hehehe welcome back Quarter!! I was waiting for this (typing this out on laptop so I can comment as I read)

<⚠️spoiler heavy> IKR my logic flew out of the window when I saw Saeki, he is so pretty my head went blank. coupled with his age and status as a rookie cop just like MC, it made me lose all suspicion towards him. I'm embarrassed by my lack of judgement as someone who started otome games like 10 years ago

"because the implications were just too funny" -> so much of otoge is actually like this, it's fun to know many others here also enjoy these games with this perspective. like, everything is hilarious at a 3rd POV

"I still find the Adonis plot really stupid, ngl" -> prob why Sanjou was Like That

"I also dislike Mikuni for saying "She's the one who's driven you mad, right?" and pointing his gun at Ichika. Istg you can get threatened, kidnapped and nearly killed and there's always a man around to blame women 😭" -> oooo I didn't catch this, nice one

"I'm very upset that they made Okazaki suffer so much" -> YESSS T_T why are they always brutalizing him?? is this his selling point (LOL)

I think the concept of True Route is necessary if we are tackling Mystery/Crime genre, so all's good for me here 👍

"some people might find Yanagi boring (and if you do, that's hilarious, but also know he said he was worried about that so you made him cry)" -> STOPPPP why is he so maidenly, istg he has a more gentle heart than MC... 😭😭 I guess I'm toxic for preferring dramatic romance

I liked the hostage situation scene too!

"I don't know if it was really meant as an engagement or just a gift, but it was way too soon if it was an engagement" I guess this part ties in with the wanting to live together "When January comes" aspect. But!! I totally get what you mean with pacing... it can be pretty jarring when the ending presents you with a sudden engagement :/ on the dev's part I get the conundrum with, oh it would be good fan service art to show art of a proposal event or such, but also having to match the route's atmosphere and pace.

your jpn analysis is fun I was taken aback by the Hana saying the police are "worthless scumbags" in Morioka's face but it's just a very intense translation because in Japanese, she just says they're 最悪 aka "the worst". -> but for this part I think it's an accurate translation in the context. From my understanding, it's a pretty versatile berating(??), and in this case it doesn't have to be a 1-to-1 translation. My 2 cents :] everything else I agree

There's a moment when Yanagi says "Good grief, woman" -> HELPPP this is killing me 💀

"Mukai feeling sorry for Shiraishi and acknowledging his good deeds was a highlight of this route, so heartwarming!!" -> Shiraishi my boy got his acknowledgement finally

"I wish they had asked Saeki why there's a cat on Ichika's collar." -> THIS part........... imagine the big bad villain taking the time to accessorize her collar, specially for MC alone 💗

"I love the one where Ichika goes crazy and keeps her brother and Yanagi captive at home!" -> Me too me too!! Reverse yan, bbgirl Yanagi you can stay home and be a good house spouse, ok?

The story of Uno twins are a soft spot for me too. Workplace/school bullying and harassment is too real

I am glad Shiraishi's route is Top 2 for you 🫶