Arisunime — In the visual novel and anime Summer Pockets, Umi Kato calls the series’ protagonist Hairi Takahara by a different name in each route. These different calls reflect not only the dynamics of their relationship, but also Umi’s phase or “stage” in the complex narrative.
As for the exact reason behind these nickname changes, it is closely related to Summer Pockets’ narrative structure, which involves the concepts of time loops and alternate realities. Umi is a key character who has an understanding of various timelines and memories from the past and future.
Here are the stages of Umi’s journey on each Summer Pockets route:
Umi’s Journey Stage: Each heroïne route takes Hairi through a different experience and reveals new aspects of the island and its characters. The change in Umi’s call to Hairi shows how Umi “remembers” or “interacts” with Hairi in each recurring version of the summer.
Relationship Development: As described above, these calls directly reflect the depth of the emotional connection between Umi and Hairi in a particular route.
Umi’s Distinct Identity: In the broader context of the story, Umi herself has a complex identity and her relationship with Shiroha Naruse and the island phenomenon can affect her perception of Hairi.
In short, Umi’s change of vocation to Hairi is a clever narrative element that enriches the depth of Summer Pockets’ characters and themes. It hints at the time-looping nature of the game and the evolution of the emotional bond between the two characters.***
