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Polyneed is the poly ship between Ichika Hoshino, Saki Tenma, Honami Mochizuki and Shiho Hinomori from the Project SEKAI fandom.
Canon[]
Ichika, Saki, Honami and Shiho are all childhood friends as well as members of the band Leo/need, where Ichika is their vocalist and guitarist, Shiho is their bassist, Honami is their drummer and Saki is their keyboardist. Their band's name comes from the meteor shower Leonids, which the four saw together when they were younger. They all also attend Miyamasuzaka Girls' Academy as first-year high school students.
Prior to the formation of Leo/need, the girls became estranged in middle school after Saki was hospitalized, Honami deciding to avoid getting bullied by only hanging out with one friend group, and Shiho refusing to associate herself with the other three so they wouldn't get badmouthed and bullied. When Saki is finally healthy enough to attend high school, she is shocked and sad to find out the three had been estranged. After their music session in the School SEKAI, Saki and Ichika then start doing their best to get Honami and Shiho talk and hang out with them again. Shiho joins them back first, and Honami later on. After their shaky start, they end up becoming close again and regaining the bond they had in their childhood.
Leo/need Events[]
Their first arc focuses on them trying to find a way to move forward as band and finding out what they can do, with Shiho especially being conflicted after STANDOUT's leader and vocalist Iori tries scouting her to join her band due to their bassist Mio suddenly calling it quits. Shiho, now torn between staying with Leo/need and finding her true feelings with the help of VIRTUAL SINGERS, or joining the band that could guarantee her ticket to the pro music scene she admires and aims for, tries her best to hide her struggle, which doesn't go unnoticed by Honami. When the others run into Shiho turning down another one of Iori's attempts at scouting her during the "Resonating with you" event, Shiho warns them how going pro wouldn't be as easy as they think. Despite doing their best at convincing that they'll practice even harder, Shiho tells them they can't just half-ass it and go into the pro music scene with half-hearted determination. After being challenged by Iori during STANDOUT's debut concert, Leo/need performs as an opening act, and in the beginning, Shiho thinks how brutal Iori is for forcing them to play in their state. However, everyone becomes more determined through the song, and even the audience, who at first were disappointed, are surprised by the skill they show off. When they return backstage, Ichika and the others express their determination to go pro, bringing Shiho to tears and happily telling them "don't say I didn't warn you."
Other Events[]
In the "SEKAI Happy New Year!" event, the girls first have a sleepover at Ichika's, where they play cards and enjoy their time together before visiting a shrine together with Miku and Luka as the year changes. The girls go around the stalls, buying food, praying and even drawing omikujis (with Honami drawing a "Great Curse" slip and another "Curse" slip for Luka), and then proceed to talk about the wishes they made while praying. Ichika says she wishes for them to have another fun year together, and Saki tells her she had the same wish, except for forever and ever. Honami giggles and reveals hers was the same, before asking Shiho who also shares the sentiment. Saki is overjoyed about this, and when Honami mentions the time and asks if they should go back to Ichika's, Ichika wishes they could have the same kind of shrine visit next year too. Shiho questions it, and Saki tells her there's nothing wrong with that, and Honami chimes in, promising that they will stay together.
In Saki's card's first side story, she suggests they write their New Year's wishes on wish plaques and hang them up. When Shiho asks why, Saki tells her it might double the chances of their wishes coming true, and Honami mentions it's part of the New Year's traditions as well. Shiho stops Saki from writing her full name on the wish plaque, and when Ichika suggests she could just write her first name, Saki mentions the spirits might confuse her for another Saki before saying she'll draw her face. Saki emphasizes that she wants her wish to come true no matter when Shiho asks her about it, and then offers that she draws everyone's faces on their plaques. They then talk about Saki's wish again, and Honami suggests they should walk around a bit more before Ichika notices and points at the starry sky.
In the second side story, Leo/need are studying and working on their winter homework in Saki's room. Saki offers them all candy and juice during their break and Shiho exclaims that she's surprised Saki is so focused when it comes to studying. Saki tells the others that she finds studying with friends and taking on exams fun because they're one of the experiences she was depraved of while hospitalized. Honami mentions the last time the four of them were sitting around studying was during elementary school, helping each other out with their summer assignments, and how Saki's mother always has lots of snacks and juice prepared for everyone in Leo/need.
In the "Musical Twilight Parade" event, which is directly linked to Leo/need's first arc, the girls visit Phoenix Wonderland after Tsukasa gives them free tickets, and they end up hanging out with Wonderlands x Showtime the whole time who show them around.
Quotes[]
- “I can't see any stars tonight. Maybe it's because everyone's not with me...”
- — Honami in Leo/need Main Story Episode 8
- Ichika – “Yeah. So much has happened lately. Saki came back, we met Miku and Luka, and started a band.”
- Saki – “Hehe, it was chaotic at first but it's all going well now and every day brings more fun! Unlike in middle school, I'm not going to miss a single day at school, or even a single class. I'm in the soft tennis club, and in a band, and I get to hang out with you at a diner! We can do stuff like visit Phoenix Wonderland or go to the mall! Doing anything together with you guys is great!”
- — Saki initial 2* second side story
- “(It was such a terrible session... Yet... I can't forget the music we made together that day... I wonder why?”
- — Shiho in "Lingering Melody" first side story
- “Well, I have lots of wishes and it was a tough choice... I want to get better at playing the keyboard, not miss out on any of the school events by being sick and... I want school, clubs, work, hanging out and everything else to be nothing but fun! But you know what? I realized that none of those things would be fun if I didn't have you guys. So the wish I want granted most is for us to be together!”
- — Saki in "Most Important Wish" first side story
- “Such a nice breeze... We used to come here for picnics, I think... We'd lay out a big tarp, Saki's mom would bring us all snacks and... Oh, that was when Honami started developing a taste for apple pies too. There was also that time I ended up outside the park after looking so hard for a four-leaf clover, and made everyone look for me instead. Hehe. So many memories...”
- — Ichika in Singing Among the Cherry Blossoms Episode 5 "What We Took Back"
- Honami – “Hehe. That's so cute. They're both just like Shibao.”
- Ichika – “Yeah, like dogs playing in the snow. Well, we probably shouldn't tell them that...”
- — Honami and Ichika in Raise Your Bow in a Snow-White World
- “I wanna play... I wanna play alongside them...! That's what I've always wanted... I want us to keep playing as Leo/need. I want to keep playing music with them. I want us to write songs that can move people's hearts! That day, they made my wish come true... That's why I made the decision I did that day. I don't care how much longer it takes us. I don't care how much harder it's going to be. If I'm gonna go pro, it's gonna be with Leo/need. I believe we can do anything as long as we're together. And we're gonna find out what we're really made of!”
- — Shiho in "The Right Path For Me" second side story
- “(I can count on everyone's performances. Even if I push forward, Ichika and the others will always end up beside me. In that case, I've gotta make sure they can follow me further than we've ever gone...!)”
- — Shiho in In This Singing City Episode 6 "In That Strength"
- “Sigh. Playing this song makes me realize how much this all means to me.... The time we spent apart, and the time when we couldn't talk properly with each other... I feel like that was all leading up to the way we are now. What I'm trying to say is... I'm the happiest person in the world at the moment!”
- — Saki in "Stella After the Rain" After Live
- “Thank you, everyone. I'm so happy! It's like a dream, having all of you celebrate my birthday together again, just like before.”
- — Honami in her 2020 Birthday Virtual Live
- “I know you'll succeed, Honami, Ichika, Saki, Shiho. You'll be happy together forever.”
- — Miku in "Don't Let Doubts Hold You Back" After Live
- “Actually, when we were making the song, I realized something. I want to be in a band with you all forever! If I want to become a professional, I need to put in a lot more practice. On top of that, I've only just started composing... But, making songs has helped me gain some confidence. I feel more able to contribute. Also, if this song can reach someone's heart... Hehehe. I can't wait to go pro and have many people listen to my music!”
- — Saki in "Unnamed Harmony" After Live
- Saki – “But I don't think of this song as just my own.”
- Ichika – “What do you mean?”
- Saki – “I mean exactly that! My image for this song also has all of you. When I was all alone, you were all there to take my hand. I put the feelings I had at that time into the song so I wouldn't have been able to make this song without all of you. [...] Oh, also! When I was working on the song, you girls sent me messages and made me a snack, right? I was actually really stuck around the last part but thanks to all of you, I was able to get through it and finish the song! That's why this song isn't something that only I made, it's a really precious song made from all of our thoughts and feelings!”
- — "No seek No find" After Live
- “In the beginning, we only ever focused on trying to pull off a successful performance to prove our musical capabilities... But I realized that I have the most fun playing music whenever I'm with all of you. So, I can't wait to keep playing with you guys from here onward.”
- — Shiho in "Don't lose faith!" After Live
Fanon[]
Polyneed is quite popular, mainly due to their status as childhood friends. Some people prefer shipping the girls separately, such as in the form of Ichisaki and Shihonami (which are the most popular ships for the girls respectively). Because the English version sometimes has translated Saki referring to the band as "me and my girlfriends", some fans have claimed that Polyneed is canon.
Ship Weeks[]
The first Leo/need Ship Week was held between from February 13-19, 2023, under the LNShipWeek hashtag on Twitter. The first day was dedicated to Ichishiho, the second day to Honasaki, the third day to Shihonami, the fourth day to Ichisaki, the fifth day to Ichihona, the sixth day to Shihosaki and the seventh was free choice.
The second Leo/need Ship Week was held on July 21-27, 2024, under the same hashtag and prompt days.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Polyneed tag on AO3
- Polyneed (Platonic) tag on AO3
- Polyneed posts on Twitter
- @polyneedquotes on Twitter
- @PolyneedDaily on Twitter
- WIKI
- Leo/need on Project SEKAI Wiki
Trivia[]
- As a whole group, Polyneed have covered 19 songs together (from Y to Y, Kagerou Daze, Hello,world!, Lost and Found, Amanojaku, Yomosugara Kimi Omou, Hello, Worker, Attract Light, Kaisei, glow, Hajimete no Koi ga Owaru Toki, Kibou no Tsuki, Tokyo Teddy Bear, Batsubyou, Mozaik Role (Reloaded), World Lampshade [reunion], Henceforth, Shuuen Touhikou, and Toumei Elegy).
- They own matching Phenny plushies, which they bought while visiting Phoenix Wonderland when they were younger.
- Shiho has also named all of them after who owns them, such as calling the yellow one "Saki Phenny".
- Honami is the tallest at 166 cm while Shiho is the shortest at 159 cm.
- One of their childhood group photos is purchasable in-game as one of the area items in the School SEKAI.
- In one of Tsukasa's summer menu lines, he mentions that he and everyone else in Leo/need would often light fireworks together when they were younger.
- Saki made a cake that had Leo/need cake-toppers for Valentine's Day.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Polyneed/Gallery
Variations[]
- Honasaki — the ship between Honami and Saki
- Honashihosaki — the ship between Honami, Shiho and Saki
- Ichihona — the ship between Ichika and Honami
- Ichisaki — the ship between Ichika and Saki
- Ichisakihona — the ship between Ichika, Saki and Honami
- Ichishiho — the ship between Ichika and Shiho
- Ichishihonami — the ship between Ichika, Shiho and Honami
- Ichishihosaki — the ship between Ichika, Shiho and Saki
- Shihonami — the ship between Shiho and Honami
- Shihosaki — the ship between Shiho and Saki
