My favorite Hakuouki characters are the members of the baka trio! And in comparison, to the baka trio, Saito is commandingly capable, but he’s also hard to communicate with. So, I went into SSL with indifferent expectations towards Saito.
And let me say, I was pleasantly surprised!
Everything I found exasperating about Saito from the historical games, was tweaked by the writers for this more contemporary setting!
And I get it now.
SSL Saito is the perfect, if-you’re-looking-for-the-shy-introverted-type, guy!
As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut! There will also be a few spoilers for Hakuouki: Kyoto Winds and Hakuouki: Edo Blossoms and, well…essentially all other possible Hakuouki content in general.
SSL isn’t a traditional otome game. Otome elements are there but, if anything, this game is an addition or a supplement to the main historical games, like the remake update: Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms (though not all the characters featured in those games are in SSL, because SSL was created before the remake was made). This game makes the most sense, and has the most meaning, within the context of the world created by the historical games.
When you go into SSL with all the prerequisite knowledge, the game takes on a magic all its own. You can appreciate the modern adjustments made to the historical characters. You get all the references to the plot, characters, and internal relationships in the historical games. The fact that everyone is alive, healthy, and not fighting tooth and nail for survival warms your heart with happiness. Everything just means more, because you have the background knowledge from the historical games.
Now, I gave my general SSL game impressions in Okita’s route article. If you are interested in those thoughts, please read Okita’s article. I am not going to repeat them here. This article will be focused solely on Saito’s character scenes and how Chizuru is written in Saito’s route.
In Hakuouki SSL, Chizuru is a first-year high school student. She’s the first woman to go to Hakuo Academy, which has recently become co-ed. And Saito is a second-year student who is a member of the kendo club and the disciplinary committee.
In Saito’s route, you get to witness some of the most sickeningly-sweet, under-the-breath-mumblings and kuudere blushes ever written in an otome game. Seriously, this route oozed a level of sincerity and earnestness that can only be achieved by Hajime Saito. And I loved every minute of it!
Saito (VA: Kohsuke Toriumi) is still a stoic and quiet young man, but the writers updated his personality to match the 21st century. The core of Saito is still the same, but instead of having the poor emotional health and overall hopelessness of a sword-wielding assassin from the 1860’s, in SSL, Saito is an emotionally well-adjusted young man. Which allows him to talk more and be more open with his feelings. In SSL, Saito allows himself to fall in love with Chizuru (and very early in the route, I might add!) and he isn’t afraid to act upon those feelings.
Of course, Saito continues to be observant of Chizuru’s needs and helps her however and whenever he can. He’s disciplined to a fault and takes his academic studies and his work on the disciplinary committee seriously. Saito, also, continues to process the world around him with a logical precision and rigidity, that at times, exasperates the people around him.
I truly enjoyed this modern take on Saito’s kuudere personality!
I also thought Chizuru had some great moments! She gets to stand-up to Nagumo, her ridiculously obnoxious brother, and she tells him off in her trademark compassionate and empathetic manner. Seriously, Chizuru is so classy, even when setting someone straight! She does not deserve her brother’s derision and condescending arrogance, and it was so refreshing that Chizuru didn’t have to sit back and take it. And I might have even cheered out loud for Chizuru while reading this route…I feel no embarrassment!
Saito’s scenes in Chapter 4 were great. While helping to decorate for the Christmas party, Saito has a mini panic attack about how close he and Chizuru are in height. He started mumbling to himself about how Chizuru still had time to grow taller, while he had already stopped. Then his train of thought turned to how odd they would look in pictures if he was shorter than Chizuru! This was such a sweet moment that, of course, went over our oblivious Chizuru’s head. Saito walks Chizuru home after the party. And before he leaves for the night, he gathers his courage and gives her a Christmas present! It’s a pair of matching cat key chains! I loved the moment where Chizuru realizes its two separate key chains and insists on giving one to Saito! The sweet boy is so happy to have a matching pair with Chizuru!
The New Year’s Chapter was really enjoyable as well! It was adorable to see Saito try to avoid their friends at the shrine so he could keep Chizuru all to himself! He even *lies* to Chizuru’s brother Nagumo about losing cell phone service and hangs up, so Nagumo doesn’t figure out exactly where he and Chizuru are spending New Year’s Eve! This whole chapter was nothing but cute blushful moments with Saito, and honestly, flustered Saito is the best!
The only thing I didn’t like about the route was the beginning of the Valentine’s Day chapter. The whole conflict about the disciplinary committee being able to confiscate fellow students’ food and give them strikes for having these contraband snacks was, to me, over the top.
I mean, I don’t know. I’ve never been to Japan so I don’t know if disciplinary committees are a real thing and, if they are, if they have this kind of power.
But…and maybe this is my adult experience shining through…if a fellow student was trying to take away my food, I would say it’s ridiculous and report this to a teacher. And if the teachers refused to do anything, I’d report it to my parents.
I get the need for conflict, but I couldn’t help but roll my eyes over this whole part of the route. And maybe this is my own lack of knowledge of Japanese culture coming through, but I really question the idea of students in “authority” positions being able to confiscate a fellow students’ food.
Overall, this was a very sweet, wholesome route! SSL Saito and Chizuru are good together and this game really highlights the strengths of them as a couple.
Obviously, SSL is my favorite version of Saito. He’s more outgoing and willing to express his thoughts and emotions. I really thought his personality shined in a really great way! I wish he was more open like this in Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms.
For me, this has been one of the best routes of the game! And Saito isn’t even one of my favorite Hakuouki heroes! His characterization was on point (though modernized) and he had some of the best CGs of the game! There was so much to like about this route, and there will be scenes that I revisit!
Otomes as Novels 