Synopsis:
Spring in the Wilderness is a pixel-art RPG horror game that took Japan by storm soon after its launch.
Among the romanceable characters, the shrine maiden Taketori Kaede is by far the most popular. Her merchandise sells for exorbitant prices, she has countless followers, and fan works have spread all over the internet.
Even more absurdly, at some point a church called "Listening to Kaede Is the Divine Word" appeared. Countless players willingly joined, acting crazed every day and chanting, "Kaede is the truth."
Amused onlookers called it another kind of strange tale, and named it "The Sacred Princess Kaguya."
In their spare time, the five members of the police academy group play the game together online.
At first, they help one another out and grind away enthusiastically, scoffing at the rumors about the Princess Kaguya.
But gradually, they begin to disagree.
Matsuda and Rei get into several private fights over how to win Taketori Kaede's affection. When they meet up, Matsuda has a black eye, Rei's lip is split, and they glare at each other with frightening hostility.
Hagiwara and Hiromitsu pretend to make peace, but secretly send gifts to Taketori Kaede. When they're caught, they claim, "We just wanted to raise our friendship level~"
But there's a flower in their inventory!
Date Wataru, the only one taking the game seriously: ?
After they start playing, strange things begin happening one after another.
First come dreams they can remember clearly.
In their dreams, they enter the world of Spring in the Wilderness, become partners with the shrine maiden, and work together to solve strange tales, escaping death time and time again.
The Taketori Kaede in their dreams feels so real. They meet, go on dates, and fall in love with her. At the brink of death, they hold each other close and share their innermost feelings; when an incident ends, they kiss through their tears.
It all feels so real that they can no longer tell dreams from reality.
Only after waking does a hollow loneliness linger throughout the day.
☆ Supernatural horror and infinite-loop survival. The dreams are actually a world of endless survival challenges. Most scenarios are moving, and the heroine is herself a strange tale who will come to the real world.
☆ The players who become followers and enter the dreams include not only the police academy group, but also Gin and the young detective group, among others.
☆ The point of view may shift between characters. The male characters, anxious and possessive, may turn dark, but even when an angry puppy snaps, it won't bite its owner. It will only kill the other puppies.
Blurb written: April 5, 2024, 3:39 p.m.
Theme: True affection exists in this world
