Part 86: Tokimemo 3, Chapter 15: The Sorrow
Tokimeki Memorial 3, Chapter 15: The Sorrow7/5-7/9: Midterms
37th: Shiratori Masaki
92nd: Makihara Yukiko
96th: Fudou Gunzou
128th: Oda Mari
145th: Tachibana Emi
177th: Shinjo Serika
196th: Yabe Takuo
As always, Serika gives us the "I'm happy for you! Wait, never mind, I'm sad for reasons I can't tell you" lines.
7/11: The least useful mail order yet
Bob: What's wrong, Johnny? You look down!
Johnny: Hey, Bob.
Johnny: I'm going on a date with my girlfriend tomorrow, but I don't have any clothes...
Announcer: If you had this Reverse Cloak, you wouldn't have to worry like this!
Johnny: Wow, it's true! This is incredible, I can use the outside AND the inside!
Announcer: If you order now, we'll even include these name cards! What a deal!
Bob and Johnny: Operators are standing by!
I... I guess I'll get this? I mean, why not?
7/16: The last swim meet
Serika: Goon.
Goon: Hey, Serika.
Serika: Don't worry about what will happen with the classes.
Serika: Swim like I know you can, and you can win. Be confident.
Goon: Thanks, Serika-san. I'll do my best!
Serika: Keep your cool.
Goon: (Alright, I'm fired up!)
This is indeed the same dialogue as the previous year, but this time she has bandages on.
Goon: I won! And the class took second place!
Serika: You did it! Our class took second place.
Serika: Even though we didn't win, you took us really far.
Serika: I'm glad my pep talk helped.
Goon: I owe it all to your support. Thanks, Serika-san.
Goon: (I'm glad I could contribute to the second place finish. I was right to train for this.)
7/17: Serika and the beach
In honor of Castlevania, we're trying out a new outfit. Reverse Cloak, no shirt, budgie smuggler, and Secret Boots. It should be great for the beach!
Just kidding. We're wearing the exact same thing we've been wearing for over two years. Screw this game.
Serika: That family had a really funny float with them. I'm pretty sure it was shaped like a platypus.
Option 1: I bet they're not even planning on going swimming.
Option 2: Huh, that's not something you see every day.
Option 3: You want one, Serika?
Goon: You want one, Serika?
Serika: No, not really. Besides, I don't need one. I don't plan on swimming in the ocean.
Goon: (Eh.)
Serika: Hey, can we stay here a bit longer? I don't feel like leaving.
Goon: Sure, let's go for a walk.
Serika: The whole beach is glowing. It's like we're walking on gold.
Option 1: You're glowing too, Serika. You look wonderful.
Option 2: We should take some of this sand home as a souvenir.
Option 3: It doesn't last very long, but it's unforgettable.
Options 1 and 3 are the only ones that have any romance to them.
Goon: You're glowing too, Serika. You look wonderful.
Serika: Hahaha, how can you say that with a straight face?
Serika: But... thanks. It's flattering to hear.
Goon: (Looks like I made a great impression)
7/25: Mikoshi with Emi
Mikoshi is a little hard to describe culturally. It's the practice of putting a shrine's god on a palanquin and having some big strapping men lug it around the streets near the shrine. It's a good excuse for a festival and resembles a parade.
Emi: What a majestic mikoshi.
Emi: Hearing the carriers shout and celebrate makes you excited even from the sidelines.
Option 1: I wanna help carry the mikoshi myself.
Option 2: But do they really need to be that noisy about it?
Option 3: Why don't you go in there and help them carry it?
Let's see. We have one option that agrees with her. One that says "I hate parties". And one that says "hey, you're still recovering from a torn MCL but why don't you put a building on your shoulders and run around? That sounds like a great idea!"
Goon: I wanna help carry the mikoshi myself.
Emi: Then why don't you just jump right in?
Emi: It's a festival, you should join in the fun yourself.
Goon: (Looks like I made a pretty good impression.)
8/9: Aikido national tournament, round of 32
Goon: The time has come for the national high school tournament!
Goon: I've made it this far - I can't disappoint now.
Goon: I wonder how Emi-san's match went? I should check that out.
Goon: (She shouldn't have any problems this early.)
Emi: Goon.
Goon: Hey, Emi-san. You seem to be doing well.
Emi: Yes, thanks to everyone's help, things are going very smoothly.
Emi: It's our time to shine. We need to give it our all.
Emi: Your first opponent will be Saitama High.
Goon: I should get focused.
Emi: Your goal should be to make it past the first round.
Emi: As long as you don't hold back, you'll be fine.
Emi: I'll be cheering you on. Good luck.
Just like we practiced. Easy victory.
Emi: You've made it past the first round quite easily. Congratulations.
Emi: Make sure to bring the same energy tomorrow.
Goon: I will.
8/10: Round of 16
Another easy victory.
Goon: Alright, I'm in the top 8!
Goon: I can't relax yet. I need to keep calm.
8/11: Top 8
Another easy one!
Goon: (Alright! On to semifinals!)
8/12: Semi-finals
Goon: (I've made it this far, one more win and I'm in the finals tomorrow!)
Goon: Yes! I'm in the finals tomorrow!
These are not the same screenshot, I swear. The date changes!
8/13: Finals
Goon: (The day is here. I need to focus. Don't get nervous!)
Goon: Emi-san, how did your match go?
Emi: I... took second place.
Goon: Oh. I see. You did really well, though.
Emi: Thank you. I believe that entering this tournament was a great opportunity to test myself.
Goon: Emi-san...
Emi: Now, it's your turn.
Emi: I'll be cheering you on from the stands.
Serika: Yo. Good morning! How do you feel? Think you're ready?
Goon: Hey, Serika. Now that you're here, I feel ready for anything.
Serika: The final round starts soon. Your opponent looks pretty strong.
Serika: You have to leave everything out there.
Goon: You know I will.
Serika: That's the spirit.
Serika: Show him what you've got. I'll be cheering you on.
Goon: (I won... I WON!)
Serika: Congrats! You're the champion!
Goon: Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you cheering me on.
Serika: Save it. I didn't do anything.
Serika: This all came from your own hard work.
Serika: ...you were great. You shined brighter than anyone.
Goon: (It's worth it all just to hear her say that.)
8/29: Fireworks with Serika
Serika: I always wonder when I'm watching fireworks - why does everyone get so quiet?
Option 1: Everyone has their own thoughts.
Option 2: Everyone's enthralled by the fireworks.
Option 3: I guess everyone's sad that the festival is over.
Goon: Everyone's enthralled by the fireworks.
Serika: Haha, they are? I guess they all could be...
Goon: (Eh.)
9/7: Invited out by Mari
Oh, that's right, Mari's in this game. I guess being the national aikido champion is enough to get her to notice Goon.
9/11: Yukiko's birthday
Only 6 months left in the game. With any luck, a good present like a bouquet of roses will fend off bombing for... probably like 3 weeks. Damn this game. Well, time to call her out to the river bank.
Goon: Hey, Makihara-san.
Yukiko: Hehehe, I've been waiting. What was it you wanted to give me?
Goon: I wanted to give you a present. Happy birthday.
Yukiko: Wow, I'm so grateful. Thank you.
Yukiko: Hey, umm, if you're okay with it... want to stop by my house?
Yukiko: You came out all this way to give me this and it's rude to make you stand around.
Yukiko: So, umm, what do you think?
No, Goon, don't do it, it's a trap!
Goon: Sure, I'll go.
Yukiko: Hehehe, thanks.
Yukiko: Come on in.
As a note, every girl's house gets reused as a background for the "I couldn't find anything while exploring" failure screen. It's either mega-oblivious on Goon's part or a cut corner on the development end. Guess which answer I lean toward?
Goon: (What a cute room. So this is what Makihara-san is like.)
Yukiko: So, umm, can I open my present now?
Goon: Of course.
Yukiko: Wow, thanks, this is the best present!
Goon: (Looks like she really liked it)
9/12: Movies with Mari
Goon: The movie playing right now is "Dance Dance Revolution Dancing Paranoia".
Goon: Apparently, it's a blockbuster dance-comedy hit in the west.
Mari: There are supposedly comedies for all tastes, but I truly wonder sometimes.
Goon: They say it's pretty funny.
I don't know what to be more surprised at, Mari's color scheme or the fact that they decided to make a movie series out of the Paranoia songs in DDR.
Goon: (Dancing Paranoia is about the passion of people who stake their lives on dance, with a comedic touch.)
Goon: (But man, what a crazy cast.)
Mari: It seemed to be a success story full of romance and laughs, but the world was completely nonsensical.
Option 1: You need to keep the theme of the movie in mind.
Option 2: Did you figure out the secret of the afro?
Option 3: That movie was pretty much just about the energy of the dancing and nothing else.
The... the secret of the afro? I wish I was brave enough to ask that and get the obvious "you are an idiot" response from Mari.
Goon: That movie was pretty much just about the energy of the dancing and nothing else.
Mari: I agree. I wonder what the producers were trying to express?
Mari: I would have been better off staying at home and reading a book.
Goon: (Looks like I made a pretty good impression)
So, even though Mari didn't want to give us the time of day for a solid year and a half, she's suddenly interested enough to have a follow-up date and act coy during it.
9/18: The school festival, year 3
Serika: Hey! Wait up!
Serika: I've been looking for you.
Goon: Looking for me? Something wrong?
Serika: What? Uh, no, nothing like that.
Serika: I was just bored, so I figured maybe we could go wander the festival together.
Serika: I figure if I'm gonna see this anyway, it'd be more fun to see it with you.
Serika: So?
Goon: Sure, let's go.
Again, exact same dialogue as the previous year, but this time with bandages.
This year, we're going to the science club. I went through all of the other options and she didn't like 'em, plus this one's the most fun anyway.
Serika: So what's the science club doing on the roof, anyway?
Goon: They're supposedly going to show off the formation sequence of a military robot.
Serika: Huh. That sounds really impressive, but can they really do it?
Goon: I guess we just have to watch and see.
Rika: All parts, lift off!
Rika: Formation complete!
The individual parts of the RK 100 appear to be a desk fan, a CRT television, and a beer fridge. I'll allow it.
Serika: Amazing! I can't believe they actually pulled it off.
Serika: Haha, I like this one!
Goon: (Sh, she's way more into it than I thought she would be.)
Serika: Well, I guess that's it. But I did have more fun than I expected.
Serika: I think that's just because I was with you.
9/30: We pretty much all saw this coming
Yukiko: *sigh*
Goon: Huh? Makihara-san?
Yukiko: ...
Goon: Wh, what's wrong?
Yukiko: Do you remember the lady at the candy store?
Yukiko: She passed away.
Goon: What? She did?
Yukiko: Yeah. Last night, her condition worsened and then--
Yukiko: I thought she would get better soon, too.
Option 1: Death awaits all of us.
Option 2: Don't cry.
Option 3: You need to keep yourself together.
Oh man I want to give the nihilistic answer so badly, but I'm so afraid of getting insta-bombed.
Goon: Don't cry.
Yukiko: You're right...
Yukiko: I can't just stand around here and cry.
Yukiko: *sniffle*
Yukiko: I, I'm sorry. I should go.
Goon: Hey--
Goon: (Will Makihara-san be alright?)
At this point, Yukiko pretty much drops off of the face of the earth. She won't show up if you've scheduled a date, she stops showing up after school, and the game expects you to call her to cheer her up before she comes out of her deep funk and continues her reign of terror.
We're not gonna do that for a few months, because her removal from the school equation means that her bombing finally slows down to a reasonable pace.
10/24: Take Serika to the bridge
Mark this day, folks - for the first time in a long time, Serika was on time for the date and acted normally. This will be important later.
Serika: You know, it might be really nice to eat lunch while taking in the scenery here.
Option 1: You're not allowed to bring food to a place like this.
Option 2: Good idea, I bet it'd make the food even better.
Option 3: We'd be so lost in the view that we'd forget to eat.
Goon: Good idea, I bet it'd make the food even better.
Serika: Right? We should try it out next time.
Serika: We'll buy lunch somewhere and bring it here.
Goon: (You weren't going to make it yourself?)
10/25: Why do I even talk to you
Masaki: Hmph. I knew it, my eyes did not deceive me.
Masaki: Don't you think so too?
Goon: What're you talking about?
Masaki: Emi-san has been even more radiant lately, don't you think?
Masaki: Hmph. It's definitely because I've been by her side.
Goon: Ooookaaaay.
Goon: (How can he say that with a straight face?)
This event happens twice more and is basically the same every time, so I'm going to skip it for the rest of the run since it has nothing to do with anything.
10/26: Goon's birthday
Serika: Goon!
Goon: Hey, Serika. What's up?
Serika: It's, um, it's nothing big.
Serika: I just thought it'd be nice every once in a while to walk home together.
Goon: That's fine by me.
Serika: Hey, today's your birthday, right?
Serika: I got you a present.
Serika: Will you take it?
Goon: Of course I will. Thanks, Serika.
Serika: You don't have to thank me.
Serika: I'm the one who should be grateful, since you look so happy.
Goon got a bandana. It's a hat, and therefore is utterly useless.
Goon: (Serika remembered my birthday. I'm so glad.)
10/29: Halloween (observed)
What, you thought the Halloween event would be Serika showing up at Goon's door in a costume? You think this game had the writing/art budget for that? HA! We get the same stuff as always.
Serika: Here, this is for you.
Goon: Candy?
Goon: Oh yeah, today is Halloween, isn't it?
No it's not, arrrrrrgh this must be what it feels like whenever Americans try to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Goon: But didn't you say you didn't really like this kind of thing?
Serika: What does that matter?
Serika: If you don't want any, just tell me.
Serika: You don't have to take it if you aren't gonna eat it.
Goon: Don't take it like that, I'll gladly accept it.
Serika: Good. Make sure you eat it all. Don't waste any.
Goon: Thanks!
11/16: The first semi-useful thing Masaki has said all game
Masaki: Did you hear?
Masaki: Our drama club is going to be in the national high school drama competition.
Masaki: And Mari-san is going to play the lead.
Goon: Is that so?
Mari: Oh? What might you two be talking about?
Masaki: Hmph. Mari-san, we're talking about the national drama competition, of course.
Goon: He told me you're going to play the lead. Congratulations, Oda-san.
Mari: It's only natural, with my talent.
Mari: It's a shame.
Mari: If you had joined the drama club, we could have been on this stage together.
Masaki: Hmph. It truly is a shame that I didn't join the drama club.
Goon: Wait a second...
The implication here is "Wait a second... she wasn't talking to you."
Mari: And now, I must rehearse if I want to take first place.
Goon: Good luck, Oda-san.
12/11: Skiing with Serika
Serika: Skiing really is great.
Serika: Cutting through the cold air on skis is the greatest feeling.
Option 1: It's the worst for people who can't ski like me...
Option 2: How'd you get so good at skiing?
Option 3: Yeah, I feel the same way.
You're not even trying to be interesting, game.
Goon: Yeah, I feel the same way.
Serika: Right? I wish time would stop, then I could ski forever.
Goon: (Looks like I made a great impression!)
12/14: The return of the mad bomber
Right around December is when bombs don't matter much anymore, so it's safe-ish to bring Yukiko back into the game. Calling her leads to a quick "I still need some time" conversation that I didn't manage to capture, but this is what happens when she comes back.
Yukiko: Good morning.
Goon: Hey, good morning. You sorted out all your feelings?
Yukiko: Yes. I can't just sit around being depressed forever.
Yukiko: As you can see, I'm fine now.
Yukiko: Sorry for making you worry all this time.
Goon: I'm glad you're okay.
You were gone?
Yukiko: Also... thank you.
Yukiko: I was really glad when you called me.
Yukiko: Um--class is about to start, so I should go.
Goon: Okay, see you later.
12/23: Christmas Eve... Eve.
Christmas is weird in Japan because Christmas Eve itself has been romanticized/marketed as a holiday for couples, while December 23rd is a national holiday because it's the Emperor's birthday. So for Tokimeki Memorial's purposes, 12/23 and 12/24 are the actual holidays, and 12/25 has nothing interesting.
Goon: Hello?
Serika: Hey, it's me, Shinjo.
Goon: Hey, Serika. What's up?
Serika: W, well, it's nothing important, but do you have plans tomorrow?
Serika: If you don't, uh, do you want to, umm, come over?
Goon: You mean to your place?
Serika: Of, of course I do. It's not like you haven't been here before, right?
Goon: (What should I do?)
This is not a choice.
Goon: That's okay with me.
Serika: Haha, good. I was scared that you'd say no.
Serika: Alright, now that that's settled, I need to make sure to get ready.
Goon: What's that mean?
Serika: It means ready. If you're coming over, it's rude of me to have the place empty.
Serika: Alright, see you tomorrow. Good night.
Goon: Good night.
Goon: (I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.)
12/24: Christmas Eve with Serika
Serika: Hey. I've been waiting for you.
Goon: You didn't have to wait for me at the entrance.
Serika: Of course I did. Let's head up to my place.
Goon: (Whoa, the kitchen is crazy-looking right now.)
Serika: Something wrong? You're just standing around staring.
Goon: Huh? Uh, it's nothing.
Serika: Yeah? C'mon, head on in. I, uh--
Serika: I made something for us.
Goon: You mean you cooked? I'm really looking forward to that.
Serika: Please don't get your hopes up too high.
What Goon may have been looking at: Is that... a Bowie knife stuck into the cutting board?
She cooks with a Bowie knife?!
Goon: (So when she said she made something, she meant sukiyaki.)
Goon: (But... it's weird to be eating sukiyaki on Christmas.)
Goon, you and your people have no moral high ground to stand on about Christmas food, Japan has eaten KFC on Christmas since 1974.
Serika: Goon...
Serika: Sukiyaki isn't very Christmassy, is it.
Goon: N, nah, it's fine.
Serika: You don't have to be polite about it. I was thinking the same thing.
Serika: But... when I thought about what I wanted to make for you, this is all I could think of.
Serika: Hot pot is so nice - you really feel like you're eating with everyone.
Serika: It's so warm, and tastes so good...
Serika: I wonder how long it's been since the last time I had this.
Serika: My mom and my dad were there, and of course I was there.
Serika: I, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk about all this.
Serika: But when I'm sitting like this, all the memories come back.
Serika: It feels like... I've gone back to that time.
Goon: ...
Serika: ...
Serika: H, hey. Don't just sit there, eat up.
Serika: It'll get soggy if you just leave it there.
Goon: O, okay.
Serika: Thanks for coming out today.
Goon: Thank you for inviting me.
Serika: What're you talking about? This was nothing.
Serika: Because it was for you...
Goon: What?
Serika: Nothing. Good night!
Goon: Y, yeah, see you later.
Next time: The end... but whose end?
