I happen to squeeze in a complete playthrough of "Pitstop in Purgatory" just before O2A2 started (when I played VNs from the otome jam), so I know the context. But even then, I feel like you don't need it to understand the universal emotion of family love and the loss of a loved one. This is a great emotional piece that shines through with beautiful art (nicely framed through pans over family photos on the wall that show Astrid growing up), fitting piano music, and sincere writing fully capturing the feelings of a father who lost his child, and all the same it's a celebration of Astrid's shortcut life. Very profound of bringing up his time-related regrets since worklife balance is a relevant topic for many.
Thank you very much for your kind words! :)
Yes, it was important for me to strike a balance because I didn't want new players to feel lost without the context that PiP provides. It's reassuring to hear that you felt that way, coming at it with the perspective of having played that before.
I'm happy you enjoyed the story! <3