Thank you Sekai Project for sending us this game to review!

9-nine-:Episode 2 takes place in a parallel universe with a different chain of events due to the main character, Kakeru, letting his pushy sister, Sora, sleep over at his place. That one decision leads to less murders taking place in the small town of Shiromitsugawa. A different romance is possible for Kakeru and new bonds are formed in this episode as well.

Though this chapter refreshes your memory of the events of the first installment, it’s highly recommended that you begin there. The premise remains the same in both chapters though. The town of Shiromitsugawa is known for being the backdrop of a failed anime called “Mobius Ring, the Cycle of Reincarnation.” After an earthquake destroys the town’s sacred shrine relic, the events from the anime begin to unfold like prophecy. Powerful artifacts have made their way into the hands of students who use their newfound powers for good or evil. Those who are chosen by a relic are known as “users.”

Both episodes describe a boy losing control of his power and engulfing a section of the school in flames. Another similar event is the petrification of a female student at the park. In both episodes/parallel universes Kakeru joins up with other like-minded users who want to stop the murders from continuing. Although his powers elude him in the beginning, Kakeru is considered a user.

The main focus of this episode is on the relationship between Kakeru and Sora. Like many siblings, they have their fair share of bickering and smacking each other around. The dialogue between them is great and I believe that anyone with a sibling will totally be able to relate. Sora is spoiled by her parents and is used to getting her way. After Kakeru moved out, she took over his room at their parent’s house and has since been invading his new home by treating it as if it were her own. Sora often uses her charm and crocodile tears to get her way, but Kakeru doesn’t always fall for her tricks. With the dangers of bad users in the town, it’s natural for these siblings to want to protect and ensure the safety of one another. They both save each other’s life through this story and grow closer as a result. The question of how close they grow depends on the only true choice you’re given in this visual novel.

In the previous episode, Kakeru can develop a romantic relationship with Kujo.

When the artwork wasn’t risqué, I found it to be very colorful and nicely detailed. The expressions on the character’s faces matched their moods perfectly. There’s are a fair amount of background scenery images too.

The voice acting is in Japanese and the actors convey their emotion really well. Especially Sora’s character during her temper tantrums. Many of the conversations get heated and contain every curse word in the book including the f-bomb on several occasions. The Lord’s name is taken in vain multiple times as well.

Like the previous chapter, there are some deaths. Some blood is shown, but not too much. The relics give their users supernatural powers that come from various gods.

Even though the story is still good and the characters are well-developed, the awkward relationship route ruined this episode for me. Hopefully, future chapters will have more standard options available.