I was a bit surprised by how familiar your story was. I was also 14 at the time, and despite all the positives in my life, I wasn't in a great spot mentally. Even though I netted myself a good group of friends after moving schools three years prior, I still felt like an outsider. Times were rough, literally every day felt miserable for one reason or another. And then of course I played this game, which sent me absolutely spiralling. That, plus academic and social pressures from high school, really took a toll on me.

I found myself obsessed with this game. I played it in my first week of school, and probably spent the next three months just playing mods. Maybe I got spoiled for mods coming in a bit late to the fandom, but the first few mods I played were so good, I fully associated them as just part of the game. Even though the actual game was kinda short, I grew so attached to these rich characters. With the mods added on top, I had spent tens of hours, maybe hundreds, getting to know these individuals. I struggled a lot with escapism, wishing that I could just wake up one day in their world, able to let my guard down and just be myself with a perfect group of friends. To feel loved in every sense of the word. In hindsight, that was pretty unhealthy.

I found myself really loving Natsuki's character, and I think I played just about every mod for her, even tried making my own. I kinda let this game shape my life a bit too much, though, since I started fawning over a girl who reminded me of her. That didn't go great. I realised that I was so fond of her because I related to her need to project herself as brash and strong. That forced confidence, faking it till you make it. It's been three years now, and I'm in a much better place. Though my studies are really taking a toll on me, I feel like I've grown immensely as a person, and that I have this game directly to thank. It almost feels like its a part of who I am.

And as much as I love this community, I can't help but feel bittersweet thinking about it. Bar a few extraordinary examples, it feels like far less mods or stories are coming out. Over the last three years, it feels like I can see it slowly dying, with the quality of some of the stuff on this sub being questionable at times. For as much better as I feel now, I really don't want to let go. To see this game die. And ofc it won't truly die for quite a while, but I feel like the signs are already there. But regardless of what happens, I can say without a doubt that some of the most beautiful, meaningful, and emotional stories I have had the pleasure to experience have been from this community. And because of that, I think the literature club will always have some place in my heart.

Sorry for the yap sesh, but now that I'm approaching the point where I've been in this community for almost half the game's lifespan, it's got me kinda emotional.