Kurayami no Hate de Kimi wo Matsu (2009). Play online

Summary

Kurayami no Hate de Kimi wo Matsu – often shortened to "Kurakimi" – is a DS adventure visual novel that blends puzzle‑like escape sequences with a classic otome romance.

The Japanese‑only launch on October 22, 2009 included a standard edition and a limited pack featuring a drama CD, a full‑color illustration box, and a character‑interview CD, plus an official guidebook later released by Enterbrain.

Its catchphrases, "Believe in the man and survive" and "Only by conquering this trial can you claim love," highlight the high‑stakes courting storyline. The title swept the 2009 online otome poll, earning a clear majority of votes.

The creative team was spearheaded by planner Inudo Mayu, with character design by Hotaka Ran and music composed by Atsu Tomita. Opening and ending themes were performed by Aoï Mizuo and Kaze no Taro, respectively, adding a polished, atmospheric soundtrack.

Fans of puzzle‑heavy romance games find Kurakimi a memorable, genre‑defying gem on the Nintendo DS.

Storyline

Kurayami no Hate de Kimi wo Matsu begins with the protagonist, Shizuku Shibusawa, joining a school field trip to a forest camp. During the hike she suddenly falls ill and the group—council president Aoi Mio, childhood friend Katsumi Sakuraba, tennis club members Honami Yousuke and Akiyama Tomo, outsider student Tarou Kazano, teacher Takahiko Kousaka, and trainee teacher Naoki Mikomoto—decides to return to camp by bus. The bus crashes, and everyone awakens trapped inside an abandoned school. A mysterious note signed by “Death Mask” (the “Masked Grim Reaper”) warns that failure to follow its orders will result in death. Death Mask assigns seven deadly sins to everyone except Shizuku, hints at a traitor among them, and forces her to decide whom to trust while trying to survive and escape the school.