world s end club персонажи
Обзор World’s End Club. На двоих не сообразили
Новый проект от известных для любителей японских игр разработчиков серий Danganronpa и Zero Escape наконец-то добрался до полного релиза. Что он из себя представляет?
После весьма спорной концовки Danganronpa V3, поставившей жирную точку в серии остросюжетных детективных игр о старшеклассниках, вынужденных убивать друг друга, создатель вселенной и всех её игр Казутака Кодака, прихватив несколько друзей, среди которых бессменный композитор серии Масафуми Такада, а также известный автор трилогии Zero Escape Котаро Учикоши, в тот момент заканчивавший работу над AI: The Somnium Files, добровольно свинтил из Spike Chunsoft и основал собственную независимую студию Too Kyo Games. Два именитых геймдиректора устали от навязываемых издателем идей и хотели создавать то, что пожелает их душа, а не заказывает издательство. Практически сразу же был анонсирован проект под кодовым именем Death March Club, позже превратившийся в World’s End Club. Игра сразу же была заявлена, как эксперимент и отхождение от привычных для геймдизайнеров канонов, ведь главными героями выступают невинные детишки, а не разнузданные старшеклассники или взрослые люди, как в других проектах Кодаки и Учикоши. Позже, в многочисленных интервью, тандем авторов неоднократно подтверждал эту идею – World’s End Club будет экспериментом, не похожим на предыдущие их игры, менее жестоким и мрачным, подходящим для людей самых разных возрастов и вкусов.
Именно это и будет основным лейтмотивом всей разработки – создать игру, в которую будет интересно играть всем. Идея, безусловно, похвальная, ведь игровая индустрия в последние годы всё больше сегрегируется, четко разделяя игры на “детские” и “взрослые”, “казуальные” и “хардкорные”, и лишь Nintendo на постоянной основе пытается делать проекты, в которые интересно играть людям всех возрастов и игровых навыков. К сожалению, на бумаге такую игру создать куда проще, чем воплотить в жизнь.
По пути к World’s End Club Кодака успел создать еще один эксперимент – посредственный FMV-детектив Death Come True, качество которого оставляло желать лучшего, что, безусловно, снизило планку ожидания и для будущей игры – первого полноценного плода творчества геймдизайнеров в паре. Кодака стал геймдиректором World’s End Club, а Учикоши – ведущим сценаристом. Разработка сопровождалась различными организационными и финансовыми сложностями, преодолеть которые помогло сотрудничество с Apple и её подписочным сервисом Apple Arcade. Первая часть игры, по сути “ранний доступ”, была доступна эксклюзивно в игровом сервисе Apple Arcade с Сентября прошлого года. Одновременно с этим, разработчики пообещали релиз полной версии весной 2021-го не только в Arcade, но и на Nintendo Switch. И, несмотря на разразившуюся после этого пандемию коронавируса, обещание своё сдержали. Полная версия World’s End Club вышла 28 Мая, причем, с переводом на русский язык в виде субтитров (очевидно, тоже благодаря Arcade, так как ни предыдущие игры геймдизайнеров, ни другие игры издателя на западе NIS America, не были замечены в наличии локализации на великий и могучий).
Это лирическое отступление было сделано, чтобы рассказать о том, кто и с какой целью создавал World’s End Club. Мне кажется, это важно для понимания того, что у этих двух талантливых людей получилось в итоге.
История рассказывает нам о группе друзей среднешкольного возраста, называющих себя “Клуб Фортуны” (в англ. локализации – Go-getters club), а под управление нам дают одного из детей – молчаливого (а как же иначе в японской игре) парнишку по имени Рейчо, который только недавно перевёлся из другой школы, но благодаря своей целеустремлённости и решительности уже завоевал звание негласного лидера Клуба Фортуны. Ребята отправляются на обычную школьную экскурсию из родного Токио на автобусе, но только выехав за черту города видят, как на Токио падает огромный метеорит. Взрывной волной их автобус переворачивает, и ребята теряют сознание.
Приходим в себя мы в заброшенном мрачном подводном парке развлечений, и практически сразу же встречаем летающее механическое существо, подозрительно похожее на робота-медведя Монокуму из Danganronpa, представляющееся именем Пиелопа. Пиелопа рассказывает, что теперь все дети участвуют в игре на выживание – у каждого надет браслет с заданием, которое надо выполнить, чтобы победить в игре. Победитель получает свободу, остальные участники – незавидную участь быть поглощенным и переваренным каким-то жутким роботом. Ситуации придаёт пикантность то, что задания на браслетах – не свои, а других участников игры, а потому, чтобы выиграть, надо хитрить, предавать или строить временные союзы. Чем детишки весьма быстро и начинают заниматься.
Но то, что начинается, как максимально типичная игра от Кодаки и Учикоши, буквально через полчаса пролога (доступного, кстати, в бесплатной демо-версии) превращается в занимательное road-movie. Клуб Фортуны в полном составе, целым и невредимым, оказывается на поверхности, и обнаруживает себя в 1200 километрах от Токио. Но и это не всё – перед ними предстаёт самый настоящий постапокалипсис: все здания и заведения заброшены, вокруг ни одного человека, а из живых существ – лишь какие-то страшные мутировавшие растения. Теперь ребятам нужно объединиться и проделать путешествие почти по всей Японии, чтобы попасть домой, а заодно узнать, что вообще произошло с миром.
Помогать в путешествии им будут супер-способности, которые постепенно открываются у каждого члена Клуба Фортуны в самые критические моменты. С этого момента нам становится доступна карта, по которой наши герои и “шагают”. Игра разделяется на три вида деятельности – Story (сюжет), Act (действия) и Camp (отдых). Основным компонентом является Story, во время которой нам показывают динамичные сцены с обилием диалогов, которые продвигают нас по сюжету. Сцены поставлены дёшево и выдают общую бюджетность проекта, тем не менее, визуальный стиль у игры подобран со вкусом – персонажи выглядят симпатично, задники довольно яркие и красивые, а периодически появляются рисованные коллажи отменного качества.
Что касается основного сюжета – здесь уже не всё так однозначно. Разумеется, в погоне за рейтингом “для всех”, в World’s End Club не происходит какой-то ультражестокости и откровенного насилия. История развивается довольно мирно, иногда даже слишком мирно, и можно сказать наивно. Некоторые сюжетные моменты завязаны на явных и откровенных условностях, что неплохо работает для детей, но режет глаза аудитории повзрослее. При этом, сюжетные “повороты” и идеи, особенно ближе к концу, могут быть слишком сложны для понимания детишкам, зато неплохо “зайдут” взрослой аудитории. И здесь раскрывается главная слабость игры, о которой я буду упоминать часто – пытаясь создать игру “для всех”, разработчики в итоге создали игру “ни для кого”. Для детей она слишком запутанная, для взрослых – слишком наивная и наполненная условностями. Если оценивать сюжет в целом – за ним интересно следить от начала и до конца, нет откровенных провисаний и недосказанностей, но потенциал у истории был куда выше, если бы авторы четко определились с тем, для кого они эту историю пишут.
Несколько раз за игру члены Клуба Фортуны разделятся во мнениях, что делать дальше, и нам предстоит сделать выбор, отправив сюжет по определенной “развилке”. Что бы мы ни выбрали, за первое прохождение мы соберём лишь половину сюжетно необходимых предметов, и это приведёт к “ложной” концовке. После открытия первой концовки нам дадут возможность перепройти все развилки, посмотрев на историю с другого ракурса и добыв недостающие предметы, и лишь тогда мы выходим на длинную финишную прямую, ведущую к истинной концовке. Этот прием знаком всем поклонникам творчества Учикоши, и в том или ином виде присутствует как в играх серии Zero Escape, так и в недавней AI: The Somnium Files. Ближе к концу сюжета, авторы, по своей любимой традиции, попытаются сломать четвертую стену, но сделают это (на мой взгляд) куда деликатнее и органичнее, чем в той же Danganronpa V3.
Переходим к части Act, которая и выступает в качестве геймплейной. Игровая механика тут представлена 2D-адвенчурой с элементами платформинга. У подконтрольных нам персонажей (чаще всего Рейчо, но периодически дают побегать и другими детьми) только одна жизнь, и любой урон приводит к надписи Game Over. При этом, чекпоинтов на уровнях огромное количество, поэтому при смерти персонажа вы воскрешаетесь практически в том же месте. Управление у игры достаточно слабое – персонажи выполняют ваши команды “неохотно”, с легкой задержкой, обладают очень странной инерцией, работающей через раз, к тому же то цепляются за края платформ, когда этого делать не надо, то не цепляются, когда должны были. Всё это вызывает определенное раздражение, но, благодаря упомянутой системе частых чекпоинтов, это раздражение не переходит границы, когда хочется просто выключить игру.
А теперь о третьей, и, пожалуй, самой сильной составляющей игры – Camp. Во время ночёвок в импровизированных лагерях нам дают пообщаться в спокойной обстановке с каждым членом Клуба Фортуны, доступным по сюжету в данный момент. Большинство диалогов написаны отменно – здесь вам и обычные детские шуточки, и милые разговоры ни о чём, и серьезные размышления, и более глубокое раскрытие характеров персонажей, которые изначально максимально архетипичны. Но и тут всплывает та самая проблема, о которой я упоминал выше, когда говорил о сюжете: герои то начинают разговаривать как самые обычные детишки, без намека на какую-либо серьёзность, то вдруг затрагивают чрезвычайно глубокие темы, такие, как принятие или непринятие вины и утраты близких людей. Такие диалоги заставят задуматься даже философов, но уж точно не вызовут эмоционального отклика у большинства детей, которые их просто не поймут. А уровень местных шуток скачет от милых и наивных, до откровенно пошлых и грязных намёков. И снова та же история – для детей игра слишком “взрослая”, для взрослых – слишком “детская”.
Вся игра сопровождается приятной и ненавязчивой музыкой. Вряд ли вы захотите после прохождения включить треки из World’s End Club в свои постоянные плейлисты и слушать отдельно, но в самой игре они ощущаются органично и хорошо дополняют происходящее на экране. Озвучка доступна на выбор японская или английская. Я играл с английской, так как мои нежные ушки не переносят язык страны восходящего солнца, и могу сказать, что английский дубляж очень неоднороден. Некоторые персонажи озвучены прекрасно, а от некоторых просто уши вянут (да, Пай, я о тебе!). Если вы не столь чувствительны – можете сразу ставить японскую озвучку, на неё вроде бы никто особо не жалуется.
Ну и сразу же стоит упомянуть перевод на русский, раз уж он тут имеется – локализация откровенно плохая и явно выполнена “на отвали”. Перевод изобилует опечатками, ошибками, “машинными” фразами и косяками, порой искажающими смысл сказанного до ровно противоположного, при этом, иногда используются жаргонизмы и мемы (когда – в тему, когда – не особо), из-за чего складывается ощущение, что локализация создавалась не профессиональными переводчиками, а не очень умелыми любителями. Тем не менее, общий смысл происходящего понять можно, и, наверное, это лучше, чем совсем ничего, тем более, что никто не мешает переключить текст на английский.
Что касается технического исполнения игры на Nintendo Switch – выглядит она, для своего бюджета, достаточно неплохо, но страдает от просадок производительности и долгих загрузок. Также, за 17 часов, что я потратил на полное прохождение, игра дважды вылетала с ошибкой. Опять же, спасают частые чекпоинты (спасибо тому, кто их придумал).
Подводя какие-то итоги, хочется посетовать, что авторы погнались за концептом “игры для всех”, и не смогли его реализовать. На мой взгляд, было бы лучше, если бы они определились, для какой аудитории World’s End Club рассчитана в первую очередь. Это помогло бы создать более цельный продукт, а не метаться из стороны в сторону. Потенциал у истории, персонажей и их взаимоотношений весьма высок, но так и остался не раскрыт до конца. Я не могу с чистой совестью рекомендовать эту игру к ознакомлению, тем более на Nintendo Switch за ценник в 2999 рублей. Если есть возможность поиграть по подписке в Apple Arcade – это, наверное, наилучший сценарий. Тем не менее, World’s End Club далеко не плохая игра, и проходил я её не без удовольствия, а потому, если вы поклонник творчества двух безусловно талантливых геймдизайнеров, создавших эту игру, можете на свой страх и риск попробовать её, приняв во внимание, что придется идти на некоторые компромиссы как в повествовании, так и в геймплее. Но вообще, конечно, лучше поиграйте в AI: The Somnium Files, если по какой-то причине пропустили её.
Danganronpa
), все они недавно образовали команду под назанием Too Kyo Games.
Сюжет:
В одной Токийской школе есть группа ребят, называемая «классом неудачников». В нём учатся дети с плохой успеваемостью, собранные со всей Японии. Этот класс состоит из Рейчо и его друзей, ребят по странному необычных в сравнении со своими одногодками.
В один летний денек, во время школьной поездки, их автобус попадает под камнепад. Очнувшись, дети оказались в парке развлечений, построенном под водой и давно заброшенном.
Из ниоткуда появляется клоун, требующий, чтобы дети приняли участие в смертельной игре, где им придется пожертвовать жизнями своих одноклассников дабы победить. Без малейшего понятия, что происходит Рейчо и его друзья оказались втянуты в бесчеловечную игру клоуна, где им теперь придётся бороться за свои жизни.
Как они поведут себя в этой безумной ситуации?
Когда все вокруг кажется безнадежным и их конец совсем близок, загадочная сила пробуждается внутри детей. А в то же время мир снаружи претерпевает значительные изменения. (переведено с официального сайта)
Слитый недавно вступительный ролик и немного геймплея (есть английские субтитры).
Персонажи:
Сэйю: Рэйна Уэда
Неофициальный лидер класса неудачников, не принимая во внимания на сколько трудна ситуация Рейчо всегда усердно старается разрешить ее. Он известен за свою физическую силу, но также за то, что всегда первым встревает в неприятные ситуации.
Его детские повадки имеют одновременно положительный и отрицательный характер, полностью лишенный негатива, он представляет из себя чистое и непорочное дитя. Также он совершенно не обращает внимания на девушек.
Pielope
Pielope
Biographical Information
Japanese Name
Rōmaji Name
Voice Actors
Japanese Voice
English Voice
Pielope (ピエロピ, Pieropi) is an antagonist of World’s End Club. It is a robotic clown mascot responsible for forcing the Go-Getters Club to play the Game of Fate.
Contents
Appearance
Pielope resembles a jester, with a black, white, red, and gold color palette. The shape of its head resembles cat ears, and two pairs of cones float behind its head. Its right eye is blue and its right eye has been replaced with a red «X» shape. Its legs are gold and detached from the rest of its body.
When Pielope returns after the Game of Fate, its body is covered in gashes, its «ears» appear to be ripped, and parts of its body are darker in color.
Personality
Pielope is always highly strung, flipping back and forth between menacing and playful, much to the annoyance of the Go-Getters Club. It often gets carried away easily, doing things its own way and is impulsive, mean-spirited, cruel, and violent. While not getting directly involved, it tries to stir things up and liven up the Game of Fate, fanning the flames and attempting to have the Go-Getters Club fight it out. Pielope appears at unexpected times just to its piece quickly before vanishing again.
History
Pielope was part of MAIK when the robot apocalypse started. Its goal is to let the Go-Getters club play the Game of Fate.
After the Game of Fate, it is a recurring antagonist and has a number of boss fights.
Once Pielope was defeated during its fight in the Panopticon, it admits that it is a part of MAIK, and that it is comprised of three personalities. It also tells the Go-Getters that MAIK is not in the panopticon, and that Vanilla is alive, as well as explaining how Vanilla survived the truck crash. It also mentions that Vanilla was being held in a facility, but shuts down before they can say anything else.
At the end of the game, it is shown to be being rebuilt alongside Reycho, so it can be assumed that it is now on good terms with the Go-Getters, and that its code was left intact when MAIK’s personality core was destroyed.
Reycho
Reycho
Biographical Information
Japanese Name
Rōmaji Name
Personal Description
School Grade
Gender
Zodiac Animal
Buddy Skill
Game of Fate
Wristband
Taskmate
Status
Voice Actors
Japanese Voice
English Voice
Contents
Appearance
Reycho has apricot skin, light brown hair with lime green highlights and golden yellow eyes with light brown shading. He wears a yellow and green cap on his head, a blue and light yellow-striped shirt with sleeves that stop just short of his wrists and have light yellow marks on the ends, dark teal shorts with golden marks on them, two blue and yellow dotted bandages on his left knee that appear to resemble a «X» symbol and blue, yellow and white trainers.
Personality
Reycho is the unofficial leader of the Go-Getter’s Club because he is a problem solver who never gives up and is always positive. He is always the first to step forward in a crisis situation — not because he is courageous, but rather because he never considers the potential risks. He is childish in both good ways and bad, completely devoid of negativity, a pure and innocent child. He is particularly oblivious about girls. [3] Despite these traits, he does not talk during the game, relying on gestures and expressions to express himself.
History
Prior to the Game of Fate
Reycho transferred to a Tokyo elementary school class in early 1995, where he became a member of the Go-Getters Club.
Game of Fate
Reycho waking up in a pod.
On July 13th, 1995, Reycho and his class took a field trip to Kamakura, but a nearby meteor impact interrupted the bus ride and caused them to lose consciousness. Reycho and his classmates later awoke in pods in an underwater theme park. As the group exchanged theories on what happened to them, they were greeted by Pielope, who explained that they were to play a Game of Fate. Each of them had a wristband with an objective another player needed to complete to win the game, and the winner’s prize was a Magic Key that could open any lock once. Reycho’s wristband had Vanilla’s Task: [Eat a marshmallow]. Pielope demonstrated what would happen to anyone who failed to complete their Task by putting a doll into the «Sludgebot,» a machine that turned its contents to sludge.
With a one hour time limit, the group began to split off. Reycho stayed behind to talk to Aniki, who offered to cooperate if they showed each other their wristbands. However, Aniki’s intention was to trick him, so Reycho left him behind. In the hallway, Nyoro suggested everyone cooperate and share information, and asked Tattsun to show his wristband. Tattsun saw his Task on Nyoro’s wristband: [Don’t show your wristband until 6 minutes before the time limit], and was eliminated from the game, having failed his Task. Aniki entered the hallway and told everyone he knew that Reycho’s Task was to touch someone on the back. Kansai, Mowchan, Jennu, and Chuko began to chase after him, hoping to take him out before he could complete his Task.
Reycho eventually got away, and met up with Vanilla and Pochi. Pochi asked Reycho to touch his back, proving that Aniki lied. Pochi also observed that the others were not themselves, possibly as a result of brainwashing. However, the three of them appeared to be thinking clearly, so Pochi suggested they all show their wristbands and cooperate. He revealed Aniki’s Task, [eliminate everyone besides yourself], on his own wristband, and Kansai’s Task, [don’t bleed until 7 minutes before the time limit], on Tattsun’s wristband. Reycho and Vanilla both refused to show their wristbands, and Vanilla ran off on her own. Reycho teamed up with Pochi to stop the others from completing their Tasks.
Reycho and Pochi encountered Chuko and Nyoro working together, but the pair ran away. Eventually, they discovered Kansai fighting with Mowchan. Kansai was attempting to stop Mowchan from completing his Task, [ride the Ferris wheel one time in the red gondola]. Reycho and Pochi shut off the Ferris wheel’s power, preventing Mowchan from completing his Task and eliminating him. Afterwards, they learned that Chuko and Nyoro had been eliminated as well and a result of their Tasks.
Reycho and Pochi continued on to discover that Pai had teamed up with Aniki. While following them, Reycho and Pochi ran into Jennu, who said that she had been attacked by Pai and Aniki, and Pai was close to completing her Task. She offered to team up with them, and together they chased down Pai in the adventure playground. When they reached the exit, Jennu and Pai revealed it was a trap. Jennu hit Reycho and Pochi with a pipe and revealed Pai’s true Task: [don’t let Jennu be eliminated until 9 minutes before time runs out]. As Jennu explained that she and Pai were working with Aniki, Kansai entered. Pai told him to run, worried that Jennu would complete her own Task: [take Reycho and Kansai’s hats]. Reycho pushed Kansai out of the way before Jennu could strike, but in doing so, Kansai scratched his arm. He was bleeding, so he was eliminated, causing Jennu and Pai to be eliminated as well. To Pochi’s surprise, he was eliminated after all three of them, leaving Reycho alone.
Reycho hugging Aniki to win the game.
Reycho picked up Pai’s wristband, with his true Task on it: [hug one of the boys before 10 minutes to the time limit]. On his way to confront Aniki, Pielope appeared to taunt Reycho, and explained that Pochi was eliminated because his Task was to [ride the dolphin bicycle together with Pai]. Reycho met up with Vanilla, and they watched as earthquakes began to crack the glass around the park. When Aniki arrived, Reycho revealed that he had learned his Task. Aniki ran off, hoping to outrun Reycho until 10 minutes remained, but Reycho trapped him by raising the drawbridge and hugged him, eliminating Aniki from the game.
Pielope announced that Reycho had won the game, and gave him the Magic Key as his prize. Before he could escape, Vanilla appeared and pointed out that the Sludgebot’s belly had a keyhole, meaning the key would work on it. Vanilla believed their classmates were still alive inside its belly, and implored Reycho to free them. Despite Pielope’s insistence, Reycho opened the Sludgebot, revealing that everyone was safe. They all seemed to be back to normal, and Aniki apologized to Reycho. Pielope revealed that brainwashing would wear off under life-threatening conditions, and began to announce a «Round 2» of the game, since Reycho had chosen not to escape.
Reycho preparing to throw the helmet.
Pai interrupted Pielope with a kick, and announced that the game was cancelled, according to its mastermind. Before she could reveal the mastermind’s identity, however, another earthquake shook the park, causing a large diver’s helmet to fall onto her and knock her unconscious. Another earthquake cracked more of the glass walls. As the group panicked, Reycho stepped forward and unleashed his powerful throwing ability, throwing the helmet to knock down a submarine hanging from the ceiling. He guided everyone into the submarine and they successfully escaped the flooding theme park.
Kagoshima
Reycho seeing the floating «X» in the sky.
Reycho and the others made it aboveground, where he saw a number of large X-shaped objects in the sky. The nearby city appeared to be run down and overgrown with plant life, and the Go-Getters Club discovered they were in Kagoshima, 1200 kilometers from their home city, Tokyo. Pochi wondered if the mastermind would know how they got there, but Pai said she had forgotten the mastermind’s identity. With no other leads, everyone split into teams to search. Reycho teamed up with Pochi, Vanilla, and Mowchan, and headed north.
As Reycho’s team set off, they noticed movement in the grass and decided to chase after it. Reycho’s newly awakened throwing power, «Big Leaguer,» allowed him to help clear obstacles along the way and fight off monstrous plant-like creatures with rocks. Eventually, their search led them to a mango tree, and Mowchan stopped to pick fruit from it. Reycho and the others began to move on without him, but discovered that they had lost track of Mowchan, and went back to look for him.
As they searched for Mowchan, Reycho encountered creatures resembling Venus flytraps that he was able to subdue by tossing them fruit. After some time, the shape that had been moving in the grass before revealed itself to be a dog-like creature. It began chasing Reycho, Vanilla, and Pochi back the way they came, eventually corning them. Reycho stepped forward to protect them, but before it could attack, Mowchan rushed in to save them, awakening his own ability and turning to iron. The dog, unable to bite through metal, turned tail and ran away.
The Go-Getters Club setting out for Tokyo.
Reycho, Vanilla, and Pochi thanked Mowchan for saving them, and learned that he had gone in search of peaches. He said that the peach was a symbol of good luck, and it was a sign they would get back to Tokyo. The four of them regrouped with the others, and learned that there were no signs of life anywhere, and the others had encountered monsters as well. They wondered what happened to Tokyo, and Reycho encouraged the group to walk there to find out. They set up camp for the night and planned to set out in the morning.
The floating X in the sky.
At camp that night, Tattsun revealed that he had found radio transceivers for everyone to use on their trip, and gave them to Reycho to distribute. Kansai, angry that Tattsun was treating Reycho as the group’s leader, accused Reycho of being the mastermind behind the Game of Fate. The rest of the group discouraged him from distrusting others, though Kansai still insisted he was the leader. Kansai was soon interrupted by a purple glow appeared from above, belonging to the floating «X» in the sky from the previous day. As they talked about it, Reycho, Vanilla, Pochi, and Pai realized none of the others could see it.
The next day, July 14th, everyone argued about where to go next. Some wanted to go to Oita, which was the fastest route to Tokyo, but others argued for Fukuoka, as it was a large city with a greater chance of finding other people. They were unable to decide, so they put it to a vote: Kansai, Chuko, Nyoro, and Tattsun voted for Fukuoka, while Jennu, Pai, Mowchan, and Vanilla voted for Oita. They turned to Reycho, who made his choice.
Fukuoka (Upper Route)
Reycho chose to go to Fukuoka. After Reycho gave his vote, Aniki voted for Oita, and Nyoro convinced Pochi to vote for Fukuoka as well. Despite the numbers, both groups were still determined to go to their respective destinations. The Fukuoka group took off, despite Vanilla’s protests.
By July 24th, the group reached Fukuoka. However, they were unable to find anyone, so they continued east, and Kansai led them through the mountains. On July 31st, in the Yamaguchi area, the group was surprised by snow in the middle of summer. As they watched the sky, a girl began floating down to Earth with the snow. Kansai caught her, after she woke up, everyone introduced themselves to her. The girl realized she could not remember anything, including her name or where she came from. Since she had nowhere to go, the group offered to take her along with them, despite Chuko’s protests that she was suspicious.
An icicle about to fall.
Everyone continued along to avoid the snow, but Chuko and Kansai began bickering. The girl tried to calm them both down, but Chuko told her to stay out of it, since she did not see her as part of the group. Kansai suggested calling the girl «Yuki,» since she fell from the sky like snow. The group continued to move on, but Pochi and Chuko stayed behind. Chuko ran to catch up after some time, but as soon as she did, she noticed a large icicle about to fall onto them. Chuko realized there was no time and suddenly awakened her ability to breathe fire, melting the icicle before it could hurt Reycho or the others. The others were shocked, and compared Chuko’s awakening to Reycho and Mowchan’s. After thanking her for saving them, they realized Pochi had gone missing. When Nyoro’s attempt to contact Pochi via walkie-talkie was met with silence, everyone split up to look for him.
Yuki followed Reycho and Chuko, who searched the icy mountaintop for Pochi, chasing the sound of his voice. Eventually, they were met by a large mass of snow blocking their path. Pochi’s voice came from beyond it, so Yuki suggested Chuko melt it with her new power. When Chuko failed, Yuki suggested she needed something to «start the fire.» Chuko realized the Karamucho chips were her «fuel,» and used them to clear a path. They continued on, and Chuko and Reycho used their abilities in tandem to deal with snowmen and obstacles blocking their path. They caught up with Pochi and found that he had been captured by a Yeti. Yuki tried to reason with the Yeti, to no avail. She realized there was nothing she could do, and asked Reycho and Chuko to do their best to save Pochi. Reycho defeated the Yeti by throwing ice to knock it unconscious.
As Reycho and Chuko reunited with Pochi, they watched an ever bigger Yeti carry off Yuki. Determined to save her, they ran ahead, defeating more snowmen and bird-like monsters along their path. When they caught up with Yuki, she begged them to run and save themselves, as she was never part of the group. Chuko insisted on saving her, and Reycho used his throwing ability to defeat the Yeti. Yuki thanked them for saving her, and they made their way back to Kansai, Tattsun, and Nyoro. When Yuki got back to the others, she realized she had remembered something. Before she fell from the sky, she had wanted friends, so she asked Chuko if she would be her friend. Chuko responded with a thumbs-up, unanimously making Yuki a member of the Go-Getters Club.
At nightfall, Reycho and the others heard Aniki’s voice from the transceiver. Aniki let them know that they were crossing over to Shikoku and arriving in Ehime soon. Despite Kansai’s frustration that the others had split from them, everyone agreed to head for Ehime and meet up with everyone.
On August 7th, the group arrived in Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. Since it was getting late, they agreed to set up camp for the night and cross over to Shikoku in the morning. Before nightfall, everyone gathered to talk to Reycho.
An earthquake happened just as Tattsun and Reycho began their conversation. Tattsun began to speculate about an «earthquake swarm» that had started five years prior. According to one theory, the earthquakes were caused by a country developing an «earthquake weapon.» The earthquakes had caused widespread damage throughout the country, including the death of Jennu’s older sister. Tattsun wondered if the earthquakes were connected to the disappearance of everyone else.
Chuko expressed her frustration at Kansai inviting Yuki to go look for oysters on the beach, instead of inviting everyone. She said that while Kansai claimed to be the leader of the Go-Getters Club, he was nothing like Niyan, the mentor he looked up to. Chuko explained that Niyan was the coach of Kansai’s baseball team, and she had gone to see them play sometimes.
Kansai was frustrated about having to chase after Aniki and the others. Since Reycho was a transfer student, Kansai explained that Aniki used to be nice and act like a big brother to everyone, but he changed after something bad happened one year ago. Kansai decided not to elaborate, as thinking about it was too painful.
Nyoro commented on the beautiful view, and wished she could share it with her father, who loved to travel. She had fond memories of going places with him, but one day, he had stopped setting foot outside his office. Nyoro explained that her father was a scientist, and she was unsure if he was still alive.
Eventually, everyone agreed to set up camp. Before they left, Pochi asked the others if they could see the «X» shape in the sky, but they were confused. Since Yuki was unable to see it, Pochi thought it must not have anything to do with where she came from. After Kansai, Chuko, and Nyoro left, Yuki realized that the «X» had reminded her of something. She showed Reycho, Pochi, and Tattsun a note with «X = 12» written on it, but none of them could make sense of it.
At camp that night, Pochi and Reycho discussed what Yuki’s note might mean. Pochi thought that the X might be referencing the «X» in the sky, and 12 could mean the Go-Getters Club, since they now had 12 members. Another earthquake struck, and Chuko wondered if a huge earthquake happened while they had been asleep in the amusement park, causing everyone to evacuate to another country. However, since the town was not destroyed, she decided that explanation would not make much sense. Tattsun then gathered everyone to share something he discovered. When he tried using the transceiver to communicate with the group in Oita, he picked up a few adult voices talking about food, meaning there were still people out there.
On August 14th, Reycho and the others arrived at Shikoku, where they started searching for the source of the radio signal in Ehime. While walking through a forest, they were interrupted by an adult wearing a mask. The group was excited to see another human, and the man seemed relieved that there had been other survivors, and asked them to come along to meet his Master.
While following the man, they ran into the remaining members of the Go-Getters Club: Aniki, Jennu, Mowchan, Vanilla, and Pai. Everyone was relieved to see each other safe, and recounted some of their experiences. They also introduced Yuki to the others who had not met her yet.
Oita (Lower Route)
Reycho chose to go to Oita. After Reycho gave his vote, Aniki voted for Oita, and Nyoro convinced Pochi to vote for Fukuoka. Despite the numbers, both groups were still determined to go to their respective destinations. The Fukuoka group took off, despite Vanilla’s protests.
The group arrived in Oita on July 31st. Aniki complained about Mowchan slowing them down, who apologized and explained that he was carrying a lot of food. The others reassured Mowchan, and they headed into the city. The streets were desolate and overgrown, and Aniki suggested darkly that everyone in Oita may have been eaten up by the same huge plants they saw in Kagoshima. Jennu scolded him for being insensitive, as Oita was Pai’s hometown. Aniki quickly apologized but Pai shrugged it off, since her family had moved to Tokyo.
Jennu showing a roly-poly to Reycho and Mowchan.
The group decided to split into teams to make exploration easier; Mowchan with Reycho, Jennu with Pai, and Aniki with Vanilla. Shortly after the teams set off, Mowchan and Reycho heard Pai scream in the distance. They rushed off to find out what happened and met back up with Jennu, who explained that Pai had been captured by a giant roly-poly. Mowchan used his ability to turn into iron to stop the roly-poly, but the impact sent Pai flying off far away. The three set off to track down Pai, and thanks to Mowchan’s ability, they were able to clear the road of any other roly-polys. Eventually, they found Pai in the mountains. She thanked them all for rescuing her, and showed them a cell phone she picked up along the way. Another roly-poly interrupted the reunion, chasing them into a nearby cave. Mowchan guided everyone through the geysers and lava inside the cave, and they made it out safely on the other side.
By the time Reycho and the others regrouped with Aniki and Vanilla it was already evening, and Aniki said that while they could not find any people, they did find a secret hot spring. Everyone spent the rest of the day relaxing in the hot spring.
Later, the group set up camp for the night. At camp, everyone reminisced about the Fukuoka group, and admitted that the Go-Getters Club felt incomplete without them. Aniki tried to contact them through a transceiver, and explained that they were going to head to Ehime next. Since the transceivers operated on a shortwave band, there was a chance that the others could hear Aniki’s message. Jennu also showed the others the cell phone Pai found. Aniki looked at the phone and realized that the year displayed on the phone was different: the bus crash was in 1995, but the phone screen read «1996.»
The following morning, Reycho and the others set off for Ehime. While walking through Shikoku, they wondered about the date on the phone screen. Jennu suggested that they might have been asleep in the pods for a long time. Pai wondered if it was cold sleep, and thought Reycho and Mowchan’s seemingly inhuman powers meant they were turned into cyborgs. They also discussed the possibility of others having similar powers.
As they continued walking, they ran into an adult wearing a mask. The group were initially shocked at the sight of him, but quickly rejoiced and cheered at seeing another human. The man seemed relieved that there had been other survivors, and asked them to come along to meet his Master.
While following the man, they ran into the remaining members of the Go-Getters Club: Kansai, Tattsun, Nyoro, Pochi, and Chuko, as well as a girl they had never met before. Everyone was relieved to see each other safe, and recounted some of their experiences. The Fukuoka group introduced the girl, named Yuki, to the others. Once they were done talking, the man took everyone to see Master.
Powers and Abilities
Buddy Skill
Reycho’s Buddy Skill, Big League Pitcher (ダイリーグボール, Dai rīgu bōru, lit. «Major League Ball») allows him to pick up and throw any item to great heights or distances. He is capable of lifting extremely heavy items with little difficulty, such as a large diver’s helmet or Mowchan in his iron form. Reycho’s throwing ability allows him to combat larger enemies or knock down items hanging high above.