"Lemonade" is an upcoming interactive fiction inspired by slice-of-life manga and my personal experiences studying abroad in Tokyo. Play as the new transfer student at Morigaoka Public High School and navigate school life, friendships, young love, and the unrelenting highs and lows of growing up.
Synopsis:
Throughout MC’s life, they’ve had to move constantly due to their parents’ unstable jobs and turbulent marriage. Never have they been at the same school for more than two years, and never have they had any lasting identity beyond that of being “The New Student”, over and over again.
Now that MC’s parents have divorced, Morigaoka is anticipated to be the final transfer. The story follows MC as they traverse the unfamiliar terrain of stability and finally find that sense of belonging...along with something more.
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Description of Features:
A story-driven experience as opposed to a stat-based game. This is inspired by my favorite romance IF on Hosted Games, The Wayhaven Chronicles. My goal is for the reader to feel like the protagonist of an actual manga series, so while stats will have some influence (i.e. going for a bold response as a shy character will be met with surprise; attempting something physical if you are unathletic is likely to fail), your choices will be what dictates your narrative.
8 distinct romance routes. Click here to learn about the love interests! All ROs can be romanced by all MCs (no gender or personality lock). No interaction is copied and pasted between the different characters, and they will be responsive to your MC based on their own individual personalities and backstories.
Of course, with love comes jealousy, and with jealousy comes enemies...
Meaningful relationships beyond romance. Choose your desired friend group, with friendship scenes including SNS group chats, outings, and-- should MC not evade-- the topic of love interests. MC will discover that different friends and classmates have valuable insights (or misinformed biases) about the different love interests. Whether you ask for advice, heed the advice, or reject it entirely is up to you.
Family is also a relationship that MC can foster or ignore. MC comes from a predetermined background of divorced parents, but how that has affected MC, as well as what they think of each parent now, is the player’s decision. Click here to learn about your parents!
Different club activities, with unique club members and events (i.e. Music Club will have a live concert, Sports will have tournaments, etc.). In Year 1, the clubs available are: Cheer, Music, Art, Journalism, Basketball, Soccer, Track, and Volleyball. Joining a club is mandatory per school policy...but being diligent about it is not, so if you have better things in mind than 2 hours of practice...hm? Encouraging delinquency? I would never 🥴 Click here to learn a little about clubs!
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The story is planned to be a trilogy, with each book encompassing each year of high school + an epilogue. I am in the midst of writing the first draft of B1. A first demo containing Chapters 1 and 2 is aimed for release by mid 2022, and a second demo will be released after that, with Chapters 3 and 4.
If any of the above appeals to you, I would be deeply grateful for Lemonade to be on your radar. Until then, happy IF-ing!
Hello! I'm really excited for your IF!! We now know more about the MC's personality but can we also know what we'll be able to choose for their appearance, please? Even when nobody ever mention the MC's appearance one of my favorite thing in IF (or video games) is to customize my MC haha
Thank you for your excitement!
Appearance options that are planned thus far include:
-Hair (length, color, texture)
-Eye color
-Skin color
-Height
-Uniform bottom (pants vs skirt)
-Uniform "style" (i.e proper vs unkempt, etc)
-Basic accessories (i.e glasses, etc)
-Casual style (how you dress outside of school)
There's also a choice to generally determine the style of your bedroom.
Generally, I prefer leaving customizations vague. No matter how many options I list, I can't encapsulate all the ideas everyone has regarding their MC's appearances, so I'd rather leave details open-ended and let readers fill in the blanks :- )
Appearance: Long, straight purple hair with M and V shaped bangs, usually kept loose and down but tied up in low pigtails during physical activities. Charming purple eyes. Fair skin and lithe physique. Has a beauty mark under her left eye. Usually wears a black surgical mask.
"Hoshino-san? She always tries to blend into the background but she's too pretty so you just end up noticing her more. Eh? I don't need to see her face to know she's good-looking. She just has that aura, you know?"
"Hitomi-chan seems shy because she doesn't initiate conversation first, but if you speak to her she's so nice and friendly! She perks up like a flower in the sun. You can see the way her eyes light up and curve when she talks to you and it's so cute! I want to be her friend but she always says she has something to do. What? No way! Hitomi-chan is too nice to lie! Right? Right?!"
"I don't know much about Hoshino but I've heard some rumors. They said she joined the volleyball team because it's so unpopular and no one would follow her there. Isn't that so presumptuous of her? I feel bad for the volleyball members. I bet she can't even play."
"Hoshino-chan and I were in the same class in middle school before she moved. I almost didn't recognize her now. She used to be so much more outgoing and never hid her face back then. I wonder if it's because of the bullying from our classmates. There was a group of girls who were jealous of her and always saying mean things behind her back. I wish I had done something back then but I was scared they'd bully me too."
That's so sweet of you!! I love that every MC thus far feel like they could coexist within the same universe/timeline 😆 Nobody's names have doubled up yet, I think.
Anyways, a big welcome to Hitomi-chan ( ´∀`) She is too cute!! Charming eyes + beauty mark + surgical mask is a killer combo; I totally empathize with Anon Student #1. The other interviews have me very intrigued about her past...
Since It's Ramadhan Mubarak, I was wondering what would ROs act around MC who's fasting?
Happy Ramadan!
To be very transparent, religion does not come up as a topic in-game, and none of the characters are religious themselves. There is mention of Christmas (and later on, visiting a shrine for New Years), but it's not for purposes related to following Christianity or Buddhism.
But anyhow, everyone would be supportive and respectful of an MC who is fasting, without exception. If something is important to someone important (whether as a friend or more), the characters would absolutely want to learn about it.
I did draw one of the girls a few weeks back, if you'd like to check that out (Akane). The recent art was an old screenshot on my phone. I attached it because I had nothing else to share with my update this week.
Whenever I do draw next, it will be of the remaining girls :- ) But I am not an artist and drawing isn't a priority for me or this blog, so I hope you can understand. Thank you!
Hi there ! Does your story is set in a specific year ? I'm SO looking forward for your IF <3
Hello (o˘◡˘o) It's set in modern day, though the exact year is not specified (20XX).
There will be references to things that exist in recent years. For example, the characters use 'Instxgram' and 'LXNE Chat' for social media, and they know of the anime and bands that are popular today.
Hi! I just read the other ask about MC not believing in love/being in denial/a cynic etc etc and girl, do I hope I won't sound rude but tbh I don't know how to phrase it so I'll just say what I think. Basically I'd just like to know if you have any idea how to implement it into the game? I mean, I'm not asking MC (or ROs) to be mature af bc at the end of the day they're kids still in high school, but the typical "love is pain", "love is a lie" etc seems just kinda... over the top? Like something a 12 yo who's going through a phase would say ig. I feel like this is the moment I should shut up but then again, I've been there before and because of my family too, so I'm just curious.
Also, I guess it could work since this anime-like (??) WIP but then again, idk. I'd just like to hear what you think if that's ok.
I hope I didn't sound too rude 🥲
No problem, everyone's entitled to their own opinions :- ) Thanks for sharing respectfully!
I first want to clear up that this is not the way MC automatically feels about love. Denial is just one of a few different options you can choose from, if it suits your MC.
As a whole, though-- if something in Lemonade seems irrational in the context of real life, it probably is. I'm viewing every aspect through the lens of anime/manga. "Love is a lie" probably doesn't seem strange to me because I know so many other teenage characters who have similarly fatalistic/melodramatic philosophies :P If an actual high schooler were to say that to me, I'd probably find it funny too.
ok first of all check out @lemonade-if cause they deserve more attention
Anewaysss for my post on this account presenting *drumroll pls* my mc NAKAMURA KOTA
Now for some mentions from his schoolmates~
"Nakamura-san? He's really nice I guess. Always saying hi to anyone he knows and helping anyone that needs helping. The poor guy's kindness is gonna get exploited at some point, either by the teachers or our classmates."
"Oh, the new kid! There was a rumour going around for a bit that he was Nakamura-sensei's long lost brother. Him hanging around sensei and joining in on the teasing didn't help either. Not to mention that he started contributing to the rumours! Poor sensei..."
"He's usually surrounded by people in school, so it's near impossible to get him on his own. The one time I did see him alone though, he was reading a romance manga. Had stars in his eyes and everything. Adds to the irony that he's really really really daft when it comes to anyone being interested in him. He was once given a love letter and was sad cause he wasn't told who to give it to. He refused to blieve us when we said it was for him. *sigh* Poor guy."
"Kota-kun is friendly, but he usually hangs around Aleksi, Hikaru and Yosuke if he can. I think he has a thing for Yosuke if the heart eyes he gives him are anything to go off, W-WAIT DONT INCLUDE THAT"
"He joined the basketball club recently right? I wish him luck. If anyone's going to get them to work together I would be surprised if it's Nakamura."
"One time I caught him doodling in his textbook, and let me tell you, they were GOOD. When I brought it up though, he got this pained look on his face before changing the subject. Another time I caught him daydreaming, and he looked sad, a complete 180 from his usual sunshine self. Wonder what happened."
"I'm not sure if this is true, but one of my friends saw him outside of school and turns out he has tattoos!! She tried to get a picture but he had already left by then. Such a shame..."
Name: Nakamura Kota
Eye colour: Blue
Hair color: Black
Skin tone: Light brown
Etnicity: Japanese & Indian
Height: 5'4 (was shocked to learn people grow above that)
Hobbies: Sports, Singing (badly), Drawing
Club: Basketball
Romance: Yosuke (Yuushin on second playthrough though cause
grumpy x sunshine)
A ball of sunshine usually, he tries his best to get to know his school mates and make friends. Looking at him and Hikaru standing next to each other could blind a person.
Helps whenever and whoever he can, not wanting to struggle on their own with anything. (Poor boy is projecting) Unfortunately, this leads to him taking on more than he can handle himself, which sometimes ends... poorly. Tends to take care of things himself, feeling unwilling to burden others with his problems.
Blames himself for his parents divorce on some level, despite knowing it was out of his control.
Has a love for romance stories and wishes to have one himself. Easily flustered, though not well-known as he tends to be unaware of any attraction directed towards him.
Very expressive. He's like an open book in any situation. (Which also means he's a terrible liar. Hence his specialty in changing the subject.) Also an idiot in terms of common sense.
Has a very loud, pleasant laugh, which is usually suppressed into a snort. Currently has a massive crush on Yosuke, an is not being as subtle about it as he thinks (anyone who knows him knows).
Reading this made me feel so warm and fuzzy inside. He’s such a sweetheart!! He’ll get that love story he deserves even if both of his targets are also idiots about love.
I’m very excited for Kota to bring peace to the basketball team. There is a locker room scene that may be particularly interesting for him to navigate, especially if his RO is Yosuke (。•̀ᴗ-)✧ Please look forward to it.
Ah...I'm always so super nervous posting other people's OCs...
Buuuut I wanted to join the super cute @lemonade-if 's wholesome MC gang bandwagon!
Sadly I'm not creative enough to create little scenarios like some of the others so I'm going with the good old bust up!
They're holding up their names like criminals because they're criminally awesome...haha, get it? I shut up now
I hope I did alright and you like it ( ; ; )
MCs belong to:
@little-leech-boy (Tachibana Kaoru), @elliehasahoodieandaponytail (Lexis R. Marinos), @realmofgold (Shiratori Liangyu) and @sulkcubus (Kuronuma Kiyoko) for some reason I can't tag your blog lol
im dying. i’ve already read through your entire blog and i am so HYPE FOR THIS!!! literally so many MCs come into my mind for the characters and like, i already love them. i read mainly slice of life manga so this is literally right up my alley. I BELIEVE IN YOU AND YOU’RE GONNA DO SO GOOD!!!
You've wrote me a number of kind, encouraging comments and I appreciate that so much 😭 Thank you!! I'm giving it my best!!
I really liked how cute and cool a lot of peoples lemonade mcs were so I wanted to share mine ;w; made him in picrew lol
Name: Kalmia holt
Club: music
Height: 5’4
Chosen route: either Yuushin or Yosuke
Go to karaoke songs: unironically any of the songs from the yakuza games, though mainly like a butterfly and for non yakuza shinigami by kenshi yonezu
Stats: very very skittish, like a stray cat (prone to almost fluffing up and hissing like one when startled too) he’s very quiet but also has a lot of buried anger due to his parents divorce. But once you do get to know him he softens quite a lot and become clingy. Is extremely good at playing the violin and is banking on a music scholarship if he can get one.
He really doesn’t like to talk much and very dense when it comes to romantic interest.
Classmates remarks about him:
“Holt? You mean that weird new kid? I saw one of my classmates accidentally startle him and he nearly brained him with his bag. I wonder if he was in a gang or something before moving here…”
“Did you hear that beautiful violin music that’s been coming from the music room? I shit you not it’s been that new transfer student playing. Is he some sort of prodigy?”
“Talking about Holt? He’s kind of a quiet guy isn’t he? But it’s kinda strange, I saw some dumbass made a comment about his parents and the look he gave him…I’ve never seen such a cold glare brrrr.”
“Man despite the rumors about him, he’s pretty cute don’t you think? The way his hair fluffs up and how he sometimes naps outside, he’s like little kitten hehe.”
So we know the MC doesnt recognise Yosuke but...does he recognise the MC? It was probably said before but I have the memory of a goldfish 😭
I'll put it under a spoiler :D It was never said before, don't worry. Thank you for the ask!
Yes, he recognizes MC immediately. He just doesn't say anything.
There is the option to choose if the other childhood friends recognize MC or not (i.e. MC might've changed a lot over the years) but Yosuke always recognizes MC either way.
Not sure if it's been asked before but which part of Japan does the story take place?
Tokyo ( ´ ▿ ` )
The school is located along the Yamanote Line, in a fictional neighborhood based loosely off of Takadanobaba. This was where my school had been when I studied abroad.
MC lives in a fictional neighborhood ~1.5 hours away, based off of Katsushika/Horikiri. This was where I had lived (Leila's dorm is based off of my own).
Shibuya, Shinjuku, and other prominent non-fictional neighborhoods of downtown Tokyo will also make an appearance.
First things first: yes, I am still working on Lemonade :- ) I have not and will not be abandoning it.
Long story short, I was putting too much time into IF and this blog and fell deeply behind at my actual job. Unsurprisingly, things began to crash and I spent over a week pulling all-nighters and wiping my ass. After that, I spent another week completely burnt out from screwing myself the weeks prior.
It was just poor management on my part. I'm now trying to find a sustainable balance between Tumblr, IF, IRL responsibilities, and eating/sleeping. I know we’re all here in anticipation of playing an actual game, so writing will take precedent over Tumblr. Reluctantly, IRL responsibilities must take precedent over all...
Anyways, back on topic:
I wish I could bring good news, but Chapter 1 is still incomplete. The only notable thing I've finished since the last update is an interlude scene that includes some (but not all) of MC's customization.
I've received some messages that have forced me to reconsider some of the things I'm planning to implement-- not in a bad way, but they're challenges I'll have to discuss with Haru when we next meet. Truthfully, some of the questions make me wonder if I’m being unrealistic about my hopes for the game. But the only way to find out is to have a game to test, so writing is more important to me than troubleshooting for the time being.
I don't have a sneak peek to share this time, but please enjoy a non-meme doodle of Yosuke:
It’s cropped oddly because his hand sucked 😂
I also have something heavy I wanted to talk about. Please ignore the rest of this post if you do not want to hear about it.
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I’m very nervous to talk about this, but it has been weighing heavily on me. In the vaguest terms possible, I recently heard news of a specific Russian soldier who had done vile things to a Ukrainian child. Let's just say I wish his name was not the name it was. Honestly, I feel uncomfortable even saying that name anymore. The association makes me sick. I just want to iterate that there is absolutely no connection or intention behind AZ’s name, his parents’ country of origin, and the current war and atrocities being committed by the Russian government and soldiers.
ahh would it be possible to play an oujodere type of character?? even if not nothing will stop me from romancing ren my beloved mwah
Argh, right after I recently answered an ask saying the only dere you can't play is yandere... OTL
I must admit I didn’t write any choices with oujodere in mind...but if you choose a combination of the "sweet" and "genuine" MC choices, I think you would get a similar type of character. Sorry about that!
Are we going to be able to name our kids at the end of book 3👀👀👀 (also what names would the ROs give their children)
Every time I receive asks about B3 I yell because I get so excited thinking about it and then I remember that I need to finish B1 and B2 first--
Yes, you’ll be able to name your kids if you have kids. It would be the same as when you choose your MC's name in the very beginning-- a list of choices + "insert your own name" textbox :D
The second part of this question is really hard...can I cheat and say that the ROs would agree with any non-troll name MC wants to go with? 😆