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 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.
Though she may not be the tallest or… the most “endowed” Lady out there, Reika excels pretty much at everything else. She’s honest and straightforward—traits that are lacking in Ren’Ou’s Ladies—However, she makes up for it by being the most toxic and verbally aggressive of them all.
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 the perfect example of what a Lady should be, but unfortunately for her, she barely tends to establish her presence in the story, or make a lasting impression at all. She’s been in love with Kaito ever since she met him, but she tends to simply watch him from a distance instead of trying to approach him herself.
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 them, but Aya has a really hard time dealing with the opposite sex in a general sense.
Though she carries the legacy of her genius mother, Tae prefers to spend her days as an idiot.
She hates spending effort, as well as using her brain in any capacity. Once she finds something she’s even slightly better than the peers around her, she’ll make sure to rub it in their noses, as she revels in the very act of feeling superior to the rest.
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 is a maid that was employed from a very young age into the service of the Nikaidous. She has a rather “comical” relation with Kaito, tagging along with Kaito’s antics, to the point where now simple eye contact can trigger the comedian within her. Nevertheless, she knows when to get serious, and will do so at command, immediately, and without warning.
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.
A natural martial artist, fighter, and being an athletic person in general, Moe surpasses in both skill and strength almost every bodyguard in the Academy. She likes to take life at her own pace and tends to be absent-minded, though, making it difficult for those around her to adapt to her needs.
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 is a master swordsman, and Kaito’s classmate. She’s mild-mannered and cares about others, though she tends to display serenity and coldness. Catch her off-guard with any weird questions and she quickly loses her temper, though.
Kaoru seems to harbor feelings for Kaito: the only one in the academy who knows she’s hiding her true gender.
Height: 170cm
Hobbies: Kaoru spends all of her available free time training, which she likes doing.
Special Skill: Kaoru is especially proficient at fighting with her bokken, a wooden blade she’s always carrying on her back.
Likes: Kaoru likes her job more than anything else, protecting her clients.
Takanori graduated at the top of his promotion in Ren’Ou, landing a spot as Aya Nikaidou’s bodyguard. He’s a composed man, one who tends to think before he speaks. However, hitting him where it hurts tends to make him lose his temper quite quickly.
He cares a lot about his looks, and the image he gives to others, which is why he doesn’t give a second thought to those he deems as inferior. Deep inside he’s a good guy, though, and can sometimes even be friendly… rarely, but sometimes.
He kind of has this hate-tolerate relationship with Kaito: the only one in the academy who treats him without mincing his words. Most of the time he hates his guts, but sometimes they can get along if the situation requires it.
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.
Yuuki is an android, created solely to protect Tae. He’s the funny guy of the cast, and the one that tends to liven things up. He has a tendency to get carried away, but he’s not a bad guy, and that’s why not a lot of people dislike him.
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 Kyouka Kokudou’s bodyguard, and a huge 2D world lover. He doesn’t like his line of work too much and hates doing exercise, but he’s one of the best in his promotion when it comes to physical prowess. He tends to keep to himself as he’s not the best conversationalist, but he makes an exception with Kaito, who he considers his best friend in the world.
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 is a professional bodyguard. One who was classmates with Kaito’s father back in the day, as well as the same person who got Kaito out of the Prohibited Zone. Though he cares about Kaito in his own special way, he sometimes displays emotions unbecoming of him, as if he were hiding something from him…
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 enjoyed the company of 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.
Akemi is a teacher at Ren’Ou Academy, and currently works as the head teacher for Kaito’s class. She’s very popular with the male students because of her cheerful personality and her good looks, but do not be deceived, because even though she may not appear like she’s capable of much, Akemi has more than one ace hidden under her sleeve, and could 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.
Ever since Kaito arrived at the Nikaidou estate, Genzou has been constantly expressing his concern over him negatively affecting both of his daughters’ in a general sense.
He loves reading, and the thing he hates the most in the world is people spoiling the stories he’s reading.
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.
Though unfortunately Kana and Sonata can’t be given human-like personalities because… well, they’re baby cheetahs, they still make a lively part of the cast.
They look quite similar, which has prompted many to mistake their names more than once, incurring in their wrath every time this happens.
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.
Just like Reika, Kyouka is a Lady that has a tendency to do whatever the hell she wants whenever she desires. She has a passion for romantic novels, and lives to read them all.
Kyouka really likes to treat Raita like her personal door mattress, and because of her extreme tendencies of kicking him over and over again, we believe that she has a lot of stamina within her. Though we can’t confirm for sure.
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.
Tae’s mother, as well as the current President of Kurayashiki Heavy Industries. She cares a lot about Kaito. So much so, in fact, that sometimes she neglects her own daughter in favor of him.
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. He has accepted her relationship with Kaito, and has welcomed him into the Kanzaki family.
He’s annoyingly sweet and gentle with Moe, while being very strict with Kaito at the same time, who has “stolen Moe from him,” or so he thinks.
Deep inside he does support their relationship, and acts as Kaito’s mentor, always giving him advice whenever he feels like Kaito needs it.
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.
Principal-tachi no Kyuujitsu (暁の護衛・プリンシパルたちの休日) is the fandisc of the Akatsuki no Goei trilogy. 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 this 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.
Prequel
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. As for this fandisc specifically, it has proper endings for all of the heorines from the first game as well as two extra routes, one for Kyouka and another for Kaito's backstory.
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.
Reika & Kyouka
Kyouka Kokudou makes a sudden appearance at the Nikaidou estate one day, demanding that Kaito must become her new bodyguard. This kickstarts a series of events which result in Kaito and Kyouka spending more time together. How will things end up between Reika and Kaito while Kyouka plays her game?
Tsuki
Tsuki and Kaito have something in common: neither of them can sleep in the dark. One day, Reika commands Kaito to help Tsuki, so she can eventually sleep with the lights off.
Will Tsuki be able to conquer her fears?
Aya
As Aya’s and Kaito’s relationship becomes known in the Nikaidou estate, her father Genzou quickly tries to have them both give up on it. Aya convinces him to put off the idea temporarily, but neither she nor Kaito can find a way to convince him so he allows Kaito to stay.
It’s right then and there when Aya starts thinking about something that could maybe convince Genzou to accept Kaito once and for all.
Moe
Kaito begins his life at the Kanzaki estate, along with Moe and her family. That’s when Kaito starts pondering: Moe is one year older than him, and she’ll graduate soon. What does she want to do in the future?
Though she looked like she had no goals to him, once Kaito asks her, the answer Moe gives him is a most unexpected one…
Tae
The story picks up after Tae resolves herself to fix her lifelong partner Yuuki, who has pretty much “died.”
Her resolve is strong at first, but soon enough it begins to wane, the reason being one: Tae hates studying. Noticing this, Kaito decides to start studying more seriously to motivate her, and soon enough both will face a wall that they’ll need to climb together if they are to continue on their journey to save their friend.
Anzu
My father is finally dead. After years of torment, I’ve been able to achieve my greatest desire: to become the apex predator, reigning the top of the food chain, all while standing atop his corpse.
He wanted to take what was most precious from me, so what choice did I have?! I had to kill him! Otherwise, I would lose it forever!
But what is most precious to me? Is it the food that’ll allow me to survive until the next day? Is it whatever he hid within his safe? Or could it be her, after all? And if it truly is her, then why am I choking her to death right now?
This is not an after story. Instead, it is a glimpse into Kaito’s past.
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: