Now, whatever could this be…?
Yes, I think it’s time. Let’s Play…
more of this?
More of this! Mere months after the release of the original Hatoful Boyfriend, Moa released Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star at the seasonally appropriate end of December 2011. Technically not a sequel, Holiday Star (henceforth HoliStar for brevity’s sake) is labelled under the distinctly Japanese category of fandisk. That said, HoliStar acts as close to a sequel as it can get; foregoing the otome structure of the original game, it presents a series of linear episodes set in a timeline where the Bad Boys’ Love route didn’t happen.
It should be noted, though, that most of the backstory established in that route is still firmly in effect and canon. While it is technically possible to mostly enjoy the first two episodes of HoliStar without any knowledge of the BBL route, the later episodes count on you knowing much of that backstory. This shouldn’t be a problem for any of you, because you all read the first LP, right? Of course.
Selecting Start presents us with the episode selection menu, which only allows us to start the first episode at first. That’s fine with us; as some famous singing matriarch said, the beginning’s a very good place to start.
We thought they were just an urban legend—until now! They’re after the tree, and that rhymes with T, which stands for Trouble, right here in Littledove Hachiman City.
Christmas trees, disappearing. A dark shadow, wriggling just out of sight. Can our faithful heroes from Saint Pigeonation’s put an end to this mystery before it puts an end to them!?
The game gives us a little blurb for the episode at hand, confirms our selection, and asks for our name.
Hey, I think it’s important to be consistent.
We open on the good old Torimi Cafe, where the protagonist and/or Ryouta did or didn’t work.
Ryouta’s holding down a winter job here now, at least.
“You’re not running late, are you? It’s already dark out.”
“Tell me about it. We were all talking about the nice autumn leaves and all just a few days back, and now I’m darned if it ain’t winter.”
“Well, I’d better be heading back. Azami’ll be getting out of work soon.”
“Be careful, mister Rabu! There are all kinds of hooligans out and about at this time of night.”
“No sweat. Worse comes to worst I can count on Azami to save me.”
“Are you sure you’re not relying on her a little too much…?”
“We put up our Christmas tree today. Please, have a look at it as you leave.”
“You did!? I never saw it on my way in. I’ll have to get a real good look at it to make up.”
“Mister Urushihara and I put a lot of time into decorating it. I hope you like it!”
“You bet I will. See y’all around!”
With a nod, Rabu heads out the door.
“December certainly does feel like the end of the year. I wonder how much busier it will be at this time next year…”
“You are a sophomore, correct? Have you been thinking about your plans for after graduation already?”
“No, not really… I just want to make sure I can take care of my mother.”
“Worries are an important part of youth, as well. And sometimes problems will simply disappear as you try to solve them. You never know.”
“Umm, mister Urushihara… Could I ask you for some advice? I’ve had a lot on my mind…”
“But of course. I am more than happy to provide whatever assistance I—”
A crashing noise from outside interrupts Kenzaburou.
“……? That came from out front.”
“I believe it did… let us go see what has happened.”
What on earth—
“……!”
“Mister Rabu! Are you all right!?”
“Have you been injured?”
“Aaa…aaargh… I let my guard down… they got me from… behind…”
“They got you!? Do you need an ambulance!? It must have been somebirdie settling a grudge from your biker gang days…”
“N-no! That’s not it…”
“The legendary Christmas Thieves, come to our town…!”
Cue dramatic music sting! Later, these events are being recounted to our protagonist.
“They’ve been coming up on the news a lot, too. Haven’t you seen the headlines? ‘The Christmas Thieves Invade Littledove Hachiman City at Last!’”
“Hmm… no, this is the first I’ve heard of them… I think…”
Forget the thieves, this is the first time I’ve heard the name of this town! I guess it just never comes up in conversation or anything. The more you know~
There’s a little star there. I think we ran into this issue once in the last game?
“Do they show up every year at this time? I don’t remember hearing about them last year.”
“This is the first time they’ve come here. I don’t know too much either, but apparently they move around each year…”
The world sinks into a sepia-hazed flashback.
The job was only until August, but apparently he decided he could use help for December, as well. The wilderness gets very cold this time of year, making it dangerous to come home late, so I left it to Ryouta this time. (That and I need time to study!)
This smacks of drama! Drama, excitement, and adventure!
Those are all things we love to trade in here at the Hatoful Boyfriend LP! It’s so exciting, our protagonist lets out a screen-shaking exclamation.
“Just getting the feel for it. There’s been an incident, right? I need to make sure my finger-pointing is sufficiently dramatic for when I need to use it!”
“Eeeeh…? Please don’t go around pointing and shouting at stuff, you’ll give me a heart attack…”
Sadly, there’s no Ace Attorney-styled courtroom segments in this game.
“Tell me! Who’s the victim? And the suspect?”
“The victim is mister Rabu. He was attacked from behind while texting a picture of mister Urushihara’s Christmas tree to Azami. And when we found him, the tree was gone.”
“Wh-wh-wh-wh-what was that for!?”
“What do you mean, the tree was gone???”
“Please don’t shout everything! You can just ask!”
“Sorry, I got excited. Teehee!”
“Geez… well, stealing the tree definitely implicates the Christmas Thieves. They must be wandering the town stealing any trees they see. It’s… it’s horrible!
Mister Urushihara and I worked really hard to decorate that tree, too… And now all the customers who were looking forward to seeing it will be disappointed…”
“Monstrous! How could they steal mister Urushihara’s incredibly classy hand-decorated tree!? Let’s look for the thieves! Christmas is at the weekend. They must still be in town!”
“Mmm, I wonder… they probably are still prowling around here looking for trees…
… yes. I want to get mister Urushihara’s tree back, anyway. Let’s find them, Tera!”
“We can start today!”
“You two are awfully loud today. Can you not grant the rest of us a little peace and quiet?”
A familiar, snooty voice condescends upon the pair.
“You can’t just go around giving things nicknames like a certain someone next door, Tera… Christmas trees are being stolen all around town, Sakuya. Maybe you’ve already heard?”
“Aah, you must be referring to that drivel the local rag devoted an entire page to. Disgusting. Is there not more important news to be run now, of all seasons? How telling it is that so much attention is devoted to such foolishness.”
“You don’t like Christmas, Sakuya?”
The mere suggestion seems to incense Sakuya.
“What!? From where do you think I hail, plebeian?”
“France… right?”
“Oh, of course. Christmas probably means a lot more to you than to us Japanese people.”
“I have even deigned to place it near the window, so that the masses may gaze up at it in awe and wonder. Be grateful!
He who does not celebrate Christmas is no true bird… that is the importance Christmas holds for us.”
In other words, Sakuya gets extra jolly this time of year… Better take notes!
“Trees are being stolen from in front of shops and on the sidewalk and other easily-visible places, so you should probably be careful too, Sakuya. Don’t let it get stolen!”
“Hmph! Do not place me on the same level as you Orientals, with your infantile understanding of private security. Did I not say I overlook nothing?”
That’s racist, Sakuya.
“I know not who this villain may be, but he shall step not one centimeter within my territory! The council room’s security is flawless, I tell you. Flawless!”
Sakuya… we call that sort of line a “flag”, here in Japan.
“Let’s start our investigation by asking people around town, Ryouta.”
“Good idea.”
“Let us know if you hear anything new or get robbed, Sakuya!”
“How many times must I tell you!? My tree will not be stolen!”
Sakuya shakes his head as Ryouta and the protagonist set off.
Upon leaving the building, Ryouta and I are greeted by the sight of Okosan prancing about on the track. Prancing, or… maybe skipping? I’m not sure. At any rate, he appears to be in pointlessly high spirits.
“You’re in a good mood today, San.”
“Did something good happen?”
“Coooooo!”
(It’s Christmas! Christmas is almost here!)
What! Another Christmas fiend!? Is there something about Christmas that wakes the ancestral jollity inside a dove’s heart?
“Coo, coooo! Coo, coooo!”
(Everything is sparkly on Christmas! Okosan is excited! And everything smells like delicious food! Okosan is very excited!)
“Western pastry shops always look so tempting this time of year…”
“You spend a lot of time in department stores, right, San? Have you heard anything about the Christmas Thieves?”
“Coo!?”
(Who!? Villains out to steal Okosan’s delicious grub!?)
“Villains out to steal pretty Christmas trees!”
“Coo, coo! Cooooo!”
(Christmas trees? Yes! Okosan knows about them! The trees at Okosan’s favorite High Society Seagull Department Store disappeared!)
“High Society Seagull Department Store… do you know where that is, Ryouta?”
“Yeah, I’ve worked at the samples table there. I’ll show you the way.”
Here we come, High Society Seagull Department Store!
In high spirits, our intrepid protagonists depart for the department store. Who knows what they’ll learn there? Until next time, everybirdie!