Hi!! I absolutely adored your game, and had a few questions!!! I absolutely love the way you respond to questions, it is so fulfilling. The way you mold Chao into his own individual person and not just an extension of the player makes this vn so enjoyable. He isn’t just made for the sake of the player, he is a lot more. This game made me realize a lot more things about myself that i’d like to admit, lol. Alright!! Here are my questions.
1. Is the 2nd ending truly sustainable for Chao? Will he really feel content in his relationship with the player longterm? It feels quite artificial, and i know Chao really loves when the player is curious to know things about him.
2. Is there any reason in particular as to why Chao claimed that blood made him squeamish at the beginning of the game? He seems exhilirated to be able to draw blood from the player. Was he lying about that?
3. What are his coping mechanisms? You mentioned in the last post that Jane had meant something to him, but in the game it never touches on how he handles the loss.
Thank you so much for your time!!!! Im so hyped for your next game, and i hope we’re able to convince Chao to stop using 2 in 1 shampoo!!!
I like to take my time when I answer, so thank you much! It means a lot to me <3
⚠️ Spoiler warning for LD⚠️
1. Is Ending 2 sustainable for Chao?
Post-Ending 2 events are something I wondered about too, as there are so many possibilities! The best case scenario for Chao is if MC willingly crawls back to him eventually, which is what I intended E2 to imply. Whether they crawl back out of depression and inability to cope, in anger and need to know the truth, or something else, is up for you to imagine.
It can go the other way, too. If MC runs, Chao will try to find them, but still lay low. At this point, the chase is the thrill for him. The worst case scenario for him would be if MC ends up turning themself in or hurting themself.
But overall, Ending 2 is not sustainable for Chao either, unless the "best scenario" happens and MC eventually develops genuine love. But knowing the steps he had to take, it feels just a little less authentic. Not that he'd admit that to himself.
2. Chao being squeamish about blood:
It was a lie. When he mentioned being squeamish about blood, it was part just him filing the conversation. Kind of like a "Wow, you're amazing. I could never do that.", and a plain lie to make him seem extra harmless.
3. Chao's coping mechanism regarding Jane's death:
Chao's general coping mechanisms: Impulsive actions, like shopping or speeding, and, in worse cases, indulging in his own "homemade substances".
Chao's coping with Jane's death: Since the time between Jane's death and him introducing himself to MC is barely 24 hours apart, you can say that that is what makes him able to cope in-game. There wasn't any time to stop, and he's getting what he wants. It's still a continuous process of the same plan.
What would make Chao truly feel the grief is if his plan goes awry (like mentioned in the post you're referring to), or when things settle down in general. When he already has a stable progression with MC, he can afford to put his guard down lower.
A romanced Chao would deal with the grief better, as he's overjoyed and thinks he's going in line with Jane's philosophy. Kind of like a last-laugh situation, although still with genuine respect underneath all the conflicting emotions.
How he reacts to Jane's death also depends on his relationship with MC. He will always have some sort of guilt or conscience, hence him arranging the funeral anyway, but the intensity varies according to which path he is on.
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Really good questions! I'm honored someone pays this much attention to my game HAHA thank you again for your support <3