Talking about Zell’s love interest is not easy due to a number of different reasons.
First of all, Zell’s hobbies could be summarised in pursuing his quest for Balamb Garden Cafeteria’s hot dogs, refining his martial art skills, reading Combat King magazines and thinking of his family.
Secondly, love in Final Fantasy VIII usually means Squall and Rinoa as most of the romantic action revolves around this couple. Therefore, with Squall and Rinoa stealing the scene, there isn’t much space left for other characters’ love-related questions. It is only hinted to the interest between Selphie and Irvine, to Quistis’ unrequited affection for Squall and to Rinoa’s old affair with Seifer.
Thirdly, albeit there are clues about the Pigtail Girl and her infatuation for Zell, it could easily go unnoticed if the player doesn’t do what triggers certain events.
The Library Girl with a Pig-tail
Unfortunately, Squaresoft didn’t give Zell’s love interest a name. In the Japanese version of the game she was dubbed “ポニーテール図書館員”, (“Ponytail Librarian”) since she works in Balamb Garden’s library and has a pony-tail. In the English version, she is called Library Girl with a Pigtail (alternatively the Girl with Pigtail or the Pigtail Girl), which is clearly a mistranslation considering her hair-style is actually a pony-tail and not a pig-tail.
Zell even has a competitor; another student dubbed “Conceited SeeD”. During the game, he tries to get information on the Pigtail Girl from her two friends, but they do not pay attention to him as they know the Pigtail Girl has eyes only for Zell.
During the quest it is made clear that this girl has a huge crush for Zell, she even declares to him. Zell instead always acts awkwardly when they are together. This change probably stems from a real interest Zell has for the girl. Normally he is confident and open with everybody, both guys and girls, while with the Pigtail Girl he becomes terribly shy.
Role and Importance
The Pigtail Girl’s main role revolves around a side quest to get Combat King 003 magazine. In DISC 3 (with Zell in the party), first head to the train station. There there is a girl near the entrance, who will tell Zell that the Pigtail Girl is looking for him. Drop by Zell’s house and talk to Ma Dincht then go to Balamb Hotel and sleep there. The morning after, Zell will meet downstairs the Pigtail Girl. Following these steps however, will only grant you getting the magazine after hearing a confused conversation between the two.
To hear in full the conversation in Balamb Hotel, there is more work to be done. Basically it is necessary to pay a visit to Balamb Garden’s library, each time a significant plot point takes place. Sometimes one has to exit and re-enter the library more than once to trigger a new scene. After seeing it, it is necessary to advance in the game, in order to trigger the next scene.
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