Close and Distant's greatest strength lies in how well it captures a specific time and place. Websites, tech and speech are all recreated with a nostalgic tinge, enough to colour, but not to blind. During the time represented here, belief in the fantastical power of social media to connect people and creating communities was just starting to fade and give way to our current hellscape. So, these virtual locations are presented in their awkward teenage phase, depicted as facilitators of connecting people and as spaces where they might be hurt. I also enjoyed the way characters react to that reality. These teens aren't naïve to the problems of online spaces of the time; that much the game says outright during its first real "scene" when characters interact through IMVU.

The story as whole is quite true to life. I find it so convincing, it would not surprise me if it was a fictionalized memoir. More than just through the aforementioned use of online spaces people used at the time, the story employs what I believe to be realistic reactions and dialogue to propel this relationship and narrative forward. Even with a healthy dose of skips, the game never never made me lost or had to tell me where this relationship was, I could read the characters interactions for that. The main duo hits it off in many ways, but they also take their time disassembling walls they had to make to survive. And we get to learn all this simply by following where, when, what and how they communicate with one another. Everything comes together into a very convincing tale that works well for its compact package.

Although, there is one place where this reality broke for me. Since reading, I've gone back and forth on their "break-up" and reunion. I want to say it makes sense for these characters to go through it how they did (especially given the age when it happens), but I also couldn't take it seriously as I read it. The story leading up to their separation, made me believe their bond was sturdy to withstand a that fight, or that, at the very least, they would reach out for each other much sooner. If the disagreement led to a nastier argument or if their relationship was established to be more frail, I would have less of a problem with how things end. I point to VN The Proximity Principle for an example of what I think is a more believable way a friendship comes apart. There, the bond is established as strong but with its weaknesses, so when the argument comes, a reader can see it target those particular sore spots and cause their bond to collapse. I will grant that the characters here are younger and physically farther apart, but I stand on the argument that the fight that leads to this relationship coming undone just didn't feel like it should have.

Whatever grievances I have with Close and Distant, lose to its highs. The way it is so true to life, the dialogue, the pacing that's both realistic and fit for a short story, there's much to love here.