this was amazing!! oh my god. i have a soft spot for slice-of-life, and this really, really took the cake for me. i adore this visual novel. it truly played with my feelings. i found myself laughing so much!!! and usually, comedic timing is really difficult to do imo - but you guys just cracked the code. i love how nuanced every single character is. like, it's never a dull moment with any of them!! i absolutely loveee all the sprite-work, like - the expressions are cute, the outfits are amazing. i can't say it enough, the sprites are spectacular!!!! the art style, in general. my god. the artwork, the sheer amount of cgs, there's so much love poured into this and it's well fucking worth it - because it really ties the entire experience together!!! so much details in this vn is like, the cherry on top of the chocolate syrup on top of the whipped cream on top of the sundae!! god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the writing for the characters is so lovely, too. they all felt flawed and grounded, and i really appreciated it. nobody's perfect!!! they all felt like real teenagers, grappling with real teenager problems and emotions and shit. i found myself hating characters, then loving them the next moment. scarlett, especially, grinded my gears - but thinking of how a lonely freshman girl might feel, with strict parents and a pencil-pusher (read my tone as fond, mostly) brother... i can't exactly blame her. she got a sick tattoo, honestly. props to her. (also, "I don't even like guys"?? i see you, scar.)
i could go on forever and ever about this vn, but i'll leave it after this note. i do hope we see more of lori's passion for music!! pick up that acoustic guitar, girl!! follow your dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!! i believe she can be the next taylor swift, i believe in her. i'm also hoping on more mentions of cody, but i also understand if he's simple just - "the one that got away" sorta deal. "right guy, wrong time" maybe. he's probably off in college now, hope he's doing good too - even if he ghosted our girl. all to say, what an amazing game!!!! <3 you all did spectacular. (also forgot to mention reese and taylor. i love them. end comment.)