After the catastrophe of the Dark Sun sank,
Yuri and the others awakened.
The three who had become deeply entangled with this mountain, carrying their own thoughts, were guided back into the mountains once more.
Location: Antique Cafe Kurosawa
Awakening from her nightmare, Yuri feels the door deep within the Palace on the Water beckoning her. She must go there...
On the cabinet in her room, she obtains the document Yuri's Notebook 4.
Yuri: '...It's my diary. The doctor specifically told me to start writing it, to record things I remembered... dreams... things I saw and heard. He reminded me to look at it later when I calmed down. In the end... still no one believed me.'
Heading to Hisoka's room, she uncovers the document Hisoka's Notebook 4 from the floor next to the bed.
Arriving at the shop area, she collects the document The Legend of the Black Water from the counter.
Leaving the antique shop, she makes her way to Mt. Hikami...
Location: Mizukago Pool
Advancing toward the Mizukago Bridge, she spots a trace on the steps of the fork ahead: Bride Beckoning up Mountain. She follows the steps to the mountain path.
Walking along the old approach to the path before the waterfall, she witnesses two traces at the cliff-diving rock on the opposite side: Plummeting Woman and Shrine Maiden Glancing at Woman.
Mizue Fukatsu (Plummeting Woman):
'In the end, I want to die wearing this kimono... because it's the most beautiful thing in my home... A gentle breeze... it's wonderful here... I want to... die here.'
Location: Pool of Cleansing
Continuing toward the Pool of Cleansing triggers an ambush by the hostile spirit Shizuku
Mizukago (Postmortem). Defeating her allows Yuri to collect Bloodstained Note 3 from the ground.
Location: Unveiled Forest
Advancing along the path to the remnants of Katashiro Bridge on the South Approach, she spots a trace across the broken bank: Bride Standing in Forest.
Heading beneath the hanging tree in the southeast reveals two traces: Shrine Maiden Glancing at Woman and Hanging Woman.
The shrine maiden looks at Shino Kanamoki (Hanging Woman) and whispers: 'I'm sorry. I will join you very soon...'
Following the trace northeast toward the Dragging Bog reveals two traces: Shrine Maiden Glancing at Woman and Throat-slashed Woman.
The glancing maiden: 'You said you'd dissolve with me... that you'd die with me right here...'
Kirika Ochiai (Throat-slashed Woman): 'What a peaceful place... it's wonderful here... I want to... die here...'
Then, Kirika raises her blade to slash her throat, collapsing to her knees.
Immediately after, the glancing maiden picks up the blade and plunges it into her own stomach.
Continuing to follow the trace to the approach before the Doll Shrine, she collects Water-Carved Diary 5 at the broken bridge.
Heading left through a tree hollow passage toward the winding path in the northwest, she uncovers a specter beneath a tree at the crossroads near the small river passage: Woman Holding Umbrella. Picking up the flowers next to the small Jizo statue triggers the memories of her tragic demise...
Shizuku Mizukago (Woman Holding Umbrella):
'A mountain on a rainy day is highly noisy... phantoms wander about outside too. Though this is all I can manage... I hope this rain serves to console them, at least...措施'
Shizuku
Mizukago places the flowers on the ground, leaving her umbrella beside them to shield them from the rain before turning to leave.
Shizuku: 'Flowing with the rainwater... merging as one with the stream...'
Suddenly, a gust of wind catches the umbrella, launching it high into the air. The sharp tip of the umbrella plummets straight down, piercing Shizuku's eye...
Location: Doll Shrine
Continuing to follow the trace into the shrine grounds toward the Corridor of Returned Spirits, she walks to the hanging backyard, stepping onto the deep mountain path ahead.
Advancing up the mountain path before the Unveiled Palace gate, she spots a trace: Bride Beckoning toward Gate, collecting Water-Carved Diary 6 at the spot where she stood. She opens the gate to enter the Unveiled Palace...
Shifting protagonist to Ren Hojo
Location: Antique Cafe Kurosawa
In his dream, Ren witnesses his ancestor, Kunihiko Asao.
As Kunihiko Asao walks toward the House of Joining,
Yuri (結女) speaks: 'I heard you possess a machine capable of producing lifelike imagery, capable of capturing even the human heart within stunning pictures.'
Kunihiko Asao uses his camera to photograph Ouka Kurosawa inside the House of Joining. (This is the origin of the bride's photograph.)
The scene shifts to a young Kunihiko Asao playing hide-and-seek with Shirakiku and their playmates, hiding together inside the Kagerou Mountain Shrine.
Shirakiku: 'The festival is tomorrow. Let's just stay hidden here forever.'
The scene shifts to the next day's festival, where Kunihiko uses a blade to cut off a strand of Shirakiku's hair.
Shirakiku: 'This is my token, my soul. Carry it with you always and never let it leave your side. Don't forget.'
Awakening from his dream, Ren hears Rui whispering from the sofa: 'Master... you still plan on going, don't you? What you seek lies in the depths of the study...'
As Ren opens the door to step outside, Rui calls out: 'Master... have you truly decided to leave?'
Ren departs nonetheless.
Location: Hojo Residence
Leaving the antique cafe and returning to his home, he uncovers the White Lock of Hair and the document Record beside the Hair Lock on the study's bookshelf.
On the sofa, he uncovers the document Rui's Diary 7. Leaving his residence, he sets off for Mt. Hikami.
Location: Mizukago Pool
Advancing onto the
Mizukago Bridge, he captures a phantom vision of Dr. Asao: Shadow Standing on Bridge Landing. Moving to the ground before the steps yields the document Kunihiko Asao's Record 2.
Ren: 'Mizukago was originally where those visiting the mountain selected their maidens, so that the maidens could perform a Psychic Glance during their final moments.'
Location: Pool of Cleansing
Advancing along the old approach to the Path of Cleansing, he spots Dr. Asao's entity. Photographing the water of the Pool of Cleansing rewards him with Shadow Standing at Pool of Cleansing. On the ground nearby, he collects Kunihiko Asao's Record 3.
Ren: 'Those entering the mountain performed purification rituals here. Wetting one's body in the water meant merging as one with the mountain, drawing closer to the Other World. The shrine maidens also kept their bodies and hair completely wet, which is why they were known as the Maidens of Black Water...'
Location: Unveiled Forest
Arriving before the Doll Shrine, he catches sight of Dr. Asao's entity. Photographing the shrine gateway rewards him with Doll of the Doll Shrine. On the ground before the gates, he collects Kunihiko Asao's Record 4.
Ren: 'Shirakiku gave her token to Dr. Asao during his youth before he came to this mountain. Ever since, she has been waiting for Dr. Asao to track the token and find her...解'
Location: Doll Shrine
Continuing to follow the trace into the shrine grounds toward the Corridor of Returned Spirits, he spots the phantom of Shirakiku, collecting Shirakiku's Note 2 at the spot where she stood.
Advancing to the hanging backyard, her phantom appears beneath the tree once more; he collects Shirakiku's Note 3 from her standing spot.
Moving forward reveals a new trace: Kunihiko Asao Advancing on Approach Path. He follows it onto the deep mountain path.
Advancing up toward the deep mountain approach, he tracks a trace into Yomotsu Road: Kunihiko Asao Advancing through Forest. He follows it into the Vale of Shadows.
Location: Vale of Shadows
Arriving before the Unconsecrated Graveyard reveals a trace: Kunihiko Asao Advancing in Vale of Shadows. He bypasses the path leading upper-right toward the House of Joining for now.
Heading to the terrace with cherry blossoms, he spots Dr. Asao's entity. Photographing the branches rewards him with Girl Sitting beneath Cherry Tree. Beneath the tree, he collects Kunihiko Asao's Record 6. Afterward, he heads upper-left to the Twilit Border.
Ren: 'This is where the men who completed the ghost marriage are buried. Whether they succeeded or failed, they were interred here.'
Location: Twilit Border
Approaching the Katashiro Inner Shrine upper-right reveals Dr. Asao's entity. Photographing the altar rewards him with Shadow before Altar, and he collects Kunihiko Asao's Record 5 from the ground.
Ren: 'Mt. Hikami is a notorious suicide site. Many of the girls who vanished through spiriting away likely became pillars.'
Location: Lake of the Beyond
To the upper-left of the Lake of the Beyond, he catches Dr. Asao's entity. Photographing the small pinwheel planted in the shore rewards him with Shadow Standing on Shore. At the pinwheel site, he collects Kunihiko Asao's Record 7.
Ren: 'Mt. Hikami is a mountain of death... a gathering place for the dying. What did the men who entered ghost marriages think when they realized their brides weren't alive? What did Dr. Asao feel?'
Returning to the Vale of Shadows, he follows the trace through the upper-right Lycoris Path into the House of Joining...
Shift protagonist to Yuri Kozukata
Location: Palace on the Water
Yuri passes through the Unveiled Palace to reach the Palace on the Water.
This is the central domain of the shrine maidens; she encounters all variations of spirits here:
Paladin Maiden - Maidens slain by the Night-Spring.
Inori Mizukago - The Maidens of Black Water.
Casket Woman - Maidens who perished within caskets.
The Caged Woman - Maidens who perished within sacred caskets.
After defeating them all, she opens the doors to the main water sanctuary.
Inside, she faces:
Kureha - The one responsible for sealing people into caskets and sacred caskets.
Yuri (結女) - The one responsible for Ghost Marriages.
They still insist on forcing Yuri to serve as a pillar... After defeating them, the gate leading to the Black Waters unlocks.
Shifting protagonist to Miu Hinasaki
Location: Antique Cafe Kurosawa
Miu has a nightmare that her mother is abandoning her once more...
Miu: 'Don't go! Don't leave me behind again! I have nothing left...解'
Awakening to find her mother missing, she senses she has returned to the mountain. Gathering the Camera Obscura and the worn wedding photograph from the bed, she spots her mother walking out of the antique cafe and pursues her trace to the Twilit Border...
Location: Twilit Border
Upon entering, she spots her mother, Miku, standing before the Pillar Jizo, capturing the trace: Miku Hinasaki Advancing in Twilit Border.
Following her to the Spring of Magatsuhi, she sees her standing at the threshold, capturing the trace: Miku Hinasaki Heading Deeper Inside.
Following her to the Night-Spring Slope, she sees her standing once more, capturing the trace: Miku Hinasaki Heading to Lake.
Following her to the Lake of the Beyond, she catches sight of her mother standing firmly at the water's edge.
At this moment, a prompt appears asking whether to snap a photo with the Camera Obscura. Choosing to take a photo or not determines Miu's two endings.
Miu strolls along the shore of the Lake of the Beyond alongside Miku.
Miku murmurs: 'I... wanted to save my brother. I wanted to drag him back... No, perhaps I simply wanted to return to that time, to stay frozen in that moment forever, wanting time to stop right there.'
Miu replies: 'For someone like me, there isn't even a person I'd want to join in ghost marriage within the Other World. You at least had a father, mother... but I have absolutely nothing. I used to always wonder why. But now, it's enough... it's enough.'
Suddenly, an immense, terrifying vision of the Dark Sun rises before their eyes.
Miu turns to Miku and pleads: 'Don't go! Don't go! Please!'
Miku replies: 'I won't go anywhere.'
~ Child of the Night-Spring ~
Beneath the shadow of the Dark Sun sinking into the Night-Spring,
Miu listens to her mother, Miku, promising: 'I won't go anywhere.'
It is a lie.
And it is a lie that inflicts deeper wounds upon the soul who tells it. Miku is no longer among the living.
Left entirely behind, Miu breaks down, weeping like a helpless child.
~ The Path of Dreams ~
Beneath the shadow of the Dark Sun sinking into the Night-Spring,
Miu listens to her mother, Miku, promising: 'I won't go anywhere.'
When Miu awakens, she discovers her mother resting right in front of her.
The two hold each other close, confirming each other's presence within the living world.
Even if the time left for them to share is brief.
Changement de protagoniste : Ren Hojo
Location: House of Joining
Ren enters the Circular Window Corridor, spotting a trace: Bride Entering Room.
Following it into the Kimono Room, he collects Water-Carved Diary 7 from the floor.
Taking the stairs from the Storage Room up to the second floor, he uncovers Water-Carved Diary 8 in the inner guest room.
Descending back down and crossing the Banquet Hall, he is ambushed by the spirit Kazuya Sakaki. Following the trail to the veranda, he meets Yuri, who addresses him as Asao once more, guiding him toward the Hall of Joined Souls.
Reaching the corner, he heads left into the Kimono Room first, spotting a specter: Girl in Pristine White Kimono, and collects the document Shirakiku's Note 4.
Leaving the room and entering the inner Hall of Joined Souls, he must choose his Ghost Marriage partner (Ouka
Kurosawa or Shirakiku)—determining Ren's four distinct endings.
Kurosawa
~ Reclaimed Musings ~
Ren cracks the memories of Dr. Asao, wandering Mt. Hikami.
The residual fragments of Kunihiko Asao's thoughts guide him to fulfill the Ghost Marriage.
Upon reaching the Hall of Joined Souls deep within the House of Joining, Ren's choice for his eternal bride is the woman from the memento photograph, Ouka
Kurosawa.
The moment Ren holds Ouka close, his phantom form shifts into Dr. Asao.
The Dr. Asao confesses his true devotion to Ouka.
Hearing his words, Ouka speaks:
'Such things could be known simply by reading your heart, but I wanted to hear you say them out loud.'
'Living on together... that was my true desire.'
A phrase he had always wished to voice is finally spoken aloud. Having spoken her peace, Ouka vanishes into thin air.
Ouka returns to the void to serve as a pillar once more, and Ren is fully liberated from the mountain's shackles.
~ The Solitary Casket ~
Tracking the memories of Dr. Asao, Ren wanders Mt. Hikami.
The residual fragments of Kunihiko Asao's thoughts guide him to fulfill the Ghost Marriage.
Upon reaching the Hall of Joined Souls deep within the House of Joining, Ren's choice for his eternal bride is the woman from the memento photograph, Ouka
Kurosawa.
However, Ren raises his Camera Obscura and snaps a photo of Ouka as she approaches, preventing her from drawing any closer.
Rejected by Ren, Ouka implores him to capture one final image of her, sealing her entity within the photograph.
The Ren fulfills Ouka's final request. Ouka returns to the abyss to serve as a pillar and vanishes into the darkness, leaving Ren with nothing but her photograph... a vessel holding a fragment of her soul.
~ A Cold Release ~
Tracking the memories of Dr. Asao, Ren wanders Mt. Hikami.
The residual fragments of Kunihiko Asao's thoughts guide him to fulfill the Ghost Marriage.
Upon reaching the Hall of Joined Souls deep within the House of Joining, Ren's choice for his eternal bride is the white-haired girl who has spent lifetimes waiting for Asao, Shirakiku.
Stepping into the black caskets alongside Shirakiku, Ren's physical entity shifts into the young Dr. Asao, fulfilling the promise he made to Shirakiku during their childhood. However, as Shirakiku recalls her initial memories of meeting Asao, she resolves to serve as the solitary pillar, casting Asao out of the box.
When Ren snaps back to reality, he finds himself standing entirely alone within the grounds of the Kagerou Shrine, where he and Shirakiku used to play during their childhood.