#standard disclaimer that i only finished this game yesterday and my views are subject to change

[martinas-hat]

Thank you so much for this!! I'm still in the process of processing the game (and so haven't become as accustomed to it as to be able to properly explore and built on it), and so having a lot of it laid out like this is very appreciated! This is super good!

(rambles similarly containing spoilers under cut)

I actually noticed that Yomi doesn't appear to check if the peacekeepers carried out the execution, because I was keeping my ears pricked for confirmations that Martina had been cubed, through some mention of him having... her on him. If the execution went through, he would have to know. I assumed his lack of concern over it was because he cared about her that little, but perhaps the trouble posed by the detectives drawing his mind away also had something to do with it.

One of my main things with Martina is that I love her evil, peacekeeper self all well and good, but I wasn't quite sure what could be done with her after that, once she's redeemed. I knew she had to atone for what she did as a peacekeeper, but thank you for reminding me that her relationship with Yomi was abusive and that is something she would have to process too.

Because yeah... when he kicks her to the floor at the end of chapter 2, she does not react at all, implying it's nothing new... and god only knows what 'toying around' with her to get out his frustration that Seth betrayed her means. But keep in mind that this is the guy who didn't hesitate to order to put a 66kg person in a press meant to crush a maximum of 50kg of material...

And the narrative of her pulling herself together to not only look her abuser in the eye again, but be better than him, is so good!!

I DID NOT NOTICE THE CHUBBY PEACEKEEPER WAS THERE IN THE SCENE WHERE SHE RETURNS ALIVE!! Great spot, didn't consider the stuff about how Makoto found out / how long exactly had passed. Good stuff!

Also yep. 100% agree that Martina would have been very traumatised right after being saved from the press. Her profile elaborates that she was saved moments before her execution (though whether this means moments before she was put into the press, or moments before the press started to function/actually crush her is ambiguous).

At first when playing through her 'revealed to be alive' scene, part of me wondered if her complete heel-turn was a little too sudden, but then I remembered... she's just been betrayed by someone she loved and thought loved her in turn, and then came very close to dying. That is definitely enough for someone to start reconsidering their whole life choices. And I didn't consider how Makoto would be comforting to her!! He loves the people of Kanai ward, after all.

"Makoto didn’t just want to stop Yomi’s reign in Kanai Ward, he wanted to give Martina a chance to bolster her coincidence and get closure from her abuser." 🥲❤️❤️❤️

"Martina decided the best way to make amends for her prior actions is to personally help Kanai Ward and the people recover." AUGH good stuff as well!!

Now, for some questions that can't be found in the text (I think), but I think would be interesting to explore:

When did Martina come to love Yomi? And how did she rationalise it against the abuse?

Is there anything in her backstory that would predispose her to getting entangled in such a horrible relationship? (Is there any info on her backstory at all?) (But the way she fixates on Yomi's love so much gives me the vibes of someone who was at least somewhat neglected growing up.)

Why did Yomi superficially reciprocate Martina's love when he didn't actually love her? Especially because he cares little for his underlings, only seeing them as 'tools' according to his profile?

Someone says something about her loving Yomi for 'budgetary reasons' or something according to a Kodaka tweet? So this bulletpoint is a note to self to check those out too, scrounge for any dropped crumbs

I'll probably get more of these as I go, and develop more answers to them as I think about her more, but that's all I got for now.

Fuck Yomi Hellsmile!!! rambling over

Having some Martina thoughts. Spoilers for the whole game below.

So, chapter 4 reveals that Martina was still alive, The execution that was supposed to kill her was stopped by Makoto and Martina no longer loves Yomi. But a lot must have happened in the background before this point, mainly when Makoto stopped the execution and what happened immediately after.

For starters, Yomi is very surprised to see that Martina is still alive, this gives me the impression that Yomi assumed his execution order was already carried out and Martina should be dead.

Why didn't he double check with any of his peacekeepers to confirm that the deed was done beforehand? Perhaps he was too distracted dealing with the master detectives in chapter 3-4, or maybe Yomi cared so little for Martina that he didn't feel a need to check if she did die. If you toss trash into a garbage bin, do you really need to see if it's actually in there? That was likely his mindset.

Yomi issued the order the night after the Aetheria Academy case. The next morning all of chapter 3 occurs than the day after that is chapter 4. So about two days have passed since he issued the order, and he was surprised to see Martina alive the night of the second day. So, Yomi expected her to be crushed in that presser machine as soon as possible.

With that in mind, when did Makoto stop the execution? Was it before meeting Yuma in Kanai Tower or after Yuma leaves Kanai Tower?

The amount of time that passed between the submarine exploding and Yuma waking up in Kanai Tower is unknown but since chapter 3 starts on the morning of the first day than we can assume a few hours have passed. During that time, a peacekeeper under Makoto's jurisdiction found Yuma floating along the riverbank, probably not too long after the explosion. He radioed the CEO about this found detective and Makoto ordered them to bring Yuma to Kanai Tower.

Makoto said Yuma was in "tatters" when found by the riverbank, so maybe Makoto stayed up those few hours taking care of Yuma so he would not die. Then, when Yuma is fully healed, Makoto waited until he woke up and walked outside the bedroom so the two can chat.

In other words, Makoto was preoccupied that whole night so he did not have any time to stop Martina's execution, that means he did it after Yuma left Kanai Tower.

But wait, how did Makoto know about Martina’s execution just in time to stop it? I don’t think Makoto has any secret cameras in Yomi’s office that recorded the conversation and Makoto stumbling upon this execution himself is unlikely. The only way is a peacekeeper that knew about the execution personally telling him about it. But what peacekeeper would notify Makoto? The peacekeepers respect both Yomi and Martina but since Yomi outranks Martina, they have no issue sending their second-in-command to death. Whoever this single peacekeeper is, they have to be more loyal to Martina than Yomi and have a personal liking to her that motivated them to report to a power above Yomi.

And I think I know who that guy is.

That’s right. The chubby peacekeeper who was very excited about getting punished by Martina was the one who told Makoto about her execution. News of Martina’s execution would spread among the peacekeepers and the Chubby Peacekeeper would likely hear of it at some point. Since he admires Martina so much, he didn’t want her to be killed, regardless of Yomi issuing the order, so he told someone higher up than Yomi that could stop it. A short time later after Yuma leaves Kanai Tower, Makoto hears about the execution from the Chubby Peacekeeper and swiftly heads over to the presser room and puts a stop to the process, saving Martina.

Supporting this, the Chubby Peacekeeper is there accompanying Makoto in the lab. Among the Peacekeepers that are loyal to Martina, him being there can’t just be a coincidence.

Maybe becuase he helped in saving Martina's life, she wanted him to be there when she confronted Yomi.

Now the last question. What happened immediately after Makoto stopped the execution order? Very simply, Makoto had a conversation with Martina, obviously in a different room away from the presser. Martina was no doubt traumatized and utterly terrified to almost be killed in an inhumanely cruel way and it be by someone she thought she loved. Makoto being a homunculus of the "world's greatest mind," therapy skills could be among his repertoire. Whatever they talked about together had major changes in Martina's behavior and relationship with Yomi.

Firstly, Martina has recognized that all the unlawful and brutal actions she committed as vice president of the peacekeepers were wrong. She feels guilty doing them and wants to resign from her position as atonement.

This is a decision she made herself. Makoto didn't suggest this and was ok with Martina still being vice president.

In addition, Martina is heard helping in the clean-up and reconstruction of Marunomon District after the flooding incident. Martina decided the best way to make amends for her prior actions is to personally help Kanai Ward and the people recover. Even in places that she wasn't involved in.

Secondly, Martina no longer loves Yomi. Makoto helped her come to terms that Yomi was abusive to her and he never truly loved her. Martina will probably still have lasting trauma from Yomi that can't be quickly undone after one therapy session, but Makoto did give Martina enough strength to face her abuser in the critical lab and shut him down.

Makoto realistically didn't need Martina here to get Yomi arrested. The file was enough, but Martina being here regardless speaks volumes. Two days ago, Martina was at her absolute lowest, completely alone and scared and knocking on death's door. And now she is face to face with her personal demon and confidently told him off and arrested him. Such a feat would not be possible without Makoto's support and being surrounded by people who actually care for her. She didn't even flinch when Yomi screamed at her.

Makoto didn't just want to stop Yomi's reign in Kanai Ward, he wanted to give Martina a chance to bolster her coincidence and get closure from her abuser.

Lastly, Martina wanted to show that she has grown from being Yomi's "right hand." She was able to arrest her abuser which is a powerful moment for sure, but that wasn't enough for Martina, she wanted to prove that she isn't just over him, she became better than him.

In the past chapters, the peacekeepers had an authoritarian rule over the citizens. They could arrest anyone over a crime when convenient and strike fear into the citizens to keep them from rebelling. A common phrase from the peacekeepers when arresting a person is:

Even Martina says this same line, and with an extra bit about begging for mercy to the corporation.

This type iron fist ruling is no doubt becuase of Yomi. He wants Kanai Ward to bow to him. He doesn't want any inconvenient truths get in the way of growing in power. He is willing to shoot people who so much as disagree with him publicly. He trains the entire peacekeeper branch to uphold this fear mongering dominance.

Martina had this similar mindset as Yomi, but once she talked to Makoto she wanted to remove this mindset from her person. That's why when Yomi is being arrested, Martina says this:

It's quite amazing that Martina is willing to treat Yomi far kinder and fairer than he did with her. This was a decision she made herself, I don't think Makoto required Martina to only arrest Yomi in a fair way. I believe Makoto would have approved of Martina shooting Yomi dead right then and there if she wanted. Remember, Makoto killed Fink the Slaughter Artist for "knowing too much" even though I doubt what he knew had anything to do with Homunculi. Makoto isn't above silencing people quickly. But Martina wanted to prove both Yomi and herself than she has become a better person than him. She has become her own person without any influence from her abuser.

In conclusion, I am so amazed and happy that Martina was given the chance to not only live but to heal from her abuser. Makoto coming in to save Martina wasn't done to help him take down Yomi, it was a selfless act to save a women who needed help and Makoto provided that help. All so Martina can have a future where she is happy and healthy.

Also fuck Yomi Hellsmile.