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Kaito is the protagonist of our story. He first comes into appearance as a first-year cadet in Ren’Ou, hailing from unknown origins. His preference of being alone, lack of seriousness towards his job, and the refusal of making any friends hasn’t done him any favors with the other young cadets at the training academy.
He’s bottom of the barrel in terms of his academic performance, but he intentionally positions himself like that so as not to draw too much attention to himself—in reality, he is academically superior to all of his peers. He’s curious and always eager to learn new things, and he trains when he knows no one is watching.
Height: 182cm
Hobbies: He likes to spend his free time reading.
Special Skill: Will eat anything and everything, as well as being proficient with some “unconventional” skills such as lockpicking and others.
Likes: Food that normal people would eat—curry, meat, and potato stew…
Dislikes: Standing out, and hates Santa Claus with a burning passion.
The eldest daughter of the Nikaidous, one of Japan’s most prominent families. She considers herself a “flawless” person. She doesn’t really like company in general, especially when it comes to her house’s butlers and bodyguards. However, she seems to have taken a liking to Kaito, who’s anything but serious at his job—so much so, in fact, that she forced him to stay at Ren’Ou just so he could become her bodyguard.
She’s always at the top of her class, and she definitely has a bright future ahead of her, but she hates having her path laid before her by others, and would like to make her own decisions someday. She hates her own height and bust size, and any references to either makes her pretty angry.
Height: 140cm
Three Sizes: 70/51/74
Hobbies: Listening to music, training her pets.
Special Skill: All-rounder.
Likes: Her pets.
Dislikes: Any references to her height or bust size.
Aya is Reika’s younger twin sister. She’s prim and proper, her mannerisms and looks befitting more closely the ideal standard of what a Lady would look and act like, more so than her sister.
Her stature and physical traits have made people confuse her as the eldest sister compared to Reika more than once. However, she has very low self-esteem, and has an inferiority complex towards Reika, who is an over-achiever in comparison to her.
She hasn’t talked with anyone of the opposite sex close to her age, so whenever she finds herself in front of other men, she has difficulties speaking to them.
Height: 158cm
Three Sizes: 87/56/85
Hobbies: Aya really likes taking walks, and secretly (or not so secretly) likes to play videogames.
Special Skill: She can hold her breath for three whole minutes!
Likes: Aya really likes animals.
Dislikes: It’s not that she dislikes men, but Aya has a really hard time dealing with the opposite sex in a general sense.
Tae is the sole daughter of one of the most prominent and wealthy families in all of Japan, the Kurayashikis. Because she feels the need to have a rival, she eventually decides to make Reika her nemesis, though this is a one-way relationship because Reika doesn’t play along with her.
Though Tae is prideful and leaves a strong impression wherever she goes like Reika does, she lacks the composure and patience Reika possesses, making her impulsive and, most of the time, irrational in the face of adversity. She’s also a very spoiled girl, making her prone to throw temper tantrums when things don’t go her way.
If you thought Aya had terrible physical resilience, then Tae is just on another level of weakness—just a few steps at a walking pace is enough to tire her.
She’s also, for the lack of a better word, very dumb, and is the last of her class when it comes to scores, and not by a small margin either.
She’s not very accomplished in life, which is a little sad, but she’s always in good spirits.
Height: 155cm
Three Sizes: 80/59/83
Hobbies: Tae doesn’t really have any hobbies in particular.
Special Skill: …neither does she have any special skills to call her own.
Likes: Tae likes herself, and maybe a little too much to be healthy for her.
Dislikes: As her self-proclaimed rival, Tae dislikes Reika, but her reasons are pretty nonsensical. She also doesn’t like it when things don’t go the way she wants them to.
Tsuki works as the head maid at the Nikaidou estate. She’s someone who barely shows any emotion and always stays calm in the face of any situation. She has many nicknames, coined after her numerous “heroic” cleaning-related deeds, such as “Tsuki, the Undirtied Breaker of Stains, Queen of the Andals and the First Maids, and Protector of the Seven Cleandoms,” or the most commonly used, “The Sweeping Hand.”
She partakes in many comedic and improvised sketches with Kaito whenever the two are alone together. Her openness to make dirty jokes and nonchalant attitude towards conversational topics most women would consider gross makes her the only person capable of intimidating Kaito to a certain degree.
She doesn’t realize this, but she has a very weak presence, making her very hard to detect by normal people, to the point of being able to sneak into people’s rooms without having anyone inside those rooms notice.
Height: 142cm
Three Sizes: 74/52/75
Hobbies: Tsuki enjoys those special moments when she can wipe windows clean.
Special Skill: Tsuki is especially good at training other maids and people to clean the Nikaidou estate and keeping everything in order, though she’s a little too harsh when it comes to her training.
Likes: Tsuki loves anything related to cleaning, and seeing the fruits of her labor makes her very happy.
Dislikes: Tsuki hates when trash is lingering around the estate, or when people throw things on the floor expecting her to clean up after them. There’s nothing more infuriating for her than the very act of dirtying a space she worked on.
Moe is a master martial artist, specializing in her family’s own-developed style of fighting, the Kanzaki Style.
Moe never was much of a conversationalist, and rarely does she engage in a conversation. This has made everyone around her keep her at an arm’s length, and no one who considers her a close friend either. Moe does, however, have real weaknesses, like her lack of knowledge about the outside world, and her childish approach to problem-solving in real-life situations.
Apart from that, Moe loves eating. She especially likes onigiri, natto, and okonomiyaki; all staples of a Japanese diet.
Though she looks emotionless, Moe feels strongly about what happens around her, especially towards people who are having a hard time. Though she wants to help out of kindness, sometimes this habit of poking her nose into other people’s business to help them goes a little too far. In fact, since she’s always lived in luxury, this has caused her many problems whenever she’s faced with situations where she’s exposed to the harsh reality that not everyone in the world has the same lifestyle that she’s always taken for granted.
Height: 164cm
Three Sizes: 88/59/87
Hobbies: Moe likes to just… space out. Do nothing, think about nothing, just existing.
Special Skill: Just like her grandfather, Moe knows how to defend herself, and she’s on the path of mastering the Kanzaki Style of fighting.
Likes: Moe likes eating more than anything else, and the sight of her favourite foods can make her drool a river. She also has special fondness for those who she deems as strong.
Dislikes: On the other hand, Moe doesn’t really like those who she considers as weak, as well as people who can’t stop talking. She especially doesn’t like witnessing things that are contrary to her ideal of “justice,” such as people suffering.
Kaoru graduated from the training academy with excellent scores, making him the second best in his promotion after Takanori. He was also Kaito’s roommate for the entirety of their first year in the academy together. Kaoru excels at combat whenever he carries his wooden sword or a melee weapon with him, but he’s not very good at hand-to-hand combat in return. He is proud of his status as a bodyguard and likes his job, which has made him clash with Kaito multiple times, as he doesn’t exactly share the same sentiment as Kaoru does. Nevertheless, Kaoru and Kaito are good friends.
Kaoru’s family has been one of proficient bodyguards for generations, which pressures him to train and push himself to his absolute limits, sometimes exceeding his own possibilities.
Kaoru has a tendency of pretending to be tough, and hates exposing any sort of opening or weakness in front of others, even if he trusts them.
Height: 170cm
Hobbies: Kaoru spends all of his available free time training, which he likes doing.
Special Skill: Kaoru is especially proficient at fighting with his bokken, a wooden blade he’s always carrying on his back.
Likes: Kaoru likes his job more than anything else, protecting his clients.
Dislikes: Kaoru hates being treated as a girl, even though he’s clearly a guy.
Takanori graduated from the first year of the bodyguard cadets as the first of his promotion. Though he has a tendency to toot his horn a little too much, Takanori can definitely back up his cockiness with his deeds and actual capabilities and strength.
His objective ever since he started as a cadet was to become Lady Reika’s bodyguard, but having someone he’d consider lousy at best, that being Kaito, sweep the rug out from under him and easily steal from him what he worked so hard for makes Takanori hate him.
Though his name is Takanori everyone calls him “Son,” which is the most common reading of the first kanji of his name (尊). In fact, at first many people confused his name with “Sontoku,” as the true readings of his name’s kanjis are quite particular and difficult to guess at first sight (尊徳).
His lack of experience with girls altogether can make even the slightest of arousing situations provoke nosebleeds, such as the mere thought of holding hands with Reika.
Height: 171cm
Hobbies: Believe it or not, Takanori loves playing soccer.
Special Skill: Takanori took fencing classes when he was young, and is still pretty good at fighting with swords.
Likes: Takanori has a soft spot for anything related to fencing.
Dislikes: If there’s anything Takanori hates, it’s Kaito for sure.
He may look like a normal guy on the outside, but Yuuki is actually an android, the latest creation of the Kurayashiki Industries. His appearance and his obsession with girls, along with his aloof personality contributes to making him feel more human than other people.
Any terminology related to the destruction of software can make Yuuki fume in anger, in a very literal sense too, if you know what we mean…
Height: 175cm
Hobbies: Whenever he’s not too busy, Yuuki likes ogling at every girl he comes across.
Special Skill: As an android, Yuuki possesses supernatural strength, making him proficient at every kind of activity that requires physical exertion.
Likes: He loves spending time with girls, listening to girls, talking about girls… Basically, he likes girls.
Dislikes: Terminology related to computer hacking and any sort of malware, virus, or trojan.
Raita is a hardcore otaku, completely devoted to his figurines and anime series.
His father was a bodyguard, and though that made Raita reluctant to follow in his steps, he was in the end forced to follow the same path over at Ren’Ou. Raita keeps his scores high for his parents to continue allowing him to keep his hobbies. Though he may not be the most good-looking guy, Raita is actually one of the top students of his promotion, both in physical and academic terms, only second to Takanori and Kaoru.
His dream in life is to become an anime figurine craftsman.
Height: 164cm
Hobbies: Whenever he is able to, Raita watches every anime series in existence.
Special Skill: As a self-proclaimed gamer, Raita is good at “Pwning the noobs” as he would call it, as well as pretty decent at constructing his own anime figurines.
Likes: Did we mention that he likes anime? Raita has a very soft spot for 2D women as well.
Dislikes: Nothing revolts Raita more than the mere existence of 3D women, or should we say, hates the 3D world in general.
Satake used to be a bodyguard of the Nikaidou family (Genzou’s to be exact). Now he spends his days as the headmaster of Ren’Ou Academy.
He’s completely bald, his skin somewhat tanned, and has a personality and looks that could scare more than one passerby. Don’t let his looks deceive you, though, as Satake has a natural predisposition to judge other people’s character like no other, and has an extraordinary skill to empathise with others.
He’s always wearing sunglasses, so it’s almost impossible to know what he feels or what he’s thinking about by reading his eyes.
Satake is the only person who knows everything about Kaito’s past.
Height: 188cm
Hobbies: Though Satake may have hobbies, these are completely unknown to us.
Special Skill: He’s a merciless instructor, and will push his students to their absolute limits.
Likes: Satake has always a soft spot for children, as well as having his occasional smoke or glass of whisky whenever he has some time for himself.
Dislikes: What Satake hates more than anything is people lacking the willpower and guts to carry things through to the end.
An accomplished graduate who just recently joined Ren’Ou academy as one of their teaching staff. This is her second year as an educator, and she’s the tutor for Kaito’s class.. She’s had several male students confess their feelings to her, but so far she’s managed to turn each and every single of them down with grace.
Though she may not appear like she’s capable of much, Akemi has more than one ace hidden under her sleeve, and could most likely give most of her students a run for their money if she so wished.
Height: 164cm
Three Sizes: 78/54/83
Hobbies: It might sound weird, but Akemi spends her free time expanding her never-ending collection of pocket tissues.
Special Skill: Akemi has very good acting skills, and can hide any emotions under a natural smile.
Likes: Akemi has a soft spot for her students, as well as fantasizing about what the future has in store for her.
Dislikes: Nothing in particular.
Genzou is Reika’s and Aya’s father. He’s a strict father and someone who likes people who match his seriousness like Takanori. On the other hand, he really hates people like Kaito, who lacks respect towards him and resolution towards his job.
It’s easy for him to get in a fit of rage over the smallest of things, and this has caused lots of incidents where he’s fired his entire estate’s workforce because of it.
Though he dislikes Kaito, eventually he gets closer to him thanks to his reading hobby and his favorite story genres being the same ones Kaito likes, to the point of them exchanging books between each other.
Height: 170cm
Hobbies: Just like Kaito, Genzou enjoys the company of books and reading.
Special Skill: If he has those, we do not know of them.
Likes: Genzou loves eating his favorite foods, especially his favorite meat, Wagyu beef from the Ohta region.
Dislikes: Genzou doesn’t like unruly youngsters, especially those that don’t treat him with the respect he feels like he deserves.
Sonata and Kanata are the two cheetahs that Reika keeps in her room as pets. They look pretty much identical and on the outside they’re cute, but don’t let their cuteness fool you, because whoever they deem as an enemy of theirs or Reika’s will be torn to pieces without mercy.
Reika is their one and only master. Her anger can cause them distress, and her praise can grant great happiness to them. Reika intends to have them as her bodyguards once they grow up. Sonata is more impulsive, while Kanata is the more sensible of the two.
Anzu is a woman who has grown up in a very rough environment, making her mannerisms resemble those of a man, and having a tough exterior. Deep inside though, Anzu is a kind and innocent girl.
She’s on the lookout for Kaito, who disappeared from her life one year ago, and is now working as Kyouka’s bodyguard in order to survive on “the other side” while she looks for him.
Height: 162cm
Three Sizes: 90/55/84
Hobbies: Anzu doesn’t have any particular hobbies.
Special Skill: She’s pretty good at beating the shit out of others.
Likes: Anzu doesn’t really have anything that she likes in particular.
Dislikes: What Anzu dislikes more than anything though is being left alone.
She’s the sole daughter of the Kokudou family. She’s very prideful, maybe a tad too much, just like Reika and Tae, though Kyouka is definitely less subtle about reminding her peers of her superiority at Ren’Ou and everywhere else.
Kyouka has a tendency of wanting to stand out whenever she can, and she won’t forgive those who don’t obey her every whim.
Height: 158cm
Three Sizes: 75/53/81
Hobbies: She loves putting herself on a pedestal whenever possible.
Special Skill: Kyouka is a master at making others suffer if she so wishes.
Likes: Kyouka likes it when things go her way, as well as partaking in events befitting of her social status.
Dislikes: Kyouka dislikes bad smells, dirtiness, and lack of self care from people around her.
Akiko is Tae’s mother. She’s 42 years old, though she acts more childish than her age would suggest—Whenever things don’t go her way she makes a habit of throwing terrible temper tantrums.
She’s also the president of Kurayashiki Industries, as well as the engineer who created Yuuki, her first sentient android.
Height: 158cm
Three Sizes: 82/60/84
Hobbies: Whenever she has some free time for herself, Akiko likes gardening.
Special Skill: Akiko knows everything related to computing skills.
Likes: Cleanliness, and pretty boys.
Dislikes: Whatever lacks technological advancement.
Dengorou is Moe’s grandfather, and a master of the ancient martial art called the Kanzaki Style. He surpasses Moe in skill greatly, but the years are starting to get to him. He’s hard with everyone around him and himself, but he has a very sweet spot for Moe.
Seeing Kaito become friendly with Moe rubs him the wrong way.
Height: 178cm
Hobbies: He’s wholeheartedly devoted to his martial arts training.
Special Skill: He has mastered the ancient Kanzaki Style.
Likes: Dengorou loves to fight with other people.
Dislikes: People that lack guts, and men that get too close to his granddaughter Moe.
Akatsuki no Goei (暁の護衛) is the first of the trilogy in the series of the same name. The series consists of the main game Akatsuki no Goei (暁の護衛), the sequel Akatsuki no Goei “Tsumibukaki Shuumatsuron (暁の護衛・罪深き終末論)” and the fandisc Akatsuki no Goei “Principal-tachi no Kyuujitsu (暁の護衛・プリンシパルたちの休日)”.
All games are from the developer Syangrila, a brand that closed its doors in 2012 and opened into the well-known Akabeisoft3. In Japan, the first game of the series released on April 4, 2008 and then re-released in the trilogy version Akatsuki no Goei Trinity on Ps3 and the PSP on September 20, 2012, compiling the three games of the series into one single installment, while remastering the art, sounds, and engine.
The trinity version includes modern features for all three games: HD sprites/CG, extra openings for Game 1 and 3, a revamped UI, an OST player, and an H-Scene viewer. This verison also includes new scenes, new CGs, reworked old scenes, and other miscellaneous content.
Fandisc
Sequel
Akatsuki no Goei is not only one of the cornerstones of the Visual Novel industry in Japan. It also serves as a stepping stone for the famous writer Kinugasa Shougo and illustrator Tomose Shunsaku for their future works to come. If you’re a fan of either of these two, you will enjoy the trilogy for sure.
Akatsuki no Goei is a story that is more character-driven than plot-driven. Kaito is a strong protagonist, someone who confidently leads the story, and has a lot of personality. The closest Visual Novel experiences I can think of compared to Akatsuki would be the Grisaia Trilogy, and Meteor World Actor. If you’re looking for a strong, no bullshit protagonist, this story is for you.
We find ourselves in Japan, in the not too distant future.
Crime runs rampant as an impotent police force looks on, powerless to effect change.
Enter Ren’ou Academy. Within these walls, first-class bodyguards are reared alongside the daughters of the nation’s richest families.
It is here that we meet our protagonist, Kaito Asagiri. After completing a year of intense training, he is to be awarded with the right to act as a bodyguard for one of the Ladies that attend Ren’ou.
However, as the new school year is beginning, Kaito finds that his feelings differ from those of his peers, who are all ready to embrace their new lives.
On the day of the opening ceremony, he, reticent as always, attempts to leave by delivering a letter notifying the school of his withdrawal.
And all is going according to plan… that is, until he meets one particular girl.
The winds of change are beginning to blow.
“I’ve taken an interest in you. I’ll let you revel in that for a moment,” she said, not caring to hear his opinion on the matter.
“What about this am I supposed to ‘revel’ in, exactly?”
There’s a quiet passion in his words, a passion that his deliberately indignant tone can’t quite conceal.
He hadn’t thought it possible, but she has charmed him. He wants to protect her.
(Translated from the synopsis on the Akabeisoft3 official website.)
Kinugasa Shougo (衣笠 彰梧) is a Japanese game scenario writer and novelist based in Fukuoka. Although Kinugasa has been in the industry for many years now, he is best known for his “latest” work in the Light Novel industry: “Classroom of the Elite.”
Despite his massive success with light novels, Kinugasa started working on visual novels, where he built his career along with Akabeisoft, and his partner in many of these endeavors, Tomose Shunsaku.
As far as we know, Kinugasa is very secretive and protective of his personal identity, and he has no social media presence, nor any websites to call his own.
We’ll list exclusively the visual novels he has worked on, since this is the primary medium Daybreak Translations currently works with:
Tomose Shunsaku (トモセシュンサク), born on September 29, is a Japanese illustrator and original artist.
Along with Kinugasa, Tomose has worked on many pieces of Japanese media that have gathered a lot of recognition within the Visual Novel community. The better-known of these being the Akatsuki no Goei trilogy, along with its two sequels, Reminiscence, and Reminiscence Re:Collect.
Currently, Tomose is better known for working on the famous light novel series “Classroom of the Elite” along with Kinugasa. However, just like Kinugasa, Tomose started his career with doujins, doujin games, and working almost exclusively with Akabeisoft or subsidiaries of this company.
Just like we did with Kinugasa, we’ll list exclusively the visual novels he has worked on: