If you don’t yet have the game, you can basically pick either direction, but the right one would technically leave more options open to you later. In short, you would normally pick the left route here, but pick the right one if you feel like it… Those who don’t have the game need not read the unlocking information below. Just choose the direction.
| Left | Right |
This actually isn’t so much an automatic branch as it is a locked route. Those who have been playing the game and have only followed my translation will wind up taking a left, here. I haven’t exactly fully documented how to unlock all of the routes…
And a precious resource that I was using for that purpose is now gone…
At least in this case, however, I think I have the answer.
Steps for Unlocking
Note: The game has a “skip” function that makes the text fly by, but only for parts of the game you’ve already been through. R1 is the regular “skip” command. L2 is the command for “auto-skip,” which skips automatically, so you don’t have to hold the button down. They also have adjustable speeds, accessible from the option menu (at the top). It will automatically stop when you get to a choice branch.
1) Continue as if you have taken the left branch. If you like, play until you reach an ending. If you want to unlock it now, play until you reach the next scene, “The Enju’s Guidance.” Then press triangle to open the menu screen and select the last option to return to the title screen (Don’t worry about saving from the game menu.). The game will give you a dialogue to save your system data. Select “yes” (はい), the default option. Note that you also do this when you reach an ending.
2) Start a new game, OR, if you have a save back in the scenes titled “The First Step” (はじめの一歩) or “Somebody’s Picture” (誰かの写真) or “As we pulled away from the dark forest, there it was…” (暗い森を抜けるとそこは) before you have selected the choices there, load that save. Preferably the third one.
3a) If you started a new game, or loaded a save back in “The First Step”, select “I’ve already checked everything. It’s fine.” (下調べもしたし大丈夫)
Or…
3b) If you loaded “Somebody’s Picture”, select “Even without the bus, I can still……” (バスがなくても何とか。。。), THEN perform step 3c
And/or…
3c) If you loaded “As we pulled away from the dark forest, there it was…” select “I’ve made up my mind.” (覚悟を決めた)
4) You will now be on Sakuya/Tsudzura’s shared route. Continue playing, checking your divergence map every now and then to see if you have arrived or passed the scene titled, “わたしのきずあと”. (It’s a good idea to check whenever you see the screen fading to black or white in a decorative manner.) Remember, you can view scene titles on the divergence map by moving your cursor over the diamonds.
5) Once you have seen that scene (the diamond is glowing), progress to the NEXT scene. Then use the menu to return to the title screen (as in step 1). The branch in Yumei’s route (幻視行) should unlock itself.
Note: After you do this, the left route will become inaccessible.