Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #5: Finnel’s Secret Crush

This entry continues to cover the cutscenes upon entering Tokoshie Canopy for the first time, after Saki has left your party.

Spoilers, as usual. Also, no pretty pictures because there’s nobody and nowhere new to see compared to last time.

When I left off, Saki had just decided to journey to Fallen Heaven Peak and turn herself over to the Clusternian forces there, thus saving the humans of that town from extermination.

Outside, the doctor tells Aoto not to worry, as he’ll escort Saki along the way and ensure her safety.  Aoto is obviously still conflicted. Abruptly, he asks Hikari if he’s heard of a place called Ougai, and he replies it’s a city inside the tower managed by the Arkia Corporation. Aoto remarks “So she’s from the Tower, huh… If that’s the case… I suppose she’s returning to the home where I wanted to take her, anyway…”

Hikari tells Aoto that no one knows the correct course of action in this situation, and he himself is blameless, which cheers him up a little. He says he’s going to talk to the leader of Tokoshie Canopy and ask to borrow an airship. Excusing himself, he tells them to call him on the Teremo if anything happens.

By the way, this entire dramatic scene (ever since finishing the Item Synthesis tutorial) was unvoiced. Gust made a bad call with that, in my opinion.

Tatsumi leaves your party and enters the clinic. Aoto, however, says “I can’t face her again…” and decides to go to Finnel’s restaurant (letting you wander around town beforehand, if you so wish.) Upon going there, Aoto mutters a bit about why he’s not sure why he came, and reminisces about Saki’s decision. “Even if she wants to take responsibility instead of escaping… in the end… I could’t…”

He’s welcomed to the restaurant not by Finnel, but by an older woman named Lu who invites him to take a seat. As he is doing so, Tatsumi arrives as well. Aoto asks him where Saki is; Tatsumi replies she’s gone with the doctor, and they most likely won’t meet her again. Aoto mutters about how he’s a huge fool. Tatsumi tells him there’s nothing they could have done, and it was a chance meeting with an unfortunate result.

Aoto says that even so, he can’t forgive Clusternia threatening to wipe out a village. Lu, overhearing their conversation, comments that it’s the way Clusternia is. “They just like to kill humans that aren’t of any use to them,” she mutters, then disappears into the back.

Tatsumi says that their journey together ends here. He’s going to go to Fallen Heaven Peak with Rufan to aid Gengai, and suggests that Aoto should return home to Cielo Valley. But suddenly, Finnel rushes in from where she was eavesdropping. She’s bringing their food, but also asks “Um, on your travels, would you like a Reyvateil to accompany you for protection? My Song Magic can take out any enemy in one hit! I’ll give you a special price…”

Aoto says, “Nope.” Finnel retorts: “I wasn’t talking to you, anyway!” Tatsumi replies “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline. It may not look like it, but I’m used to travelling alone.” He suggests they return to the inn.

Upon doing so, Tatsumi remarks about how gloomy Aoto looks and tells him to get some rest. The next day, they’re saying their final goodbyes when suddenly Rufan arrived with a shout. “It’s terrible! Fallen Heaven Peak is going to be destroyed!” Shocked, Tatsumi asks “Why would they? We’ve done what Clusternia wanted!”

Rufan says since Clusternia has blockaded the skies, the airship carrying Saki wasn’t allowed to land in Jouteimon. Aoto mutters “It’s just like Lu said… They’re only using Saki as an excuse to cleanse the place!” Tatsumi asks what happened to Saki, and Rufan replies that she escaped on an airship with Gengai. He wonders if Gengai intends to use her as a hostage to protect the town.

Tatsumi decides to set off for Fallen Heaven Peak immediately. Aoto interrupts, “I’m coming too! I told Saki to offer herself up to protect the people of Fallen Heaven Peak… Saki wouldn’t want to see anyone die…!” Tatsumi tells him to do as he wishes, it doesn’t matter to him, while Rufan more politely thanks the two of them for their support. However, he warns that the road to Fallen Heaven Peak is dangerous and filled with magical beasts, and they’re going to need a Reyvateil.

The obvious answer is Finnel; they head to her restaurant. Rufan seems briefly surprised by the sight of Finnel, but denies anything is wrong. Aoto and Tatsumi talk to her, saying the situation has changed and they’d like her to come to Fallen Heaven Peak with them. Finnel seems ambivalent, but after Aoto taunts her over being scared, denies it and says she’ll accompany them. Rufan’s not satisfied yet, though. He asks Finnel if anyone’s ever Dived into her.

Surprised by the question, Finnel admits that nobody has. Rufan warns her that if her Song Magic isn’t powerful enough, she’ll just be an additional burden. If they are going to have her accompany them, someone needs to Dive into her and make her Song Magic stronger. Finnel, of course, is upset about him discussing her first Dive in such a cavalier fashion. Tatsumi interrupts that he’s not interested.

“In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Aoto,” Rufan says. Aoto is taken aback, while Finnel shouts “Why do I have to lose my very first Dive to this guy?!” Aoto mutters an insincere apology for it having to be him, while Tatsumi points out “We’re hiring you to be a Reyvateil who protects us with Song Magic, so that’s why. This concerns our lives, you know.” As they talk about having to find a more powerful Reyvateil, Finnel shouts for them to hold on, and admits… she’d rather that Tatsumi be the first to dive into her.

I laughed for about five minutes straight at this, and I’m not going to explain why.

After everyone is suitably shocked, Finnel continues “W, well, it’s not that I especially want it to be Tatsumi, Aoto is okay too, but it’d be a little weird…” After being subjected to the pressure of silence, she caves in and tells them to do whatever they want. Turning away, she mutters something: “I can’t waste a big chance like this… because I’ve finally found… the thing I wanted most…”

Aoto asks her if she said something, and she replies it was nothing. Rufan asks “So, it’ll be Aoto then?” Finnel says. “P… please be gentle…”, while Aoto says “Hey, don’t decide things without me!”

Next you’re instructed to go to the Dive Shop, but since I haven’t fought with Finnel, I’m going to have to go back to the cave, get in some random battles with her and earn Dive Points. I’ve written a thousand words, so might as well stop here even though it’s only halfway through play video #5… Hopefully this slower pace doesn’t become a habit (I blame the endless cutscenes.)

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