Thank you for the feedback!! This was very much a passion project of mine and regardless of the results of the jam, I plan to make a sequel after making a few more games. I feel like there's so much I want to learn before making this the game its meant to be (shame you couldn't see the ending though, I try not to spoil it, but it may answer some of your questions (there's a lot of future potential for the apprenticeships and how it affects her adulthood)
As for the boringness of fishing, YES. Definitely. 100% with you there. I plan to create a mini game for it, and many more varied rods you need with many different types of fishing grounds. The fishing will tie in a lot more to the cooking system too, making a key system that will tie into the fighting aspects.
As far as the writing, you caught me. I did unfortunately have to use a lot of first drafts in this. It being my first published game, I didn't have the knowledge I do now on how to more quickly enter in written dialogue. I now have quite a few tricks I plan to implement in the future!! Especially in regards to the text box. I feel like I got much better flow in the newest game I made for a jam. I really need to redo this game from the floor up with all the comments people have given me.
It really means a lot that so many of you have enjoyed my game!! I plan to expand it to potentially be my first commercial game (though again it won't be for awhile. I acknowledge that this is a good showing of my limits and where I need to improve). I plan to have the apprenticeships expand into Matsuki's adulthood and how she deals with the events that happen at the end of the game!
While I succeeded in fleshing out all the systems I wanted, it's fair to critique just how bare bones a lot of it is. I'm amazed I finished as much as I did, but I genuinely should have polished it more. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. This feedback really helps me as a developer!!