D3 Publisher has released the first full set of screenshots and details for its 2015-due open-world gal game Natsuiro High School: Seishun Hakusho.
Get the details below.
Welcome to the freedom of the island, to the freedom of school
Somewhere in Japan is a small island known as “Yumegashima,” where a transfer student arrives to attend its only school, “Yumegashima High School,” on July 7, 20XX. The player will spend the next three months as a second year student at Yumegashima High School, before changing schools again. The gears of fate will begin to turn from the first day the player begins school, kicking off by meeting the over-familiar, but frivolous and helpful Shigeyuki Tsuzaki (Shige for short), and will go on to introduce 29 other classmates in Class B.
This includes an unexpected reunion with his now-grown childhood friend Megu Mikazuki. She takes him along somewhere, but… what’s this? Meg takes the player to the school’s journalism club, which is danger of bung dismantled, and forces him to join as the only boy in the club. So he becomes their cameraman. The rest of the club consists of four girls, who are cute, but come with their oddities. As for third years, there’s the blunt president Kaoruko Shoji and motivaed vice president Yayoi Ogami. As for the rest, there’s the first year hostile man-hater Tamaki Shimabukuro, and your second year childhood friend Meg.
On this island overflowing with wonderful scenery, and full of love, friends, scoops, and mysterious incidents, players can fully enjoy the freedom of a high school life. How the player decides to spend their summer school life is up to them. There are 300 people on the island of Yumegashima, and 150 quests for the player to carry out. You’ll deepen your relationship with the girls of the journalism club. Or, follow a story of friendship with your fellow classmates. After three months, it will be your time to leave, but what kind of ending will you receive?
The girls of Yumegashima High School’s journalism club
The activities of the journalism club include conveying a variety of news to everyone in Yumegashima and Yumegashima High School. However, it cannot deny that it’s fallen to a shortage of members, and if they don’t have a fifth member by July, it will no longer remain officially active. But the protagonist ensures their continued operation by joining. In September, the school will host a cultural festival involving a series of research presentations that each member participates in, with topics varying based on their own findings and research. But even though the player has ensured club operations continue, the other members remain on edge about their prospects and are hesitant to get too excited as the cultural festival approaches.
Let’s introduce the girls:
- Megu Mikazuki (voice by Shiori Mikami) – The protagonist’s childhood friend, Megu and the protagonist used to play together every day from ages 3 to 5, until the latter had to move away with his sickly father who needed treatment. Though she’s naive and well regarded by boys and girls alike, amassing a large number of friends as a result, her overly helpful nature can, at times, be a hindrance. When her temper flares up, she has a tendency to stop paying attention to what’s around her and listening to what other people have to say, instead quick to jump to her own conclusions, but fundamentally, she’s a self aware person that people can count on. As such, she can be responsible to a fault, preferring to not burden others with problems and make do on her own however she can, although this obviously brings about its own share of issues at times.
- Kaoruko Shoji (voiced by Rie Murakawa) – Kaoruko is the president of the journalism club and daughter of the corporate giant Shoji Group, which is run by her whole family. A serious, studious person with top grades and a strong sense of responsibility, she doesn’t like bringing up her worries with other people and prefers to not be the topic of conversation with others. She thusly maintains a certain level of distance with others, she prefers to remain professional in her conduct and get business done, rather than cozy up to people. Still, she’s fully aware that she can be a difficult person to approach and wants to change that aspect of herself. Perpetually unsatisfied with how things currently are, she’s always looking forward to the next big thing, but not to the extent that she’ll irrationally pursue things.
- Yayoi Ogami (voiced by Juri Nagatsuma) – Yayoi is the journalism club’s vice president. Her life is in service of the island’s residents and is the first child and elder daughter descended from a family of priests and priestesses at Omiwa Jinja, making her highly respected and widely loved by her people. Though she can relate to others well and has a friendly disposition, her sensibilities can make her a bit dense and difficult to understand. Nevertheless, find something that interests her and she’ll talk endlessly about it. She can also be stubborn and direct on occasion as well. She refers to Tamaki as “Tamabukuro,” but bears no ill will towards her.
- Tamaki Shimabukuro (voiced by Aya Suzaki) – Tamaki is the only first year student who’s a part of the journalism club. She’s shy around people and has a distaste for guys especially, due in large part to their insistence on calling her “Tamakin” over the years. She only opens up to those she feels really comfortable around, idolizing Megu in particular like an older sister. Perhaps due to her feeling uniquely close to Megu, she’s not particularly keen on the protagonist despite his and Megu’s relationship, often adopting a hostile stance towards him. While she’s seemingly spoiled on the outside, she prefers to not be indulged too much, feeling it can be manipulative. This makes her want to become an adult, although her idea of adulthood is to simply get married and have a family, leaving her with much to learn about life yet. For all her faults, people can’t help but like her. She’s long since gotten tired of Yayoi calling her “Tamabukuro,” though.
Take on quests and help the people
There are more than 150 people on the island of Yumegashima who need your help. Every one of them is troubled with something and will request you help them with a special job. Talk to everyone to pinpoint these quest holders. After receiving a quest, you can check it at any time on the Quest List.
Don’t miss your shutter chance
As a cameraman for the journalism club, you should not let your shutter chance escape as a photograph subject could appear at any time. The first step as a socially aware photographer is to take pictures of the lives of the island’s people, however, you should do it without being a nuisance. But if you’re aiming for that panty shot, crawling along the floors of the town, police notification is inevitable.
View the screenshots at the gallery.
Character translations by Thomas James.
