinks that it'll depend where he'd be going undercover, but that it's a lot of money for a job like this. It's even too much according to him. He tells her that if it's really important to her, he'll do it for...

At that moment, he gently takes her hand and raises her remaining two fingers, elevating the pay for the job even higher, which makes MC's eyes widen. She says that that's a lot and ballsy of him, to which he replies he knows his worth, to which MC replies he also knows this is complicated for them. They smile as they feel each other out, as usual. Seiichi is wondering what her next move will be with this unreasonable demand, now that she's the boss.

He actually doesn't want such an enormous sum, he simply wants to see how she is developing. She says he's putting her in a difficult situation, but that's she's going to double her initial offer, therefore she's now putting up 6 fingers. She mentions that she has another condition, and boldly asks him to find something for her as well as the information.

Hearing this, he inwardly cracks a smile as he is proud of her, since she made it look like she was giving it up only to get what she really wants. He feels like he's seeing himself if he were in her position. He asks what she wants him to find, to which she says she can't tell him until they have an agreement, and he knows it. They keep feeling each other out, and MC tells her him accepting also depends on how much he trusts her.

He says that given how she looks confident, she couldn't fathom a world in which he doesn't trust her. She replies that he's the one who made her the boss, so it makes sense for him to trust her. She cups his cheek with what Seiichi describes to be her "slender little hand". He notes that when she negotiates, her tactics switch between hard and soft as he observes the way she is as the boss. He says out loud "Very interesting" as he realizes that she contructs her role of the boss partly shadowing him, and partly creating a persona of her own.

She asks him what is interesting, tilting her head with a look of innocence on her face. He's thinking that this is the only thing she'd have to work on, as otherwise he would have a lot of rivals with whom to compete (I'm guessing he's saying she's so cute she would attract many men with her behavior and look).

He finally tells her that he'd like to say yes to her proposal but that he has no interest to be involved with the EAC. He asks her if they could pretend this conversation never happened. She isn't pleased that that's his final answer, since he could have said that from the very beginning, frustrated that all her effort was for nothing. Seiichi then replis joyfully "That's the look".

She is confused of his reaction, and he thinks that she never would have let him see a look like this on her face when she worked under him. It's something he only got to see once they became lovers ocasionally. He tells her he missed that look. MC says that when she once made that face before, Kazuomi told her she looked like Seiichi.

Seiichi replies that he's honored. Her brow furrows as she doesn't get why that's an honor, while his own smile deepens in contradiction. He loves to see that an ace special agent like her sometimes shows him expressions of her human nature, and he thinks to himself that this is an expression that he loves "so very much"

② Seiichi is at his home, and opens a package of freshly roasted coffee beans that smell wonderfully. He takes an item that's slid between two cartons. This is a passport. The photograph is him, but the name is unknown. The passport will be used for his new mission. It was made by the same craftsman he used in his EAC days.

Seiichi is all ready for his new upcoming mission, except for one thing. He didn't actually replied to MC's proposal yet. Later, at night, he treats MC to coffee made with the new beans that arrived. MC says drinking this reminds her of when they used to drink coffee a lot together, and he replies that these beans are different since they have been roasted for one minute longer.

MC takes different sips but doesn't notice the difference and how he can tell there's one either. He tells her that's a shame, and shows her his fake passport. MC says the passport is a fantastic creation and asks if it was made by his usual contact, and he confirms it. She says that the craftsman has gotten even better at making them (who are they talking about?! I thought it might be Old Man Shige but maybe not since he's more of a tech guy??)

Seiichi mentions to MC that she can tell the difference between a true or fake passport, but fails to notice it with coffee. MC thanks him and shrugs. MC ends ups asking him where he's going now that he's made a passport, and he sends the question right back at her, explaining that he accepts the job she suggested.

She's surprised to learn that he only denied her request before to see a reproachful look on her face. She's relieved that he accepted, and mentions that loving him this much is going to cause "someone" a great deal of pain down the line (wait is she talking about herself or Kazuomi?!) Seiichi apologizes in a half-joking gesture as he bows a bit and calls her "boss", which makes her expression soften.

She opens her laptop and starts explaining the job to him. Her look shifts to one of a pro agent the moment the laptop turns on. She tells him he's going undercover to make contact with Dubai's royal family. The EAC has lost contact with the agent they had on the field, so his number one priority is intelligence gathering. MC wants him to dig into what happened within the royal family and to the agent.

Seiichi asks if they know if the agent is still alive. MC responds "I'd say that goes without saying" (I guess that's a way of saying that he's dead). All emotion is gone from her face as she says this. Seiichi is thinking while all agents accept their fate, this is the first time he's seen her be so businesslike about it. MC says he seems surprised, but Seiichi is simply thinking how much she's grown.

She does what needs to be done in her role as a senior agent. Seeing how professional she is has a reinvigorating effect on him. He thinks accepting the job was worth it since he got tot see her like this. Whether it's MC or anyone else at the EAC, witnessing someone show their commitment to the cause of justice is always special to him. MC ignores that he is currently moved, as she goes on with her explanation of the mission.

At this moment, he's thinking he's wrong to be so moved, as she's a senior operative at the EAC, and her boss as of now, while he's... He doesn't finish his thought, but he then tells her that maybe, he was still looking at her as a junior agent. MC stops and says she can't pretend she didn't hear that. She is upset that he might not have listenened to her at all. She looks testingly at him and he repeats the details she gave him about the mission, proving he did listen while thinking about other things.

MC smiles as she sees that he did listen and says he loves to make her job more difficult, so she wears a troubled expression but doesn't seem displeased at all. He says she resembles him in this way as well, and he can't get rid of the feeling that he raised her, seeing how alike they are.

He recalls their first time meeting, about how it was supposed to be him saving a girl that day, and it resulted in making her part of this, his, world deeply. He's thinking that there were times he have regretted that, but he now thinks that his judgement that day wasn't wrong, that her presence in this world isn't a mistake.

He tells her that she's not a junior agent anymore, and that he wants her to feel every bit the boss that she is. She replies that she does, that it comes naturally to her, as she smiles. Seiichi tells her he's happy to work with her again, and she replies that she is, as well. They give each other a firm handshake as they are happy to work together again

There you go! I hope the summaries were well explained enough. I did my best and I hope you enjoyed them just as much as me!

#revenge & challenge event #kazuomi shido #yuzuru shiba #kei soejima #seiichi setoyanagi #mk boss #masquerade kiss #masquerade kiss boss #vip event #mk #voltage inc #love 365 #otome game #voltage #love 365 find your story #otome games #voltage otome

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neerons · 1 month

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Hey, how are you?? I hope you are doing great. I love all of your masquerade kiss posts and everything else you write because you put so much effort into them. You explain the MK characters in such a deep, fascinating way that it's admirable, and I kinda miss your analysis, lol. I have a question, tho if you are interested and free to answer. What is one thing you personally hate and love about the MK mc and the LI all 4 of them and if their is anything you would like to change about the game??. Like any route incident or character trait?? I believe their is a lot to say where MK is heading personally for the characters, both good and bad, tbh I would love to know your answer. Anyways, take care and have a great day ❤️

Hey ❤️ I’m doing alright even though I’ve been sick since yesterday, thank you for asking! I hope you’re doing good as well

Thank you for these thoughtful words. You always make my days whenever you say such nice things 🥹 I’m glad if my analyses are appreciated or helpful, I try to be as faithful to the representation of the title as I can while I give my own thoughts. Telling me I do it well and in a fascinating way means so much to me, thank you again ❤️

Things I love and hate about the Masquerade Kiss characters? Anything I’d like to change about the game?

To answer your question, there are many things I love about the characters and nothing I hate, or particularly dislike. Hatred would be a big word to use and if I hated anything about the title, I would find it hard to read it to be honest. I think this title is perfect for me as it has everything I love within it, which is why I’m really passionate about it. The things that tend to be "less good" about the characters are aspects of their personality that represent their flaws, so it’s only natural to like them less, and I have to say, I think their flaws are very well chosen. Maybe I sound like a simp for the title haha, but then so be it 🤣

The Masquerade Kiss MC

What I especially love about her character is that she successfully represents what I had always hoped to see in a MC. I personally was often used to seeing MCs that, while very lovely in their own way, were very "flat" and not especially interesting with their personality. Due to the fact that writers try to make sure the readers can self insert and project onto the MCs, earlier MCs were somehow very bland, or "weak", and submissive in a bad way for the sake of the self insert and LI. With newer titles, this problem seems to be less present though!

When I say they are weak I don’t mean their physical strength by the way, but rather the fact that they are so kind they are completely selfless. I think that if done right, such a representation can be beautiful, but more often than not, I saw MCs who were so "kind" their character was being crushed by their LI and they completely lacked anything that could be relatable to most readers, if that makes sense. It was in my opinion bad writing, because it was very one sided and only served the purpose to go faster with the story to learn more about the LI.

Compared to that, the MK MC is sooo well written in my opinion. She has everything, and without any extremes. She’s an independent and capable woman with a strong and kind personality, but she doesn’t reject others or love nor does she act as a man hater (thankfully, she didn’t fall into that annoying type of feminist writing). She’s extremely strong both physically and mentally, but she can still be sensitive, cute and have her weaknesses at times. She’s all about justice and doing what’s right, but can admit her own mistakes and adapt her judgment when she sees that what she believes in isn’t always right. Despite her intelligence, she can be a bit silly especially with the right crowd. She fits in very well with the 3S’ due to that reason and is often either as exasperated as Yuzu, or takes part in all their weirdness and banter

She’s also extremely beautiful, which is a breath of fresh air for me because the amount of times that I’ve read stories where the LIs often mentioned that the MC was plain looking or ugly at first… I actually don’t think it’s bad to have an average looking or "ugly" MC, but after the other titles or games that I’ve played, it was good to finally have a MC all the LIs could basically admire and compliment like she’s a literal goddess. Especially if the reader is supposed to project onto the MC (it’s nicer to be expected to look like Venus rather than Gollum…🤣) To be honest, whenever I read titles, I always imagine the MC to look like my OC, so it hurts to see the LIs think she’s not especially pretty at first 🥹

As for what I don’t like about her, nothing really in particular, but there are things I wished I could have seen more. In her character introduction in the app, she’s described as a sort of sister figure to other women, but I’ve never seen that yet.

I’ve seen women either be friendly, or jealous, but I’ve never seen her have a sort of sisterly role towards any females. Given her career, it wouldn’t be odd for her to be admired by other fellow agents too so I kind of wish to see that. I actually really hope we can even see her actual family and have her meet her younger siblings. We had a few interactions with her parents and especially her mom, but I hope we get to meet her brother and sister as well. It would bring a lot more characterization to her.

Some people could also argue that in Kazuomi’s route, she’s often left aside to give place to Kazuomi who’s always a few steps ahead of her, and therefore her talents and character isn’t as fully explored compared to other routes. Personally that doesn’t bother me a lot, because it’s already been clear how good she is, and Kazuomi is definitely the main guy with a lot of depth to his own character, so it makes sense that it’s tougher for her to shine when she’s against him. That doesn’t remove any of her greatness. Her being the way she is is already exceptional if we take into account that a lot of other MCs never reached her level of characterization

Kei

There are many things I like about Kei. His story, first of all, which I didn’t expect to turn out this way at all the first time I’ve read his first season. Seeing his growth and changes have felt like going on a journey. If he’s potentially not interesting to read as a LI, I’d say he’s at least great to read simply for the whole character development and story building. He’s slow burn, which may not be appealing to many, but it feels worth it whenever we reach the stages we have wished to see.

I would argue that the writing of his route make him one of the best, if not the best, story among Voltage titles. I say this despite liking Kazuomi’s route the most, because I can only bow down to such a beautiful route. It’s so unique and difficult and confusing at the same time. It’s like you’re experiencing what he feels about love alongside him. He has so many sides to him that give him a lot of depth, and I didn’t expect to witness this type of character before.

His trauma and story telling is handled in a very bold way. I had never seen Voltage write such a tragic background story before. It’s not like I’ve read every title out there, but from everything I could see, it seems like MK overall is very unique. I also love his sense of humor and his playful attitude. He’s a big tease, which is perfect to enhance Kazuomi’s own playfulness and to get on Yuzu’s last nerves

Something I wish would have been different in his story however would be how Caleb was handled at the end of his arrest once they managed to stop him. I just wish it would have been more spectacular. The final fight wasn’t bad, but it could have had more impact, more spice to it in the fighting scenes ✨

Yuzu

He’s great, and so are his flaws. I always think about how his qualities and flaws are perfect combinations, he is pretty relatable and realistic. I once heard something that approximately said that, in a given trait, all our qualities have a "trap", and that these traps basically lead to our flaws. In this case, I always thought how Yuzu’s perfectionism can turn into stubbornness and lead to frustration. Just like his sensitivity is hidden and shut down by his rationality a lot of times. I think he can be very relatable, especially to those who struggle to open up and communicate their feelings, even with themselves.

I really like that he uses his knowledge about technology to face his problems, such as saying that when he and the MC argue, they have a "bug" that needs to be fixed. It’s really cute and adds to his hard working or nerdy nature. He obviously always tries to do his best and while it’s hard for him to admit it, he’s very fond of his closed ones and will always be there for them. I also love how he is intelligent in many ways. He’s not narcissistic or condescending to those who appear less intelligent than him, he always wants to do better and takes others’ opinions into consideration if they matter.

As for what I’m hoping to see in the game for him, I’d say more interactions between him and Kazuomi. Maybe due to having the same writer, it seems Yuzu and Kei are shown to be especially close but we know they all share a deep bond with different dynamics. It would be nice to see more key moments that would show the type of bond they have as well, since Yuzu is said to respect Kazu a lot in his own character introduction

Kazuomi

Of course there are way too many things I love about this man since he’s my favorite. I love how confident he is, how he always manages to stay in control of things, and how fun he can be. He’s the type of character that makes you think everything will be alright in the end. I also love that this personality he has might not be his actual one, and I’m only looking forward to seeing how he really is. He’s really mysterious at times, and his past seems to be deeply present in his mind even now. He’s the only one who is the most discreet when it comes to opening up about it, so it’s really making me curious to know what happened.

What I love the most is how good and unique his relationship with the MC is. They’re at the same time completely compatible personality-wise, and at the same time, their work make their relationship hard to operate like a normal one. I don’t especially wish anything from his route would be altered, but I’m hoping to see he and MC finally reach a sort of stability in their relationship where they can settle down without thinking that what they have might be temporary. With MC’s job and Kazuomi’s tactics that will make him reveal himself to her one day, we don’t know what will happen between them, but I’m optimistic about their future. They were basically made for each other

Seiichi

I absolutely love him, which is why I will take this opportunity to expose my love and rant about all the things I need to rant about. There are a few things that should have been explored before stopping his stories, which is why I’m mad that they decided to stop writing for him. Things such as seeing more of his older sister, who was implied to appear again to fight back against Seiichi and MC, if I remember correctly. In the end, we won’t know what she would have done if they had decided to continue more with his stories. We also needed to know more about him. About how his grandparents raised him, getting more PoVs of his past, etc…

Something that I’ve found very weird is that when you play Kazuomi’s Ultimate Vacation, you can decide to get a PoV of the Boss. If you choose it, Boss then quickly has a thought about his past, about how the island he grew up in had marijuana plantations, and then you learn that his island ended up destroyed as a result. I didn’t understand why they discontinued his story only to reveal things here and there in other routes. I don’t want breadcrumbs about him, I want the whole bakery (and I say that as a French 😡😂)

Really though, I don’t know what was the point of doing this, I love learning more about him, so it’s all fine with me, but why in Kazuomi’s route? Why make a PoV option for him when you’re only going to show a few lines about his past and then move on to Kazu’s story again? I found all this very interesting and mysterious. Maybe they couldn’t follow with his story since he was the least read of the bunch, so they decided to expose what they had planned for him in the other routes for the fans.

Maybe my only wish was that he wasn’t made out to be such a jerk to MC in Kei’s route S1. I don’t mind that he can appear as an antagonist at first, but this really seemed to have killed a lot of readers’ will to try out his route due to that, when he’s actually a great character with good morals. Lacking readers for his route is most probably the reason why they decided to stop writing for him, too.

There’s something else I wish (maybe?) could have been different in his story. There’s the fact that the EAC is, depending on the route, either depicted as controversial in their way of handling things, or as a good agency that wants to bring justice. It would have been good that in the end, MC didn’t become a senior agent for the EAC in my opinion. I was pretty disgusted by the agency to be honest. It was made clear that the EAC higher ups would have never promoted MC to a senior agent position if it weren’t for Seiichi faking his death (and we never knew why they never wanted her to become one in the end), and it was revealed later on that the EAC lacked agents after Seiichi made sure to "take care" of the agents who were rotten.

Technically, we learned that the EAC they were working for had their bad apples as well. Even if Seiichi took care of them after disappearing, I felt pretty bitter to see MC become a senior agent for the EAC when they didn’t have the intention to choose her willingly at first. And of course I was also super sad because Seiichi wasn’t here anymore, which led her to live without him for a few years before finally reuniting again. I loved their reunion, but I just felt sad that things had to turn out this way for them. I’m thinking that this ending wasn’t planned at first, and they they came up with it as a last resort to end his route earlier, because there are quite a few plot holes that were supposed to be filled later on in future stories.

Aside from that, I loved his route overall and only dislike that they treated him "badly" compared to the other LIs. He’s really mysterious which is what made me so obsessed with learning more about him at first, and then made him my second favorite. I also loved how he protected MC against the EAC when they wanted to pin her as a criminal, and how in other routes he also seems to care for her, even if it’s very subtle.

I feel like with his type of characterization, he was made for readers to interpret his acts a lot. He loves to confuse MC at times and they have this sort of banter where they won’t admit their feelings and will unmask the other, which I really love. I love that he yearns for her quietly and will only show her a fraction of it to tease her, and possibly to indulge himself too

Thank you for the ask, and sorry if my answer was long! Take care as well!! ❤️

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