When a supporting character's popularity surpasses that of the protagonist, the route is a failure
When a supporting character's popularity surpasses that of the protagonist, the route is a failure—my reflections after playing Yoshitsune's route for the fourth time.
I've played Yoshitsune's route four times now, and my view of it hasn't changed: Yoshitsune's route is the worst in Majikoi. The scriptwriter introduced a new character, Mogami Aki, who is strong-willed and alluring, to serve as Yoshitsune's rival (both in martial arts and in love). All I feel is the scriptwriter's malice toward Yoshitsune. Mogami Aki is not only the universally beloved long-black-haired type, but also wears black tights, striking most players' aesthetic taste. Moreover, in the story, Aki frequently makes moves and shares many intimate physical interactions with the protagonist. In contrast, Yoshitsune's personality leans toward the conservative side; her initiative is markedly lacking compared to Aki's, and her personal story is mostly filled with everyday events, with rather ordinary interactions with the protagonist.
This also reflects a fact: Majikoi has degenerated into a thoroughly moe-fluff game. The scriptwriter's writing ability has plummeted sharply—whenever they encounter plot points they can't handle, they start adding new characters, and they can't even properly balance the screentime between the protagonist and supporting characters. I don't understand how Yoshitsune, a character who has appeared since the prequel Majikoi S, and then kept getting side-story content across A1 through A4, could—after I patiently waited all the way to the fifth installment of A series for her route—turn out so terribly: having her scenes, popularity, spotlight, and merchandise stolen by a newly introduced character. For the scriptwriter, Aki is undoubtedly a success—she has outpaced the route's own heroine Yoshitsune in popularity and made the company a lot of money.
Furthermore, the latter part of Yoshitsune's route also includes a threesome scene involving Yoshitsune, Benkei, and the protagonist. This brings me back to my earlier point: Majikoi has become a moe-fluff game. I don't know why the scriptwriter arranged this—was it because Benkei has many fans? If so, then it was indeed a successful move. What frustrates me most is that the threesome was even suggested by Yoshitsune herself. Instantly, all the earlier parts of her route about "finding herself" strike me as utterly ridiculous—is this what Yoshitsune's "self" really is? Probably it's just the scriptwriter's own "self."
