Sakura Natsume
Sakura Natsume is a character in The Silver Case and The 25th Ward: The Silver Case, and the protagonist of the novel The Silver Case: Case #4.5 FACE. Following in the footsteps of her father, she joins the Heinous Crimes Unit as a new recruit in 1999. An honest and diligent investigator, Sakura is nonetheless unafraid of feeling, accepting the darkness she soon discovers within her own past.
Appearance and Personality
Sakura is a woman of average height and build with black, chin-length hair. By The 25th Ward, her hair has grown to shoulder length.
Sakura has a rather level-headed and no-nonsense personality. She is meticulous about the work that she does for the HCU and takes even the most unexpected situations in stride, thinking through and planning her actions logically as opposed to acting out of impulse or emotion. This does not, however, make her a detached person. Sakura is empathetic and kind, from her interactions with Sumio Kodai both during and after his incarceration, to the close bond that she shares with Akira, who had also worked with her father Daigo Natsume.
In The 25th Ward, Sakura puts up a slightly cooler front, possibly due to increased responsibilities with the HCU.
History
Sakura was born to Daigo Natsume and his wife. Her mother died while Sakura was very young, so she was raised solely by her father. The two were very close, and Daigo kept several photo albums of Sakura as she grew. When Sakura was about 2 years old, she was kidnapped as a part of the Shelter Kids Program, along with nearly a thousand other 2-year-olds meant for a new cohort of Ayame-type Shelter Children. She remained within the program until she was 4, when she was simply returned to her father. Fearing for his daughter's safety, Daigo Natsume concealed the results of the independent investigation into the Shelter Kids Program he had undertaken during that time. Sakura's life seemingly returns to normal, and she spends the remainder of her childhood in her family home.
Case #4.5: FACE
Following Daigo Natsume's supposed death in Decoyman, Sakura packs up or disposes of all her father's belongings and moves out of their home. Her new apartment is located in in Area C, within walking distance of a diner owned by her neighbor Chinami Ohtomo. Sakura is nearing the end of an intensive program for investigators when she is given an assignment involving the cataloging of serious criminals. As a part of this assignment, she is permitted to interview Sumio Kodai, incarcerated following the events of case#3:parade.
The Silver Case
Sakura first appears in case#5:lifecut as a new recruit to the Heinous Crimes Unit. On November 30th, she and Kenta Mikoshiba are introduced to the rest of the precinct. She is paired up with Akira for the operation to corner Kamui on the roof of the IEDU Building. The two were directed by Nakategawa to different floors, where they met the other members of the unit. They finally forced Kamui to the roof, where he was executed by sniper fire. On December 24th, Nakategawa briefed Sakura and Mikoshiba on the disappearance of Kusabi and Morikawa. He ordered them to eliminate them for abandoning the mission. Sakura was ordered to keep her eyes on Akira, in case he made contact with the newly-emerged crime ring TRUMP. Sakura told Mikoshiba that she believed Naka was upset about having to take out his friends. Sakura tailed Akira through the underground tunnels that lead to the Shelter Plaza. She caught up to him once he encountered Chizuru Hachisuka, who had fully become the next Ayame. Sakura shot and killed her. She accompanied Akira through the tunnels and told him the details of the Shelter Kids Policy, and that they were both products of it. Upon reaching the Shelter Plaza, Sakura told Akira to head to the TV Tower to learn the truth. As she left she addressed him as "Kamui".
Early in 2000, Sakura and Michiru Kosaka spoke to Kusabi at Lounge Tamura to tell him about the death of Uminosuke Hachisuka and the return of Kamui. They left to the scene shortly after.
~2000
Sakura remained with the Heinous Crimes Unit and took on a series of cases with them. She also began a romantic relationship with Kosaka. She participated in the "Lovers", "Animal Hunting", "Door Lock", "Triple Kids", and "Cut Doctor" cases. By 2003, her relationship with Kosaka had ended.
whiteout
During #06 white out, in 2003, Sakura is contacted by Kosaka to tell her about an additional member of TRUMP emerging, the Joker. Kosaka advised her not to move on her own, which he ignored. Sakura then gave Akira the mission of securing or processing the Joker before Kosaka. Sakura provided radio support to Akira during the mission, reassuring him due to his past connection to the Shelters. She lost contact with Akira once he encountered Mokutaro Shiroyabu. She is next seen speaking over the radio to Akira after the Joker was cornered at the Hachisuka Dome, telling him to do anything it takes to come home.
The 25th Ward
During #00 prototype, in 2005, Sakura is tasked by Kosaka to investigate the death of Milu Yuzuki on the 75th floor of the Bayside Towerland before the 25th Ward Heinous Crimes Unit arrives. She meets with Uehara, who she notes reminds her of Akira. After reaching Milu's room, she noted that it felt too cold and sterile for a person to live in. While examining the body, she told Uehara that with this being his first case, his priority isn't to apprehend the criminal, but to kill crime itself. She says that Uehara has the ability to see crime and everyday life, and that Kosaka sent him into the field to try and awaken him. She says that she can't go back yet, until she kills Uehara or he kills her. She says that Kosaka is making a dangerous gamble by trying to use criminal power to control the crime-controlled 25th Ward, and remarks that Kamui will Kill The Life. After the battle between the 25th Ward HC Unit and the divers, Sakura gives an ID Card to Uehara which gives him access to the upper floors of the building, and tells him that the person he needs to meet with is there. Uehara takes the elevator to the top floor to speak with Kinshiro Nakane.
In "01 underground theater, Sakura's voice was used in a phone call to Shinkai Tsuki and Yotaro Osato, giving them a foreboding message about how Kamui will Kill The Life. In "05 moon over 25, Tsuki confronts Mitsuki Haijima and accuses him of using Sakura's voice to send the message. Haijima doesn't confirm if this is the case. It is unknown whether Sakura was actually the one behind the call, although it does seem to align with her conversation with Uehara from #00: prototype.
In #04 digital man, Sakura takes part in the HC Unit's investigation into Kosuke Kurumizawa. She and Sumio review footage of Kurumizawa having killed a woman, in which he appears to be a 2D animated character. She doubts the legitimacy of the video, but Sumio insists that it depicts the real Kurumizawa. Sumio says that the video is a challenge for them to find the location of the body, and tells Sakura to find an observer and gather info. At the Maison de Royal Garden apartments, Sakura speaks to an observer named Ken. He says that all the observers know of Kurumizawa and are afraid of being observed by him. She asks if he has ever made contact with him, and he recalls a moment when he made eye contact with Kurumizawa and was momentarily ripped from the physical world. Speaking about Kurumizawa makes Ken feel the sensation again, and he asks her to leave. Sakura says to herself that she can't see Kurumizawa. Sumio and Sakura head to the Mansion No. 20 apartment complex, where the body is located. Using Sumio's senses, they locate the room where the body is being kept. On the balcony, they speak to Kurumizawa, who takes on a pixelated form. He tells them that he has transcended to another level, and disappears. They realize that there was no body, and Kurumizawa simply caused a mannequin to appear as such. Kurumizawa was just playing with them, which Sumio says is a sign that he is human. Back at the precinct, Sumio tells Sakura that she needs to prepare for the coming conflict. She remarks that Sumio feels far away.
Official profiles
| The protagonist of this story. Daughter of Public Safety Special Forces' Daigo Natsume. Inspired by her father, she is on the way to becoming an investigator. (The Silver Case: Case #4.5 FACE profile) |
Trivia
- Unlike most of the characters in the game, Sakura's portrait in the 2016 remake of The Silver Case does not use its original art, but rather an upscaled PlayStation sprite. The only other character for whom this is the case is Yuu.
Gallery
The Silver Case
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Portrait -
Joining the HCU -
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Shooting Chizuru -
Back cover illustration
Case #4.5 Face
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Cover -
Meeting Minato -
Meeting Tokio -
At Chinami's diner -
Speaking with Sumio -
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