Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #15: Hearts Desired

I think I’m going to modify my schedule and start aiming to post an entry every other day instead of taking school days off. Net output should be about the same, if not greater.

This entry covers a few cutscenes in the midst of the endless progression of them upon having returned to Cielo Valley.

Spoilers, as usual.

After Aoto and Salapator finish talking (with Salapator attempting to give him a goodnight kiss,) the scene moves on to Finnel and Tatsumi elsewhere in the inn. Finnel complains about how exhausted she is, and Tatsumi apologizes for making her come with him on all his courtesy calls. Finnel replies that since it’s the first time she’s been to a temple, it was fun. Tatsumi says he’ll be going to his own room, then.

Finnel insists “Don’t go, not when the two of us have finally gotten the chance to be alone together…” Tatsumi replies bluntly that he has no intention of going out with her on her whim; if she wants to hit on somebody, she should do it to Aoto. Finnel begins replying “W-why would I want to go out with Aoto… that’s not what I… Wait, don’t go! Just for a second!”

When Tatsumi pauses, Finnel says there’s something she wanted to ask him. She continues “Ta… Tatsumi… do you happen to have a Heart of the Land?”

This shocks Tatsumi. “W, what exactly are you…” he begins. Finnel takes this as affirmation, and interrupts, “You do, don’t you? Please! Let me have it!” Tatsumi replies he can’t do that. It’s something he’s been entrusted with, and not a thing he can hand over simply of his own will. Finnel demands to know who entrusted him with it, and he says, “How do you know what a Heart of the Land is anyway? Why do you want one?”

Finnel hesitates to answer, and Tatsumi continues, “Could it be… that you know Harvestasya…?” Finnel uneasily replies that she does, and Tatsumi demands to know where she is, saying that he was told to give this to her. Finnel replies that she was told she mustn’t tell anyone. Tatsumi sighs and mutters, “Then, what do we do now…”

Finnel suggests that he should give it to her. She says, “The truth is… Harvestasya told me to look for a Heart of the Land…” Tatsumi replies that he can’t entrust it to anyone else, and besides, delivering it isn’t his sole objective. He asks Finnel, “Being told to deliver it to her, yet not being able to say where she is… don’t you think that’s strange?” She has no reply, and she continues “If she really gave those instructions to a Reyvateil like you… could Harvestasya be connected to Clusternia…?”

Finnel replies hesitantly that it’s not so; Harvestasya is within the tower, but she’s not an ally of Clusternia. Tatsumi repeats, “Within the tower, hmm?” and Finnel realizes that was something she wasn’t supposed to say. Tatsumi says that in any case, he can’t give her the Heart of the Land; there are too many suspicious things about her. He suggests that both of them should go to Harvestasya together. Even if Finnel is forbidden from telling him where she is, it should be fine if she leads him to Harvestasya. He says that he wants to meet Harvestasya, and has questions for her…

Finnel decides that she can do that. Tatsumi thanks her profusely, and insists that the two of them should leave right away. Finnel is surprised by his hurry, but Tatsumi says, “Now that we’ve both accomplished our mission, shouldn’t we go straight away? We can get going tomorrow morning.” Finnel hesitates, stammering Aoto’s name. Tatsumi replies, “We’ll be all right even if he doesn’t want to leave. Or do you have some business with him?” Finnel denies this, but continues, “…other than not really wanting to leave alone Saki-chan with him… and that business about me being his servant…”

Tatsumi says, “Well, in the morning we’ll ask Aoto and the others whether they want to come with us to Jouteimon.” Finnel, somewhat hesitantly, agrees with this.

The scene returns to Aoto snoring in bed. A knock sounds on the door, awakening him. It’s Salapator, who greets him with “Good morning, anata” (a contextual English equivalent might be ‘dear’ or ‘hubby.’) She continues, “Isn’t it about time for the ceremony? I’ve arranged all the preparations, my groom. After we get dressed, we can meet with everyone at  the temple.” Aoto begins stammering, but Salapator has already closed the door.

He flees to his house to hide (or maybe he was there all along, I dunno) but his boss arrives, shouting “Hey, Aoto! On a day like this, how long are you gonna sleep?!” The village chief also arrived, and tells him all the preparations have been made. “Let’s go to the village square,” says the boss. Aoto attempts to protest, but Hikari tells him, “The only thing you can do now is prepare yourself, Aoto.” Aoto begs him to do something, and he replies by wishing them happiness as a couple.

You’re permitted to free roam very briefly before being launched into the next cutscene (the only place you can go is the village center.)

Even though I’m both only 10 minutes in and a bit under my usual wordcount, I’m going to stop here as what comes next is looong and I definitely wouldn’t finish it by my bedtime. Yay procrastination.

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