~Princess Princess~
Plot Analysis
Version 1.0
1/20/08
Copyright 2008 Justin "discoinferno84" Boot. Any unauthorized use of this
guide is a violation of copyright law. This guide is to be used exclusively on
Gamefaqs (gamefaqs.com) and may not be publicly distributed otherwise. See the
end of this FAQ for further explanation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~Contents~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01.0
-What is Princess Princess?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02.0
-Characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03.0
-The Princesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .03.1
-Supporting Cast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03.2
-Themes of Princess Princess. . . . . . . . . . . . . .04.0
-Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05.0
-Copyrights and other Legal Stuff. . . . . . . . . . . 06.0
-Contact Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07.0
-Credits and Special Thanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
01.0 ~Introduction~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, folks! Welcome to my FAQ for Princess Princess. Unfortunately, this game
wasn't released stateside, so it hasn't gotten a lot of exposure outside of
Japan. Its parent manga and anime, however, have enough of a fanbase to ensure
its DVDs and translated versions will remain available. While I follow series
like Dragon Ball Z, Cowboy Bebop, and Death Note religiously, Princess Princess
is essentially a lighthearted guilty pleasure. Given its subject matter, it
won't appeal to the vast majority of you. This series is certainly an odd one
out of the countless other animated titles on the market, and you'll see why
if you read on. So forget about Super Super Saiyans, shinigami, bounty hunters,
and all that other popular stuff you've likely been spoonfed. Things are about
to get...uh, pretty.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02.0 ~What is Princess Princess?~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Princess Princess began as a manga written by Mikiyo Tsuda. It revolves around
three high school boys and their experiences at Fujimori High, a secluded
all-boys school. Since there are no women around, the students at Fujimori
must deal with frustration that, to quote Class President Akira Sakamoto,
"tends to go in a strange direction." Basically, the students are attracted
to anyone who looks feminine. Thus the Princess System was created; the most
feminine-looking students are chosen to become the school's Princess. For the
entire school year, they must dress up in various gothic lolita outfits, cheer
at the various sports events, and offer words of encouragement to the
sexually deprived student population. The tradeoff for such...unusual
extracurricular activities is a wide variety of collateral benefits; Princesses
are excused from class if it interferes with their work, are allowed free
meals, uniforms, school supplies, as well as a private dorm and other
accommodations. Whenever the photography club takes and sells their pictures
to the student body, the Princesses can receive part of the profit for pocket
money.
The only drawback with the Princess System is that, since it is approved and
managed by the school administration, Princess candidates cannot merely quit
their job in the middle of their term. Doing so would not only retract the
aforementioned benefits, but also result in the student receiving demerits
and subsequent failures on their records. While this might sound harsh (and
it can be, especially with regards to certain characters), it is essential
to the survival of Fujimori's academic reputation. If there are no Princesses
to maintain morale, the school would perform poorly and decline from its elite,
high-class standing. Thus the future and success of Fujimori relies heavily
on the Princess System and its members. With crossdressing and a certain degree
of bisexuality accepted as the norm, the real issues are left to the
individual Princesses and their problems throughout the school year...
Oh, get your mind out of the gutter! There's nothing X-rated going on here; the
majority of the students are far too hopeless to even think about nabbing a
Princess and dragging him off into a secluded classroom. Besides, there are
plenty of things keeping the 'ladies' from being harassed by their adoring (aka
horny-obsessive fans). With little physical threats to consider, the series
focuses on the inner struggles of each character with regards to their
relationships with each other and the issues they bring from their home lives.
The common theme among all three Princesses is the need for acceptance; none of
them feel secure enough to take charge of their personal lives, and thus act
according to such insecurities. The most prominent issue in the series is that
of the ambiguous nature of relationship between two of the Princesses; though
nothing is overtly shown (aside from a kiss), it is strongly implied that the
two boys are attracted to each other and maintain an unspoken relationship.
Or, if you just blaze through the anime, you'll probably think that they're
both homosexual. Given the nature of the series, that shouldn't be surprising.
So, what kind of exactly have we got here? Homosexual themes? Check.
Crossdressing pretty-boys? Check. Shallow take on men in one of the strangest
plots out there? Check. If this isn't your kind of thing (and I don't blame
you) feel free to hit the back button...
..You still there? All right. Well, this game is visual novel based on the
anime, which is in turn adapted from the manga. The majority of the characters
are present and accounted for, despite certain liberties taken with the
story structure. So while this won't necessarily help you beat the game
(especially if you can't read Japanese), it'll give you better insight
into the characters and their roles in the Princess Princess universe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
03.0 ~Characters~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since Princess Princess was a brief series (only five volumes of manga and
twelve anime episodes) it's little surprise that the cast is smaller than that
of the average series. The benefit of such limitations is that it allows the
characters to be explored more in-depth.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
03.1 ~The Princesses~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tooru Kouno-
Tooru is introduced on his first day at Fujimori. He is a transfer student that
has come to the school early on in the semester. At first, he is depressed at
his surroundings; he likens the all-male crowd to a "musty herd" and notes a
"lack of freshness." He is soon distracted by his teacher, who says that Tooru
will receive a warm welcome based on his feminine looks. Though Tooru is
understandably taken aback by such a statement, he realizes that the teacher
was correct; upon entering his new classroom, he is greeted by many blushing
faces, furtive stares, and excited whispering. He meets Akira Sakamoto, the
class president, and recognizes him to be a reliable person. He also meets
Yuujirou Shihoudani, one of the school's current Princesses. He is surprised by
Yuujirou's feminine appearance; Tooru actually mistakes him for a girl despite
him not being crossdressed at the time.
After having lunch with Akira (during which he observes how everyone, including
upper classmen, bow to Akira and call him Sakamoto-sama, or Mr. Sakamoto in the
English translation), Tooru meets up with Yuujirou to get situated in the
dorms. The dorm supervisor looks at Tooru strangely and suggests that he be
moved into P-Room with Yuujirou. This leads to a meeting with Mikoto Yutaka,
the other Princess. He frantically begs Tooru to move into P-Room and states
that he meets all of the necessary qualifications. It's through this meeting
(and a subsequent private talk with the four guys) that the Princess System
is revealed to Tooru. He was sent to live in P-Room (obviously short for
Princess Room) because of the high likelihood of his being chosen to be a
new Princess. Having lunch with Akira was essentially for publicity; Yuujirou
states that Akira is essentially a "walking billboard" and that news of Tooru's
arrival would have spread throughout the entire campus by then.
Tooru is obviously not fond of the idea of crossdressing for the school. He
spends much of his first days having to deal with students staring or
blushing at him, as well as seeing Yuujirou as a Princess for the first time.
He is skeptical of the Princess System, and remains as such when he and the
Two Princesses are summoned to the Student Council Office. While baffled by the
Student Council (each of whom is incredibly good looking), he is confronted
with the inevitable: the job as a Princess. Though he opposes it at first, he
changes his mind when he learns of the financial benefits that come with the
position. He agrees without a second thought, and even defends his choice
against Mikoto's anti-Princess tirades; when asked if he has any pride as a
man, Tooru simply says no and states that such things mean little when
money is an issue. Thus begins his term as Fujimori's third Princess.
Tooru's desire to reap his job's benefits is not derived from greed, however.
By being a Princess and getting his education for free, he is lightening the
financial burden he has placed upon his caretakers. Tooru is an orphan; his
parents were killed in an accident, and he has been in the care of his uncle's
family since he was a young child. His transfer to Fujimori is also fueled by
his family issues; his cousin/stepsister Sayaka has developed an obsession with
him and has stated a desire to marry (and physically attacked one of his
female friends in jealousy). Thus Tooru transferred to Fujimori to get
distance from a family situation that he no longer feels comfortable in. Being
a Princess allows him a sort of escape from the problems that plague his
personal life and pretend, for the moment, that he is happy.
Accordingly, he adapts quite well to his new situation. Despite being a late
transferee and taking up the Princess job in his first week, he acts
naturally and wins the hearts of all the regular students. He takes his
job in stride; his desire to perform well and to enjoy his educational
experience make him the most balanced Princess of the trio. He is easily
distinguished by his blue hair and eyes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Yuujirou Shihoudani-
Yuujirou is introduced early on in the story as Tooru's classmate and
subsequent roommate. He has the most feminine appearance out of any character
in the series; his long blond hair, thin frame, and soft facial features
lead some characters to think he is a girl regardless if he is dressed as a
Princess or not. At first, Tooru considers Yuujirou to be mysterious and
manipulative, which leads them to a few short-lived arguments before the two
start developing their relationship. Yuujirou's personality is that of a
confident, cheerful, and slightly flirty person who clearly doesn't care
what others think of him. He is by far the most adept at being a Princess;
he freely gives fellow students words of encouragement and earnestly does
all of the duties his job entails. He is nicknamed the Princess of the
East because he attends classes in that section of Fujimori's campus.
Yuujirou's strong personality is essential to the Princess trio; though
there is no official leader of the group, his decisiveness and confidence
make him a force to be reckoned with. He is also prone to teasing or
bullying Mikoto, as he enjoys messing with the other Princess on a friendly
(and occasionally serious) level. Though the two squabble constantly, they
are far from enemies; their perspectives merely differ, and Yuujirou's
strong personality usually wins his arguments. His interactions with Tooru
are on a more personal level; he recognizes his new roommate as someone with
whom he can identify and confide. Accordingly, the two characters maintain a
balanced relationship; Tooru acts as an anchor to Yuujirou's free-spirited
personality, and Yuujirou's personality grants Tooru emotional freedom.
Despite such appearances, however, Yuujirou is as insecure as the other
Princesses. Unlike Tooru, he still has his parents. In fact, that's just
the problem; he doesn't feel like he belongs in his family. His father
died when he was young, and his mother remarried with his grade school
teacher. The two of them had a son named Shinnosuke, who is entering his
toddler years. Yuujirou sees his parents and his brother as the "perfect
family" and states that he feels his presence ruins such perfection.
Thus he has begun avoiding opportunities to visit with his family;
he neither goes home for summer break, nor does he wish to celebrate his
birthday with them. Being a Princess allows him to escape his fears of
unacceptance and wield a fair amount of control over the student body. It
is only through Tooru's emotional support that he gains enough confidence
to confront his family and regain his sense of belonging with them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Mikoto Yutaka-
Mikoto is introduced differently in the respective manga and anime. In the
manga, he is first shown as the student who frantically proclaims that Tooru
is fit to replace him in P-Room. While the identical scene occurs in the
anime, Mikoto his first shown in the opening moments of the first episode.
Tooru observes him, in full Princess garb, running away from a horde of eager
young students. Tooru obviously mistakes Mikoto for a girl, and thus becomes
confused when he meets the de-feminized Mikoto in the dorms. Even without his
wig (easily seen due to its pink coloring and curly/wavy styling), Mikoto still
looks as feminine as Tooru. He is nicknamed the Princess of the West because
he attends classes in that area of Fujimori's campus.
Unlike the other two Princesses, however, Mikoto has no desire to be a
Princess. He was chosen for his looks, but his personality is nowhere
near as agreeable as the others. He is openly rebellious against the Princess
System and frequently whines about whatever job he has to undertake. He is
incredibly shy and insecure about letting people see him as a girl, which
occasionally creates problems when the Princesses are needed to perform at
sports games, festivals, etc. The other Princesses deem such emotional
behavior as childish and chide Mikoto at every opportunity. He is usually
singled out and teased by Yuujirou. While his emotional outbursts make him
an easy target for the other Princesses, many of the students find it endearing
and adorable. Thus Mikoto's actions are ironic; in an attempt to be manlier
by resisting the system, he is making himself seem cuter and attracting more
guys to him. However, he adds a sense of realism and resolve that the other
characters seem to lack. His arguments are used as a counterpoint to those
of Tooru and Yuujirou; without him, there would be no way to keep the Princess
from being too absorbed in their work. His stubbornness also masks his bravery;
when faced with a potential stalker, he is the first to offer himself as bait
to capture the culprit.
Mikoto's desire to be manlier is based on his personal life. Unlike the
other Princesses, he maintains a relationship with his girlfriend, Megumi,
throughout the series. He frequently talks about her and usually spends time
on the phone with her. In the Princess-laden world of Fujimori, Megumi is his
only link to his conception of masculinity. Thus the question arises: Does
Mikoto want to act masculine to fulfill his roll as Megumi's boyfriend, or is
he using Megumi to gain a personal sense of masculinity? Regardless, Megumi
figures largely in his value system. He cannot bear the thought of her finding
out about his crossdressing (and seeing him in such an emasculated state);
other characters use his fears to keep him in line. The issue eventually comes
to a close when Megumi finally sees Mikoto as a Princess and supports him
wholeheartedly. It should be noted that Mikoto's personality drastically
changes in Megumi's presence; he goes from a frantic, whiny brat into a caring,
supportive, and surprisingly mature young man. This, along with all of his
other quirks, makes him one of the most complex characters in the series.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
03.2 ~Supporting Cast~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Akira Sakamoto-
Akira is introduced as the Class President. Though Tooru instantly recognizes
him to be a reliable person, he also realizes that there's something strange
about him. The students, even upper classmen, bow to Akira whenever he crosses
their paths. Everyone, including the Student Council President, call him
Sakamoto-sama (or Mr. Sakamoto in the American subtitles). It's obvious that
the entire student body recognizes and respects him, though it remains unclear
as to why early on. In actuality, Akira has an older brother named Harumi who
graduated the same year that Akira came to Fujimori. Harumi was so good looking
and personable that the other students worshipped him with seemingly religious
fervor. Student Council President Arisada is grooming him to be his successor.
As such, he and everyone else show Akira utmost respect in honor of his
famous brother.
However, Akira possesses inherent skills that gain him his own fame and
respect. He looks like an average student (aside from light green hair and
eyes), but he is anything but. His patience, listening skills, common
sense, and quick thinking make him an excellent leader. He saves the
Princesses from several tricky situations, and offers advice and
perspective whenever he is asked. He acts as an emotional support for the
main characters (especially Tooru), and also relies on them for emotional
strength. He uses his friendship as the basis for his confidence; when faced
with a seemingly unstoppable political rival in the manga, he states that
his desire to win is based on his friends' belief in him. Akira also possesses
a mysterious ability that the other characters call "healing power." Basically
anyone in Akira's presence will start feeling relieved of emotional burdens
and anxiety. Despite his obvious command over the student body, he remains
humble and considerate of everyone around him.
It should be noted that Akira is not originally from the Princess Princess
series. Though he plays a supporting role here, he is the main character
of Family Complex, another manga by Mikiyo Tsuda. He has his own share of
insecurities, dealing mainly with the relations with his family. As with
Harumi, every member of the Sakamoto family is incredibly beautiful and
seemingly perfect. The anime explores the issue with Tooru and Yuujirou
visiting the Sakamoto household over summer vacation. The Princesses are
stunned; Akira's parents look half their real ages, and the siblings look
both gorgeous and androgynous. It's easy to see where Akira's issues come
from; faced with such incredible standards, Akira feels like a loner, the
weird stranger in a perfect world. It's later stated that Akira's
insecurities are unfounded; he is an obviously exceptional person, but
everyone is too distracted by his relatives to notice him. Thus Akira is just
as abnormal, but shows it in different ways. This experience allows Akira
to form a friendship with Tooru and Yuujirou and start calling each other on
a first-name basis. Not surprisingly, Akira hates being called Sakamoto-sama.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Arisada-
Arisada is the current Student Council President at Fujimori High. He is
portrayed as a beautiful, smooth-talking fellow with a fairly suave demeanor.
It's fitting, considering that he was a Princess during the previous school
year. He has carried his grace and style over into his politics (though he
no longer crossdresses) and has succeeded in gaining control of the student
body. As such, he is a bit of a megalomaniac; his flair and cunning also
ensure that he gets whatever he wants, even if it is by indirect means. He
frequently manipulates others into doing what he desires. By performing a
check on Tooru, Arisada was able to figure out how best to convince him to
become a Princess. When the newly appointed school board director threatened
shut down the Princess system, Arisada had all three boys give the director a
tour of the campus. By seeing the Princess's beneficial presence at the school
the director not only maintained the system, but granted the school more money
as well. Thus Arisada's plan worked flawlessly.
Arisada is a morally ambiguous character. He pushes the Princesses to perform
with grueling schedules and expectations. While he is an engaging and dynamic
leader, he uses people as mere pawns to complete whatever plan he has
conceived. Though he uses his authority to defend the Princesses against
possibly dangerous situations (like a stalker, Sayaka's scheming, etc.), it
could argued that his actions were to ensure his plans for the school did not
go awry. On the other hand, he is obviously concerned with the future of
Fujimori High; his demanding expectations for the characters have resulted in
many of the local clubs and teams to reach national-level competition. Without
his subtle scheming, the director would have eliminated the Princess System and
doomed the school. If anything, the school has prospered during his term as
Student Council President.
More importantly, however, is the fact that he has handpicked Akira Sakamoto as
his successor for the following year. Accordingly, he spends much of the series
walking Akira through the various procedures and events that come with each
school year. While Arisada deeply respects Akira's older brother, he recognizes
that his successor possesses incredible leadership qualities and will ensure
that Fujimori maintains its prestige. Though Arisada can be likened to an
evil mastermind, his devotion to the school is unquestionable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The Student Council-
Though Arisada is in charge, Fujimori High is run by three additional council
members, all of whom offer their own skills and abilities. Arisada has stated
that they could probably run the school themselves if necessary. However, all
three of these guys share similar qualities; they're all incredibly handsome,
and they support Arisada with an almost fanatic fervor. Unfortunately, none
of the characters are developed; they are merely used to help enforce the
current regime and offer assistance when needed. Each of them has their own
unique characteristics:
Masayuki Koshino: The Vice Student Council President. His physical strength
and stature make him an imposing figure, but he is good-natured.
Wataru Harue: The Student Council Treasurer. His pleasant demeanor hides his
incredible mathematical skills and a focus on numbers. He also mentions to
Tooru about how the Princess System has the largest budget in Fujimori.
Takahiro Tadasu: The Student Council Secretary. His quick hands and wit are
valuable assets when it comes to Arisada's plans.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Natashou-
Natashou is a third-year Home Economics student. He is introduced during the
first meeting between Tooru and the Student Council. He is portrayed as being
energetic and overly obsessed with clothes. He enjoys looking at the Princesses
but not out of attraction; seeing them usually invokes some kind of inspiration
for his next designs. He is responsible for creating every Princess costume
in the series. His conversations are usually fast, intense, and a bit
frightening; he obsesses over colors, materials, and the images he is trying to
convey with each outfit. As such, his overwhelming personality makes him
someone whom the Princesses try to avoid whenever possible.
Despite his seemingly insane antics, his creative abilities and skills as a
fashion designer are formidable. During the school board director's tour of
Fujimori, Arisada made it a point to mention that Natashou won a regional
competition during the previous year. Without him, the Princess's appearances
would be nowhere near as effective. Unfortunately, he is portrayed as a
one-dimensional, stereotypically finicky man of fashion. Though his sexuality
is never explored, the characters in both the manga and anime note that he
cares about clothes and nothing else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Sayaka-
Sayaka is Tooru's younger sibling. They are technically cousins, but due to
Tooru being adopted into his uncle's family, the two were raised as brother
and sister. However, that has not stopped Sayaka from developing a disturbing
obsession and desire for her adopted brother. She sees Tooru as an ideal man
(which stems from Tooru trying to be a good role model and family member) and
thus has become infatuated with him. Her incestuous desires lead her to become
incredibly possessive of her brother; she physically assaulted one of Tooru's
female friends and tried to justify her actions by proclaiming her love for
him. This is the real reason why Tooru has transferred to Fujimori; he came to
the school to escape Sayaka and his self-perceived conflicts with his adoptive
family.
Thus Sayaka is arguably the series' villain; her selfish actions wreak havoc
and strife on Tooru and Yuujirou's personal lives. Though she is only
one of the few female characters to appear, she is ironically the least
attractive and unbalanced. Her presence also underscores the importance of the
relationship between the two Princesses; Tooru and Yuujirou share an emotional
bond that that Sayaka can only dream of. This relationship is further developed
by Sayaka's presence; in an attempt to shock the girl and scare her off,
Yuujirou states that Tooru is gay and proceeds to share a lengthy, one-sided
kiss with him. This is the only truly overt proof of Yuujirou's attraction to
Tooru, and it works like a charm. By performing such an action, however,
Yuujirou becomes the focus of Sayaka's wrath and must deal with her later on.
Thus Sayaka represents taboo feelings of attraction, while Yuujirou is the
natural lover. Like many aspects of the series, this is the opposite of what
would be considered normal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-Megumi-
Megumi is Mikoto's girlfriend. Though Mikoto talks about her incessantly and
spends countless hours on the phone with her, Megumi is rarely seen in person
or in full view. Both characters care much for each other and genuinely enjoy
being together. Since they both lack confidence in themselves, they seek out
emotional support from each other. Mikoto's actions are fueled by his fear of
losing his masculinity (and be extension, Megumi's affection). Megumi also
needs Mikoto; his presence is essential in the development and growth of her
individuality. Thus both characters' emotional stability are dependent on the
other.
Mikoto and Megumi are parallel characters; both deal with their masculinity
and femininity respectively. Megumi is not originally from Princess Princess;
though she is in a supporting role here, she is the main character of Day of
Revolution, another manga by Mikiyo Tsuda. Megumi is transgendered; she begins
her story as a male student who learns that he is genetically female, undergoes
surgery, and starts living as a girl. Her story is about dealing with high
school life from a female perspective and coming to terms with her femininity.
With such a background, it's easy to understand why Megumi is portrayed as shy,
unconfident, and emotionally close to Mikoto. It also factors into her
perception of Mikoto as a Princess; when she sees him dressed up and shocked
over her discovery, she proclaims her utmost love, sympathy, and support for
him. She is essential in Mikoto's growth as a character.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
04.0 ~Themes of Princess Princess~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Acceptance-
At the beginning of the series, all three Princesses are introduced with
different personalities and perspectives. Despite this, they are emotionally
stunted and insecure. Tooru's actions are not based on his own wants; he is
merely trying to gain the favor of his adoptive family, on whom he feels he is
placing a financial burden. Ironically, his attempts to be the perfect son and
live the ideal life have backfired on him; Sayaka now sees him as the only man
worthy of being her future husband. Thus Tooru's quest for his family's
acceptance of him is the cause of his current problems. He spends much of the
series keeping his issues a secret, even to confidants like Yuujirou and Akira.
Tooru lets his fears run his life, usually avoiding personal questions and not
treating Sayaka with enough forcefulness to stop her. He believes that by
rejecting Sayaka, he is cutting himself away from his family. It is not until
Yuujirou gets involved that Tooru gets the courage he needs to return home
and confront his family.
Yuujirou faces a similar problem. He sees his mother, stepfather, and younger
brother as the perfect family. By holding them to such a standard, he believes
he doesn't deserve a place with them. By the start of the series, he's already
emotionally withdrawn from his relatives and uses his job as Princess as an
excuse to not return home. Yuujirou calls his stepfather 'sensei' (due to him
being his teacher prior to the marriage) and feels that his brother is afraid
of him. From a psychological standpoint, it's clear that Yuujirou feels he
didn't receive enough attention once his sibling was born. It's little wonder
why he gets so into being a Princess; he craves the attention and love he
receives from the students. Thus his life at Fujimori is little more than an
escape from reality; he does not build the courage to face his family until
late in the series, when Tooru gives him the necessary emotional support. His
meeting with the family makes him realize that he has been accepted all along.
Mikoto's issues are not based so much on his family, but of his self-acceptance
concerning his femininity. Despite his best efforts to be manlier, he does
not recognize (let alone accept) the fact that he looks like a beautiful girl.
His stubbornness is likely attributed to his move into Fujimori; at home, he is
bullied by Makoto, his older sister. Considering how Makoto has a more
masculine personality (aggressive, domineering, etc.) it's possible that Mikoto
felt emasculated at home and decided to reinvent himself at Fujimori.
Despite many characters trying to explain the folly of his beliefs, he spends
much of the series suffering from inner conflicts. This is best shown when he
imagines himself and Megumi as the perfect couple, only to see an image of them
dressed in identical Princess costumes. He also uses his role as Megumi's
boyfriend to further define his masculinity; he fears that if she discovers him
crossdressing, she will reject him and thus eliminate any masculinity he
thinks he has. Not surprisingly, he gets more into being a Princess when Megumi
discovers and supports him.
While he is not a Princess, Akira shares similar issues with the main
characters. Like the 'girls', his problems are based on the relationship
with his family and his individuality. He has a lot to live up to; his
older brother was a legend at Fujimori, and his effect on the school is
all too real. Akira does not have the same kind of flair and personality
as Harumi; he lets his skills as a leader, not his appearance, to win
over his peers. However, he must deal with the alienation that comes with
being Harumi's younger brother; the students treat him not as a friend or
an average student, but as an idol. This is the reason why he tells Tooru
and Yuujirou to start calling him by his first name; he states that whenever
someone calls him Sakamoto-sama, it's like an invisible wall is built between
him and the other person. He constantly undercuts himself despite being an
incredibly gifted individual; his friends have stated their amazement at how
Akira doesn't seem to know himself. Thus he has two paradoxical fears: not
being good enough to live up to his family's standards, and being too
exceptional to be accepted by his peers. By the end of the series, however,
both are resolved when he finally takes charge of the Student Council.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Homosexuality-
It won't take very long for the average viewer to realize that homosexuality
is a prominent feature of Princess Princess. The students at Fujimori lack
contact with women for the majority of the school year, so it's little wonder
that they take to the Princesses so avidly. They are fully aware of the fact
that the trio are male, yet still treat them with shyness and awe. One student
described it best when he saw the Princesses changing from their boy's uniforms
into their Princess costumes; he begged them to go change in private, because
he and the other students have personal fantasies about the Princesses. Letting
the characters have their own private dorms and bathrooms is an obvious,
necessary move by the Student Council; without such accommodations, they could
not safely go about their daily lives.
However, the relationship between Tooru and Yuujirou is the most obvious aspect
of the series' homosexual theme. Though it is never explicitly shown, it is
frequently hinted at or suggested. Both characters are interested in the
well-being of the other; they divulge each other's secrets, weaknesses, and
problems far more intimately than normal friends. They are frequently depicted
as thinking of or staring thoughtfully at the other. They spend the majority of
time with each other, even when considering their alienation as Princesses.
Their conversations, arguments, and reactions to each other suggest a fairly
intimate mutual understanding. Their suspected relationship is brought to light
in the most infamous moment in the series, when the two kiss in front of
Sayaka. However, the circumstances surrounding the kiss make it ambiguous;
Yuujirou claims to use the kiss (and directly stating that Tooru is gay
beforehand) in order to shock Sayaka into waking up from her incestuous
obession and leaving. However, Yuujirou is consistently depicted as having a
very satisfied and sly look on his face after performing the deed. Though Tooru
looks mortified by the kiss, he makes no attempt to stop or resist it.
Though it is not stated, it is heavily implied that Yuujirou is attracted to
Tooru. He does a rather poor job of pretending otherwise, but Tooru remains
oblivious to its extent through much of the series. This probably stems from
Yuujirou stating that the two of them share a "platonic love", which he uses
as an excuse to engage Tooru on a more intimate level. However, Yuujirou takes
every chance possible to indirectly flirt and confuse his would-be lover. When
Tooru asks him what he wanted to do during their trip into town (going to the
Arcades, singing karaoke, etc.) Yuujirou says that's what couples do on a date.
When he asks Tooru what kind of women he likes, he manages to trick Tooru into
saying that he sees Akira as ideal. In contrast, Yuujirou's sexuality is kept
ambiguous intentionally; when asked about his ideal women, he merely states,
"big boobs" and nothing else. When the two are observing girls in a food court,
Yuujirou uses observations (they are looking at their watches, implying they
are waiting for their dates) to explain why they can't be approached. Tooru
notes that Yuujirou must do this often, if he is so adept at spotting such
things.
This implies that Yuujirou does try to pick up girls on a fairly frequent
basis. Despite this, he has almost no interaction with the opposite sex at all.
He is likely spending time in such public areas to somehow rid himself of his
homosexuality; his limited contact with girls may not be based on observations
or confidence issues, but from a lack of interest. He likely took Tooru with
him in order to make himself appear straight and innocent of his advances. This
is also shown with his reaction to other men; when he and Tooru are approached
and flirted with by a couple of guys, he becomes uncharacteristically angry and
inconsolable. Their misadventures mark a turning point in their relationship;
they are able to understand each other on a more intimate level afterwards. The
extent of the relationship isn't made apparent until Tooru considers leaving
Fujimori. Though he decides to stay, he tests Yuujirou by asking him what he
thinks of the situation. Though Yuujirou's face isn't shown during his
response, his terse wording and blushing, awkward expression afterwards plainly
show his
failed attempt at concealing his affection. More importantly, is demonstrates
that Tooru is not only acknowledges Yuujirou's attraction to him, but accepts
it as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05.0 ~Conclusion~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, how about that? There's a lot going on beneath this seemingly simple
series. Between all the crossdressing, subtle romancing, incestuous sisters,
insecurities, and everything else, it's clear that these pretty-boys have a lot
to go through. While the game doesn't explore many of the minor plot points
from the anime, it's still a pretty good visual novel adaptation. Don't take
what you see at face value here; there is plenty to each of the characters that
show up in the game. So in case you feel like watching something lighthearted,
fun, and slightly perverse, give this Princess Princess a chance...and hope
you can translate Japanese well. Anyway, thanks for reading this. I bet it
looks mind-numbingly boring, but I like it...Later, folks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
06.0 ~Copyrights and other Legal Stuff~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Look, folks. Copying someone else's stuff is a bad, foolish, and selfish thing
to do. In fact, it's illegal! So don't do it. Makes pretty good sense, don't
you think? That said, this document is an electronically published work under
fully copyright protection. If for some unbeknownst reason that you want to use
this FAQ, permission is granted ONLY as a private and personal reference copy.
This guide may only be used on Gamefaqs.com. Any other reproduction without my
consent is strictly prohibited.
(c)discoinferno84 All Rights Reserved
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
07.0 ~Contact Information~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People who send me useless emails tick me off. Thus:
-I will gladly accept any corrections and suggestions for this guide. Be sure
to
include "Princess Princess FAQ" in the title of the email.
-Let me know if I missed anything, or if there are other character dynamics
that need to be explored.
-Do NOT send me spam/chain letters/whatever other junk that might seem funny.
-Given the fact that I'm finishing up my degree on top of maintaining a job to
pay for it, there's always the chance that it'll take me a while to respond to
an email (or if I decide to respond at all). My apologies in advance.
-My email is: discoinfero84<at>gmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08.0 ~Credits and Special Thanks~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Mikiyo Tsuda, for creating this wonderful and sadly obscure series. You keep
writing, and I'll keep reading.
-Gamefaqs, for hosting this FAQ and providing information to gamers like us.
-Schmendricks Folly, for getting me hooked on the series ages ago.
-You, for reading through this rather lengthy plot analysis for a game that
you likely have no interest in playing/importing.
