Pound Cake Diary : 8

 

It's been a while! I'm editing Midori's route. This is the longest route in the game. When I think about how much there is still left to do, I get really stressed. There are so many CGs to draw, and I get worried that I won't be able to finish them all. I have already cut a lot of CGs, so the number of things to draw went down drastically. When I see how far I've come, it makes me feel better. I am almost done editing all the routes, which has been a huge task.

Midori's story is an impactful one that carries the game, honestly. Without Midori, Emit Glass would not be the same. Her story is very personal to me, since I have gone through a massive event in my life relating to her story while the game has been in development. That loss has made me view this game in a different light, and I have more faith in my ability to write something meaningful now. I want to dedicate this game to the person who my community lost.

This heroine is a cheerful and kind girl, but she can be a bit ditzy. She tries her best and has many dreams in life. Unlike some of the other girls, she is kind and open to everyone. Though it is clear that she sees our protagonist differently from the way she sees other people.

Tatsuki has been through a lot and struggles with his home life. In other routes, he is focused on helping the girl he likes overcome her struggles. In this route, however, the emotional focus is on both the hero and the love interest. Midori cares about him a lot, just like he cares about her. She wants to help him achieve his own dreams and overcome his family problems, because he has done so much for her. They have a very equal relationship, and that's what makes them a good couple. It's never, "I do so much for you, so you owe me a relationship", because they help each other equally. 

This route also has a lot more going on than the others. In the other scenarios, there is one central issue that Tatsuki must solve, and the other plot points sort of circle around it, mostly being small slice of life stories or miniature problems that Tatsuki faces before he reaches the climax. Midori's story has a lot more issues that he must deal with. Midori has two dreams that Tatsuki helps her with simultaneously! There is also a rivalry between him and a friend of hers, and if you aren't careful, it might cause the end of their romance.

Relationships are blossoming between side characters in this route, and complicated feelings are developing between Tatsuki and some of the other love interests. This story tries to tie up all of the things that happened in the other routes so Tatsuki can have a happy ending, coming out on good terms with everyone. 

I have been avoiding the editing of this route, even though I am halfway done with it. It is so long that I struggle to stay focused. To push myself to work harder, I have made a new calendar and laid out my development schedule for the next five months. I plan to release the game in February if I can stay on track. Here's a look at my messy wall, which makes me feel like a crazy person sometimes. I have been using these papers since the beginning of development, which is why they are covered in random colors and writings.