In speaking of Jun/ko, is anyone in favour of cruel mercy? Suppose somehow someway, Jun/ko manages to overcome the Jigoku and regain their sanity, if the MC has the chance to kill them, would your MC do it?
Fall out of the decision is up to you guys, since this is incredibly speculative at this point
I thought Cruel Mercy would mean letting her live after a humiliating defeat?
Hence why I was asking if anyone was in favour of it. The second sentence was a complimentary quantifier rather than a synonymous one 
Personally, I would like to let Jun/ko live after total defeat but idk how that would be satisfying and possible the way things are going
It would honestly depend on what Jun/ko was like before falling to Senseiās technique. Itās implied that they used to be tremendously less insane so much as reckless and bloodthirsty. In short, an Impulsive and Brutal MC. Maybe future flashbacks will make the deciscion easier to make. Who knows? Either way, Iām hoping for one hell of a rematch.
If we have such option, letting them live is much crueler than killing them especially if they have shown remorse. Like Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin, it haunted him and it was quite hard to bear. If he didnāt met Kaoru and the rest of the gang , it probably haunted until his dying breath.
But letting them live would also shown that anyone has a chance to start over if they are brave enough to do so and if possible, there would be someone to guide them to do so especially since they grew up in a violent environment.
Meh, Iād kill that SOB in a heartbeat when presented with a chance. But then again, Iāve always thought that sparing your targets in Dishonored is a fate worse than deathā¦except for Daud, the guy deserved to live after the DLCs (also, never played 2 yet, so I dunno what really happened to Daud, or if sparing is still Cruel mercy).
Buuut, if Jun/ko pulls a Prodigy on us (meaning, showing us that they deserve to be forgiven after all their sins via backstory or true repentance or whatever) then Iām all up for saving them, and even rehabilitate them to be a better person. Plus, their romance arc would be a lot sweeter.
Then again, Azula in ATLA went back to her crazy ways in the comics, despite her brotherās effortsā¦
Maybe weāll get flashbacks to a much more amiable Junko, fall in love with that version and then anguish at what they have become and have old feelings resurface. Iād still kill them of course.
Ooooh answers so far are interesting
Personally, I kinda like the idea though of Jun/ko slowly becoming sane enough to realize how far theyāve fallen before deciding that they donāt in fact deserve a second chance. And as the audience, we get to see flashbacks of maybe a time when they werenāt so possessive and abusive (frankly speaking) so the decision weighs more heavily on us
And this culminates in a rather painful duel between MC and them ā kinda like Zuko vs Azula in ATLA
(And in my case, Iād like for them to live. Just to grapple with the consequences)
Buuuuuut if that doesnāt happen and weāre dealing with the current Jun/ko being the same by the end, I really want a badass premortem one-liner to show how furious the MC is at them.
I agree with all of this. I played the same way as you, and I honestly just want to make Toshio mine already. Well, kindaā¦ Iām torn between Toshio and Masashi because I have a soft spot for the kid, but Toshioās just gotā¦ something!!! One of my only perverted actions in Book 1? Asking Toshio if he was single~:heart:
That ship needs to freaking SAIL.
Geezums! Itās really nice seeing this thread so alive! Iām champing at the bit to see Book 3! I love me some mysteries, and mystery solving. Iād also like to find out a little more about Sakikoā¦ yāknow, other than the fact that I found her husbandās corpse while wearing her kimono. Shudder
But, I also want to see how our relationships evolve too. And Iāll be using the terms that I know them by, so Iām sorry if you had female love interests and are used to their names.
I feel like weāve been knocked back a few squares with Hatch, even though I was VERY NICE in my rejection of Momo-chan thank you very much, so I really hope we can work on mending that wound. Seriously, Hachirobei, Masa-chan and I worked so hard to make that date go well!
Speaking of, more bonding time with the charge would be so appreciated. I made Kuriko very protective of Masashi. Forget the emperor, Masashi comes before any demons, got that?! So, it felt a little out of character to spend so much time NOT with Masashi. Plus, Iām kind of cheering for the kid. It may be a little uncomfortable for some people, but I kind of want Masashi to win Kurikoās heart. Maybe level up from ākidāā¦? Actually, thereās a lot I want for Masashi, but I already have a lot more I want to say so moving on!
Toshio! Sweet, loyal, stoic, pragmatic Toshioā¦ considering they keep to themselves so much, Iām really excited to see some interaction. Iād like to see them grow somewhat closer to Ronin-san. I feel like Toshio could use some friends, and after literally being rained on in Book 2, I think they deserve some love.
Junā¦ can stay gone for a little longer. Even though theyāre probably still stalking us, Iād like them to remain a lingering thought for a while longer so I can establish new relationships! ā¦that they will ultimately try to destroy when they see weāre growing closer to other people. Possessions only need the attention of their owner. Freaking Junā¦ still low-key kind of love them. Not romantically, but I find their character incredibly interesting and freaking love it. They can stay the hell away from my romance options,
thank you!
What was the poetās name againā¦? Basho? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME GODS BE DAMNED WORDS, MY FRIEND. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WORDS.
While I like our roster at the moment, Iād also kind of like to see some interaction with more outsiders, even if theyāre only temporary fixtures or pop up again if we make certain choices. Like that grandma lady that did our hair! Thatād be funā¦
Didnāt say anything about Momoko because I donāt think sheāll be back for a while. Maybe at the end of Book 3 at the absolute earliest.
The protagonistās past is also something that Iām pretty sure everyone wants a little more insight into.
I mean, why wouldnāt you be? We get a few juicy details tossed to us behind certain choices and such, but still. A little more would be much appreciated! I think itās good to leave a fair amount up to our imagination and interpretation, so we can feel we have our own character here rather than one from a template, but a little bit to fill it out doesnāt hurt~:heart:
Maybe Toshio feels like giving us a little therapy so the Jigoku Itto Ryu doesnāt get out of hand? So they have us talk about our past and we play through it? Like in Sally Face? That would be fun~
Not necessarily just our backgroundsā¦ but a few more looks into the backgrounds of our companions? Who knows? Maybe Masashiās background isnāt as cookie cutter as we expect? I mean, it probably is but mehā¦ Hatchās would probably be what we expect too, but Toshio and Momoko? Iād like to learn more about both of them! Also, just because Iām the kind of person that reads up on convicted or deceased serial killers in her spare time, maybe a little more knowledge of Jun? What they were like while we were apart and all that juicy stuff~?
But! Just so no-one wants to skewer me, these are just rambling thoughtsā¦ Iām not trying to tell our beloved author how to write their stories. Imagine what would happen if authors took their fans suggestions too seriously? Shudders
Anywayā¦ long story short, I am incredibly hyped for all the potential awesomeness awaiting us in Book 3. Well, so long as sweet @MultipleChoice is enjoy themselves with this project. My heart would break if they were working on something they donāt love. 
P.S. I will probably be drawing fanartā¦ not the best quality, but hey. 
Tbh I wonāt be able to see Masashi as more than a baby bro/charge/mentee. Precisely because heās a kid for the most part ā like personal headcanon for his vague age is that heās roughly 12 in book one, and itās not that big of a stretch considering Genji from The Tale of Genji was roughly a pre-teen/early teen when he first got married
So discomfort doesnāt quite cover how squicky the pairing is for me (even if setting makes it plausible)
Iāll just be team Toshio all the way as far as LIās go
On book three speculations though: I do feel weāll have maybe a psychological chap for the MC where somewhere in their mind they have a āconversationā (real or imagined) with Jun/ko that affects MCās relationships by having them doubt the validity
Like MC feels they are unworthy of the team, because they just keep getting hurt because of them. Jun/ko was right about them not deserving love and what not (twisting it perhaps for MC to grapple with the idea that Jun/ko might be the only person who /can/ love them)
Etc
Book 1 was nice, I was trying to go for team momo, because i hated tosh and and Masami is 12 and the Ronin is at least 25. Than Book 2: Well I hate hatch and momo too now. I hope book 3 introduces some cool characters.
Is Toshie a RO? Because i have had no options to develop a relationship or anything?!
Not in this game, maybe in the next one she will be.
I feel like this game gives me plenty of choice over my actions but not enough over my feelings. It just sees that i am charming/stoic/perveted/chivalrous and just assumes my thoughts and feelings. Apart from that i love it, especially the shogi tournament. This is one of the few games where it tests me on my memory. Like, i was stumped when it asked me what name the poet was!
One of my theories why Toshi/e is not a RO yet because of their personality. They might not be the type who easily fall in love. At first I was disappointed but thinking it over, this might be the case but I am hoping we could āwooā them on book three.
When you make an account just so you can comment on how amazing SoH is! I finished both books today and am now in much need of sleep hueh. Tried to pace my reading at least till there was some news on the third book, but nope, I read this series in one sitting like the bloody caveman I am. Consider me hooked, emotionally invested, and mind spinning with all the conspiracies and speculations of what could happen in the next book. For now though, Iām gonna go pass out and digest everything Iāve just read :))
Iām fairly certain that out of all the theories regarding the slowburn for Toshi is because of his personality is probably the most likely canon one/canon compliant? I mean, it makes the most sense so far ā based on what weāve seen.
Iām excited though to see more of the team step up. Like as much as the MC can kick ass, it would be nice to see how they also do their part in protecting each other and generally gelling as a team (and maybe as a family? idk, am a sucker for found families)
[I know Momoko had her badass moment in Book One, and Toshi is trying his best to hold up in Book Two ā which is pretty badass all things considered ā but I mean this in like everyone protecting and supporting each other like PLEASE]
Hey guys Iām thinking of drawing my MC. Should I? Cant really guarantee itāll be good. 
Do it, hun. All fanart is welcome fanart, Iām sure.
Ok I did it! It took two hours and itās 2 am but I did it! Iāve made progressive pics with of course the final piece at the end. Iām actually proud of myself; I thought I wouldāve fucked something up really badly. It came out better than I thought! (Psst. Does anyone know how to condense the pictures in the summary thing?)
Stage #1:
Stage #2:
Final (Tada!):
Name: Akane (meaning: deep red); Female.
Impulsive, Perverted, Charming, Drifter, and Brutal.
Spirit: Snow Monkey; Interested in men.
