The Tale of the Secret Knowledge Introduction

~The Tale of the Secret Knowledge~
(a tale of the battle with one's self, in the 'underside')
by Kinu Nishimura

One year after the events in the Clock Tower, the McGermanottas arrive for a summer trip in the town of Mesteri, Washington, to visit the Nozomis. Despite the dreary, hopeless nature of the town, a new mystery unfolds before Stephanie's eyes—but is it a mystery that will allow her to win the battle against herself?

A tale of 'the bonds of family' unfolds in the world of Entropic Float! Though, that's not to discount the burning-hot young love, either... Perhaps it's a bit long of a diversion from your goal of reuniting with 'her', but it's up to you to choose to continue.

Stephanie McGermanotta
Age: 17
Gender: Cis, She/her
Sexuality: Lesbian
Classification: Human (High Schooler, Bloodhound)

"Sometimes if I feel myself being too morose or over-dramatic or something, I'll stop and say, 'hey. You're being a bit of a Madam Depression right now.' It works well."

The protagonist of this story. Former problem child, current listless musical virtuoso. Presented with a new mystery, she's still dealing with the mystery of her own feelings... What's the source of the pain she experiences? With that in mind, she embarks on a battle against herself...

Touko Nozomi
Age: 16
Gender: Cis, She/her
Sexuality: Bisexual
Classification: Human (High Schooler, Teen Sleuth)

"I, sixteen-year-old Touko Nozomi, am an ordinary teen girl. True, I may have abnormal interests, but having abnormal interests is itself quite normal!"

Stephanie's best friend, who moved to Mesteri to live to her brother after the events of the Clock Tower. Enthusiastic about her new life as an ordinary teenage girl after spending so long as not that, she burns with a passion for her adolescence in Mesteri... which is good, because nobody else is.

JJ McGermanotta
Age: 19
Gender: Trans, He/him
Sexuality: Straight
Classification: Human (Speedrunner, Ladykiller (self-proclaimed))

"I've got eyes in the back of my head. You're giving me that 'oh, my brother is like, a Level 4 Super Schmendrick' look."

It's JJ. He is still a little guy. He is still a speedrunner. He is still generally a bit of a goon. It's his off-season, though, and he's hitting a few world records now in his newest game du jour. Good for him. I find myself at a bit of a loss to tell you anything else you don't already know.

Shinjiro Nozomi
Age: 20
Gender: Cis, He/him
Sexuality: Bisexual
Classification: Human (Tea Master, Arbiter of Correct Morality)

"I'll continue to strike you dumbfounded with hospitality and matcha in the traditional style until your very bones break beneath them!"

Proprietor of Ruby, and Touko's elder brother, now in the position of being her guardian as well. His good qualities can come out when he's running his store, though he's found himself in a burning, one-sided rivalry with Greta these days. So it goes for a young man just over the bridge of adulthood...

Greta DuPont
Age: 53
Gender: Trans, She/her
Sexuality: Lesbian
Classification: Witch? (Of the motherly sort, anyway...)

"Here, a pearl of wisdom from your elder. If you ever have children, it's good to become the kind of parent your child can confide in."

Stephanie and JJ's adoptive mother. A witchy sort of woman with years of wisdom under her belt, she's used to acting as a motherly figure. Despite her supportive nature, though, she's keener and sharper than one might think, and she keeps quite a bit close to her chest. What does her heart cry, beneath that everpresent chuckle...?

The Hermit
Age: Claims to be 21
Gender: Cis, She/her
Sexuality: Lesbian
Classification: Witch (Blazing and Ghoulish)

"My mind is my greatest weapon. Relying on the help of others to hone would defeat the purpose, leave me with nothing."

A Witch who Stephanie unexpectedly encounters in an Anomaly resembling a Library. A self-proclaimed intellectual with a haughty personality, but a sharp and foul tongue, who commands the power of pyrokinesis. Unlike the Clock Tower, the Hermit's Anomaly is free to enter and exit. What mystery lies within the heart of its owner...?

Tsukasa Nagataka:
Age: 47
Gender: Cis, He/him
Sexuality: Gay
Classification: Human (Construction Worker)

"I've got to keep tabs on all the hot deets or else my life will have no meaning!"

A flamboyant man who lives in Mesteri. He's Shinjiro's most regular customer at Ruby, and a generally amicable sort who takes well to drama. It's hard to hate the man, so he quickly befriends the McGermanottas, too. Of course, he's a layman to all things magic or Anomalous, and totally unrelated to the Clock Tower... does a man like this really belong in stories for 'You'?

Box Hako:
Age: 'Oh, maybe I'll tell you one day...'
Gender: 'Oh, I'm sure you can figure that out, right?'
Sexuality: 'Hehehe~ Why? Are you curious?'
Classification: 'Everyone's best friend!'

"Well, maybe I'm just 'not like other girls'! Hehehe."

Your guide to the stories in the Letters for a Beloved Ghost expansion, though she's chattier than usual for this one. She loves 'You' quite a bit, so she wants to tell you stories she thinks are good for you... but it's up to you whether you think she's right, of course.