Going into this, I didn't realize that your initial actions effect which route you end up on (as opposed to meeting everyone and then formally selecting your route). I dove right into the game, but certainly was not upset with the outcome. I wound up on watcher route and 100% was on board with this.
He's so adorable, and I wanted romance, so I was flirty early on. I was grinning like an idiot during the cute things he kept saying, especially when he would get embarrassed over the fact that his feelings were showing. I nearly squealed when he let the pet name, "Habibi," slip out. Apparently, I am totally into shy blushy guys. Normally I go for the cocky character or strong and silent one, but I suppose there is overlap here since those character types often get flustered and blushy once real feelings are involved.
Possible spoilers below ---------
It was cool to see some Arabic and Middle Eastern representation since that's one you don't see very often. I also thought the discussion of being an outsider to part of your own culture was handled well. It's a topic I have some personal experience with (colonialism sucks) and I really wish I had been able to give Wolf a piece of my mind or at least tell him to back off. I was also mad at X for expecting everyone to have the same abilities to confront things head-on. Neither of them was being very sensitive about something that they have never really had to deal with and I was V angry. Trauma responses won't magically disappear just because you really want to get better. It's also not easy to handle getting involved with a culture you were cut off from while raised in a different one. Nor is it reasonable to expect someone to abandon the culture they were raised in once they begin reconnecting with the other. It's always a very complex and personal matter.
I like that the game lets you help give input on the friend drama as an interested party and outsider to the politics. So many were being too harsh on my boy and it made me genuinely angry. I'm glad that the relationship development allows you to help him grow as a person and learn to stand up for himself more. I was upset when it looked like he would be disappearing for a while and was very relieved that he decided that he would be staying in contact with me regardless of what happened with the main group. The ending scene where it is revealed you are actually going with him as moral support to meet his mom's side of the family was very heartwarming and gave the warm fuzzies.
I was really happy and surprised by this game and as you can clearly see, I had a lot of feelings. Thank you so much for your hard work creating this gem of a game and your realistic handling of complex cultural matters.