I’ve been slowly making my way through Klap! Kind Love and Punish. I LOVED Camil (and his route), so I took a lengthy break from the game. Sometimes you just really enjoy a hero and you can’t imagine how another hero and/or route could possibly be better.
Well, I started Toma’s route and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked him. Like I really liked him! And for a moment, I was wondering if this route would be better than Camil’s route. But then Chapter 6 happened, and my excitement began to wane.
I’m sorry, Toma. Please forgive me.
You’re still great, though!
As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!
Toma (VA: Showtaro Morikubo: voice of the marvelous Impey Barbicane & Gilbert Redford!) is a busy guy who won’t suffer fools. He’s got a lot on his mind, and a lot of responsibilities. The eldest of five, Toma takes his role as eldest very seriously. His father passed away and his mom, a single parent, is overworked. He has the responsibility of cooking for the family and is always looking for deals at the grocery store.
He’s a bit of a hot head, who is not above using his fists to get his point across. He usually says he “won’t get involved” in other people’s problems, but overall Toma has a good heart and a strong sense of justice. He just needs to learn to not use his fists all the time!
Toma has high expectations for everyone around him. Of course, he keeps the same expectations for himself. He’s constantly assessing people and trying to judge their character. But once he accepts you into his life, and his circle, he’ll typically look out for you and have your back.
I liked that while Toma can get embarrassed, he never lets his embarrassment stop him from getting what he wants. He might be too shy at first to ask Koyomi to spend time with him, but he doesn’t let his embarrassment stop him for finding “some” reason to ask her out! HAHA! Most of their early interactions were the two of them “exchanging” thank-yous for the things they did for each other. At first, it really was Toma always leveling the gratitude scale, but soon, for him, it became a way to spend time with Koyomi without having to admit he liked her. There wasn’t the drama of him “gathering up” the courage to speak or tell Koyomi want he wanted. He just spoke his mind and let the “chips fall where they may.” I really appreciated his brand of confidence.
Toma’s not academically minded, but he’s athletic and the scene where he led his class in a calvary battle during the sports festival had me constantly laughing. This man has the strength and charisma to be a great leader, but needs someone to help keep him grounded, and maybe be the “academic” brains in the relationship. And this is where Koyomi comes in. They are perfect together.
I thought Toma and Koyomi were really cute. Both of them are no nonsense and very practical. Koyomi could understand Toma’s love of sales and his attempts to manage money for a family of six. They can both have fun and “bicker” with each other, and I thought they had really good chemistry together. I especially liked the early flying scene, where Toma carries her home through the air. Koyomi didn’t freak out and complain. Nervous at first, she soon enjoyed the flight and knew she was safe with Toma. She was so comfortable with Toma, that the two of them were able to have playful banter all the way to her house.
At his core, Toma is family man and I could see how him and Koyomi would do well together raising a family. Koyomi never looks down or pities Toma’s family’s financial situation and she can see the love in their home. His reaction when Koyomi offered to cook him dinner for the first time was so cute! He blushed and he didn’t quite know what to make of it for a moment, but he quickly settled in and enjoyed himself.
The main plot of the route deals with the expectations that comes with being a part of a family. Toma’s dad was the head of the tengu clan, but he died 3 years ago in an “accident.” Toma, who was technically, the heir to the tengu clan was deemed too young, with not good enough control over his powers. So apparently, the tengu clan decided to wait for 3 years but now they are done waiting and it’s time to elect a leader.
Anyways, Toma entered the school to learn to control his powers better, so he can be the leader. But now he finds himself in an election race against Haruka’s dad, who is an arrogant older tengu who hates humans. Haruka’s dad found himself in constant conflict with Toma’s dad, who wanted tengus and humans to live in peace together. Toma believes the same as his father and wants to encourage peace between tengus and humans.
Toma has an unbelievable amount of stress on his shoulders. Not only is he the oldest of five children, who does everything he can to support his mom and siblings, and attends school, Toma is living with his father’s and family legacy right over his head. And Toma doesn’t want to be the generation who loses this legacy. I really respect him for all this. He’s such a dedicated, kind man who wants what is best for everyone, and rarely thinks about himself. He doesn’t ask for anything from anyone. He tries to handle everything on his own, taking others’ burdens upon himself, but never burdening anyone else with his problems and concerns.
And this is why Koyomi is such an important presence in his life. Koyomi becomes the person who non-judgmentally listens to Toma, as he shares his thoughts and concerns. She finally gives this young man someone to rely on and trust. Koyomi, also, comes to care for Natsuki (Toma’s younger brother) and defends him from Haruka, who heckles the little boy (Not Cool, Dude). Koyomi becomes a solid presence in Toma’s life, which helps him find the strength to continue with the election campaign. She becomes his safe haven, where he can rest and recuperate before heading back out into the stresses of daily life.
Unfortunately, the game started turning for me in Chapter 6. The chapter seemed to kind of drag on for me, but I still enjoyed the interactions between Toma, Koyomi, and Natsuki. It was the end of Chapter 6 that ruined all the momentum of romantic development between Toma and Koyomi. The route, itself, went downhill from there.
I thought it was weird that Toma confesses to Koyomi in Chapter 5, and then we step away from that part of the story to introduce and develop the election story line. They still have cute interactions and Koyomi is still supporting Toma, but they aren’t a couple. Well, at the end of Chapter 6, it became clear the conflict the writers were setting up by ignoring Toma’s confession. Toma finally asks her why she’s being so supportive of him and why she cares so much. And Koyomi doesn’t have an answer. She doesn’t know why she is being so supportive and caring. Koyomi wonders internally if she is this way because she is his teacher.
Like what?
I’m over here thinking: “Well, Koyomi, do you treat every one of your students this way? Are you making them bentos and taking them on dates to the lake? Do you attentively listen to their concerns about their families and lives and promise to support them in any way you can? Clearly you aren’t. You obviously treat Toma differently than everybody else.” Her reasoning her is so stupid. And I was kind of left feeling, by the end of the chapter, that Koyomi was (unintentionally) leading Toma on there for a bit.
Like I understand that Koyomi is naïve in love. But really? All these sweet beautiful moments between Toma and Koyomi and she doesn’t know how she feels? It’s one thing to not know what your feelings are, yet to continue to spend time with someone you care about. But it’s something else entirely when someone confesses their feelings to you, and you don’t take the time to think about what your feelings for them are! AND YET YOU CONTINUE TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM, LISTEN TO THEM, AND MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL! These kinds of behaviors send a certain message that might be misconstrued by the other person.
FIGURE OUT YOUR FEELINGS, KOYOMI!
This continues on into Chapter 7, where there is another jump of time into December (once again, not quite sure how much time has passed). And Koyomi and Toma still haven’t talked about his confession and her feelings. In fact, Koyomi’s been so busy with graduation tests and Toma’s been busy with his election that it doesn’t seem they have seen each other outside of school in a while. Koyomi still doesn’t know how she feels about Toma. Well, they bump into each other and chat. Koyomi feels guilty that she hasn’t been doing enough and decides she wants to help more with the election campaign (like how you had promised him before, but then for some reason didn’t?). So, Koyomi once again involves herself with Toma’s life, not knowing why she is doing this. They work together again. Then Toma gives Koyomi a lovely heart shaped necklace as a Christmas present.
And, FINALLY, Koyomi figures out she loves Toma! And what is frustrating is that Koyomi herself muses how selfish she has been and questions how she didn’t figure this out before!
I COMPLETELY AGREE, KOYOMI! What the hell have you been doing?
I guess I was simply disappointed with this plot decision. I LOVED Toma and Koyomi’s relationship up until the end of Chapter 6, but from that moment on the story was just maddening. To me it felt Koyomi was being really irresponsible with how she dealt with Toma’s confession. They didn’t talk about it for…weeks…months? (it’s not really clear how much time had passed). And then when Toma gets around to asking her about it a couple different times, Koyomi has absolutely no response. I don’t know. This whole relationship drama just wasn’t my favorite. I could have done without it.
So, after all this unneeded relationship drama, Toma and Koyomi continue working together on the election campaign. And they are making a difference together, which catches the attention of Haruka. Then the route turns into a political intrigue drama…that, to me, goes completely off the rails.
And, frankly, I just didn’t care.
By this point, the route had well and truly lost me. There was so much potential built up between Toma and Koyomi that was completely squandered.
So disappointing.
-Final Thoughts-
I loved Toma! He is a great hero for me! I can’t say much that I haven’t already said. He’s such a good guy! I was cheering for him the whole time, and I was sad for him at the end of Chapter 6 when Koyomi didn’t have an answer to his feelings. I mean, the poor boy ran out of the room because he was so disappointed! I love how he never gives up, and even with all he’s been through, he’s still optimistic and cares for those around him.
My reaction towards Koyomi was mixed. I felt like the relationship between Toma and Koyomi was written backwards. They are terrific together up until the end of Chapter 6. But then you realize that Koyomi was acting like a great, supportive significant other for…well, she doesn’t really know why she is acting that way. So, it’s after that point that Koyomi has to figure out how she feels about Toma, when she’s already been a wonderful friend and partner to him! I just didn’t like this.
And then once, Koyomi figures out her feelings, the reader has to deal with Haruka’s dad. This dude was not very bright. Obviously, he was the villain in what is supposed to be a romantic comedy, so I shouldn’t expect too much. But still. His over-the-top, maniacal zaniness was just too much for me. Now, was the final chapter that bad? I mean, no, it wasn’t horrible. I, personally, just didn’t enjoy it.
To say that I didn’t enjoy the story from Chapter 6 (especially the end of the chapter) to the end of the story is an understatement. It’s such a disappointment because I loved the first half of the route so much! None of Toma’s friends and classmates are in his character route chapters. I really wished they had made an appearance at some point, especially since Toma played a big role in Akito’s route.
I guess this means the route levels out to average? I would definitely play the first half of the route again, but I will never reread chapters 6-8. I would though, revisit scenes within those chapters. So. Average. Yes. An Average Route.
Otomes as Novels 