Hey there! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment + for your kind words :D They're very appreciated <3
It's great that you play such a variety of games (and story-driven ones are my personal favourite to play too :3) and you decided to check SR out. I have a feeling a lot of people wouldn't touch it with it being a solo indie dev project with no funding, haha. So thank you for giving it a chance! I'm very honoured that you're enjoying it so far :D
I'm super happy you like the opening theme :3 There was a point where I was almost gonna give up on having one, cos the old version backing track just wasn't right >.< Then my boyfriend said he'd help make a brand new backing track. I had to change the lyrics a fair bit from what I originally had down in order to fit his track, but managed to keep the same meaning. It took weeks to make though xD
I totally agree in regards to the student route, haha. There's a reason for it, one being that it's not a setting that I particularly enjoy in stories, but my friend wanted me to write something in that sort of setting >.< I feel like because I'm not keen on that setting it had a lot less effort put into it than the other routes. On top of that, it was the very first route that I wrote, before I knew exactly where I wanted to take the story as a whole. By the time it got to the point that I was writing the ??? route, at least a year had passed since I wrote the student one xD I did toy with the idea of completely rewriting it since I wasn't happy with it, or leaving it out altogether, but my friend said I should just leave it as is x3 I do feel like it's not to the same standard as the other routes though >.<
The bittersweetness at the end of each route is indeed intentional :3 Hopefully, it'll all make sense when you get round to reading the ??? route :D I know the feeling about not wanting a game you're enjoying to be over. I had terrible trouble finishing the Mass Effect series for that reason xD It took me a long time to start 3. I kept going back and replaying 1 & 2, always too afraid to start 3 cos I knew it would bring me closer to the end of the story :( Of course, I cried when I did eventually play and finish 3, haha. The good news is, the last 3 routes you have left to play are the longest ones :D
I'm glad you find Kuro interesting :3 There's been a small amount of debate as to whether or not he's truly a yandere. It's a hard one to discuss really because I can totally see how some might think he's just a psycho if they come across certain bad endings in the initial routes without completing the game >.< I just hope that by the end of the ??? route anyone who is still playing will see that he's not a monster. I still personally think he fits the bill for a yandere, at least he's closer to that than any other character tropes that I know of, but I guess it's probably best for people to make up their own minds on that one.
Thank YOU for playing :3 When I was in the process of making it, because I struggle with anxiety and depression, I would sometimes tell myself that it was all pointless >.< but a little part of me would always fight back and say, no it's not. In the end, I came to the conclusion that as long as at least one person gets as much joy out of playing it as I did making it, then it was absolutely worth it. So whenever I receive a lovely comment like yours, it really warms my heart and means a hell of a lot to me :3
That's adorable that you had a dog called Kuro on Nintendogs :D My partner wants a shiba inu in real life, but I bet he wouldn't let me call it Kuro x3 Hehe, I can see how those lines would come across odd though!
I would never have known you weren't a native English speaker if you hadn't said :o Your English is brilliant! You don't need to apologise anyhow, it's not too long or confusing at all :3 I really enjoy reading any comments I get about the game.
I really hope that you continue to enjoy the routes that you have left to play through. I personally think that the ones you have left are the best 3 routes! Feel free to update your comment or write a new one as you progress through the game. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the other routes :D
I hope you have fun with it! I also hope that you're managing to stay safe + having a wonderful week so far <3