Thank you so much for this first, lovely comment. 🥹
The art has been such a roadblock in finishing the game. 😆 I've had to cut CGs down, since I really want to get to the ending. I think making a few images good will be better than making a lot of images poorly. 😅 But the main sprites already went through a massive overhaul since I started.
I've heard of Coffee Talk, but I never found time to play it. I'm kind of flattered it makes someone think of a big game like that. 🥰 I think Nekopara ~Catboys Paradise~ was largrly what prompted the character designs and the otome-friendship, slice of life spirit. I definitely want to credit Pokemon Masters (Trainer Lodge) and Persona for a lot of the inspiration, too.
At least, for the gameplay. For the story, I wanted to tell something similar to how my friends got me out of my comfort zone, and how I never could've imagined the amazing experiences I would later have after the lowest points in my life. 😅 Meeting someone with a tail wouldn't even surprise me anymore.
I'm glad you liked the characters! I think I know somebody better when they describe their favorite characters (which is why this is the correct choice in Ravi's route 😆). I'm glad they all seem unique. Celia was someone I struggled writing because she's intentionally not like me, and I'm happy that there are people who appreciate how friendly she is. Victor was one of the first character designs, and he went through a big redesign so more of his character traits would be reflected.
It would not hurt my feelings if the player muted the music. 😆 I think, as a developer, I've heard these songs too many times from testing, and I do worry that I should gather a few more songs. Music is where I have to leave it up to people with years of experience, because I have none. 😵 But I'm testing the ending, and once I'm able to update, I promise that that song in the last scene will be worth unmuting. It's another (currently unused) Keys of Moon song that makes me emotional even without the art. 🥲
Thanks for playing!! I hope you have time to try it again once the game is finished. Either way, I'm happy you already found so much to say about it. 🥰 It makes me hopeful that somebody else will like it.