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No that makes a lot of sense actually and I see where your coming from.  Take your time with your decision. Whether or not you combine it all to add to the story  is  entirely up to you. This is YOUR creation after all; You are the architect of this amazing world and only you can help it reach its full potential.

Plus, Im certain im not the only one to appreciate the fact that you're goal is to make someone invested in reading the story. More to it, you're dream is to have them get invested in more than just the ability to get off. Believe me, Ive seen so many visual novels of late make sex either the focus, or allow the sex to take away from the story. It gets so bad in fact, that even i have found myself simply turning on "Skip Unscene Text" in the settings just so i can skip to the naughty times.

Mind you, im not dogging on sex. That type of connection with the characters can truly increase character development and allow players to invest themselves into not just the stories but the people within them; allowing them to becomes fans, allowing them to dream of themselves going on amazing adventures with what you've created; and most importantly inspire them to even create their own works of art to share with the world.

Im an aspiring Visual Novel Artist myself even. Got my own dream in the works that i one day hope to publish when i work up enough funds to feel comfortable posting it online and sharing it. Mostly, Im great at world building and stuff, but coding? drawing? hell, even actively participating in social media and getting myself out there has terrified me and made it difficult. But i always look on Itch.io and see hundreds of other aspiring artists, some of them hidden gems even, grow and become truly amazing experiences. and it always inspires me!

so just promise us all, that whatever comes your way, bills, life, trauma... hell even just random shit that makes no sense. youll never let that sway you from doing what makes you happy!  and above all, as its even become somewhat common knowledge at this point, dont do what the author of BLACKGATE Did. That story was amazing and i loved every moment, yet i fear he will never finish it, and many of us have lost interest, simply because he stopped caring about his dream.