...This was the cutest and gayest thing I've ever played, and im so happy about it, bc this was amazing. Kinda short, but ignoring that, this is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I played both versions and whoaaa it's really smart on how you solved the limitation!! :O I loved the enhanced version so much (so I understand the frustration that you had aaa) but the jam-compliance version is as cute, and it was really nice that you're able to pull it through!
Hiro's VNs are always so beautiful and lovely, I always enjoyed them all!! This one is super cute, I love the colours and the sprites are beautiful, the panning effect to show him laying down is really on point, I repeated it a few times, it's really good!!
Thank you for making this!! ^~^ I enjoyed it a lot.
Yess, the jam version is fine on its own, but once you play the extended build, there's no coming back, haha. But overall, I'm happy I could still make it work within the jam's rules. ✨
This game was really inspiriting for a O2A2/Yaoi jam game. I loved how you used the one background but used it almost like two separate ones. The art is so nice and I loved the little animation when Lawrence went to lie on the bed. Also I liked how fat the fox was on the bed, so cute!
These guys have stolen my heart - this VN was so sweet and funny ahahaha! The panicked inner monologue was super entertaining, especially with Vale just chilling in the back there. Lawrence's angry eyes made me chuckle too. :P I want to see where this duo goes from here!!
You have a beautiful, polished visual style too. And the spinny menu is a treat!
that was so adorable, i was swooning over the hair stroking scene! I would love to see more of them, and from Vale's POV as well :D the thing on the main menu with switching their pics was cool too!
definitely considering to play the main game soon :)
You did really pull all the stops! I love how you rendered this short VN within the jam limitations! (I also read the devlog, but I think the O2A2 compliant version works just fine!)
Aw, thank you, Banya! Yeah, I think there's enough narration to make it work, it was just hard to let go of the vision I had 🥺 If I realized sooner, I would've done a completely different angle and spared myself the stress haha 😅
"Just dudes being bros" jsjsjsjs 🤭😂 I had SOOOOO MUCH FUN with this game! 💖 And it is cute and it was just what I needed without me knowing it.
I don't know if this is spoilery, but it reminded me of those reddit posts where men have a sudden identity crisis and find out they like (or are in love with) another guy xD
-Spoilers-
About Lawrence, his growth as a character feels organic after what happened in Quaint. Like, he gradually got aware that the problem wasn't Milo but his own upbringing and started rebelling against his family. Also, in Quaint there was already a hint (if I recall correctly) that Lawrence did truly like Milo as they were but felt pressured to force them to be one specific gender, behind his own internalized homophobia and transphobia. I guess getting to know Q was the trigger he needed to realize all of this.
I'm glad he's in a new stage in his life with more awareness, and it would be fantastic to continue watching him as he developes and matures.
As a fun note, I found him relatable xDDD I was like "Lawrence, dude, bro, pal, you are spiraling out of control with your thoughts. That's very me."
Eyyyyy I'm happy you liked it! 🥰 Would it be very weird if I told you it was partially inspired by those reddit posts? They're so good, I just eat them up gdkflgkdgdfkl
[spoilers below]
Yes, all of that! I'd say him trying to pressure Milo was more out of the need to conform and fit a certain image than out of bigotry (tho I can't say he understood the gender stuff at all, he just considered it a weird whim). So talking to Q would serve as a little push in the right direction but also! I think Vale's influence would play a big role in making Lawrence realize he doesn't HAVE TO do things just to please his parents. (I'm considering making it into something bigger but no promises for now 🤞)
Lol I'm a chronic overthinker, too, so that part basically wrote itself 😅
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE FGHFGHFGHFGHFH I feel like Lawrence was basically "two bros chillin' in a hot tub" personified...
I really liked the "verticality" (for lack of a better word) of the composition? With how Lawrence stands and lies down, it's very inventive, and I don't think I've seen something quite like it in a VN before. Lawrence's inner monologue is really adorable, natural, and pretty relatable.
The art is super clean - I've always loved Hiro's clean cell shading, and I think it works ESPECIALLY well for this game with the clean and bright, almost pastel, aesthetic. The crisp, slightly textured speech bubbles are a perfect match. The start menu is adorably composed with the doodle/pixel effects, and I really loved the little clickable easter egg!
===SPOILERS===
LMAO I NEVER EXPECTED LAWRENCE TO BE CHARACTERIZED THIS WAY, but honestly it pretty much perfectly lines up with his characterization from Quaint - he seems like a guy who was REALLY repressed and also has a pretty hard time picking up on social cues (judging from his gym outings with Q). It's good progress to see how he realizes that Milo wasn't the problem, his family was, and how he actively rebels against them (Vale being his partner in crime in this regard is pretty adorable!)
I love how nonchalant Vale was throughout the entire thing, too. In the end, his actions are JUST ambiguous enough that the audience is ALSO confused as to what their relationship is (the hair playing is pretty romance coded, but I've also played with my friends' hair, so honestly I'm at a loss...)
In the end this game could be summed up as "Lawrence slowly starts to realize that being bi is a thing" and it's pretty glorious. I'm honestly REALLY hoping that we see more from this couple. I enjoyed it a lot, fantastic work!
Awwww, thank you for the lovely comment Chatter, it put the biggest smile on my face 🥺💕
You're right about Lawrence kdfldskl I agree his characterization is probably pretty surprising based on his scenes in Quaint! But since you can't hear his internal monologue there, you don't get any of what's happening here, only what he shows on the outside lol. And that outside behavior is most often a pose (though i think the gym scenes show his more genuine side). He's unfortunately a bit of a dummy but he has this reputation to uphold and the expectations that are placed on him by his family. So that creates an internal conflict and it's kinda where his bad side comes from. (and the things he likes about Vale might hint a little about his home life) Also, yes, I wanted him to push back against those expectations and that's how this whole scenario came to be lol. As for Vale, I'd like to keep his motivations vague for the time being. I MIGHT make more with these two. They're like fire and water so it could be fun. 🤭
kslfklsdkfsdl thank you so much again, I'm happy you liked it ✨
This game is so cute!! These guys are both very cute!! And the internal panic at getting a crush is so funny and, I'll say it again, cute! I really enjoyed this little game!
kdjflsakfdja this was SOOOOOOO CUTE 😭💕 Everything about it! From the music, to the silly story, to the GUI, to the start menu, to the cute little references, to the BG....!!! ARGGHGKDJKJF I'm overcome!!! LOL
What a cute little scenario. And one that I could totally see happening with these two, especially Vale just being sooooo chill, which made it all the more funny and cute. And Lawrence just like internally freaking out the entire time I almost died! Especially the super shocked face he had that one time, tears almost squeezed out of my eyes lkajdsfas Love how his thoughts just get more and more stressed and confused and conflicted until finally Iris butts in. Also just loved seeing the little references to other things happening between them behind the scenes? The bit about Vale and Lawrence faking a relationship for his parents cracked me up. And then the ending LMAO!! That was such a great line to end on.
The art just about killed me. All of Lawrence's faces!!! 🤣 And coupled with the softness of the BG ESPECIALLY LITTLE FOX FRIEND. Everything just felt so soft and chill. And the GUI fit so perfectly too. I loved the little checkered bubble for the dialogue. AND THE START MENU? HELLO???? HOW CUTE IS THAT????? I loved the little easter egg too of getting to click them and turn them around 🤭
Just overall a super sweet, super silly, super cute little game that left such a smile on my face!! Really polished and well done. I loved it so much!!
kflsdkfsld Thank you Carrot, your sweet comments give me life 😭💕
Yeah, I've been thinking about possible scenarios for these two and I felt like it would be funny if Lawrence started pushing back at his family's expectations and brought Vale along (because I think Vale is the kinda guy that'd just go with it lol). And then THIS would happen and things would get more complicated (though it'd probably still be pretty light and silly). It was fun writing the internal freakout and drawing the expressions, tho! A nice change of pace from the usual stuff. ^^
HIRO IS THIS MY HEART THAT YOU WANT OKAY HERE IT IS ON A SILVER PLATTER, TAKE IT AND DON'T GIVE IT BACK
It is everything I've ever dreamed for, my ship coming true in a very cute slice-of-life scene!!!!! To be fair, I played the enhanced version because OF COURSE I NEEDED TO SEE VALE I'VE SHIPPED HIM SINCE HE APPEARED IN QUAINT I NEEDED TO SEE MORE OF HIM!!!!!!
And it was very cute and, honestly, very funny! Lawrence is a great protagonist, and it was delightful to see him all flustered whereas Vale was instead completely chill. It really is a wholesome game, and beyond communicating a bit about self-acceptance, I don't think it holds anything too deep to analyse: it is a pleasant, wholesome and fluffy experience, which is EXACTLY what I needed! I know you were hesitant about making a game with a lighter tone, but honestly, you did it justice!
Also, the art was amazing!!!!! Vale always looks good, but Lawrence too, and his expressions were priceless! I really love the colours you used, and the BG was gorgeous. The music is very nice to listen to (listening to it while writing this comment) and, in particular, I do love your GUI, great colour and the mix of textbox and speech bubbles was very great!
It was overall a very great game, so THANK YOU SO MUCH HIRO FOR MAKING IT REALLY THANK YOU THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THEM AND WRITE FANFICTIONS
Also, for funsies, notes I took during my playthrough lol (spoilers though for anyone reading this):
- vale's chest is canonically warm and firm - vale joins the alphabet trinity with Q and T - yes it is gay to play with your homie's hair - yes it is gay to get all hot and bothered when your homies does that to you - you can have had girlfriends before and be gay, it's a mindset lawrence, be gay, do crimes - yes vale is great at kissing because i canonically decided so - kissing a boy would feel better lawrence especially if it's vale - "Can't even have a gay crisis in peace" I SCREAMED - oh the T and Q stickers are cute
OH YES, HOW WONDERFUL 🤭😇 But ahhhhhhhh I'm so very delighted you liked it! This game would probably not exist if not for you so THANK YOU for making me see the light. 🙏 (and if it met your expectations, then that's all i need kflsdkf;sk)
Honestly, the game turned out more Lawrence-centric than I expected but I think it's more entertaining this way. And I had a lot of fun with the expressions! Guess it's good to make something silly once in a while. ^^
(fanfictions, you say… 👀)
ALSO THE NOTES ARE VERY GOOD, I APPROVE
Thank you so much again, your comments are everything fdskf;slk;sdfk 💕
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NOOOOOO, WHAT'S NEEEEXT D:
Well, I think they will HAVE TO smooch, right? 🤔 (they might…)
WHO IS MILO?
They are the love interest from my main game, Quaint! 😊
ahh tanx
MANLYBADASSHERO?????
Huh? Why…? 😅
this was soooo cute😭😭😭😭🩷
...This was the cutest and gayest thing I've ever played, and im so happy about it, bc this was amazing. Kinda short, but ignoring that, this is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gay panic after your friend touches your hair softly... been there... this was so cuteee
agreed
I played both versions and whoaaa it's really smart on how you solved the limitation!! :O I loved the enhanced version so much (so I understand the frustration that you had aaa) but the jam-compliance version is as cute, and it was really nice that you're able to pull it through!
Hiro's VNs are always so beautiful and lovely, I always enjoyed them all!! This one is super cute, I love the colours and the sprites are beautiful, the panning effect to show him laying down is really on point, I repeated it a few times, it's really good!!
Thank you for making this!! ^~^ I enjoyed it a lot.
Aaahhhh, thank you for the lovely words 🥺💕
Yess, the jam version is fine on its own, but once you play the extended build, there's no coming back, haha. But overall, I'm happy I could still make it work within the jam's rules. ✨
This game was really inspiriting for a O2A2/Yaoi jam game. I loved how you used the one background but used it almost like two separate ones. The art is so nice and I loved the little animation when Lawrence went to lie on the bed. Also I liked how fat the fox was on the bed, so cute!
sososoososso cute!!!! the only problem is too short>< hope one day you guys can tell full stories of these cp!!! love you!
Aww, thank you for playing! ✨ that seems to be the common sentiment in the comments haha ^^ one day, hopefully 🤞
These guys have stolen my heart - this VN was so sweet and funny ahahaha! The panicked inner monologue was super entertaining, especially with Vale just chilling in the back there. Lawrence's angry eyes made me chuckle too. :P I want to see where this duo goes from here!!
You have a beautiful, polished visual style too. And the spinny menu is a treat!
Simply delightful all-round!
Aww, thank you for the sweet words, this makes me very happy 🥰
I wonder how it might go for them, haha. They do have a fun dynamic and I'm definitely tempted to give them more screen time… 😏
AYYY MAS LINDOS, LOS AMO
that was so adorable, i was swooning over the hair stroking scene! I would love to see more of them, and from Vale's POV as well :D the thing on the main menu with switching their pics was cool too!
definitely considering to play the main game soon :)
Aww, I'm happy you liked it! I'm afraid Vale's POV would be less exciting (though probably cute, too!) 😊
To be fair, the main game has quite a different vibe but if you're in for romance, I hear it's pretty good ✨
really love it i wish it would be longer maybe something like "they date in real life kiss kiss end"
that honestly sounds like a great scenario fklsdslfskd i can't promise anything, but i'd like to make it into something bigger in the future 😊
You did really pull all the stops!
I love how you rendered this short VN within the jam limitations!
(I also read the devlog, but I think the O2A2 compliant version works just fine!)
Aw, thank you, Banya! Yeah, I think there's enough narration to make it work, it was just hard to let go of the vision I had 🥺 If I realized sooner, I would've done a completely different angle and spared myself the stress haha 😅
THIS IS SO CUTE HAHAHA
I can hear his brain being fried.
So they both play League...they're perfect for each other then XD
AAAAAAHH!!! PLEASE MAKE A PART TWO THIS IS ADORABLE<3
"Just dudes being bros" jsjsjsjs 🤭😂 I had SOOOOO MUCH FUN with this game! 💖 And it is cute and it was just what I needed without me knowing it.
I don't know if this is spoilery, but it reminded me of those reddit posts where men have a sudden identity crisis and find out they like (or are in love with) another guy xD
-Spoilers-
About Lawrence, his growth as a character feels organic after what happened in Quaint. Like, he gradually got aware that the problem wasn't Milo but his own upbringing and started rebelling against his family. Also, in Quaint there was already a hint (if I recall correctly) that Lawrence did truly like Milo as they were but felt pressured to force them to be one specific gender, behind his own internalized homophobia and transphobia. I guess getting to know Q was the trigger he needed to realize all of this.
I'm glad he's in a new stage in his life with more awareness, and it would be fantastic to continue watching him as he developes and matures.
As a fun note, I found him relatable xDDD I was like "Lawrence, dude, bro, pal, you are spiraling out of control with your thoughts. That's very me."
Eyyyyy I'm happy you liked it! 🥰 Would it be very weird if I told you it was partially inspired by those reddit posts? They're so good, I just eat them up gdkflgkdgdfkl
[spoilers below]
Yes, all of that! I'd say him trying to pressure Milo was more out of the need to conform and fit a certain image than out of bigotry (tho I can't say he understood the gender stuff at all, he just considered it a weird whim). So talking to Q would serve as a little push in the right direction but also! I think Vale's influence would play a big role in making Lawrence realize he doesn't HAVE TO do things just to please his parents. (I'm considering making it into something bigger but no promises for now 🤞)
Lol I'm a chronic overthinker, too, so that part basically wrote itself 😅
NAURRR YOU SHOULD MAKE ANOTHER ONE THATS LONGER I GOT INVESTED
As I would expect from a fellow Ryūji lover lmao I might make more 😇
THIS WAS SO CUTE AAA I NEED MORE OF THEM THEYRE ADORABLE😭😭AMAZING GAME!<33
AAA i might explode of all this cutness they are adorable omg
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE FGHFGHFGHFGHFH I feel like Lawrence was basically "two bros chillin' in a hot tub" personified...
I really liked the "verticality" (for lack of a better word) of the composition? With how Lawrence stands and lies down, it's very inventive, and I don't think I've seen something quite like it in a VN before. Lawrence's inner monologue is really adorable, natural, and pretty relatable.
The art is super clean - I've always loved Hiro's clean cell shading, and I think it works ESPECIALLY well for this game with the clean and bright, almost pastel, aesthetic. The crisp, slightly textured speech bubbles are a perfect match. The start menu is adorably composed with the doodle/pixel effects, and I really loved the little clickable easter egg!
===SPOILERS===
LMAO I NEVER EXPECTED LAWRENCE TO BE CHARACTERIZED THIS WAY, but honestly it pretty much perfectly lines up with his characterization from Quaint - he seems like a guy who was REALLY repressed and also has a pretty hard time picking up on social cues (judging from his gym outings with Q). It's good progress to see how he realizes that Milo wasn't the problem, his family was, and how he actively rebels against them (Vale being his partner in crime in this regard is pretty adorable!)
I love how nonchalant Vale was throughout the entire thing, too. In the end, his actions are JUST ambiguous enough that the audience is ALSO confused as to what their relationship is (the hair playing is pretty romance coded, but I've also played with my friends' hair, so honestly I'm at a loss...)
In the end this game could be summed up as "Lawrence slowly starts to realize that being bi is a thing" and it's pretty glorious. I'm honestly REALLY hoping that we see more from this couple. I enjoyed it a lot, fantastic work!
Awwww, thank you for the lovely comment Chatter, it put the biggest smile on my face 🥺💕
You're right about Lawrence kdfldskl I agree his characterization is probably pretty surprising based on his scenes in Quaint! But since you can't hear his internal monologue there, you don't get any of what's happening here, only what he shows on the outside lol. And that outside behavior is most often a pose (though i think the gym scenes show his more genuine side). He's unfortunately a bit of a dummy but he has this reputation to uphold and the expectations that are placed on him by his family. So that creates an internal conflict and it's kinda where his bad side comes from. (and the things he likes about Vale might hint a little about his home life) Also, yes, I wanted him to push back against those expectations and that's how this whole scenario came to be lol. As for Vale, I'd like to keep his motivations vague for the time being. I MIGHT make more with these two. They're like fire and water so it could be fun. 🤭
kslfklsdkfsdl thank you so much again, I'm happy you liked it ✨
This game is so cute!! These guys are both very cute!! And the internal panic at getting a crush is so funny and, I'll say it again, cute! I really enjoyed this little game!
Aww, thank you, Flor! 🥰 I'm happy you liked it! ✨
kdjflsakfdja this was SOOOOOOO CUTE 😭💕 Everything about it! From the music, to the silly story, to the GUI, to the start menu, to the cute little references, to the BG....!!! ARGGHGKDJKJF I'm overcome!!! LOL
What a cute little scenario. And one that I could totally see happening with these two, especially Vale just being sooooo chill, which made it all the more funny and cute. And Lawrence just like internally freaking out the entire time I almost died! Especially the super shocked face he had that one time, tears almost squeezed out of my eyes lkajdsfas Love how his thoughts just get more and more stressed and confused and conflicted until finally Iris butts in. Also just loved seeing the little references to other things happening between them behind the scenes? The bit about Vale and Lawrence faking a relationship for his parents cracked me up. And then the ending LMAO!! That was such a great line to end on.
The art just about killed me. All of Lawrence's faces!!! 🤣 And coupled with the softness of the BG ESPECIALLY LITTLE FOX FRIEND. Everything just felt so soft and chill. And the GUI fit so perfectly too. I loved the little checkered bubble for the dialogue. AND THE START MENU? HELLO???? HOW CUTE IS THAT????? I loved the little easter egg too of getting to click them and turn them around 🤭
Just overall a super sweet, super silly, super cute little game that left such a smile on my face!! Really polished and well done. I loved it so much!!
kflsdkfsld Thank you Carrot, your sweet comments give me life 😭💕
Yeah, I've been thinking about possible scenarios for these two and I felt like it would be funny if Lawrence started pushing back at his family's expectations and brought Vale along (because I think Vale is the kinda guy that'd just go with it lol). And then THIS would happen and things would get more complicated (though it'd probably still be pretty light and silly). It was fun writing the internal freakout and drawing the expressions, tho! A nice change of pace from the usual stuff. ^^
Thank you again! I'm very happy you enjoyed it 🥺💕
HIRO IS THIS MY HEART THAT YOU WANT OKAY HERE IT IS ON A SILVER PLATTER, TAKE IT AND DON'T GIVE IT BACK
It is everything I've ever dreamed for, my ship coming true in a very cute slice-of-life scene!!!!! To be fair, I played the enhanced version because OF COURSE I NEEDED TO SEE VALE I'VE SHIPPED HIM SINCE HE APPEARED IN QUAINT I NEEDED TO SEE MORE OF HIM!!!!!!
And it was very cute and, honestly, very funny! Lawrence is a great protagonist, and it was delightful to see him all flustered whereas Vale was instead completely chill. It really is a wholesome game, and beyond communicating a bit about self-acceptance, I don't think it holds anything too deep to analyse: it is a pleasant, wholesome and fluffy experience, which is EXACTLY what I needed! I know you were hesitant about making a game with a lighter tone, but honestly, you did it justice!
Also, the art was amazing!!!!! Vale always looks good, but Lawrence too, and his expressions were priceless! I really love the colours you used, and the BG was gorgeous. The music is very nice to listen to (listening to it while writing this comment) and, in particular, I do love your GUI, great colour and the mix of textbox and speech bubbles was very great!
It was overall a very great game, so THANK YOU SO MUCH HIRO FOR MAKING IT REALLY THANK YOU THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THEM AND WRITE FANFICTIONS
Also, for funsies, notes I took during my playthrough lol (spoilers though for anyone reading this):
- vale's chest is canonically warm and firm
- vale joins the alphabet trinity with Q and T
- yes it is gay to play with your homie's hair
- yes it is gay to get all hot and bothered when your homies does that to you
- you can have had girlfriends before and be gay, it's a mindset lawrence, be gay, do crimes
- yes vale is great at kissing because i canonically decided so
- kissing a boy would feel better lawrence especially if it's vale
- "Can't even have a gay crisis in peace" I SCREAMED
- oh the T and Q stickers are cute
OMG I JUST REALISED THE MAIN MENU EASTER EGG OKAY THIS IS TOO CUTE YOU ARE A WAR CRIMINAL
OH YES, HOW WONDERFUL 🤭😇
But ahhhhhhhh I'm so very delighted you liked it! This game would probably not exist if not for you so THANK YOU for making me see the light. 🙏 (and if it met your expectations, then that's all i need kflsdkf;sk)
Honestly, the game turned out more Lawrence-centric than I expected but I think it's more entertaining this way. And I had a lot of fun with the expressions! Guess it's good to make something silly once in a while. ^^
(fanfictions, you say… 👀)
ALSO THE NOTES ARE VERY GOOD, I APPROVE
Thank you so much again, your comments are everything fdskf;slk;sdfk 💕