Compared to Nitro+CHiRAL's previous work, DRAMAtical Murder has a lot of light-hearted moments for the fans.
Warning: Spoilers Off applies to these pages. Proceed at your own risk.
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General
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- In Aoba's backstory, we learn more about the time when the young Aoba was adopted by Nain and Haruka, and seeing a glimpse of him with his new family is just so heartwarming
◊.- Also, back in the present time (near the end of the scenario), Tae mentioned about how she just received a postcard with no sender. But, when Aoba saw the postcard had a picture of the blue butterfly on it, he knows that it's from his parents (which reminded him of the promise his father made to him). This gave Aoba (and Tae) hope that they'll keep on waiting for their return.
- It's shown that Mizuki had somehow healed from the unfortunate mind rapes put upon him (though one of them was by accident).
- The birthday presents and messages that everyone (yes, including Virus and Trip) gave Aoba in the extras.
Other
- Whether or not you like the anime adaptation, there is one thing the anime did right: giving every character their happy ending, even if none of them end up with Aoba. This is unlike in the visual novel, where while one character does get his happy ending, the others' problems are left unresolved for the rest of their lives.
Koujaku's Route
DRAMAtical Murder
- Koujaku's very awkward confession to Aoba is really cute. Being The Charmer, Koujaku has an easy time attracting women, but once he realizes that he's in love with his best friend, words fail him. The CG with Koujaku and Aoba awkwardly holding hands and blushing while the former is confessing is both funny and adorable.
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- In their sex scene, we learn that Koujaku has a habit of holding onto Aoba's hand before he orgasms. The drama CD reveals that he does this to reassure himself of Aoba's existence and that what he's sharing with Aoba is real. What makes this more significant is that he has only ever done this with Aoba.
THE CHiRAL NIGHT -Dive into DMMd- V2.0
- Koujaku wondered whether he should be really happy now that he is with Aoba, and whether he deserves it. Aoba assures that no matter what, he decided to be with Koujaku, and Koujaku's happiness equals his happiness, which causes Koujaku to smile and say that this is the happiest he could ever be.
DRAMAtical Murder Drama CD
- Aoba notices that Koujaku has been acting strangely since the mention of a festival that is celebrated to honor the deceased, then when he visits Koujaku's house, he sees the latter in a sullen state. Instead of pressing for answers, Aoba tells Koujaku that he knows he isn't ready to talk yet and he should take as much time as he needs in clearing his thoughts, while assuring Koujaku that he is always there to listen. It's nice to know how sympathetic and understanding Aoba can be and how he's more than willing to give Koujaku space, when most others would do the exact opposite.
- After Aoba learns the reason behind Koujaku's habit of holding his hand, he becomes insecure and asks whether Koujaku had done it with anyone else, but denies being jealous. Koujaku then tells him it's alright to get jealous, since regardless of gender, anyone can be apprehensive or self-conscious, and he won't hate Aoba for expressing what he really feels. Then he says this.Koujaku: No matter what sort of person you are, Aoba, I’d love every part of you. If that makes you happy, then I’m happy too.
Noiz's Route
DRAMAtical Murder
- Noiz's entire route. Watching them slowly warm up to each other, going from tolerating each other to genuinely falling in love, all while Aoba picks his way through Noiz's world view, and emotional defense he'd had since he was a child is very touching, and Noiz regaining his ability to feel and the honest joy he has in tiny every day things like the warmth of another person's skin is lovely. Noiz's route is very character/emotion-driven and it really shows.
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- Noiz asking Tae's permission to take Aoba to Germany is very much like someone getting permission for marriage, and Aoba's hesitant, but truly honest admission to Tae that he loves Noiz and wants to be with him is incredibly sweet; especially given how unsure Aoba was about moving at the end of the last game.
THE CHiRAL NIGHT -Dive into DMMd- V2.0
- Noiz and Aoba share a hilarious moment regarding Aoba wearing a suit. After Noiz abruptly kisses Aoba, a flustered Aoba starts to point out that Noiz is having too much fun, where Noiz then quietly mutters that it's because he's glad about going back to Germany with Aoba by his side. When Aoba asked if he said anything, Noiz naturally denies this, but this makes Aoba smile and they both head out together.
DRAMAtical Murder Drama CD
- Noiz's relationship with Theo, his younger brother, counts. When Noiz was locked in his room as a child, Theo tried to make contact with him numerous times, but was forbidden by his parents from ever talking to Noiz. This makes Theo the only other person (aside from Aoba) that Noiz has a soft spot towards. Noiz even pointed out that Theo burst into tears when Noiz reappeared in front of his family.
- How Theo deeply cares for Noiz is made obvious in the final track, where Theo visits Noiz and reveals that he snapped back at their parents in defense of Noiz, whom they were criticizing for not having found a wife and for living with another man. He goes as far as to point out that they're treating him like they did in the past, and apologizes to Noiz, stating that he could have stood up to them long ago but he was too afraid to do so — with Noiz assuring him that it isn't his fault. Just simply them interacting and outwardly showing their care for the other is touching.
Mink's Route
DRAMAtical Murder
- Despite his route undeniably being the most violent and controversial, after the third time Mink assaulted Aoba, when Aoba wakes up, he sees Mink praying and he wonders what for, before falling back asleep. Right after he does, we briefly see Mink gently holding strands of Aoba's hair. What it implies is left to the player, but considering how Aoba didn't respond even though his hair is very sensitive to pain, this is a subtle moment that shows how gentle Mink can be despite his usual demeanor. That, and after the many times he treated Aoba horribly, this is the first time he showed him compassion.
- Near the end of the route, Aoba stops Mink before he sets out to confront Toue. In this scene, Aoba makes one last plea with Mink to not kill himself, saying that he doesn't want him to die. When Mink rebuffs him by saying that he died along with his family, Aoba responds by telling him that he's alive, since Aoba can touch him and he is still breathing.
- Putting it into perspective, Aoba has received nothing but pain and abuse from Mink, and he has every right to hate the man. But what does he choose to do? He does not wish death on Mink, and encourages him to live on instead. That takes a lot of heart to do. What's even better is that his words got through to Mink, and he didn't even need to use Scrap for it. In fact, Aoba telling Mink this leaves such a big impression on him that Toue using his Compelling Voice to stop Mink does absolutely nothing.
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- The latter part of Mink's route definitely qualifies, starting from when they have a deep and insightful conversation about what had happened between them and how they both feel about it, to the final moment when Mink declares that he intends to start a new chapter of his life with Aoba by his side, even calling him by his name for the very first time.
THE CHiRAL NIGHT -Dive into DMMd- V2.0
- Mink searches for Aoba, who had not returned for hours after going out on a hike. After finding him at a cliff, Aoba apologizes and wonders if Mink was angry, where Mink only states that Aoba is free to go as he pleases, but to not go anywhere where he can't find him. When pressed, he denies saying anything. After being pressed again as to whether he is angry, Mink answers that he's only worried about losing someone important again, but he won't restrain Aoba because of this. Aoba then assures he won't leave him, since he'll always be by his side. In response, Mink warmly smiles.
DRAMAtical Murder Drama CD
- The entire volume counts as a CMOH. It's very touching to see how far Aoba and Mink have come, especially when you remember how their relationship had started. The atmosphere between the two of them had completely turned from cold, tense, and violent to warm, kind, and loving. It's almost impossible to believe that the events in the first game had truly happened.
- The way Mink nurses Aoba whenever the latter shows any signs of illness is heartwarming in itself, and every time Aoba apologizes for inconveniencing Mink in any way, he always gently tells him that there's no need to apologize.
- One particular moment is when Aoba's fever grew worse. During that time, Mink tends to Aoba and is clearly worried about his health, even taking the day off from work the next day to watch over him. When Aoba starts to feel sleepy, Mink goes into bed beside him, wrapping his arms around Aoba to provide the latter some comfort, with both of them gently bidding each other good night. When you remember Mink's normally stoic nature, seeing him act this tender to Aoba makes this scene all the more sweeter.
- What takes the cake, however, is the penultimate track. After Aoba thanks Mink for showing him his homeland, Mink embraces Aoba and states he forgot to tell him something important. What he tells him then afterwards, is essentially equal to a marriage vow, for what he said were words from his tribe that two people would exchange when they wish to spend the rest of their lives together.
- After the aforementioned scene (along with an emotionally and physically intimate moment between them) Aoba asks Mink if they could go back to Midorijima soon; since Mink showed Aoba his home and his past, and Aoba wants to do the same. Needless to say, Mink agrees, and Aoba is close to crying Tears of Joy. Without a doubt, their relationship had changed for the better.
- Every time Mink addresses Aoba by his name, you know something heartwarming is bound to happen. Even just hearing him say Aoba's name is extremely touching in its own right. Considering how he never calls anyone by their name in the first game, it's a possible interpretation that to him, calling someone by their name is acknowledging that they're someone important to him. And Aoba has become that and much, much more.
Clear's Route
DRAMAtical Murder
- So much of Clear's route. Especially Aoba convincing him to take off his mask, promising that no matter what he wouldn't hate him, then assuring him over and over that he's perfectly normal. Clear is nearly in tears by the end of the scene. Really, the entire route could be considered one.
- Also Clear's straightforward love confession, followed by a kiss. Aoba isn't yet sure how to respond, so he hugs Clear instead.
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- When Clear has just returned to Aoba after being dead for almost a year, Aoba is so overjoyed that Clear's back that he starts crying.
THE CHiRAL NIGHT -Dive into DMMd- V2.0
- Clear remarks that despite the negative emotions he feels, which surrounds the knowledge that he may outlive Aoba, he is still happy, and regards his time with Aoba as what is most important to him. And he notes that this feeling may equate to love, and tells Aoba just that. note Afterwards, Aoba offers that they walk back home while holding hands, which causes Clear to happily agree.
Secret Route
DRAMAtical Murder
- Aoba's relationship with Ren as a whole. Even if Ren's route is not taken, it's always made clear how much Ren means to Aoba. The most direct example is that Ren is an extremely old-model AllMate, yet Aoba refuses to replace him with another AllMate no matter what. To Aoba, Ren is more than just an AllMate; Ren is his friend as much as he is his family.
- Other examples that show how protective he is of Ren are his enraged reactions when one, he saw Noiz tampering with Ren and two, when Mink forced him to install a program in Ren that would deactivate the guard Allmates in Oval Tower, which Aoba feared would damage Ren.
- Ren's good ending may be the most heartwarming thing Nitro+CHIRAL has done.Aoba: Welcome back.
- Aoba accepting the other Aoba. Unlike in the other routes where the voice simply goes away, Aoba is able to have a conversation with him in Ren's. He realizes that the other Aoba is not truly evil and that he's just a part of him. When Aoba finally accepts him, the other Aoba thanks him and fades away.
DRAMAtical Murder re:connect
- The final scene shows Aoba embracing Ren while their foreheads gently meet, and they give each other the usual exchange of "Thanks for everything," and "The pleasure is mine."
THE CHiRAL NIGHT -Dive into DMMd- V2.0
- Ren and Aoba share a sweet moment where Ren lifts up Aoba, since he never got to do that as an Allmate. In a while, Ren states that what he has now with Aoba is fun, and then begins to mention that despite Sei's death, he feels a faint presence of the latter inside him, surprising Aoba. Ren notes that all of them are now in harmony, with Sei's warmth existing inside him, and Aoba's alternate personality fully merged back with Aoba. Aoba reinforces his words by saying that from here on, they will all be living together.
DRAMAtical Murder Drama CD
- The very beginning has Aoba deciding to reveal Ren to everyone. Everyone present is understandably surprised and confused, and Aoba and Ren are clearly nervous on how they would react. But everyone warmly and kindly welcomes Ren, even expressing joy in seeing him as he is now.
- It's small, but there is Beni's friendship with Ren. It has been apparent since the very first game, but seeing them interact a lot in this disc shows that even though Ren became human, their relationship hasn't changed one bit, and that alone can make you go "awwww".
