I really wanted to love this route, but I just couldn’t get invested.
This isn’t a bad route, per se. So, I don’t feel right belaboring such a wholesome, sincere, and lovable route. There were just key components that I didn’t connect with, which overall gave me an impression that skewed more neutral.
Wataru’s route wasn’t for me.
And that’s okay.
As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!
So, this is going to be a quick and simple article.
First, was the length of time covered in the route: Wataru and Serina’s story takes place over two and a half years!
Which is a lot of time to cover for a story that involves a college-aged man taking a part-time job at a flower shop to win over one of the employees (Serina). Over the course of the route, Serina and Wataru start dating. Then, near college graduation, Wataru decides to become a full-time employee at the flower shop, which means about six months of intensive-flower-education-training-by-corporate. The route ends with Wataru successfully becoming a full-time employee and being *luckily* assigned (as a full-time employee) to work at the same flower shop as Serina.
Wataru confessed to Serina right off the bat, which was really soon after he got his heart broken by his previous girlfriend. And Serina, who had her heart broken in a previous relationship, had to learn to trust Wataru.
Serina showed Wataru the ropes of working at the flower shop. Wataru’s affections got “tested” by Kozue, Hokuto, Gin, and Tenya (which was a cute scene!). Wataru and Serina went on dates. Serina decided to take a risk and return Wataru’s affections. They stayed over at each other’s apartments. They worked the Star Festival together. They watched firework shows together. Wataru takes corporate flower training. Wataru becomes a full-time employee.
The end.
I would call this the Hallmark route of otome games…but…even Hallmark movies have more happening than this!
I mean, slow paced, delightful otome routes aren’t a bad thing! There is nothing wrong with a hero and heroine being delightful to each other! I applaud the writers for creating a route with an extremely wholesome and healthy relationship between the two stars of the story.
But, come on!
Spreading this relationship over the span of two and a half years was too long. In my opinion, there wasn’t enough going on.
As it stands, to me, this route felt drawn out and lethargic.
And part of that, is everything in this route from, character arcs to story beats, was subtle to the point of boredom.
Wataru’s character arc was finding his place in the world. What began as getting a part-time job at the flower shop simply to win over Serina, became a full-time job that Wataru was passionate about. He took the training and passed the corporate flower “exam” for his love of flowers, not simply because he wanted to work with Serina. He took ownership of his future.
Serina’s character arc was learning to trust a man again. So, essentially, Serina was done developing as a character after she and Wataru became a couple. There was a small storyline of her leaving the flower shop to go work in the corporate offices, but in the end, she decided to stay for a while longer at the flower shop.
Which is technically fine (do what you want to do!), but this decision made her character feel stagnant. Because she ended the route in the same professional place she began it. While, in comparison, Wataru got romantic AND professional story lines. Which made Wataru feel more dynamic as a character.
And speaking of characters…
Let me start by saying, Wataru is a good man. He is kind, compassionate, respectful, honest, earnest…the list could go on. I have no complaints with his character as a romantic hero.
However.
The Labrador Retriever puppy energy was strong with Wataru.
And man.
For me, it was simply too much.
Voice actor, Ryouhei Kimura, brought the frenetic energy to the point that in the last chapters of the route, I had to mute him. I just couldn’t anymore! And it didn’t help that, at times, Wataru was whiny (and Kimura voiced that to perfection) and I got tired of listening to it.
I’m a mom. High-energy, sometimes whiny, voices clamoring for my attention is my day-to-day. I don’t need that in my heroes in my otome games.
Honestly, I don’t have more to say. This is how small of an impact this route had on me.
And that’s okay.
-Final Thoughts-
Wataru is an average hero for me. I didn’t hate him, but I didn’t love him either. He’s a really good man, who always wants the best for Serina! His sincerity and earnestness were off the charts and I can certainly understand why Serina fell in love with him. He just isn’t my type.
The route is average for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I really appreciated the sweetness and wholesomeness of this route! Both our hero and heroine are so kind and supportive of each other, which is beautiful to read!
This route just didn’t capture my attention and I found myself just waiting for it to be over. I just need something different.
And that’s okay.
Otomes as Novels 