alright, I've gone through the files and picked out the stuff that I didn't recognize from either the mini-episodes or the main story! keep in mind I've yet to play the steam version, so some of these may make an appearance after all. spoilers under the cut obvi
starting off, we have the one background I don't recognize:
this looks strangely professional - likely some sort of ASU-NARO meeting room, considering the insignia. the portraits are reminiscent of Meister too. I wonder if we'll see this location in 3-2 ...
next up, we have sprites! for the most part, there's nothing out of the ordinary, except that Shin got some new sprites, for whatever reason?
we've had the first one for a while, but we now have some variations in expression, as well as a scarf-less (and collarless, interestingly) version. and the last one is just. so ridiculous, I kind of love it. I'm curious to see if these sprites may have replaced some in the game, or if they're yet to be used altogether.
and then there's this character. she's the only character in the files who doesn't appear in the game, mini-episodes, or your time to shine. my first thought was Ryoko, but considering her older look (and lack of uniform, which would be strange when nearly every other school-aged character is shown wearing one), a friend proposed that she may actually be Keiji's mom. her placement in the files is also immediately after young Keiji's and Mr. Policeman's sprites. regardless, I'm curious to see who she'll be.
I guess we get a version for the guys. equal opportunity ... I guess. I'm sorry if this is how you got to discover that this image exists.
finally, and very interestingly, there's the beginning of what I believe might be the formatting of the recap sequence that we'll see at the start of chapter 3-2?
there's a series of frames of a sketchpad opening, followed by character deaths and other important plot beats on the same texture, as if they're drawings on the sketchbook. they're also all named OP-## (opening, maybe?) ... including the Nao on the right (don't worry, her eyes are in the files, too).
considering she's holding the sketchbook ... I could definitely see Nao being the one to give our final recap. it's not as if dead characters can't give recaps, after all (looking at you, Rio Ranger in chapter 2-2).
that's all for now! if anyone else has found anything fun feel free to share!