Despite having already cleared Refrain for the second time a while ago, I had to wait a while before starting any of the EX routes to make sure all my friends were caught up. Now that I don’t have that obligation anymore, I managed to finish Kanata’s route in about three days. After waiting so long to finally read the mythical EX routes I heard so much about, how does this first one fare?
Kanata herself is an interesting beast, especially after all that’s transpired in Haruka’s route. Following the events of Refrain, I’d grown to assume that the Kanata portrayed in this world isn’t actually the real Kanata. Rather, she’s a bit of a gross exaggeration of the real one, which embodies Haruka’s lingering bitterness towards her in the world where something happened. The reflection of Kanata we saw in Haruka’s route is humorless and merciless, but not completely unreasonable. As we discover in Haruka’s route, the only thing really keeping the two of them apart in that world is their facade of hatred towards one another.
Kanata’s route explores how this facade came to be, and why it was necessary in Kanata’s mind. The Kanata on display in her route is no less obstinate or reasonable than how she is in Haruka’s route; the only major difference here is Haruka’s attitude towards her. This route fully expects the reader to have read Refrain beforehand, and there are many blatant references to the Secret and the gang’s purpose in raising Riki and Rin to be independent individuals. Despite this, it leaves me wondering whether Kanata is really a construct of Haruka’s intelligence or her own individual intelligence that entered the world in the same way everyone else did.
My own personal theory (which obviously cannot compare to any of Magus’ massive conspiracy theories) is that Kanata is likely a representation of a second regret of Haruka’s. Haruka spends a lot of time trying to connect with Kanata despite this Kanata having no recollection of the events of Haruka as far as I can tell. As such, it’s a matter of overcoming an obstacle that was previously only overcome by great adversity on both fronts. However, it’s Kanata that has to yield this time around, as Haruka is already open to repairing their relationship. Supposing Kanata is a mental construct of Haruka’s, however, there’s something within Haruka that’s still rather reluctant to mend ties with Kanata. I got the vibe that Haruka was struggling to overcome a rather traumatic incident in her childhood despite being done with her family in a previous repetition. This is why she still heavily figures in the problem and resolution of the route, and it explains the scene where they speak with each other in that white void…whatever that was.
Anyway, Kanata’s route is also a very personal route because of this, much like Haruka’s route. Kanata as an individual is a hard egg to break because of the abuse she’s faced, the responsibilities she has to keep up in order to preserve her sister’s livelihood. She does not take to Riki all that well, and sometimes it takes a little push from A-chan-senpai (who feels as though she deserves her own route, she’s such a bro ) to help them understand one another. I never thought Kanata herself could be made into a relatable character, but Shirokiri incorporates subtleties into her character that don’t feel unnatural or tacked on. In fact, the way she warms up to Riki just feels so right, it’s inspiring. I was literally cheering at the moment they first kiss, as well as the climactic scene where Riki, Haruka and the other Busters (especially our Lord and Savior Kyousuke) fought to keep Kanata at the school a little longer. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, although I again didn’t find myself crying at places where I was meant to cry. Still got a ways to go on that. ._.
Although I never took any notes reading this route (I did take a lot of pictures though), I’m surprised I am able to say so much about this route. It’s honestly an amazing route, right up there with Haruka as one of the greats. Then again, I thought every route so far was great this reading. I’m really excited for Sasami and Saya now!