My Favourite Rinko!!!

When I met Rin-Rin for our date this morning, I had such an unexpected surprise. Not only had my girlfriend changed her hair length to my preferred semi-long style, but also...she had switched to carrot red hair, which is my all-time favourite. I remember that Rinko had this hair colour around two years ago in my 3DS game, and I loved it so much - but I was never able to get the colour back again (and when I tried, she ended up with horrible shades of blue and green hair).

Actually, I don't know why it happened this time. I don't remember answering a question about changing hair colour - but, then again, my Japanese isn't at expert level, so maybe she did ask me and I misunderstood. No matter. I think Rinko looks absolutely adorable and so, so attractive with red hair. I hope she stays this way for a LONG time!

So as you can imagine, I did a double-take when Rinko walked up to me at the station this morning. This hair colour looks even more incredible on the big, bright 3DSLL screen - and kissing a red-haired Rinko is a treat. I've enjoyed the new game so far - but now I'm going to love it even more.

After getting my breath back and recovering from my "shock and awe", I set off on the train with Rin-Rin to our date location - the Event Hall in the Waterfront area. I love this entire area, because it reminds me of Yokohama in Japan.

We arrived at the station in good time and decided to go to the Restaurant for a quick meal.

Rinko ordered the rice omelet (Omurice) and I had steak.

It's much easier to take photos of your girlfriend eating in the new game, because the camera icon stays on the whole time. You could do it in the 3DS game, but you had to be super-fast.

And then we walked together through the pretty shops in the Waterfront area. But Rinko was the prettiest of all!

The event at the Event Hall turned out to be Pro Wrestling, which Rinko surprisingly enjoyed.

When the second option came up during our date, I chose to have another meal - without realising that the only food place I've unlocked in the Waterfront area is the Restaurant. So we had to go back to the same place twice. Never mind. Rinko ordered the Hamburger Curry this time, while I had Cheese Croquettes.

Then I took my Rinko home, and that was pretty much it for today's date - but what a thrill it was. The only thing I wasn't overly impressed with was her choice of clothes. I think this is Rinko's "cute" style, but it doesn't quite work. I still prefer her wearing smart/formal clothes for our dates, but I can work on this over the next few weeks. I'm just so happy to have my red-haired cutie back.

This afternoon there is some kind of special event, which I think may be connected to next week's trip to Kinugawa. I'll post about it separately.

Rin Strikes Back

Well, I've heard of a "battle of the bands", but I feel like I'm in the "battle of the girlfriends" at the moment. When I talked about how adorable Manaka looked in the DS game this morning with her twin-tails hairstyle, I think Rin must have been listening - because she really went all-out to impress me when we met up for our date this afternoon.

First, she'd switched back to my all-time favourite short hairstyle. And second, her clothes were stylish and amazing - with a blue knit vest and dark blue tie. She looked adorable!

Earlier this morning, I visited the Flea Markets at Fountain Park and bought some stuff. First, I bought a Premium Date ticket for the mysterious "ECO's Course of Love". I have no idea what this means. I know that ECO is a person who writes the love advice column for "Towano Watcher", but I still don't know what kind of date it will be. Anyway, I'll book it for one night during the coming week.

I also bought a gift for today's date (a silver leaf necklace), as well as the sepia filter for my in-game camera. It's fun to play around with. I used it in the next shot at Aisha Dining, where we shared a melon soda before the main part of the date.

The main event was a baseball game at the Event Hall. Judging by Rinko's expression when we got there, I get the feeling she wasn't really into it.

But Rin is always a sport about dating, and she hangs in there no matter what we do together. And, unlike Manaka, I was able to kiss her A LOT. This always helps things go smoothly. Next, we went to the Fancy/French Restaurant for a meal.

I used the sepia filter for a few more shots during the meal.

Rinko is tricky sometimes. She reached across to share some of her food with me (as you can see in the next shot)...and then, just as I was about to eat it, she pulled her hand back and ate it herself!

These last few shots are when I was saying goodbye outside Rinko's apartment building.

Yeah, I admit that I'm still in love with Rinko Kobayakawa. As you play New LovePlus, it's amazing how the choices you make and your responses to email and LovePlus mode questions have a real impact on the way your girlfriend looks. She tries so hard to be the type of girl you want, and there's a true feeling of interaction with her character.

The New Rinko - WOW! SO CUTE!!

I had a very pleasant surprise when I met my Rinko-chan this morning for our date. Maybe she's been listening to all my comments about her lack of fashion sense - because she arrived today looking SENSATIONAL. Very trendy hat, pretty blue sweater and green checked dress. Plus, she wore the cutest hairstyle I think I've ever seen Rinko wear.

Honestly, in all the time I've been playing New LovePlus (about a year and a half now), I've never seen Rinko with these clothes or this hairstyle before. I usually don't like her short hairstyles, but I think I'm going to let her keep this one for a while.

We went to Winning Burger first, for a quick snack. Doesn't Rin look adorable???

Our main date was at the Event Hall, with a live Idol concert that Rinko didn't enjoy all that much. Then we went to the Restaurant in the Waterfront area, which has a French flag out the front. (Actually, I don't remember visit here in my previous game, either.)

Rinko looked at me across the table and melted my heart all over again. Darn, I really love this girl. And yes, she absolutely MUST keep this hairstyle for as long as possible...

Rinko liked the fancy food at the Restaurant, too. We really should go there again some time.

Rinko was so cute when she fell asleep on the train back to Shin Towano, and rested her head on my shoulder.

Finally, here's a long shot showing Rinko's check skirt, right outside the front of her apartment building as we were saying goodbye.

At 12:00 noon there was an interesting "Event" where Rinko met me at the school library and kissed me. I'm not sure what it was all about...but it was kinda nice.

I was annoyed, however, because when I'd booked to go to the Flea Markets at 3:00 pm, it was raining in Towano and the markets were closed. Now my first Premium Date with Rinko will have to wait one more week!!

My final meet-up with her for the day was at Fountain Park. She was back to casual clothes, but at least she still had her cool hairstyle.

Late tonight (after 9:00 pm), I had the dream sequence where Rinko's grandmother is dying and you have to wipe her tears and comfort her. It was very emotional! (And, once again, I didn't have this dream last time I was playing.)

In my game with Manaka on the DS, I had my first date today, and was frustrated that I couldn't kiss her yet. Then I read a tutorial online and found out that you have to unlock the kissing tutorial in Skip Mode. Once I did this, everything was fine. Manaka had an emotional scene today, too - she was telling me about how she was expected to take over her father's work at the hospital when she was older, but her childhood dream was to own a bakery instead. When I asked her why, she replied that people always looked sat at a hospital, but the always looked happy at a bakery - and she just wants to make people happy. Then she asked me if she was a bad daughter. T_T

Aww. I found this little dialogue genuinely moving.