Not sure how Kazamatsuri feels about reviving topics this old, but I was told in the introduce yourself page not to worry about it, so here goes.
Just to get my opinion of the route out of the way, keeping in mind that Rewrite is easily my favourite visual novel, I’d put Chihaya’s route third out of the heroine routes and fourth if we count every route. I agree that it’s true that you don’t have to think about the route nearly as much as the others, but I think the requirement of completing this route before being able to enter Akane’s, coupled with Akane’s role of the villain in this route makes Akane’s route a lot more meaningful.
About the discussion of Kotarou acquiring Phogo’s power, before reading this discussion, I was somewhat under the impression that it actually happened during the fight with Midou. Phogo’s ability to change it’s properties, as demonstrated by it’s ability to form a silicon dioxide sheild, gave me the idea that even the carbon dioxide caused by Phogo contained a part of Phogo, or rather, WAS a part of Phogo in it’s entirety.
Kotarou would obviously have been breathing it in the whole time. (Kotori spoilers) As a familiar himself, I had an idea that he had basically assimilated that part of Phogo inside his body into his own cells, especially because he rewrites himself near the end of the battle.
This line turns up in the battle, but I wonder if the strengthening of his body that he had done so far in the route would really affect carbon dioxide poisoning. If not, this would also support my theory.
Since familiars and their summoners are connected, this would also explain how Midou was able to talk to Kotarou in the final battle, after he had died. At one point in the fight, Midou says that Phogo is “practically immortal.” We know that in general, if a summoner dies the familiar will follow, but we also know that this is a trend, not a law. We see, especially among stronger familiars, an ability to remain after the summoner’s death. (General spoiler(?))
It would mirror the way that the earth dragon is able to remain “inactive” or whatever when he has no summoner(s), but he doesn’t “die”, strictly speaking. Phogo is undeniably a powerful familiar, and has some traits that we don’t see in any other familiars, so it seems possible to me.
After reading this post, I don’t know whether this explanation or the Aurora explanation makes more sense, but I guess I’m leaning towards the Aurora one, since it’s (Terra route spoiler)
demonstrated with Kotarou acquiring Luis’ ability.
On a completely different note. (One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e spoilers) I’m surprised that no one has mentioned how Chihaya is almost a rehash of Nanase. Not many people have read One, but I thought someone would have mentioned it.
Actually I’m not done. For anyone who’s read the Visual Novel Shadows of Pygmalion, just how similar are Midou’s and Ibis’ circumstances? After Kotarou defeats him, Midou laments that Kotarou was the one with the power, which in of itself was the driving force of Ibis’ entire campaign. I just thought it was worth mentioning. And come to think of it, after the fights over, both Kotarou and Mina show mixed feelings about Midou/Ibis, despite what they did, although this isn’t uncommon I suppose.
. In fact I don’t like at all the overwelming action and basically skiped all the battles explanation reading superficially and in some moment even do the same with the romantic dialogue and the most of the Chihaya’s dialogue.
