I think it feels real because of how raw it is, and there was a lot of detail put into it because it is the canon ending, I think anyway. Specific events from that ending are mentioned in related works, so I'm fairly sure that it's canon. TJ was the first route that I did as well, and I am going through the rest more out of curiosity than for storyline. I will say, though, that Leo's route is very much worth a play through, even if it isn't quite as good as the TJ route. It is also full of emotion, however instead of the solemn beauty and a combination of resignation and determination conveyed through TJ, it is full of despair and disastrous events, and suggests some incredibly interesting things about Chase. Specifically for the information provided, I recommend completing both major Leo routes.