VN Ren'Py Being a DIK [v0.11.1] [DrPinkCake]

[Dessolos]

Derek actually has MC's back when he "cockblocks" him with Maya. because he knows his sister is a lesbian and already in a serious relationship, he prevents MC from wasting time.

but yeah, Liam is pretty hard to beat.

Zoey lost her status the moment she betrayed MC. MC felt like shit for months and pretty much didn't recover until he meets Josy. Even if she had legitimate reasons, she still made her choice knowing it would affect MC. MC was the actual bro by supporting her all the way until he couldn't take it anymore.
Sage is a tough one. I'm a Sage main, so it's incredibly hard to only consider the friendship POV

idk for me it's hard to consider what Zoey did as a betrayal. Cause the MC never made things clear on how felt with her or anything up until that point Zoey just thought they were fuck buddies and good friends. Only later is when she realized she actually has real feeling for him. i'd have to play the interlude again but I don't recall the MC trying to stop her from leaving. Now if she knew how he felt be a bit different but since he never made it clear yeah I dont see her doing anything that is considered a betrayal , certainly not enough to erase everything she has done in the past to not be considered a bro.

I personally consider Zoey just as good as Sage when it comes to being in a relationship or friends.

 

[JillybeanEnjoyer]

Dawe be like

View attachment LDS.mp4

 

[Cabin Fever]

Can we all agree that Derek is the best bro?

Since you didn't specify just BADIK, I have to say, HELL NO! Derek isn't even the best bro created by DPC. That throne belongs to Liam.

 

[ReallyNotTimmy]

Derek actually has MC's back when he "cockblocks" him with Maya. because…

Yeah yeah; Derek’s only looking out for his closeted gay sister.

Thing is, once the MC finally knows about her and manages to attain a relationship with both her and her girlfriend, Derek still tries to cockblock him. Remember when the MC is planning a romantic evening for Maya and Josy to have without him, and Derek freaks out—“What are you planning to do with my sister?”—and briefly takes over the store PA system? Remember when he tries to creep the MC out by pointing out since he and Maya are twins, she’s 90 percent him? Derek doesn’t want them fucking. He tolerates it, but doesn’t like it, and is quietly trying to undermine it. That’s a dick move, not a bro move.

Sage is a tough one. I'm a Sage main, so it's incredibly hard to only consider the friendship POV

I played the Sage route plus all the others. When she’s not your main LI, she’s still loyal and supportive as hell; not just because she wants the MC bad. Notice how she is with the HOTs: She never gives up on Maya, never gives up on Quinn, makes an effort to get to know Josy, and apologizes to Sarah and Mel as soon as she realizes she’s in the wrong. Notice she also ends the DIKs/Alphas fight by cutting a deal… which actually benefits the HOTs by getting them twice the parties. She’s clever too.

Of course she’s hardly perfect; she’s totally fine with cheating on Chad as revenge for cucking her. And she’s got that temper. And really should stop casually showing her tits in public. Still, she’s always someone worth befriending.

 

[dalli_x]

idk for me it's hard to consider what Zoey did as a betrayal. Cause the MC never made things clear on how felt with her or anything up until that point Zoey just thought they were fuck buddies and good friends. Only later is when she realized she actually has real feeling for him. i'd have to play the interlude again but I don't recall the MC trying to stop her from leaving. Now if she knew how he felt be a bit different but since he never made it clear yeah I dont see her doing anything that is considered a betrayal , certainly not enough to erase everything she has done in the past to not be considered a bro.

I personally consider Zoey just as good as Sage when it comes to being in a relationship or friends.

Zoey feels uncomfortable when she has to talk about her feelings. The MC knows this and that's why he's avoided talking about feelings with Zoey. Bret gave Zoey an example of how things went with him and Emma. Zoey made the decision to stop communicating with the MC on her own. Zoey cut off contact. Zoey screwed up, not the MC. Zoey should have just kept in touch.

Ask yourselves what you would do if your girl left, reduced contact, then stopped contact altogether and you found out via a social media platform that she had a new boyfriend. What would you do in the MC's place?

In my opinion, Zoey has forfeited her right to the MC. She can be happy if the MC invites her to the parties and perhaps wants to remain a friend of hers. But Zoey can't claim anything. Also, what happened in EP10 is labeled. The MC asks Zoey if she would have stayed if he had told her what he told her when he left the station. Zoey's answer was "...". Zoey doesn't realize she loves the MC until it's too late, when the MC is seen sitting around the campfire with his LI.

That's the difference between Zoey and Derek. It gets hard and Zoey leaves. She doesn't answer the MC again at the end of EP10. That's where Derek is different and there's a reason for that. I think so that Derek never had a real best friend in the past.

Zoey gave up on her best friend just like that. It's not that she went to San Diego, it's that she stopped seeing him. The MC says yes in EP9 so it felt like Zoey just threw him away. So Zoey gave up what she had. Derek probably didn't have a best friend before, that's why he's fighting for the friendship with the MC because he's not going to give up his best friend.

 

[dalli_x]

Yeah yeah; Derek’s only looking out for his closeted gay sister.

Thing is, once the MC finally knows about her and manages to attain a relationship with both her and her girlfriend, Derek still tries to cockblock him. Remember when the MC is planning a romantic evening for Maya and Josy to have without him, and Derek freaks out—“What are you planning to do with my sister?”—and briefly takes over the store PA system? Remember when he tries to creep the MC out by pointing out since he and Maya are twins, she’s 90 percent him? Derek doesn’t want them fucking. He tolerates it, but doesn’t like it, and is quietly trying to undermine it. That’s a dick move, not a bro move.

There are two different vibes coming from Derek when it comes to Maya and the MC. On the one hand, he thinks it's good for Maya and the MC to be together and on the other hand, he doesn't. Why? Why?

Derek is afraid that he will lose his best friend if the MC only hangs out with Maya and Josy. The MC actually already realized this when he tells Jamie in EP9 not to neglect Leon because of Dani. That's what Derek is afraid of. Which is funny so Derek said over the store's PA system for them to sell the MC "No condoms". As if that would stop the MC from fucking Maya.

No, Derek is fine with Josy, Maya and the MC being together. Derek gives the MC his blessing in EP9, but he doesn't want to know what the MC is doing with his sister. Because Tommy has that problem too, but it's not his only problem.

 

[robrize2169]

Yeah yeah; Derek’s only looking out for his closeted gay sister.

Thing is, once the MC finally knows about her and manages to attain a relationship with both her and her girlfriend, Derek still tries to cockblock him. Remember when the MC is planning a romantic evening for Maya and Josy to have without him, and Derek freaks out—“What are you planning to do with my sister?”—and briefly takes over the store PA system? Remember when he tries to creep the MC out by pointing out since he and Maya are twins, she’s 90 percent him? Derek doesn’t want them fucking. He tolerates it, but doesn’t like it, and is quietly trying to undermine it. That’s a dick move, not a bro move.

I played the Sage route plus all the others. When she’s not your main LI, she’s still loyal and supportive as hell; not just because she wants the MC bad. Notice how she is with the HOTs: She never gives up on Maya, never gives up on Quinn, makes an effort to get to know Josy, and apologizes to Sarah and Mel as soon as she realizes she’s in the wrong. Notice she also ends the DIKs/Alphas fight by cutting a deal… which actually benefits the HOTs by getting them twice the parties. She’s clever too.

Of course she’s hardly perfect; she’s totally fine with cheating on Chad as revenge for cucking her. And she’s got that temper. And really should stop casually showing her tits in public. Still, she’s always someone worth befriending.

Chad did not cuck Sage. he was a fag in denial. what he did was use Sage for her parents favor. apparently Jade warned her about him for some reason, but DPC never tells us what that warning was about. you could call what he did cheating i suppose. but he is more of a shitty person who uses others. that's typical of the kind of pieces of shit in the Alphas. i do however love how Arieth cucks the shit out of Dawe aka 35 yr old loser. can't wait to see her pop out Jacob's child..
Anthony will be there with him to celebrate..and he will have the best comment after he sees the child..
HEY DAWE. HOW COME YOUR BABY IS BLACK???

 

[Dessolos]

Zoey feels uncomfortable when she has to talk about her feelings. The MC knows this and that's why he's avoided talking about feelings with Zoey. Bret gave Zoey an example of how things went with him and Emma. Zoey made the decision to stop communicating with the MC on her own. Zoey cut off contact. Zoey screwed up, not the MC. Zoey should have just kept in touch.

Ask yourselves what you would do if your girl left, reduced contact, then stopped contact altogether and you found out via a social media platform that she had a new boyfriend. What would you do in the MC's place?

In my opinion, Zoey has forfeited her right to the MC. She can be happy if the MC invites her to the parties and perhaps wants to remain a friend of hers. But Zoey can't claim anything. Also, what happened in EP10 is labeled. The MC asks Zoey if she would have stayed if he had told her what he told her when he left the station. Zoey's answer was "...". Zoey doesn't realize she loves the MC until it's too late, when the MC is seen sitting around the campfire with his LI.

That's the difference between Zoey and Derek. It gets hard and Zoey leaves. She doesn't answer the MC again at the end of EP10. That's where Derek is different and there's a reason for that. I think so that Derek never had a real best friend in the past.

Zoey gave up on her best friend just like that. It's not that she went to San Diego, it's that she stopped seeing him. The MC says yes in EP9 so it felt like Zoey just threw him away. So Zoey gave up what she had. Derek probably didn't have a best friend before, that's why he's fighting for the friendship with the MC because he's not going to give up his best friend.

Maybe my personality differs to much but I don't fully agree but I do get your point. If someone like Zoey came back into my life I would personally be ecstatic as long as she doesn't try to cause any break ups. I personally think it's a bit harsh to write her off and out of your life , if she really is as good as a friend as the MC makes her out to be. I know her ghosting the MC is a shitty thing to do but to cut her out when she returns to me is a bit harsh for someone the MC considered a good friend at least without an explanation. If I was okay with her explanation I would at least trying to go back to being good friends if she was someone I considered a best friend in the past.

Even tho what Zoey did is worst, I don't think the MC is blameless either in the situation. Yeah sure Zoey might be uncomfortable when it comes to her feelings. But the MC didn't fight for her as far as I can recall or tell her his true feeling her being uncomfortable be dammed if she was going to leave. That's why I said it be totally different if they were actually a couple , then yeah fuck her if that was the case.

 

[HiP1]

idk for me it's hard to consider what Zoey did as a betrayal. Cause the MC never made things clear on how felt with her or anything up until that point Zoey just thought they were fuck buddies and good friends. Only later is when she realized she actually has real feeling for him. i'd have to play the interlude again but I don't recall the MC trying to stop her from leaving. Now if she knew how he felt be a bit different but since he never made it clear yeah I dont see her doing anything that is considered a betrayal , certainly not enough to erase everything she has done in the past to not be considered a bro.

I personally consider Zoey just as good as Sage when it comes to being in a relationship or friends.

He asked her to wait for him to graduate so they could go together, it was a matter of a few months. she didn't wait for him. the heavy atmosphere at the train station says it all. she was young, so she doesn't realize the real consequences of her choice, sure, but it is still a betrayal, whether she realizes it or not. they were best friends for years, and still she didn't realize how miserable he really was. she sacrificed the love of her life to pursue her own dream. she is entitled to do that, like everyone else, but there is always a price to pay for every decision. and she came back with nothing, she lost her dream, she lost her best friend, she lost her lover, very little hope for her future left.
it doesn't erase all the good things they shared before for years, but that was a very clear turning point. a decision devastating for everyone, particularly for their relationship.

 

[HiP1]

Yeah yeah; Derek’s only looking out for his closeted gay sister.

Thing is, once the MC finally knows about her and manages to attain a relationship with both her and her girlfriend, Derek still tries to cockblock him. Remember when the MC is planning a romantic evening for Maya and Josy to have without him, and Derek freaks out—“What are you planning to do with my sister?”—and briefly takes over the store PA system? Remember when he tries to creep the MC out by pointing out since he and Maya are twins, she’s 90 percent him? Derek doesn’t want them fucking. He tolerates it, but doesn’t like it, and is quietly trying to undermine it. That’s a dick move, not a bro move.

Derek doesn't prevent anyone else from hitting on his sister, only MC.

that's not cockblocking. it's typical behavior for a brother that doesn't want to think about/accept his sister having a sexual life. just a maturity issue. and it's for the comedy. if you want a real cockblock, you can just look at Tommy and Josy. or in an extreme way, Maya's father towards Josy
tolerating MC dating his sister, and him coming between Maya and Josy, and still supporting him, it's totally a bro move.

I played the Sage route plus all the others. When she’s not your main LI, she’s still loyal and supportive as hell; not just because she wants the MC bad. Notice how she is with the HOTs: She never gives up on Maya, never gives up on Quinn, makes an effort to get to know Josy, and apologizes to Sarah and Mel as soon as she realizes she’s in the wrong. Notice she also ends the DIKs/Alphas fight by cutting a deal… which actually benefits the HOTs by getting them twice the parties. She’s clever too.

Of course she’s hardly perfect; she’s totally fine with cheating on Chad as revenge for cucking her. And she’s got that temper. And really should stop casually showing her tits in public. Still, she’s always someone worth befriending.

isn't all that just being a friendly mature and responsible adult ? she is the HOTs president, so doing all that is pretty much her duty. she has to pass the torch next year, so setting an example for the next president is also a priority, especially with all the crisis popping up. the restaurant and drug trafficking being exposed will be the true test for Sage.

 

[HiP1]

Chad did not cuck Sage. he was a fag in denial. what he did was use Sage for her parents favor. apparently Jade warned her about him for some reason, but DPC never tells us what that warning was about. you could call what he did cheating i suppose. but he is more of a shitty person who uses others. that's typical of the kind of pieces of shit in the Alphas. i do however love how Arieth cucks the shit out of Dawe aka 35 yr old loser. can't wait to see her pop out Jacob's child..
Anthony will be there with him to celebrate..and he will have the best comment after he sees the child..
HEY DAWE. HOW COME YOUR BABY IS BLACK???

it's both. Chad uses Sage as an involuntary beard, uses her for her parents, AND he cheats on her. they are in an official relationship, but he fucks Troy, and never touches Sage even with a 10 foot pole. and he is not in denial, he embraces his homosexuality in private, he hides it. so closeted, like Maya.

 

[hakuna-matata]

I think DPC got to that age where he tries to write dialogues that sound great in his head, even though he doesn't succeed.

I remember one interaction that caught my attention because it sounded too stupid. It was the interaction between MC and Quinn at the Halloween. The one where he explains to Quinn he can't see her because "I got myself a relationship" Who the fuck says that? I speak Italian, French , and English..... not one time have I heard someone say that in either language. Any normal human would say " I can't see you anymore. I am seeing someone else." I started dating someone" I am dating _____" DPC has a lot of positives when it comes to game creation, but writing isn't one of them.

I have a feeling my DPC Retarded Storyline Hall Of Fame will get bigger as of the next episode.

At least DPC isn't anywhere near close to the writer of AOA Academy :
" I Don't know if my tits are big enough for your dick" wtf!?! Who compares tits to dicks?
" Can I kiss?" You're already sitting on his dick
"I need to take my panties off before I soil myself" I don't even know what to say.

 

[HiP1]

Maybe my personality differs to much but I don't fully agree but I do get your point. If someone like Zoey came back into my life I would personally be ecstatic as long as she doesn't try to cause any break ups. I personally think it's a bit harsh to write her off and out of your life , if she really is as good as a friend as the MC makes her out to be. I know her ghosting the MC is a shitty thing to do but to cut her out when she returns to me is a bit harsh for someone the MC considered a good friend at least without an explanation. If I was okay with her explanation I would at least trying to go back to being good friends if she was someone I considered a best friend in the past.

Even tho what Zoey did is worst, I don't think the MC is blameless either in the situation. Yeah sure Zoey might be uncomfortable when it comes to her feelings. But the MC didn't fight for her as far as I can recall or tell her his true feeling her being uncomfortable be dammed if she was going to leave. That's why I said it be totally different if they were actually a couple , then yeah fuck her if that was the case.

so her cutting MC out of her life is ok, but MC cutting her out of his life is not ok ? double standard right there. coming back without consequences only invites the same behavior to return.
MC can be friendly, as a matter of principle, but he doesn't owe her anything. certainly doesn't owe her her previous spot in his life.
MC respected her decision to leave, as a true friend and lover. fighting to keep her would be counterproductive. Zoey didn't second guessed herself in that decision, never paused even once to ponder what it would do to her best friend and their relationship, sure she was in full grief over her grandma, but still it would mean losing the other only meaningful person in her life... she didn't fight for their relationship either, she didn't fight to keep him. why should it fall only on MC's shoulders ? she even did the opposite, she cut him off.

 

[robrize2169]

personally i like Zoey alot, so i have a save with her name on it in the others path. was hoping she would stay the night with him after the halloween party and had a larger role in ep. 10.
however, it seems DPC wants her as a side girl and not a main LI.
i think personally that it's not such a bad thing to add her as a main LI at some point on the others path. MC still has strong feelings for her, and i think at the end of ep. 10 she runs off because she realizes she is in love with him. she should have stayed and had more scenes with him there where she confesses her feelings and he takes her to his tent and they fuck like rabbits.
that's how i would have done it anyway.

 

[Dessolos]

He asked her to wait for him to graduate so they could go together, it was a matter of a few months. she didn't wait for him. the heavy atmosphere at the train station says it all. she was young, so she doesn't realize the real consequences of her choice, sure, but it is still a betrayal, whether she realizes it or not. they were best friends for years, and still she didn't realize how miserable he really was. she sacrificed the love of her life to pursue her own dream. she is entitled to do that, like everyone else, but there is always a price to pay for every decision. and she came back with nothing, she lost her dream, she lost her best friend, she lost her lover, very little hope for her future left.
it doesn't erase all the good things they shared before for years, but that was a very clear turning point. a decision devastating for everyone, particularly for their relationship.

ah I see I forgot about that detail of the MC asking her to wait. I still don't personally see it as a betrayal. I see it more of her being selfish and not thinking about the MC or her feeling towards him.

so her cutting MC out of her life is ok, but MC cutting her out of his life is not ok ? double standard right there. coming back without consequences only invites the same behavior to return.
MC can be friendly, as a matter of principle, but he doesn't owe her anything. certainly doesn't owe her her previous spot in his life.
MC respected her decision to leave, as a true friend and lover. fighting to keep her would be counterproductive. Zoey didn't second guessed herself in that decision, never paused even once to ponder what it would do to her best friend and their relationship, sure she was in full grief over her grandma, but still it would mean losing the other only meaningful person in her life... she didn't fight for their relationship either, she didn't fight to keep him. why should it fall only on MC's shoulders ? she even did the opposite, she cut him off.

well yeah it's not entirely on the MC either. Sure more of the blame is on Zoey 100%. I was just saying I dont think the MC is blameless since he didnt fight or let her know his true feelings. Tho I dont think the MC should of fought to keep her from leaving but rather just let her know his true feeling. Yeah might be a bit of a double standard take but that's just cause of my personality being more forgiving and understanding than most people. That I wouldn't cut ties that easily if it was someone like Zoey would I once considered a best friend.

 

[Axeleen]

But I have noticed so BaDIK parallels several movies
[...]
it's quite possible so he was inspired
[...]
Even Neil said so it was a Greek thing
[...]
I figure so DPC got inspired by several movies

Dude, you don't use the word "so" correctly. It means "consequently". You meant "that" in all those occurrences.

Now, you're reading way way too much into things. It's more like all you do is watching movies and you only see all those connections... Do you think the movie Troy is the first production to reference ancient greek clothes ?? There are billions of movies, series, books, paintings that depict those.

And what you said about Braveheart simply doesn't make any sense at all... You seriously think throat cutting alone is a reference to another work ?? Okay so there's a connection with the Chinese communist revolution too

The matrix one isn't even intelligible...

I think you're very young and unfamiliar with what is called *tropes* in cinema and tv production. Some kind of archetypes, like the Ice Queen for instance are templates that have been used and reused in many artworks for decades and decades, even centuries for some. Look into it.

 

[HiP1]

ah I see I forgot about that detail of the MC asking her to wait. I still don't personally see it as a betrayal. I see it more of her being selfish and not thinking about the MC or her feeling towards him.




well yeah it's not entirely on the MC either. Sure more of the blame is on Zoey 100%. I was just saying I dont think the MC is blameless since he didnt fight or let her know his true feelings. Tho I dont think the MC should of fought to keep her from leaving but rather just let her know his true feeling. Yeah might be a bit of a double standard take but that's just cause of my personality being more forgiving and understanding than most people. That I wouldn't cut ties that easily if it was someone like Zoey would I once considered a best friend.

I don't think MC's true feelings really matter. even if he wasn't in love with her at the time, it doesn't change the fact that they are best friends. they spent every second of their free time together for years.
abandoning your best friend, cutting him out of your life suddenly without warning, not even waiting a few months to be able to leave together, it is a betrayal of their friendship.

they don't have the boyfriend/girlfriend label to their relationship, "only" best friends, so as a real friend, MC supporting her decision as much as he can makes sense, as it is about her dream and her grief over her grandmother. he can only ask her to wait for him. he cannot fight for her as "just a friend".

and then she comes back without any warning, showing up on his door step, as if nothing happened, wanting just to "unpause" the relationship.

i am also of the forgiving type, and i always leave the door open for people to come back. it doesn't mean that things will be the same when they come back. you can be friendly but something is always lost. especially if ties are cut off for a long time.
like someone said earlier, she should feel very lucky that MC invites her to parties and to hang out at all.

 

[Dessolos]

I don't think MC's true feelings really matter. even if he wasn't in love with her at the time, it doesn't change the fact that they are best friends. they spent every second of their free time together for years.
abandoning your best friend, cutting him out of your life suddenly without warning, not even waiting a few months to be able to leave together, it is a betrayal of their friendship.

they don't have the boyfriend/girlfriend label to their relationship, "only" best friends, so as a real friend, MC supporting her decision as much as he can makes sense, as it is about her dream and her grief over her grandmother. he can only ask her to wait for him. he cannot fight for her as "just a friend".

and then she comes back without any warning, showing up on his door step, as if nothing happened, wanting just to "unpause" the relationship.

i am also of the forgiving type, and i always leave the door open for people to come back. it doesn't mean that things will be the same when they come back. you can be friendly but something is always lost. especially if ties are cut off for a long time.
like someone said earlier, she should feel very lucky that MC invites her to parties and to hang out at all.

I can see how it's a betrayal from that point of view now especially considering it's the last few months before the MC would of gone to college, so she should of wanted to spend time with him and then leave.

One thing I will say I will give Zoey the benefit of doubt about just showing up out of the blue acting like nothing happened. As I swore I recall she did try to call him or text him but the MC changed his number and never told her. So that's why she just showed up.

Yeah Zoey knowing his true feeling probably just wishful thinking on my part and thinking it would of stopped her from ghosting him. But actually would of made it alot worst if she did ghost him still.

 

[HiP1]

I can see how it's a betrayal from that point of view now especially considering it's the last few months before the MC would of gone to college, so she should of wanted to spend time with him and then leave.

One thing I will say I will give Zoey the benefit of doubt about just showing up out of the blue acting like nothing happened. As I swore I recall she did try to call him or text him but the MC changed his number and never told her. So that's why she just showed up.

Yeah Zoey knowing his true feeling probably just wishful thinking on my part and thinking it would of stopped her from ghosting him. But actually would of made it alot worst if she did ghost him still.

not only spend time with him and leave, but leave together. Mc wanted to follow her and watch over her while she lives her dream, and maybe even go to college in San Diego. so just a few months, and she could have it all...

you're right, she called him, while MC blocked her number after he decided to move on instead of waiting forever for a message that would never come because she decided for him that it would be best to cut him off.
in my opinion, it would have been best for her to understand that MC blocked her. the little white lie from Neil was only to preserve her, but it delayed the realization of what she had done, and what she really lost.

and i agree, if we add the true feelings of MC on top (and her true feelings too), it makes it all much worse.

she literally sacrificed the love of her life to gain nothing, and wasted her inheritance. that's the reason why, in my playthroughs, I never choose to have MC be mad at her. her character comes of as cool and laid back, but her life and story are pitiable and pathetic. she needs MC to survive.

 

[Moni23]

Zoey feels uncomfortable when she has to talk about her feelings. The MC knows this and that's why he's avoided talking about feelings with Zoey. Bret gave Zoey an example of how things went with him and Emma. Zoey made the decision to stop communicating with the MC on her own. Zoey cut off contact. Zoey screwed up, not the MC. Zoey should have just kept in touch.

Ask yourselves what you would do if your girl left, reduced contact, then stopped contact altogether and you found out via a social media platform that she had a new boyfriend. What would you do in the MC's place?

In my opinion, Zoey has forfeited her right to the MC. She can be happy if the MC invites her to the parties and perhaps wants to remain a friend of hers. But Zoey can't claim anything. Also, what happened in EP10 is labeled. The MC asks Zoey if she would have stayed if he had told her what he told her when he left the station. Zoey's answer was "...". Zoey doesn't realize she loves the MC until it's too late, when the MC is seen sitting around the campfire with his LI.

That's the difference between Zoey and Derek. It gets hard and Zoey leaves. She doesn't answer the MC again at the end of EP10. That's where Derek is different and there's a reason for that. I think so that Derek never had a real best friend in the past.

Zoey gave up on her best friend just like that. It's not that she went to San Diego, it's that she stopped seeing him. The MC says yes in EP9 so it felt like Zoey just threw him away. So Zoey gave up what she had. Derek probably didn't have a best friend before, that's why he's fighting for the friendship with the MC because he's not going to give up his best friend.

You forgot an important point. When Zoey decided to stop communicating, she thought it would be better for the MC. Of course, this is stupidity, but something else is important. Zoey believed she was doing what was best and made a mistake. She did not betray the MC.
The MC is partially responsible for their breakup. He didn’t fight for her, didn’t say anything at the station and didn’t try to reconnect. If my girlfriend stopped communicating with me for no apparent reason, I would at least find her and ask her why. The MC didn't need it. I would say that in this whole situation there is 70% Zoye’s fault and 30% the MC fault.
I always considered Derek to be a bad friend, someone I would never hang out with in real life. First of all, he's an idiot. I think there is no need to explain why I think so. Secondly, he cannot be trusted with any secrets.
I remember their first conversation. "Dude, why don't you beat that guy up? Then we'll get accepted into DIKS together!" And that's what Derek is all about. Throughout the game, the presenter constantly owes him. Must help him join the DIKS, must cover up his idiotic antics, must help Maya (whom I don’t care about), must solve their family problems. What should Derek do? Nothing, he's busy buying lottery tickets and flying with a fire extinguisher.
People like different characters, and that's fine, but personally, I'll choose Zoey over Josy, Maya, and Derek in 10 out of 10 playthroughs.