Geisha/Lore

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—Anniversary Tales Collection Booklet

## Character Details

### Character Day

February 18th (Date of Her and Miles' Wedding)

## Story Details

### Connected Characters

Major:* Martha Behamfil

Minor:

* Miles Donald
* Mr. Donnelly
* Eugene Hayward

### Connected Locations

* Eversleeping Town
* Lakeside Village

**Michiko**, also known as the **Geisha**, is one of the **28** playable Hunters added to Identity V.

This page is a compilation of lore and story content for this character.

## Backstory

### Character Introduction

The Geisha met Miles, a foreign army officer at a banquet and they fell in love soon after. They got married and returned to Mile's[sic] homeland together. His father was particularly vocal in his opposition to their marriage. He was cynical of her and hoped to drive her out of the family home. Not long after, Michiko mysteriously disappeared after Miles left on a business trip. Mile’s[sic] father claims that she ran off with another man and urged his son to found[sic] another wife. Miles however started to search for his wife, Michiko, but no one knows where she went.

### Official Release Post

Once the best dancer in Yoshiwara, Michiko gave up everything to marry her true love Mr. Miles.
She was curious and excited as a kid on this foreign land, but only found the marriage to be the beginning of all the miseries.
"Such a woman will never fit to marry someone from our background." Her father-in-law said to Miles. Miles loved her regardless.
Still, "She ran away with another man", as he was told by his father. Since then, no one has heard of Michiko, but rumor has it that a woman in kimono always wanders at night near the Miles'. Her face is so scary and scarred, but when she dances, it's like a red butterfly.

## Deduction Quests

*All completed Objectives reward the player with +335 Logic points for the Logic Path. After the character's deductions are completed, their Worn Clothes will be available.*

## Letters

This section contains the letters the player receives after completing Michiko's Character Day Event on February 18th each year. Each is removed from the player's mailbox in a week, but can still be accessed from the deduction quest menu.

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

## Lore Connections

### Mentioned NPC's

* Mr. Donnelly
* Eugene Hayward

### An Old Letter (2020)

Dear Mr. Donnelly,

It's been 6 months since we met. How have you been doing?

I've made sure that your stored item won't be seen.

It's just that the moving expenses exceeded my estimate. Please send more money to cover the storage fees.

Moreover, I heard that your son instigated a disturbing investigation. Please write back as soon as possible to avoid dispute.

Wish you well.

Yours sincerely,

Eugene Hayward

#### Previous Letter Text

Geisha's 2020 letter was updated with wording changes on an unknown date. Press "Expand" to see the original text of the letter with changed portions in italics.

Dear Mr. Donnelly*:*
*It has been six* months since we *last met, and I wonder how you have* been doing?
*I have secured and stored the item you placed under my care to avoid unwanted attention.*
*However, the expenditure to relocate the item has exceeded my savings. Therefore, I humbly ask you to offer additional funding to finance the storing fee.*
*On the other hand, I have overheard about an unsettling investigation on your son.* Please *reply to this letter at your earliest convenience to evade further conflict.*
*I wish you good health.*
*Your loyal servant,*
Eugene Hayward

## Lore Connections

### Mentioned NPC's

* Miles Donald
* Martha Behamfil

### A letter which has turned yellow (2021)

Dear Miles,

I'm sorry but when I found out where the Keepsake was, it had already been auctioned off by the auction house.

It was an anonymous seller and the auction house wouldn't divulge their identity. Not much was uncovered during my peripheral investigation as quite some time had past. All I know is that the seller was a young woman who's good-looking and slender and had an accent.

From such description though, this seller was vastly different from Michiko.

As for the buyer, I managed to get his contact information but failed to get any response from him.

Don't worry, though. When I'm done with the investigation in the city, I will pay a visit to his manor. Hopefully this gentleman would let me have it.

(That manor isn't far from your new destination. Perhaps we can head over there together, if you wish?)

I really hope you'll get back everything that belongs to you.

Your loyal friend,

Behamfil

## Lore Connections

### Mentioned NPC's

* Miles Donald
* Martha Behamfil

### A Page from Diary (2022)

Last night when I was about to fall asleep, the manor's servant appeared at my door. They still had no news about Behamfil. According to the plans I made with Behamfil, she should have arrived 3 days ago. This came as a surprise to me.

What came as an even bigger surprise was that the servant handed me that hatpin.

It's no longer how I remembered it to be. The jewels had fallen off, and the end of the hatpin had been sharpened. It looked more like a tool than an accessory. The servant said the manor's owner had changed his mind. If I wished, I could leave with the hatpin in the morning. I had the night to think it over.

Deep into the night, I fell asleep while clutching the hatpin In my dream, I returned to the little town at dusk. Yet, instead of the usual nightmares which haunted me for years, the town was peaceful and quiet tonight. I could finally hear Michiko singing the last verse of her favorite song.

When I opened my eyes, it was morning. Looking at the hatpin in my hand and thinking about everything it took away from me, I made a decision.

At breakfast, I told the servant that I wasn't going to leave. I insisted that the manor's owner tell me the ending to the "story" as he promised, even if I had to participate in the game hosted by the manor's owner in exchange.

## Lore Connections

### Mentioned NPC's

* Miles Donald
* Martha Behamfil

### A Package from the Army (2023)

Lady Michiko

Hello,

Our department recently received a package addressed to your husband, Veteran Non-commissioned Officer Miles Donald. We are unable to send it back as the sender is unknown.

We attempted to deliver it to the address Officer Donald used in correspondence with my department three months ago, but it was sent back repeatedly.

Upon checking the package and discovering valuables within it, for safety's sake, we decided to send it to you, the beneficiary nominated in Officer Donald's information form.

Additionally, we received an active duty information request application from Officer Donald three months ago. Due to the department being exceptionally busy at the time, the approval process was delayed, and the approved application couldn't be sent back in time. We have included the document in this package. Please forward it on our behalf.

May good health and happiness always be with you.

Department of Veteran Affairs

(In the package is a brand-new and exquisitely-made hatpin, a yellowing photograph, and a document:

The hatpin is very sharp on one end. If observed carefully, fine traces of repair and grinding can be seen between the jewel inlays.

In the photo is a petite young woman in a kimono sharing an umbrella with a tall man in a military uniform while walking on a stone bridge. The woman in the kimono is looking back at the camera and nodding. On the back of the photograph are the words ""Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Spring.""

The document included in the package is the requested information on Officer Martha Behamfil. She has been declared missing, and it happened six months before the document was issued.)

### Rewards

Every letter comes with 30 Fragments, and depending on how many years the player has participated and completed the Character Day Event would determine which letter they receive and the extra reward.

* If this is the first time the player has completed the event, they would get a portrait for the character and the 2020 letter.
* If this is the second time the player has completed the event, they would get a portrait frame and the 2021 letter.
* If this is the third time the player has completed the event, they would get a dynamic graffiti and the 2022 letter.
* If this is the fourth time the player has completed the event, they would get a emote and the 2023 letter.

2020 Portrait2021 Portrait Frame2022 Dynamic Graffiti2023 Emote
## Character Resources

The additional in-game and external documents for this character include:

* Character Relations
* Quotes & Media
* Event Appearances
* Mentions

The Character Relations menu shows how certain characters are connected and how they feel about each other. It also contains other personal information on characters that cannot be found anywhere else. It can be found in the Notebook, under the "Clues" tab.

As the Geisha's Character Relations menu has not yet been released, there is not enough information to create a table.

### Personality Quiz Results

*You are a talented artist. When you appear in front of people, you will catch all the attention. Pursuers are always waiting for you, but what you really want is not grabbing everyone attention. Although you seem to be weak, you are a person who dares to love and hate. Once you fall in love with a person, you can give up everything for love. But if you pursue love too hard, you need to bear the risk of getting hurt. Therefore, you should learn to protect yourself.*

### Character Day Questions

*Only the questions and answers relating to her backstory were included here. The other questions not listed relate to gameplay.*

* 2022 Character Day questions:
	+ Question 4: *"Which of the following instruments is Michiko proficient at?"* Answer: *"Shamisen"*
	+ Question 5: *"What does Michiko dislike?"* Answer: *"Mirrors"*
* 2023 Character Day questions:
	+ Question 4: *"Who did Miles entrust to investigate Michiko's whereabouts?"* Answer: *"Martha Behamfil"*
	+ Question 5: *"What was the color of Michiko's kimono when she first met Miles?"* Answer: *"Red"*

### Quotations

* Qixi Festival 2018 quote:
	+ *"His presence like the moon's shadow I've missed for so long, hung over the slender willows of a new moon illuminating the birds' song."*
* Chinese First Anniversary (2019) quote:
	+ *"Butterflies dance for you, and red flowers bloom for you."*
* 2nd Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
	+ *"On the occasion of the second anniversary, I would like to express my sincere congratulations.
	Yes, I have some memories of the party......
	No, dancing is still not necessary......"*
* Deduction Star 2019 quotes:
	+ *"I'm sick not because of my drinking, but do you know that?"*
* Deduction Star 2020 quotes:
	+ *"Miles, do you still remember me?"*
	+ *"Who will leave their home if not for someone they love?"*
	+ *"I've been waiting for you right here."*
* Deduction Star 2021 quotes:
	+ *"A never-ending joy, an everlasting love."*
	+ *"All my life, the only thing I've ever looked intently, except for the moon back home, were his eyes"*
	+ *"Fall in love, and you will live happily ever after - that's the biggest lie in the world."*
* Deduction Star 2022 Best Performance quotes:
	+ *"Thank you, can I really have it?"*
	+ *"Those delicate butterfly wings have gone through destruction and rebirth in their cocoon."*
* Deduction Star 2022 Best Performance Winner quote:
	+ *"I'm so flattered so many people have voted for me. I hope I'll live up to your expectations."*
* Valentine's Day 2023 Cards:
	+ *"Thank you for the wishes, and Happy Valentine's Day to you."*
	+ *"Thank you for the card. An old friend once gave me something similar. It may have been from long ago, but the strange thing is that I still vividly remember everything from that time. Happiness is just the best wishes of people, but destiny is a complex composition of love, hate, sorrow, and happiness."*
* 5th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
	+ *A glamorous banquet, young people dancing together...... This is all so familiar that I don't want to remember it."*

### Japanese Twitter Replies

Please press "Expand" to see in-character replies from the official Japanese Twitter.

**Geisha** has been mentioned in the following documents for other characters:

## Canon Manor Game

We can gather who was in a canon Manor Game together by information in Letters and Diaries, and very occasionally from character quotes during events. However, there is currently not enough information to determine which Manor Game Geisha participated in.

## Compiled Overview

The following section contains an overview based on canon information.Please note that some information may be missing as it may not have been provided from official sources. See the given references for further information.
### Backstory from Deductions

Michiko was raised in Eversleeping Town and became a geisha well known as the "Red Butterfly" as she resembled a red butterfly flapping its wings whenever she danced. While performing at a banquet, she met a man named Miles Donald. The two fell in love and got married. The young couple soon traveled overseas to Miles's homeland where Michiko met her father-in-law who heavily disapproved of the marriage. One day, Miles left for a long journey. Using this opportunity to his advantage, his father decided to dispose of Michiko; he decided to "mail" her as a package to Eugene Hayward to dispose of, and covered up her disappearance by simply stating she had run away. However, Miles refused to believe his father's words and began to search far and wide for his missing wife.

Miles recruited the help of his friend, Behamfil, and was eventually able to track down Michiko's location at the a gentleman's manor. He arrived alone with the plans to meet there with Behamfil. She never showed up to his surprise. On the 3rd night there, he received Michiko's hatpin from a manor servant, noticing the hatpin had been modified. After being offered the chance to leave with the hatpin or stay, he agreed to participate in the host's "game" in exchange for news of what actually happened to Michiko.

### Alternate Theories and Conclusions

The below article or section(s) contains speculation, analysis, or theories which may include unconfirmed information.When adding content, use references to link or explain **legitimate/official** supportive evidence for specific theories, otherwise it may be removed.
* Due to the detailed description of the hatpin, it is implied that her father-in-law murdered her with it and disposed of her corpse. However, it is also possible that he sent her off to a faraway land alive, in hopes that Miles would not search for her.
* Michiko's first-year character day letter is a letter addressed to an individual named Mr. Donnelly, written by Eugene Hayward. Under the assumption that Michiko was in fact murdered, the "item" he mentions in his letter is most likely referring to Michiko's corpse as it is mentioned to possibly "attract unwanted attention" and to be highly expensive to store. This suggests that Mr. Donnelly is Miles's father and Michiko's father-in-law, who had murdered Michiko and entrusted Eugene Hayward with the disposal of her corpse.
	+ As Eugene lives in Lakeside Village with his wife, there is a possibility that he had disposed of the corpse via dumping it into the lake.
		- However, it is also known that Hastur resides in the lake, who is known to only accept live offerings that are of the quality of pure virgins or children. A corpse would not meet these requirements of an offering, which may have been an additional cause of the disappearances of the villagers at Lakeside Village. Eugene and Marjorie had already died before then by being burned to death by the disciples.
* It is unknown if she only appears on the hallucinations as a "separate entity" to the Manor Participants or as a "Monstrous" Form of one of the Manor Participants during a "Death Match". There are a list of NPCs that are theorized that might be her Survivor Form.
	+ One of the Servants of the Manor of an unknown gender.
	+ The Beautiful Woman with an accent who bought her hairpin after her death.
	+ Her husband Miles Donald after he was confirmed to be one of the Manor Participants.
	+ Alternatively she may not have a Survivor Form. According to the developers, not all playable characters are going to get an Identity Switch. She will most likely will never receive a Survivor Equivalent for Identity Switch Mechanic due to her status as a "Deceased" Hunter.

## References

1. ↑ Official Japanese Reference Book
2. ↑ Wedding Anniversary, according to Geisha's Character Day Announcement on Twitter
3. ↑ Backstory from the official Identity V website - https://idv.163.com/character/index.html
4. ↑ Post from official Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/IdentityV/photos/a.611510979192611/690406041303104
5. ↑ Original Chinese: 思君戚戚如月影，挂遍疏桐朔鸟鸣。
6. ↑ Original Chinese: 蝶舞为你而来，绯花为你而开。
7. ↑ Translation by @IdentityV\_\_Sub.
8. ↑ Translations by @fc\_idv.
9. ↑ See Deduction Quest #7: "Chill"
10. ↑ https://twitter.com/GameIdentityV/status/1495956510177837057