Shitai-san (死体さん, 'Mr. Corpse', pronounced "shee-tai") is an effect NPC that can be found in The Road.
Overview
After traveling through the Infinite Road of the Dense Woods A, Madotsuki will come across a road that is eventually blocked by traffic cones. By the cones is Shitai-san, who is completely immobile. Shitai-san is a bloody corpse with a gray shirt, blue pants, purple shoes, dark hair, and rotting, green skin. His left arm also appears to be severely broken, causing a bone to poke through. Interacting with him will give Madotsuki the Stoplight effect. By using the Cat effect near Shitai-san, he will slightly twitch, though this is his only reaction to any of the effects.
Trivia
- Shitai-san is one of two effect NPCs that does not react to the Knife effect, with the other being the Guillotine.
- If the player enters the Dense Woods B through the Mall and goes to the southmost section of the Frog Path, one can slightly see Shitai-san at the bottom of the screen.
Theories
One seemingly reoccurring theme throughout the game is the theme of traffic accidents. It's possible Madotsuki had been in some kind of car accident, and Shitai-san could represent this by showing her past or could even be the corpse of someone she knew that died in the same crash. Other characters that are seemingly connected to the theme of car accidents include Monoko's event and Seccom Masada-sensei's Spaceship crash, as well as characters that have odd reactions to the Stoplight effect such as Buyo Buyo and the Wheelies.
It should also be noted that, upon closer inspection of Shitai-san's sprite, they appear to have a bone sticking out of their arm. This could draw a connection to Monoko, as she sprouts several arms when the Stoplight effect is used near her, which are often speculated by fans to be less grotesque depictions of car accident injuries, particularly bones piercing the skin.
Some other details to note are elements nearby Shitai-san. A Jellyfish is located just northeast of the corpse in the Dense Woods B, similar to how they appear in the game's ending. It's possible that the Jellyfish are able to sense when death occurs and will locate the source. A train track is also seen nearby, and a Traincar can be found elsewhere in the same forest, relating to the car accident theory mentioned above.
Gallery
The corpse of Shitai-san in the Dense Woods B.
Shitai-san in the manga.
Concept art of Shitai-san in YUMENIKKI –DREAM_DIARY–.
