History VisualNovel / AkaiIto

* CatSmile: Nozomi gives these all the time, with Kei comparing her to an evil kitten.

->''"This summer, I lost my mother—the only family I had left… I took a long train ride to see my family home, which I inherited from my father.I had a strange dream—a red memory I was unable to recall. There was a kaleidoscope of shining blue butterflies flying about, and a familiar person with sad eyes. My birthplace, Hemidzuka. It is there I will meet someone, and there I will part from someone. Past and present, dream and reality, my memories and my blood… The threads of fate will intertwine and twist together to form a single picture''…'''The wheel of fate is about to turn."'''
-->--'''Opening Narration'''

''Akai Ito'' (''アカイイト''), known in English as ''Red Strings'' (referencing the legendary strings of fate) is a {{visual novel}} created in 2004 by Creator/{{Success}} and is essentially a supernatural horror adventure with some GirlsLove and mystery elements thrown in.

* LifeMeter: Kei's blood. There is no way to recover it in-game, since the game only take 4 days. [[spoiler: Guess what Kei must do to save Yumei.]]

%%* LittleBitBeastly: [[spoiler: Tsudura in her werefox form.]]

%%* MagicMirror

* {{Miko}}: Uduki, even though she normally doesn't wear Miko attire. Kei seems to have a... wanting to see her in one.

* MissingTime: The result of LaserGuidedAmnesia, above. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d.
* MsExposition: Tsudura, Sakuya, and Uzuki each get their turn. Sometimes all of them at the same time.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Tsudura [[spoiler: disappears into the forest after she realizes how much she hurt Kei while in werefox-mode]], while Uzuki [[spoiler: is DrivenToSuicide after accidentally killing Kei]].
* MysteriousWaif: Yumei.

* TheNoseKnows: Tsudura gains super(-natural) scent ability[[spoiler: in werefox form, after fusing with Obana.]]

* OurSoulsAreDifferent: The Wake-Mitama houses a part of Nushi's divine soul. In most route, the Wake-Mitama is inside the Ryugetsu, [[SealedEvilInACan which is sealed since long time ago]]. Nushi can manipulate those who gets too close to his Wake-Mitama into freeing his true soul. Works both way too: those who wield the Wake-Mitama can harm Nushi more easily... [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu if they are of sufficient power]].

** Weaknesses: Nozomi and Mikage can only appear during the night, while Yumei can appear anytime.

* RestoredMyFaithInHumanity: Kei, for Tsudura. [[spoiler: It doesn't stick, and Tsudura returns to her [[{{Masquerade}} world of the onikiri]]. Unless you get her Happy Ending, in which Kei remembers everything when Tsudura pass near her.]]

* SaveTheDayTurnAway: Even though Tsudura [[spoiler:has become a very powerful onikiri, eliminated the threat of Nushi-sama (''before it can even start''), saved Kei from very certain death, helped Ohashira-sama AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, and most importantly, found a person she need not be paranoid of, she can't be together with Kei because doing so will endanger Kei]]. [[TearJerker She does regret it]].

* SuperMode: [[spoiler:Sakuya, who morph into a near-human form whenever she drink Kei's blood. There's a level 2 of it, that's when she use Ragou. And then there is a level 3 of it, seen only in the Onikiri no Oni ending... maybe because she drinks Kei's blood all the time.]]

* TraumaInducedAmnesia: Even Yumei-san beg to Kei to not remember things from her past. For good reason.

Besides its haunting and melancholic atmosphere, the visual novel is well-known for its [[NintendoHard difficulty]] (as is its sister-game, ''Aoishiro'') with ''dozens'' of bad endings one can get.

It has an in-direct sequel of sorts called ''VisualNovel/AoiShiro''. While not following the same story, or having the same characters, it takes place in the same universe and many elements from Akai Ito, both story and 'gameplay', return. Sakuya gets a cameo in the UpdatedRerelease PC version of the game.

A Remastered "HD" version of the game is set to be released on May 25th 2023, on Nintendo Switch and Steam (the very first time the game will be available outside the Playstation 2), alongside its younger "sister-game" Aoi Shiro. The remastered version of the game will also offer a full English subtitle option for the first time.

* BeastMan: Sakuya is big, has CuteLittleFangs, and has an animalistic aura about her. [[spoiler:When she drinks Kei's blood or uses Ragou, she is a shade removed from being a werewolf. And then, in the Onikiri no Oni ending, she become an actual oni.]]
* BeautifulDreamer: Inverted. It's Kei who is seen sleeping by [[spoiler:Uzuki and Yumei]], in their respective route. For the former, it's the result of the ButThouMust, below. Because of this, fandom often depicts Uzuki as a creepy stalker.

* BloodyHilarious: Kei just keep on feeding Yumei during the later's route. ''Affectionately''. While being watched and commented by Sakuya and Tsudura. The game even make a small sub-screen during the CG to display them commenting!

* ButThouMust: After Uduki [[PostVictoryCollapse over-exerts herself]] chasing away Nozomi and Mikage, Kei bring her to her room. ThereIsOnlyOneBed. "Option 1: Sleep next to her." "Option 2: Sleep next to her." "Option 3: Sleep next to her." [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]].

* DistantFinale: The "Onikiri no Oni" ending, where [[spoiler: many, many years have passed before we see Oni!Kei and Oni Sakuya fighting yet another Nushi cultists.]]

* IntrepidReporter: Sakuya, whose job is a reporter/writer/photographer. Her field of specialty is folklores, occasionally branching to the occults. [[spoiler: That she herself is a [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld supernatural]] is a huge advantage.]]
* InvisibleToNormals: Yumei, and the Oni twins can mask there presence from those unconnected to the supernatural world.

* KnightTemplar: The onikiri (exorcists) are very prone to this. The tenet of the Senba is basically "if it's an oni, it should die. No exception". Just how far Uzuki is willing to carry this creed vary between routes. [[spoiler:The Wakasugi have wiped out all of the Mizuki Tribe save for Sakuya, even though they were protecting the Seal of Nushi.]]

* {{Leitmotif}}: "Itsuka no Hikari" for [[BigGood Yumei]], and "Utakata" for [[BigBad Nushi]], both of which were later made into full-fledged {{Image Song}}.
* LesbianVampire: While none of the characters are vampires and more like oni, their drinking Kei's blood definitely invokes this image. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]], too, with Kei comparing [[spoiler:Sakuya to ''Dracula'', when the Sakuya need blood for her power, to save both of them out of a cliffhanger situation]].

* MissingTime: The result of LaserGuidedAmnesia, above. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]].

* [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen She Who Must Not Be Seen]]: Youko-chan, Kei's friend at the school. Also, Kei's ''father'' in the flashback; which is [[JustForFun/{{Egregious}} egregious]] because every other significant male character (except Senba Akira) was seen.

* UpdatedReRelease: Akai Ito Remastered, which offers a massive upscale in visuals, alongside the option to play it in English.

* MayflyDecemberRomance: [[spoiler: Sakuya with Emiko, who was Kei's grandmother. And in her Happy Ending, with Kei. Averted in her Onikiri no Oni ending, in which Kei herself [[EmergencyTransformation become something that is not human]].]]

* OedipusComplex: [[spoiler:Want to know who amongst the romanceable characters Kei is most attached to? [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Yumei-san]]. She says that Yumei is like a mother and a big sister to her. Doesn't stop her from wanting to live with Yumei, in a way that's more like a couple. ''Yumei doesn't object to that, not at all''.]]
** The whole story can be said to revolve around this trope. There is that bit about Kei's memory of [[spoiler:staining her hands with her father's blood]]. The memory is true, [[spoiler:although it's ''not hers'']]. And the plot starts with the death of Kei's mother. The other character whose Happy Ending shows her living together with Kei? [[spoiler:Sakuya, who has been watching the lineage of those with Nie no Chi and who has consoled Kei during the death of her grandmother and mother]].
** It's worth mentioning that the maiden name of Kei's late mother was ''Senba'' Mayumi.

* BoobsOfSteel: Sakuya and Uzuki kicks ass physically more than Tsudura or Yumei.

* JustInTime: Nozomi and Mikage comes storming with Nushi, the paper charms from Uzuki doesn't work, neither Sakuya nor Yumei is fit for fighting, and Uzuki herself is still unconscious from her previous battle with KEI-kun. Kei is forced to take up a sword and desperately pointing it at Nozomi, who laughs sinisterly. [[spoiler: And then Uzuki wakes up and begin kicking ass. Phew!]]

* MadnessMantra: [[spoiler: Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!"]]. [[spoiler: Kei have just had a painful memory resurfaced]].

* MsExposition: Tsudura, Sakuya, and Uzuki each gets their turn. Sometimes all of them at the same time.
* MustBeInvited: Played with. It's exactly because Kei refuse to forget Yumei that the vampire-away charm is breached. Which means that Nozomi and Mikage become able to find Kei.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Tsudura [[spoiler: disappear into the forest after she realize how much she have hurt Kei while in werefox-mode]], while Uzuki [[spoiler: is DrivenToSuicide after accidentally killing Kei]].

* NiceGirl: Kei. She even refer to the vampire twins as Nozomi-''chan'' and Mikage-''chan'', even though they were trying to exsanguinate her just five minutes ago.
* TheNoseKnows: Tsudura gain super(-natural) scent ability[[spoiler: in werefox form, after fusing with Obana.]]

** Blood Requirement: None. Nozomi, Mikage, and Yumei doesn't need human blood to survive, at all. They are more like spirits sustained with magic (and blood, especially blood of a Nie), than traditional vampires. Nozomi and Mikage only seek human blood to awaken Nushi.

* PostVictoryCollapse: After defeating Nushi, the heroes tend to he emotional breakdowns both happy and insanely sad.

* TheAtoner: KEI-kun [[spoiler: joined the Onikiri to atone for killing people while he was possessed by Nushi-sama

* TheChick: Kei is this compared to her female BattleHarem, and she's the only girly girl amongst tomboys.

A Remastered "HD" version of the game is set to be released on May 25th 2023, on Nintendo Switch and Steam (the very first time the game will be available outside the Play Station 2), alongside its older "sister-game" Akai Ito. The remastered version of the game will also offer a full English subtitle option for the first time.

A Remastered "HD" version of the game is set to be released on May 25th 2023, on Nintendo Switch and Steam (the very first time the game will be available outside the PlayStation 2), alongside its older "sister-game" Akai Ito. The remastered version of the game will also offer a full English subtitle option for the first time.

On September 14, 2022, a Remastered "HD" version of the game was announced for the Nintendo Switch and PC (the first time the game's been outside the Playstation 2), alongside it's younger "sister-game" Aoi Shiro, at the Tokyo Game Show, with a release date planned for 2023. In addition, this new version would receive an official English language option for the very first time, and be given a release outside Japan.

* ActionGirlfriend: Kei rarely, if ever, fights the enemies herself Kei rarely, if ever, fights the enemies herself. and has to rely on the girls pinning on her.

%%* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Nozomi and Mikage.

%%* GenkiGirl: Tsudura
%%* GirlsLove

%%* =HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Obana.]]
%%* HeroicWillpower
%%* HiddenEyes
%%* HugeSchoolgirl: Uzuki, at about 170 cm tall.

%%* InvisibleToNormals
%%* Myth/JapaneseMythology

%%* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Nozomi in her route. Elsewhere, she gets what is coming at her.]]

%%* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Tsudura, to Kei. See SaveTheDayTurnAway below.

%%* MishmashMuseum: Averted.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: An eastern Oni Variant. [[spoiler: Sakuya and her dead clan has ''insanely'' powerful {{Lunacy}} based powers, allowing her to transform into a nightmarish Wolf-beast TheBeserker, but can only use them on a ''red'' moon.]]

* SupernaturalAngst: '''Everyone''' in the game's life is made miserable from the fact they can't live normal human lives.

[[caption-width-right:300:Yumei and Kei [[KissingCousins cuddling]].]]

->''"Someone important to me has disappeared.".''

The story is about a girl named Hatou Kei who, as a result of a dead mother, heads to her father's house in order to claim her inheritance. However, she soon finds herself caught up in supernatural happenings after a dream concerning a huge tree and a mysterious girl, Yumei. She meets several other characters, including Uzuki Senba, an Oni slayer; Tzuzura Wakasugi, a girl accompanied by a white fox; Sakuya Asama, a friend of Kei's mother; and KEI-kun, a strange boy who happens to share Kei's name.

Though things start out peaceful, they quickly go to hell with the appearance of [[BigBad Nushi-sama]], an evil [[{{Orochi}} snake god]] from long ago, and his twin Oni followers, Nozomi and Mikage, who are fully intent on consuming Kei's blood. Kei and her new allies must protect her from the threat, and learn of the supernatural secret contained in her blood...

You can now buy it on PSN for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3. Has slightly improved resolution, and Dual Shock 3 support.

* ActionGirlfriend: Kei rarely, if ever, fights the enemies herself.

%%* AllMythsAreTrue: Indeed.
%%* AllThereInTheManual: The ''Akai Ito JIVE'' Guidebook.

%%* AndYourLittleDogToo

%%* TheAtoner: KEI-kun.

%%* BattleAura

%%* BigFancyHouse
%%* BloodMagic

%%* CastFullOfGay
%%* CatSmile: Nozomi, of all people. Mikage doesn't have one, though.

%%* TheChick: Kei.
* CoolBigSis: Yumei, [[spoiler:somewhat literally even. She is/was the daughter of Kei's father's little sister.]]
%%* CoolSword

%%* TheDragon: Nozomi and Mikage, for Nushi-sama.
%%* EmergencyTransformation

%%* EvilGloating

%%* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent
%%* PinkySwear: Uzuki and Kei. It's also in the opening movie.
%%* PostVictoryCollapse

%%* RedEyesTakeWarning: Nozomi and Mikage. [[spoiler:And Tsudura's werefox mode.]]

%%* SupernaturalAngst

[[caption-width-right:300:''"Someone important to me has disappeared"''.]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qvcatj6_1607.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Yumei and Kei [[KissingCousins cuddling]].]]

->''"Someone important to me has disappeared.".''

''Akai Ito'' (''アカイイト''), known in English as ''Red Strings'' (referencing the legendary strings of fate) is a {{visual novel}} created in 2004 by Creator/{{Success}} and is essentially a supernatural horror adventure with some GirlsLove and mystery elements thrown in.

Though things start out peaceful, they quickly go to hell with the appearance of [[BigBad Nushi-sama]], an evil [[{{Orochi}} snake god]] from long ago, and his twin Oni followers, Nozomi and Mikage, who are fully intent on consuming Kei's blood. Kei and her new allies must protect her from the threat, and learn of the supernatural secret contained in her blood...

You can now buy it on PSN for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3. Has slightly improved resolution, and Dual Shock 3 support.

* ActionGirlfriend: Kei rarely, if ever, fights the enemies herself.

%%* AllMythsAreTrue: Indeed.
%%* AllThereInTheManual: The ''Akai Ito JIVE'' Guidebook.

%%* AndYourLittleDogToo

%%* TheAtoner: KEI-kun.

%%* BattleAura

%%* BigFancyHouse
%%* BloodMagic

%%* CastFullOfGay
%%* CatSmile: Nozomi, of all people. Mikage doesn't have one, though.

%%* TheChick: Kei.
* CoolBigSis: Yumei, [[spoiler:somewhat literally even. She is/was the daughter of Kei's father's little sister.]]
%%* CoolSword

%%* TheDragon: Nozomi and Mikage, for Nushi-sama.
%%* EmergencyTransformation

%%* EvilGloating

%%* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Nozomi and Mikage.

* {{Beastess}}: Sakuya is big, has CuteLittleFangs, and has an animalistic aura about her. [[spoiler:When she drinks Kei's blood or uses Ragou, she is a shade removed from being a werewolf. And then, in the Onikiri no Oni ending, she become an actual oni.]]

* AllMythsAreTrue: Indeed.
* AllThereInTheManual: The ''Akai Ito JIVE'' Guidebook.

* [[AndYourLittleDogToo And Your Little Fox Too]]

* TheAtoner: KEI-kun.

* BattleAura

* BigFancyHouse

* CastFullOfGay
* CatSmile: Nozomi, of all people. Mikage doesn't have one, though.

* TheChick: Kei.

* CoolSword

* TheDragon: Nozomi and Mikage, for Nushi-sama.
* EmergencyTransformation

* EvilGloating

* '''FakeMemories''': To the point that Kei's past seems to be disturbingly similar to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud Strife]]'s.

* FinishingEachOthersSentences: Nozomi and Mikage.

* GenkiGirl: Tsudura
* GirlsLove

* [[spoiler: HeroicSacrifice: Obana.]]
* HeroicWillpower
* HiddenEyes
* HugeSchoolgirl: Uzuki, at about 170 cm tall.

* InvisibleToNormals
* Myth/JapaneseMythology

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Nozomi in her route. Elsewhere, she gets what is coming at her.]]

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Tsudura, to Kei. See SaveTheDayTurnAway below.

* LittleBitBeastly: [[spoiler: Tsudura in her werefox form.]]

* MagiBabble: So... so much. There is even an in-game EncyclopediaExposita.
* MagicMirror

* MishmashMuseum: Averted.

* {{Orochi}}: Nushi.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent
* PinkySwear: Uzuki and Kei. It's also in the opening movie.
* PostVictoryCollapse

** BloodMagic

* RedEyesTakeWarning: Nozomi and Mikage. [[spoiler:And Tsudura's werefox mode.]]

* SupernaturalAngst

* DateCrepe: Kei and Uzuki.