This is a concern we all have. First and foremost, I'm with the grumpy ann: It's too soon to expect results if the first update is here. As a new creator, users expect consistency from you (besides, obviously, a game they can fap to).
You can try and build the hype around your game, by being more active on your game thread. I see you already are but it doesn't hurt more frequent progress reports, like showing unfinished renders, or talk about when you have been up to. Remember that you're competing on a crowded genre, sci-fy VN.
Also, don't forget about your writing, as a non-english speaker with a text-based game, I battle constantly with this.
I would say more frequent updates help, but hell, I'm not a ren'py dev, but from what I've read, a single render could take a day or so, so I understand why you can't put up with that.
Another thing that could have hurt you, was to speak about your future game so soon, even showing pics. When your first game is so new, players want to make sure you won't abandon it, and when you announce your other project so soon... I know, there are devs with multiple projects at the same time, but they are, established devs or have a team behind them.
It also helps publishing on other sites, like itch.io, svs comics, etc... and lastly, you should apply for the dev tag, create a ticket with that subject and the mods will tell you the requirements and steps to get it. We have a sub-forum with orgies useful info.
