Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #11: Saki’s Wild Side

This entry covers the cutscene upon visiting the clinic in Tokoshie Canopy a second time, now that Saki has rejoined.

Spoilers, as usual.

I set up Saki’s new Hymma (Modeko and Bukkuru) and rested to have a few nighttime chats with her. One of them had her worrying that she’d heard Cosmospheres are dangerous places, and asking Aoto if anything unpleasant had happened to him in hers. He began his reply with “Um… other than Saki hitting me…”, shocking her and forcing him to quickly reassure her it was nothing serious.

After that, I headed to Hikaru Gojyou’s clinic for him to take a closer look at Saki. After the offscreen examination, he explains, “My conclusion is that Saki has at least one other person inside her.” He continues that he’d like to perform a mental diagnosis on her, that might enable her to answer herself how many people share her body. Though it’s hard to believe, he thinks that Saki may be a ‘multiple-personality Reyvateil.’

While Aoto and Tatsumi are taken aback by this, Saki herself does not seem terribly shocked by the revelation, and asks if it might be possible to call one of those other people out. Hikaru replies that a human might be able to do so, and asks if she’d like to try. Saki replies determinedly that she would. The doctor asks her to stare into a light, and chants in Hymmnos: “Ma num ra gyen anw slep noes” (I shall craft a spell to send you to sleep.)

Suddenly, Saki transforms into a different person, shocking Aoto and Tatsumi even more. Hikaru explains that multiple-personality Reyvateils will transform like this when another personality surfaces. The new personality stretches, and exclaims, “Ah, the outside really is nice… Thanks to you all, I’ve been able to see its light for the first time in a long while.” Aoto exclaims that she’s a different personality from the one he met before; she replies that the one he met was Sakia Rumei, and introduces herself as Salapetor.

Aoto wonders how she knows his name, and she explains that she is Saki and Saki is her; thus, she shares all of Saki’s memories. She thanks him for helping Saki, and continues that through his actions, all of their lives (presumably referring to the other personas) were saved. When he’s at a loss how to reply, she giggles and asks him to continue protecting Saki; despite how negative she acts, she does care about him.

Aoto is surprised by this, and Salapator remarks “Oh, you didn’t realize? That girl always has such trouble making her feelings known to anyone…” She explains that she is Saki’s ‘voice’, to whom this task falls. Hikaru observes, “So the different personalities each have a different role…” Salapetor agrees, but says “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to lay her feelings bare like this.”

“Lay her bare?” exclaims Aoto, misunderstanding the expression. (The japanese pun is between 一肌脱ぐ and 脱ぐ, if you’re curious.)

Salapator responds by strolling over to Aoto. “Is that what you’d like to do to us, Aoto?” she inquires with a giggle. “I wouldn’t object…” Aoto replies “W-why are you getting so close?!”, for all his perversion not so good at accepting opportunities when they present themselves. “Hm… a kiss to show my gratitude?” Salapetor suggests.

Aoto stammers incoherently, but Salapator stops just before going through with it. “Ah, that’s too bad… She’s coming back. It seems she doesn’t want to go to first base with you just yet… Well then, I’ll see you again, A-o-to.” She transforms back into Saki, whereupon Aoto hurriedly backs up and attempts to explain he wasn’t trying to kiss her or anything. With a shout of “Nooooooo!!!”, she transforms again….

Aoto is felled in a single blow of Sakia’s sword, after which Saki returns to herself, with no memory of what happened. “W-what happened…? Aoto-san! Who did this to you?! No… no, don’t die!” Hikaru remarks, “Troublesome girl, isn’t she…”

Fast forward to Aoto recovering on a bed. He regains consciousness, and Saki apologizes. “I don’t remember, but it seems I did something bad to you…” Aoto assures her it was just a flesh wound, but Saki nonetheless seizes the opportunity to emo about how she always causes him trouble. After the usual chatter, Tatsumi interjects “Hey, the two of us are here too. Don’t create a world just for yourselves. It’s embarrassing to watch.”

The doctor explains that while it’s clear Saki has multiple personalities, it looks like they are all dedicated to her well-being, so it shouldn’t be a problem. He continues “We’ll have to get more information from her other personalities. But I fear that personality who arises during Saki’s crisis situations, and hit you back then, won’t be of any use answering questions.” Aoto replies, “Crisis situations…? Hey!”

Tatsumi says, “Now that Aoto’s recovered, shall we depart, Saki?” He reminds her that Finnel wanted the two of them to come to her restaurant. Aoto wants to go to, but Hikaru asks him to stay for a moment; Saki assures him she’ll be okay, since the restaurant is close by, and heads off with Tatsumi.

It seems there’s something the doctor wanted to talk to Aoto about. He explains it’s about Saki’s Cosmosphere… there are a great number of ‘cracks’ in it., which separate her spirit into many pieces. In short, it’s as if many people are inhabiting the same body. He says that in order to do a precise examination of those ‘cracks’, he’s created Tepo – a program for cosmosphere investigation he’d like Aoto to install on his next dive into Saki.

Aoto says he wouldn’t mind, and Hikaru thanks him for his cooperation. He has one more thing to say, though. “…Saki’s life energy is capable of dissipating at an extremely high rate. There’s evidence that great expenditures of it have occurred instantaneously in the past. She is stable at the moment, so there’s nothing to worry about, but… she’s definitely not a normal Reyvateil. What do you know about her, Aoto?”

Aoto recalls “That time when she prayed… that ‘miracle’…!” He explains that earlier, there was an occasion where Saki’s prayer turned several of the Clusternian military personnel into cakes. Hikaru replies “How interesting…” but before he can ask anything more, Saki and Tatsumi come back in a rush. They explain that Finnel never returned to the restaurant. The party decide they’ll search individually around town for her, and you’re allowed to roam freely.

I’m going to stop here since I’ve written plenty and I don’t think I can endure 15 more minutes of cutscene. Sorry for all the irregular 10-minute posts…

Tags: ar tonelico, ar tonelico 3, gust, jrpg