Oh wow, this was such an interesting experience. I really liked it overall, but I wanted to make a sort of review here, sharing what I liked and what I thought could be done better. I'll try and keep this generally pretty free of spoilers, but, y'know, I have to mention some spoilery things regardless so if you haven't finished Augma II Arc I maybe don't read the rest of this comment? haha. I'll start with what I liked.
The characters were all very charming once I really got to know them. They were interesting, and even with some tropes here and there, I really liked their dynamics. The humor, especially past Chapter 1, was full of really good lines that had me absolutely dying at times. (Side note, I really wanna know what a "Cowboy Ranch" is in this context AHAHAH) There was also some beautifully written dialogue sprinkled in. I think the first time I really sat back and took it all in was during that rain scene with Linna! The art and overall aesthetic of this game is SO cool. It's actually what initially drew me in to play it in the first place! Even with some clear art improvements/older art sprinkled in, I found that I was always fully immersed in the vibe and nothing ever felt too jarring or out of place. The thick lineart on the characters really brings it all together into something quite pleasant. And the music, gosh, I truly don't think there's a song composed for this visual novel that I don't like. Seriously, props to Strung. Their music style is so unique and it fits the vibe of this game REALLY well, to the point I can't imagine it would be the same experience at all without them.
Now for a few things I feel the game has room for improvement! Or at the very least, some things to make a note of for future projects! :) While I did end up REALLY enjoying the game, I will admit that I almost dropped it entirely due to how slow going the intro felt. A lot of the prologue dialogue felt redundant, and I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist through chapter 1. This ceased being an issue entirely after that point, and midway through chapter 2 I was totally in love with the cast thus far and was left wanting to know more and figure out what was happening! It felt like the writing and dialogue quality had a HUGE jump, and I could see making the prologue shorter in some places benefitting the story in the long run, especially for people getting into it. Not that slow starts can't still take off (*cough cough* Homestuck, anyone?) but it can be difficult for new audiences to get into nonetheless! Another thing I felt was a little off was a few fanservicey scenes, namely that one scene with Loui undressing and the part with Verynstryfe mentioning licking soles. Both just seemed to go a little too far, and I felt they didn't contribute to the story much, if at all. I would've loved to see Loui show her comfort with the group through some other means, I think it could've made for a more heartfelt moment that wasn't basked in this awkward, secondhand embarrassment. I also agree with having some kind of little terminology guide! I ended up just writing all the information down myself as I read to make better sense of it haha.
But, really, those are my only critiques. Everything else I was honestly really impressed by! I didn't go in with many expectations besides the art looking nice, so the quality and lengths I enjoyed this really surprised me and I can sincerely see this visual novel gaining traction once it's fully complete. It deserves as much, at least! I'm honestly a little surprised more people haven't taken the time to get into it already. What you have is really a gem. With a little polish, it's going to shine very bright. :) One last thing before I go, because I couldn't find a good place to talk about it: I LOVED the idea behind the Zero cases!! I found them so fascinating and I really liked how the murder methods were based on the shapes of the numbers. The visuals were clear, the concept cool, I think overall that whole part stuck with me the most out of everything! Such a clever idea, you REALLY outdid yourself with that one. Okay, NOW I'm done. :) Best of luck with further development, and future projects! I'm looking forward to what's to come.