History VisualNovel / KisetsuODakishimete

''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' (季節を抱きしめて, lit.: "Embracing the Season"; translated as "In the Season of the Cherry Blossoms" in [[AllThereInTheManual the game's instruction booklet]]) is the second entry in the interactive anime VisualNovel series ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'', produced by Creator/SonyComputerEntertainment, and developped by Sugar&Rockets and Creator/ProductionIG. The game was initially released in 1998 on [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]], then re-released in 2005 on UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable and in 2009 on the Playstation Store.

Spring, in a little Japanese town. The main protagonist (i.e. the character controlled by the player), a 20-years old man, enters university and is greeted by his close friend Tomoko Kunitachi. He actually was a ''{{ronin}}'' for a year, due to a HeroicBSOD caused by the loss of the classmate he loved in his High School time, Mayu Sakurai. It was made worse by the fact he feels guilty for this, as [[CannotSpitItOut he lost the courage to confess his feelings to her]] during their last conversation, and she died in a traffic accident mere hours later. Tomoko, whom he met at cramschool, and who fell deeply in love with him, helped him get back on his feet, [[HesBack and he's now partially back]].

The "Spring" title of the four original [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''Anime/Patlabor2TheMovie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Manga/AngelSanctuary OVA'').

* CoolBigSis: The Sexy Lady.

* EndingTropes:
** [[spoiler: BittersweetEnding]]: In regards to [[spoiler: Mayu]], given the following...
** [[spoiler: DidNotGetTheGirl]]: What will happen with [[spoiler: Mayu]], no matter the ending you'll get. Get a Bad Ending? [[spoiler: You'll never see her again]]. Get a Normal Ending? [[spoiler: She'll disappear, but will help you heal your wounded heart]]. Get a Good Ending? [[spoiler: She'll AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence as the Spirit of the Cherry Tree, and depending on the storyline, will give you the courage to go forward in your life, or will watch over your newly formed couple with her sister Mami]].

* FortuneTeller: The protagonist works part-time as the writer of the fortune-telling column of the town's magazine. He doesn't believe in fortune-telling and has very filmsy knowledge of it, so he writes whatever comes into his mind; yet, he's concidentally accurate enough that his column is the most popular part of the magazine, and that people blindly follow his advices, as demonstrated when he uses the column to meet Mayu (who strongly believes in this column, all while not knowing the protagonist is the one writing it) again. [[spoiler: Of course, this being a dramatic LoveTriangle story, things take a turn to the worse when Mayu discovers the column writer's identity during the game's climax]].

* KindheartedCatLover: Mayu, who can't bear seeing hungry stray cats, and thus buys them pet food.

* OurSoulsAreDifferent: This is one complicated version of the trope the game has here. It also depend heavily of the storyline followed:
** In [[spoiler: Mayu's main]] storyline, [[spoiler: she's actually Mayu Sakurai's soul, who has just reincarnated into the new Spirit of the Cherry Trees, a kind and benevolent Spirit coming in the world of livings beings each Spring to make blossom the cherry trees and bring happiness to the people, and has lost her memories in her first coming]];
** In [[spoiler: the "Spirit of the Cherry Tree"]] storyline, [[spoiler: she's Mayu Sakurai's tormented soul who has been sucked and trapped inside the cursed Hirenzakura tree after her death. Upon seeing that her little sister Mami (who has just come back from overseas in order to pass university exams so she can be close from her late sister's homeland, and from the protagonist she always had feelings for) has suffered a traffic accident leaving her between life and death and causing the Hirenzakura tree to suck her soul as well, Mayu decided to come to the world of living beings and fuse Mami's soul inside hers (at the cost of their memories being sealed), so the Hirenzakura tree can't touch Mami's soul until someone she loves (i.e. the protagonist) lifts the curse on the Hirenzakura tree by discovering the truth behind the tree's legend. The curse lifted, Mami's soul returns to her body and she makes a miraculous recovery; and Mayu's soul reincarnates into the kind and benevolent Spirit of the Cherry Trees.]]

* PleaseDontLeaveMe: [[spoiler: Tomoko]] begs this to the protagonist in the [[spoiler: confrontation]] sequence, after [[spoiler: Mayu has ran off the house and the protagonist tries to chase after her]]. Depending on the flags you raised during the game, choosing to stay or not will lead to Good Endings, Normal Endings, and Bad Endings alike.

* SailorFuku: The blazer Mayu wears when she's first found is a plot point, as she and the protagonist use it to try and find the school it's affiliated to, and consequently discover her identity. It doesn't work, nobody they ask has ever seen this blazer. When following the [[spoiler: "Spirit of the Cherry Trees"]] storyline, it's implied the blazer is [[spoiler: the one Mayu's sister Mami, who just came back from overseas, wore when she was accidented]].

* SupremeChef: Mayu. To her own confession, it was like her hands moved on her own when cooking: she and the protagonist deduce she must have been someone who's speciality was cooking before she lost her memories.

* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: As much as Tomoko's jealousy grate your nerves, do NOT slap her when the option is available (unless you're after HundredPercentCompletion). This will land you a Bad Ending[[spoiler:... or rather, 4 possible Bad Endings depending on the flags you've raised during your current AND previous playthroughs]].

The "Spring" title of the four original [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''Anime/{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Manga/AngelSanctuary OVA'').

* LoveTriangle: Type 5 of TriangRelations, between Tomoko => the Main Protagonist => Mayu. Mayu likes the protagonist, but considers him more like a big brother[[spoiler:, until the moment she recovers her memories]].

* GuideDangIt: Aside from the HundredPercentCompletion and LastLousyPoint elements typical to the ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' series, this game in particular has 3 Bad Endings that absolutely aren't intuitive: [[spoiler: Bad End 17 and 18 are only unlockable after having completed three playthroughs before, AND [[ArmorPiercingSlap having slapped Tomoko]] in your latest playthrough; Bad End 12 requires having seen Bad End 17, and in the immediate next playthrough, slapping Tomoko again]].

* FacelessProtagonist: The only time his face is seen in game, is when there's a reflection of himself in the window of his working office, and even then it's only a partial and unclear one due to darkness. Otherwise, his face either appears off-screen, or hidden inside his scooter helmet.

* [[spoiler: CuteGhostGirl / NatureSpirit]]: Mayu's true identity. [[spoiler: She's the soul of Mayu Sakurai, who reincarnated into the Spirit of the Cherry Trees after her death. She can come to the world of living beings with a tangible body, but only during spring time]].

* [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide]]: A key part of the Sexy Lady's past. [[spoiler: She was so distraught by the brutal death of her fiancé (who was so impatient to propose to her and give her a wedding ring he forgot to LookBothWays, got hit by a car, and [[DiedInYourArmsTonight died in her arms]]), she took a lethal dose of sleeping pills under the Hirenzakura tree, the place where the two first met. [[InterruptedSuicide But her attempt failed]], as in her coma, she saw an apparition of her fiancé, who told her not to go the other side yet.]]

* [[spoiler: OurSoulsAreDifferent]]: This is one complicated version of the trope the game has here. It also depend heavily of the storyline followed:

''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' (季節を抱きしめて, lit.: "Embracing the Season"; translated as "In the Season of the Cherry Blossoms" in [[AllThereInTheManual the game's instruction booklet]]) is the second entry in the interactive anime VisualNovel series ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'', produced by SonyComputerEntertainment, and developped by Sugar&Rockets and Creator/ProductionIG. The game was initially released in 1998 on [[UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]], then re-released in 2005 on UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable and in 2009 on the Playstation Store.

''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' (季節を抱きしめて, lit.: "Embracing the Season"; translated as "In the Season of the Cherry Blossoms" in [[AllThereInTheManual the game's instruction booklet]]) is the second entry in the interactive anime VisualNovel series ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'', produced by SonyComputerEntertainment, and developped by Sugar&Rockets and Creator/ProductionIG. The game was initially released in 1998 on [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]], then re-released in 2005 on PlaystationPortable and in 2009 on the Playstation Store.

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''Anime/{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Manga/AngelSanctuary OVA'').

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''Anime/{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''AngelSanctuary OVA'').

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''Anime/GhostInTheShell'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''AngelSanctuary OVA'').

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''GhostInTheShell movie'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''AngelSanctuary OVA'').

''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' (季節を抱きしめて, lit.: "Embracing the Season"; translated as "In the Season of the Cherry Blossoms" in [[AllThereInTheManual the game's instruction booklet]]) is the second entry in the interactive anime VisualNovel series ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'', produced by SonyComputerEntertainment, and developped by Sugar&Rockets and ProductionIG. The game was initially released in 1998 on [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]], then re-released in 2005 on PlaystationPortable and in 2009 on the Playstation Store.

And thus starts a SliceOfLife LoveTriangle story (as Tomoko, who openly claims her love for the protagonist and unilaterally considers him as her boyfriend, [[ClingyJealousGirl isn't pleased at all at his interest towards Mayu]]), in which the fantastic will invite itself in, as the secret behind Mayu's identity will unfold...

'''BEWARE, this game is very story-driven. DO NOT HIGHLIGHT THE MARKED SPOILERS BELOW if you want to keep the full experience of the game. YouHaveBeenWarned.'''

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''GhostInTheShell movie'', ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''AngelSanctuary OVA'').

* FortuneTeller: The protagonist works part-time as the writer of the fortune-telling column of the town's magazine. He doesn't believe in fortune-telling and has very filmsy knowledge of it, so he writes whatever comes into his mind; yet, he's concidentally accurate enough that his column is the most popular part of the magazine, and that people blindly follow his advices, as demonstrated when he uses the column to meet Mayu (who strongly believes in this column, all while not knowing the protagonist is the one writing it) again. [[spoiler: Of course, this being a dramatic LoveTriangle story, [[ItGotWorse things get a turn to the worse]] when Mayu discovers the column writer's identity during the game's climax]].

Spring, in a little Japanese town. The main protagonist (i.e. the character controlled by the player), a 20-years old man, enters university and is greeted by his close friend Tomoko Kunitachi. He actually was a ''ronin'' for a year, due to a HeroicBSOD caused by the loss of the classmate he loved in his High School time, Mayu Sakurai. It was made worse by the fact he feels guilty for this, as [[CannotSpitItOut he lost the courage to confess his feelings to her]] during their last conversation, and she died in a traffic accident mere hours later. Tomoko, whom he met at cramschool, and who fell deeply in love with him, helped him get back on his feet, [[HesBack and he's now partially back]].

* ButtMonkey: The main protagonist. Be it either [[PervertRevengeMode being kicked by Mayu or taking a faceful of a sweets plate by Tomoko]] for being [[AccidentalPervert mistaken for a pervert]], or being startled by Mayu appearing from behind and falling head-on trash bags, that guy never catches a break.

The "Spring" title of the four original [[{{Playstation}} Playstation 1]] ''{{VisualNovel/Yarudora}}'' games, ''Kisetsu o Dakishimete'' was directed by Mizuho Nishikubo (''GhostInTheShell movie'', ''TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', ''{{Patlabor}} 2 The Movie''), and the character design is courtesy of Kaori Higuchi (''NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''AngelSanctuary OVA'').

* BigDamnHeroes: Mayu performs one when the protagonist gets caught by a policeman, as he's mistaken for a pervert while he was waiting for Mayu in front of a all-female High School. Complete with [[ThemeMusicPowerUp an upbeat, cheerful variation]] of [[ThemeSong the game's]] {{Leitmotif}} as Mayu bails him out.

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: The CherryBlossom petals scattered around where Mayu was lying when the protagonist first found her. Make sure to get one of those at the very beginning of the game if you want to see the Good Endings: it's a crucial element to bring back Mayu's memories.]]

* MementoMacGuffin: The ring the Sexy Lady wears at her neck. [[spoiler: It's the ring [[TheMourningAfter her beloved fiancé, who died in an accident]], wore. As a symbol of her [[CharacterDevelopment finally coming to terms with her loss]] and being ready to move on a SecondLove with the protagonist, [[ItsAllJunk she buries it under the Hirenzakura tree]] in her Good Ending.]]

* [[spoiler: CuteGhostGirl]]: Mayu's true identity, sort of. [[spoiler: To be more specific, she's the soul of Mayu Sakurai, who reincarnated into the Spirit of the Cherry Trees after her death. She can come to the world of living beings with a tangible body, but only during spring time]].

Spring, in a little Japanese town. The main protagonist (i.e. the character controlled by the player), a 20-years old man, enters university and is greeted by his close friend Tomoko Kunitachi. He actually was a ''ronin'' for a year, due to a HeroicBSOD caused by the loss of the classmate he loved in his High School time, Mayu Sakuragi. It was made worse by the fact he feels guilty for this, as [[CannotSpitItOut he lost the courage to confess his feelings to her]] during their last conversation, and she died in a traffic accident mere hours later. Tomoko, whom he met at cramschool, and who fell deeply in love with him, helped him get back on his feet, [[HesBack and he's now partially back]].

* [[spoiler: CuteGhostGirl]]: Mayu's true identity, sort of. [[spoiler: To be more specific, she's the soul of Mayu Sakuragi, who reincarnated into the Spirit of the Cherry Trees after her death. She can come to the world of living beings with a tangible body, but only during spring time]].

** In [[spoiler: Mayu's main]] storyline, [[spoiler: she's actually Mayu Sakuragi's soul, who has just reincarnated into the new Spirit of the Cherry Trees, a kind and benevolent Spirit coming in the world of livings beings each Spring to make blossom the cherry trees and bring happiness to the people, and has lost her memories in her first coming]];
** In [[spoiler: the "Spirit of the Cherry Tree"]] storyline, [[spoiler: she's Mayu Sakuragi's tormented soul who has been sucked and trapped inside the cursed Hirenzakura tree after her death. Upon seeing that her little sister Mami (who has just come back from overseas in order to pass university exams so she can be close from her late sister's homeland, and from the protagonist she always had feelings for) has suffered a traffic accident leaving her between life and death and causing the Hirenzakura tree to suck her soul as well, Mayu decided to come to the world of living beings and fuse Mami's soul inside hers (at the cost of their memories being sealed), so the Hirenzakura tree can't touch Mami's soul until someone she loves (i.e. the protagonist) lifts the curse on the Hirenzakura tree by discovering the truth behind the tree's legend. The curse lifted, Mami's soul returns to her body and she makes a miraculous recovery; and Mayu's soul reincarnates into the kind and benevolent Spirit of the Cherry Trees.]]

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Used for dramatic effect at the beginning of the [[spoiler: confrontation]] sequence. [[spoiler: Having a bad presentiment, the protagonist rushes to home. As he opens the door, a shot of Mayu and Tomoko's faces looking at each other spinning fast, [[EmpathicEnvironment along with a lightning strike]], occurs.]]. This spinning shot is also part of the game's opening demo.

* CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest: When Mayu moves in the protagonist's house, the protagonist deseperately tries to hide his erotic books. Unfortunately for him, Mayu finds one in the kitchen room. He tries to tell it's one of his friends who has left it there, [[spoiler: but Mayu doesn't mind, as she actually likes those kind of books (which is strange, given her BerserkButton above)]].