A short tale about loneliness and homophobia. I fear some people may pass it by because of the art style, and if you do this, you are missing out.
It honestly feels like someone's short memoir, I am quite certain that if this is not based on the writer's own life, someone out there, most likely multiple someones, have been through the exact same things as Vara. It felt so real.
Good job!
Thank you for the kind words. This is actually a work of fiction where the spark of the idea came from the toxic yuri game jam itself.
Ironically, in spite of my own religious beliefs, I’ve been wanting to write a yuri visual novel for over a year now. In a previous attempt from a different story, I let my own discomfort stop me from going forth with such a story due to the topic of homosexuality.
So, I felt like this game jam gave me the challenge and push to write something both outside and within my comfort zone, as I’ve honed in on creating dramas revolving around family and relationships.
Now, I’ll most likely write that other story from a year ago once again, having written this one. Otherwise, a visual novel where I’ve based it off of myself is one I created called Reaching for the Sky. The story is a work of fiction, but the protagonist, her struggles, and quirks I self-inserted into that story. The same goes for Blue where I wrote that very short story based off of the depression I was feeling at the time.
As for this story, I wanted to hone in on a story about a toxic friendship, a familial strain, and the confidence to stand up for oneself in their identity and truth. With this short story following the formulaic plot structure of Freytag’s Pyramid and with the core conflict of this story centering around dialogue, this made for a more doable visual novel made just in time for the game jam.
I did touch on the topic of homosexuality in a visual novel just before this one called Love Days. That one was made for another game jam. Ironically, it was for the otome game jam, but it takes a stab at homophobia from a different angle, one where it’s internalized and produces bullying. Yet, the main character stands up to that kind negativity and hate. So, that one is meant to be a feel-good story, in spite of how dramatic it is.
Otherwise, other mature topics that have run through some of my other visual novels include antagonistic mothers, hints at self-pleasure, and the state of having passive suicidal ideation.
I believe those themes come up time and time again in my own works due to my own experiences with such struggles. So, that’s how my own life experiences and perspectives bleed into my own stories. Thanks for reading!
