My Issues with After Class VN and Lars’ Lore (SPOILER WARNING)

I recently played through After Class VN, and while I really enjoyed it, I have some problems with the story—particularly regarding its lore. The story is engaging, the characters (especially Lars) are hot asf, and overall, it’s a well-made visual novel. However, there’s one specific lore detail that changes how I see Lars, and not in a good way.

Throughout the game, I often wondered how Walter and Lars became so close so quickly. It felt both unnatural and natural at the same time. Andy’s writing is so effective that, despite only knowing Lars for about a week in the story, I still fell for him. When I first learned that Lars had ties to Walter’s past, I was a little suspicious, but I didn’t think too much of it. By Day 11 in Lars’ good route, the chemistry between them was undeniable—it was intense for just an 11-day connection, but love can develop at different paces, so I went along with it.

Then I played Lars Episode 1 and 2, and my feelings took a turn. I wasn’t just confused—I was frustrated. Here’s why:

A small reason is we learn that Lars used to be close with him. Seeing how deep that connection went made me wonder—did those feelings just fade over time, or is there still something there? Maybe I’m just jealous, but it left me curious.

But my biggest issue is what we learn about Walter’s father. Apparently, he was the one who instructed Lars to go undercover—to disappear, act homeless, and get as close to Walter as possible. He even encouraged Lars to find a way to live in Walter’s house. With that in mind, I can’t help but question everything about Lars’ relationship with Walter.

Is their connection genuine, or is it all just an act orchestrated by Walter’s dad? Is anything Lars has done—like kissing Walter as early as Day 6—real, or was it all forced? Does Lars actually like Walter at all?

After Class fucking loves foreshadowing, so hear me out. One moment that stood out to me was in Day 10 when Walter wonders if Lars might not actually like him—that maybe he’s just pretending so he can have a place to stay. While we know Lars doesn’t need a home, this line feels like foreshadowing. It raises the unsettling question: is Lars only acting like he loves Walter because his father told him to?