![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
playerprophet
Welcome back to Let's Play Hatoful Boyfriend! For our next route - from my lovely fiancee's suggestion - we'll be dating Nageki, the loner in the library.
Unfortunately, because Nageki is not actually in the same class as Hiyoko, there are many scenes in which he cannot participate. So while Okosan was the centre of our attention during his route, we have a lot of downtime without Nageki. Please take this time to continue reading over all the class scenes, and get to know the other birds in Hiyoko's life. Maybe you'll find somebirdie you're interested in!
Without further adieu... let's join the Library staff!
________________________________________________________________
April 11th
(Music)
"Err, I think we want to choose the class council today."
"As you all know this school doesn't require you to join any club.""If you want to, you can, but if you don't then you're free to go home after school."
"Coo!"
(Okosan has time only for the track team!)
"That's good. What about you, Shirogane?"
"A foolish question. I already hold a position here."
"Oh that's right. You became student president when you were admitted."
"Nepotism, ho!
Don't we get to vote!?"
"Just coming to school is enough for me."
"You have to take care of your mother on your own, and all..."
"Hmm, I wonder what I should do."
The only place we've seen Nageki is the library, so maybe we'll run into him there.
"Have fun!"
________________________________________________________________
April 12th
I'm just going to assume that you're all coming from the Okosan route so I don't need to explain this stuff again. Seeing that Nageki's a library guy, he's probably also a raging nerd, so let's focus on getting our wisdom stat up. For Nageki's route, we'll be going to math class every time.
Mister Nanaki dozed off as usual, but class was somehow good anyway. I feel smarter already!
Hiyoko leveled up!
Wisdom increased by 5!
________________________________________________________________
April 15th
I'm on receptionist duty today.
Better hurry!
Boring, as usual.
The library here doesn't seem very popular...
Not enough books?It's on the fifth floor, though, so at least the view is nice.
Sitting here twiddling my thumbs is bad for me. I wish someone would come ask me something.
......
...
There's nobirdie here.
"I wonder if it would be okay to close early...?""Aaah, I wish I could just spread my wings and fly away!"
???
"Planning to jump off the building? The window there is rather good for that, miss receptionist."
"!""Nageki?!
When did you...?"
"I've been here all along."
I never noticed...
He's almost as bad as the doctor.
"You're thinking I have no presence, right? It's okay. I already know that."
"You certainly seem to like this place."
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
I love Nageki, he's trying so hard to keep Hiyoko on her guard. He seems like the sweet quiet guy trope but he's actually kind of a dick. Ryouta is the precious baby of Hatoful Boyfriend, never forget.
Anyway, the answer here is that "books are nice", obviously. Nageki is pretty... easy to insult.
"...they are."
"Why don't you join the library staff, Nageki? You could read whatever you want."
"I already read whatever I want."
...touche.
"You shouldn't slack off, miss receptionist. "
And with that, he takes a book and is gone between the stacks.
What a strange bird...
________________________________________________________________
April 20thWe fade in to another day in the life of hunter-gatherer Tosaka Hiyoko.
Ahh... sitting at home is so relaxing.Oh!
Tomorrow is the class hike!Should I prepare anything? We won't be going far, so I don't have to...
Well, health first!
I think I'll have some udon and go to sleep.
________________________________________________________________
April 21st
(St. Pigeonations' Institute)
Today is the hike! We've stopped for a break on the hillside. Who should I talk to?
The guide I have for extra help tells me to speak to Kazuaki, for some reason.
"Hmm..? What is it, Tosaka?
Break isn't over yet!"
"Um... I wanted to talk to you, sir..."
"Your friends are all here. Why not talk with them?"
'Cause she wants the C.
"Do you not want to talk to me?"
"No, that's not what I meant...""You're a
funny
girl...
Tosaka...
...zzz."
"Wait! No! I haven't said anything yet!"
And so I took a nap with Mister Nanaki.I wonder if he has some sort of illness? I hope he's okay...
________________________________________________________________
May 6th
To math class!
"I'm not getting this at all..."
"Hmm... maybe you should review the basics a little more, Tosaka."
"Y-yes sir..."
Hiyoko leveled up!
Wisdom increased by 5!
May 16th
"Err... I imagine you're all well aware, but...""The sports festival is right around the corner. Please think about what you'll do!"
"Sports festival season already...?"
"If it were in the fall it would conflict with the cultural festival, so it's always been in May."
"What are you going to do, Ryouta?"
"I haven't decided but...
Probably the three-legged race.
Somebirdie has to."
"Coo!"
Okosan will handle the marathon! Indeed he will!"
"You do have a lot of stamina, Okosan... What about you, Sakuya?"
"You can't possibly be expecting me to run in some race, can you?"
"It is a sports festival. Is there an event that doesn't involve running...?"
"How about being a cheerleader?"
"The general, in other words...
Very well, leave it to me."
"Um... I don't think that's..."
"Also, the first-aid team is always shorthanded, so I'm sure they could use help if anybirdie still can't decide."
The bell sounds.
"That's all for today."
Ryouta's doing the three-legged race, Okosan's running the marathon, and Sakuya's a cheerleader.Yuuya might be running the first-aid tent...
What should I do? I'll have to think about it.
________________________________________________________________
May 21st
Today's the sports festival!I never did make up my mind. What should I do?
Going to the library on a sports day. It's just like my actual High School life.
May is practically summer already... it's too hot! I think I'll rest in the library.Aah, much better!
"...it's nice that the AC is on, but do we really need it?
Nobirdie's in here today."
???
"It's not on."
"!"
"It's you, Nageki!"
"It's you, miss Tosaka."
Woah! He called me by my name.
Maybe I should also note at this point that "Seijaku no Umi" is "Sea of Silence".
"They don't turn the air conditioning on until June. It just feels cold compared to outside."
"Oh, is that it?"
It would be a little strange to start spending money to cool a barely-used library in May.
"Anyway, aren't you going to participate in the festival, Nageki?"
"Aren't you?"
"Eep!"
"I don't like it outside.
So I stay in here.
That's all."
"Hmm... I see."
"......
...
Why are you sitting next to me?"
"Do you mind?"
"......not really."
"U-um, listen, our class president got duped into being a cheerleader, and..."
"......"
"S-sorry..."
"......No.
Keep going."
So I spent the day telling him about the festival and whatnot while he read.I don't know how much he was listening to me, but he didn't seem to mind... I think?
________________________________________________________________
The first barrier for all students who make it this far, the midterm exam!
We're getting them back today...
Aah... I don't think I did too well.
"Tosaka!"
"Yes!"
"You worked hard. Keep going like that and you'll do just fine."
"One day, you could surpass me.
I'd love to see that!"
...I guess I did pretty well, after all!________________________________________________________________
And Mister Nanaki seems happy with me, too. Yay!
(St. Pigeonation's Institute)
"Mmm! Today is a good day.
I feel like I'm shining!I wonder what I should do during break..."
"You again. Are you ill?"
"Umm, not exactly..."
"Then why are you here?"
We didn't come here for your route, Shuu. Abort! Abort!
"I wanted to skip cla--"
"Get out."
Kicked out at the speed of light!I should probably take my school life more seriously...
Don't worry, Hiyoko. It was for the best.
________________________________________________________________
June 26th
( St Pigeonations' Institute)
I always find myself wondering what the math we learn is good for...
"Coo..."
(Zzz...)
"And now we can draw a line perpendicular to the...
...zzz.
Is this the math class or naptime?!Hiyoko leveled up!
Wisdom increased by 5!
________________________________________________________________
Today is Tanabata!There's probably a bamboo tree in the plaza this year, too...
I think I'll go make a wish.
Tanabata is based on a legend where two lovers are separated by the Milky Way, and on this night they are able to see each other again.
Wow, there're lots here already!
Anybirdie I know?
It looks like Nanaki-sensei's is the only one here. I guess Nageki couldn't be bothered to leave the library.
What should I wish for?
Nageki is more of a light touch.
I wish to take the reins of power through clever schemes and rule the world from the shadows!
"Oh, hello... is that you, Tosaka?"
"Mister Nanaki!"
"You should be careful out this late! It can be dangerous for a girl, you know."I was about to head home.
Would you like me to walk you to your place?"
He's such a darling looking after all his students. Sorry, Nanaki-sensei.
"No, thank you. I still have some errands to run."
"Oh?
Well, don't stay out too late!"
Nanaki fades out.
Wasn't the Keymania IIDX public playtest starting today? Maybe I'll stop by the arcade...________________________________________________________________
"Sir! How will integral calculus help us in life?"
The answer is: it won't, ever. I don't even know what that is and I'm an Adult. I pay bills.
"Hmm... hard to say.
It might never help you at all, Tosaka!""But, only studying things that help you in life is tiresome. Think of it as intellectual candy."
Okay, that's a good answer.
Integral calculus is educational candy?! I'm not prepared to accept this...
Hiyoko leveled up!
Wisdom increased by 5!
________________________________________
July 15th
We get our finals back today!
I'm not sure I did too well...
"Tosaka!"
"Sir?!"
"Well done! You've gotten even better. Keep up the good work!"
"Yes, sir!"
Success!
________________________________________________________________
July 20th
The school bell rings.
Today's the last day!
It's been a semester already...Sometimes it seemed long, and sometimes it seemed short, but either way, it's summer now!
I need to check all the assigned books before I go home. There will be a lot of students in to borrow their summer reading pretty soon!
Today is the closing ceremony, so there are even fewer birds in here than usual.Am I the only one? Well, that just makes my job easier.
...but I'm probably not alone.
I've seen this situation before.
"Nageki?"
No reply.
Maybe he's not here.
"Are you here, Nage--"
"Please be quiet in the library."
"Hello!"
"You're rather noisy today.
Did you want something?"
"Nope!
I was just wondering if you were here."
"Of course.
I'm always here."
He replies from his corner, in a somewhat annoyed tone of voice.
Oh! The book he's holding...
"That's assigned reading this semester! Is it any good?"
"...not really. I'm almost done with it.""It enforces its' 'safe' ethical viewpoint on the reader.
Like all assigned reading."The whole concept is inane.
Why force everyone to read the same books?"
"It is pretty boring most of the time."
"What do you like to read?"
"Huh?"
"You volunteered to work here.
So you must like books.
I was wondering what to read next."
"So you want me to recommend something?"
He nods.
Night on the Galactic Railroad is a Japanese classic that has a lot of narrative throwbacks later on in Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star. If you like, you can read it here. (I'll be reading it before I make a Holistar LP, just so I can unpack all of the referential material.) It is a very short, easy read and is often told as a story for children. It is, however, also VERY SAD, so beware all ye who enter.
"OreHato" I'm not sure is referencing anything in particular, but it means something like "I, Pigeon", which is pretty funny.
EDIT: Thanks to the dedication of the lovely tumblr user tubbsen, she discovered that "OreHato" might actually be a reference to the Light Novel series "Oreimo", which is a shortening of it's full title: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai, or My Little Sister Can't be This Cute, where a brother bonds with his previously distant little sister when he discovers she's a closeted otaku. I wonder what My Pigeon Can't be This Cute is all about.
"What about Night on the Galactic Railroad? I liked it."
"Too stereotypical."
"Oh! Sorry. You've already read it, I imagine."
"Yes.
Though...""I liked it, too."
And so I spent the afternoon working in the library, occasionally exchanging a word with Nageki.Time flows slowly by.
This sort of thing is nice, too.
________________________________________________________________
I am belatedly cutting out this Azami scene, so please go back to Okosan's route if you would like to read it over. Sorry friends!
________________________________________
July 24th
It's still a long time until the semester starts...
And I still have a lot of homework!Maybe I should apply for a part-time job, since I have the chance?
Hiyoko, look at your life. Look at your choices. You have this wonderful cave to sleep in. Surely in times like these someone else in need could use that job.
Hmm... I think I'll wait until I'm in college. That way I can skip lectures to go to work.Slacking off and having fun is more the highschooler thing to do.
Wheeee!
________________________________________
August 6th
Today's the local summer festival! I think I'll go with somebirdie.
Will the elusive Nageki emerge from his lair?
I'll invite Nageki. He needs to get out more!...but I don't know his address or phone number.
I'd go look in the library if the school weren't already closed.Now that I think about it, I only know him as "the depressed freshman who's always in the library".
I'd like to learn more about him... though, he'd probably never tell me anything if I asked.
Aah, going out is too much trouble. I think I'll have some udon and go to bed!
In this route, Hiyoko becomes me.
________________________________________________________________
Today is my day as receptionist.
IN THE SUMMER???????
There's nobirdie here, as usual.
Maybe I should work on the newspaper...
"Nageki?"
"...yes?"
"Do you have a minute?"
"What is it?"
"Want to write a book review? I'm working on the library newspaper, and there's a corner open, so I thought..."
"Can't you write one yourself?"
"I'm always writing them! We never get submissions, so the book reviews are just turning into our personal soapbox!"
"Perhaps it would be better to remove them from the paper."
Nageki kinda reminds me of a guy I had a crush on when I was 14 that I hate now.
My thoughts exactly.
"I'd like to see how you'd write one, though.""It doesn't have to be very long, either!"
"...I'll write one later.
Leave the paper there."
"Yaaay! Thank you!"
I think that's everything for the September issue. Wheee!
And that's a wrap for Nageki's Route, part 1! Coming up next time: Will Nageki ever leave the library? Will he ever learn a little tact? What's in store in Hatoful Boyfriend Nageki's Route Part 2? Stay tuned!
Return to Gateway - To Nageki's Route Part 2
________________________________________________________________
