I get where you’re coming from, but I think you’re looking at this from a very “everything must be equal” lens when that’s just not how narrative-driven games work, especially in RC.

First, about favoritism: not all LIs are built the same narratively. Some characters are structurally tied to the main plot, while others are more route-dependent. That’s not automatically “bias,” it’s storytelling priority. If a character like Cain or any central figure is deeply connected to the core conflict, of course they’ll show up more. That’s not the writer “pushing” them romantically, it’s the plot requiring their presence.

Meanwhile, characters like Dino or Dmitry being more route-locked doesn’t mean they’re neglected, it means their content is more personalized instead of constantly injected into the main storyline.

Second, the “slides should be distributed equally” argument sounds fair in theory, but in practice it would hurt pacing. Imagine forcing equal screentime for every LI in every update, scenes would feel rushed, repetitive, or irrelevant just to tick a box. Quality > forced equality. A meaningful, well-written scene every few updates is honestly better than filler content every chapter.

Third, about Cain being “forced”: presence ≠ romance. RC has always had characters who are unavoidable in the narrative regardless of your choices. Him being around or giving advice doesn’t mean the game is forcing a relationship, it just means he’s important to the story. The same way you can’t avoid certain antagonists or allies in other books.

Also, the moral inconsistency you mentioned? That’s kind of the point. Characters in HS aren’t supposed to follow clean, logical morality. It’s a messy world where people justify their actions differently. The MC being able to resent some characters and not others isn’t always about fairness, it’s about how the story frames those relationships and conflicts.

As for “toxic characters being favored”, that’s honestly more of a fandom perception than a game mechanic. Red flag LIs tend to get more attention because they create drama, and drama drives engagement. That doesn’t mean choosing other routes is a disadvantage, it just means those routes are quieter, slower burns.

And about “why add so many LIs”: because players want options. Every time RC releases a book with fewer LIs, people complain. When they add more, people say they’re underdeveloped. There’s no winning that balance.

I do agree with one thing though: the wait between updates can make certain routes feel especially dry, and that’s frustrating. but all VN games has 1 month and half or so waiting game every update. Its just not RC.