As the one who is the “Hijikata” of their family, I have to say that historical Hijikata is not my favorite character in the Hakuouki universe (except for the final chapter of his Edo Blossoms route, where he becomes absolutely swoon-worthy!). So, honestly, I just kept delaying Hijikata’s SSL route. I wasn’t looking forward to it.
However, I am happy to say, this has become my favorite version of Hijikata! The writers took the Hijikata I adore from the last chapter of Edo Blossoms and used this version for an entire route!
PRAISE!
I don’t like the power dynamic between Hijikata and Chizuru in SSL, but I can’t deny that I did enjoy seeing a less high-strung, stressed-out Hijikata!
Historical Hijikata is intimidating, yet somehow manages to be frustrating at the same time.
21st Century Hijikata is dreamy beyond all measure!
As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut! There will also be a few spoilers for Hakuouki: Kyoto Winds, Hakuouki: Edo Blossoms, Hakuouki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom 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 updates: Kyoto Winds, Edo Blossoms, and Chronicles of Wind and Blossom (though not all the characters featured in those games are in SSL, because SSL was created before the remakes were 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 Hijikata’s character scenes and how Chizuru is written in Hijikata’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 Hijikata is the vice-principal, head of the disciplinary committee, and the school’s classical literature teacher.
Boy, did this route play up the teacher and student dynamic.
And like…I get it.
I think of all the SSL routes I played, the writers’ use of the teacher and student dynamic worked the best in this route.
The entirety of the historical games is Chizuru chasing after Hijikata who refuses to abandon his samurai principles and keeps pushing the Shinsengumi forward at all costs.
So, for Hijikata to put the breaks on a romantic relationship with Chizuru until after she graduates from high school and for Chizuru to wait for a relationship until she feels like she’s at the same level as Hijikata, honors the spirit of the historical games.
In SSL, in addition to graduating from high school, it takes Chizuru being three years into her university’s education program before she feels ready to reunite with Hijikata and for them to finally confess their feelings to each other. So, the Epilogue jumps five years into the future, which I also believe is the same amount of time it took for them to become a couple in the historical games (Nice touch, Writers!).
All that said…I’m still not a fan of the teacher and student dynamic. I’m reading this game for the love of my Hakuouki characters, not because I enjoy the premise!
Anyways…
I completely loved Shinichirou Miki’s voice performance! For me, one of the main things that keeps historical Hijikata from being totally unlikeable is his wry sense of humor. So, I was happy that the SSL writers allowed more humor for Hijikata and Miki voiced this side of Hijikata to perfection (who am I kidding…everything Miki voiced was superb…but I especially liked the humor in Miki’s voice)! There is a laid-back warmth to Hijikata that is missing from a majority of the historical games (he’s too busy being a hard ass), so I’m glad we got to hear more of Hijikata’s warmth from Miki in SSL!
Another fun thing (for me) was the number of times Hijikata saves Chizuru: 1) Hijikata saves Chizuru from having to pick a partner for the SSS water fight by agreeing to partner up with her; 2) Hijikata intervenes when a group of boys won’t leave Chizuru alone in her maid costume; 3) Hijikata refuses to allow Chizuru to go to Serizawa’s house unaccompanied (because that man is a monster); 4) Hijikata catches Chizuru from falling off a ladder; 5) Hijikata protects Chizuru from getting stampeded in New Year’s Day crowds; 6) Hijikata intervenes when Chizuru’s fellow classmates are hounding her for Valentine’s Day chocolates…honestly the list could go on!
Yes! This is the kind of behavior I want from our oni vice principle! He is such a hero and SSL had no qualms about leaning into this role for Hijikata!
AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!
Chizuru is also fantastic in this route! She learns that to love someone is to respect the parts of that person we don’t always understand or gets in the way of what we want.
In the Valentine’s Day chapter, Chizuru wants to tell Hijikata she loves him, yet at the same times knows nothing will come of it because Hijikata is not the type to cross the boundary of teacher and student. She doesn’t bring the chocolates she made for him to school because she knows it would put him in a tough position as the teacher in charge of the disciplinary committee. She wants a relationship with him, but she also realizes that his character, which she loves about him, would never allow him to enter a romantic relationship with her in their current situation.
The focus on waiting and Chizuru loving Hijikata for the man that he is, directly parallels the historical games.
To me, the biggest difference is Hijikata, himself.
I feel like Hijikata actually got to woo Chizuru in SSL. In the historical games all the pressure was on Chizuru to not let Hijikata go. But in SSL, Hijikata played a much more equal role in their developing relationship, which I enjoyed a lot more.
And I thought it was really sweet that Hijikata did not allow Chizuru to tell him her feelings because he didn’t want to turn her down, because he had romantic feelings for her as well. If she had spoken her feelings, Hijikata would have had to turn her down, which could have ruined their romantic relationship before it even started. But by telling her to keep her feelings to herself, it allowed them to share their feelings with each other when the time was right. Hijikata was trying to protect Chizuru, her feelings, and the hope of a future together.
In true “Poster Boy” and “Cannon Route” fashion, Hijikata’s route had the most plot (which I say loosely, considering the plot in this route is still minor). There was a whole secondary storyline about Hijikata protecting Kondou’s dreams to keep Shiei Hall (Kondou’s former dojo) and continue growing Hakuo Academy. The first half of the Epilogue is Hijikata standing up to Serizawa’s demand to tear down Shiei Hall. It’s a poignant moment when Hijikata is prepared to go to his knees and beg Serizawa to allow Shiei Hall to keep standing if Hijikata resigns from Hakou Academy. Hijikata allows nothing to stand in the way of his goals…not even his pride.
So, it was fun to see Saito, Okita, Heisuke, Sannan, and even Kazama, come and support Hijikata! For the first time, Hijikata didn’t have to fight the battle for the future of Shiei Hall and Hakou Academy all by himself. It’s even an emotional moment when you think of all the crap Hijikata goes through in the historical games. Yet, in the “modern era” he’s able to count on the support of his friends and use swords, death threats, actual death, words, smartphones, financial threats, and blackmail (okay, somethings never change) to take down the ruthless, cruel demands of Serizawa, who ultimately backs down.
The writers went above and beyond including so many references and parallels to the historical games! I really appreciated this touch to the story!
I finished this route, surprised by how much I enjoyed it! It truly makes you realize how delightful Hijikata is under his tough, stern, critical demeanor. And while I truly dislike the teacher and student dynamic, I really love how SSL allows Hijikata to exist as a person outside of survival mode.
I’m glad SSL exists to show me different sides of the characters I love so much! To me, this is what makes SSL fun and worth the read!
Otomes as Novels 