Finally got around to trying the new update. Again very enjoyable, though I think Hachi is really poking the bear this time, in a good way. I echo the sentiments of others regarding Sarah, and as I said before, I rarely lose composure, but I found myself with a burning desire to mentally, emotionally and physically break her before throwing her into a pit to die, whereas before I would've been content to let her fall off the cliff (I tried, and it wouldn't let me). I truly despise her, regardless of signs of what I predict will be a redemption plot, and in my view, the MC of the story is a complete imbecile for allowing her to live at all; anyone with half a sense of awareness would have put her down immediately, so at this point, he gets what he deserves for failing to correct a mistake... repeatedly.
I don't bring this up as a venting of my innate mean streak, but to compliment the fact that the character is actually so well done that it is capable of evoking that level of emotion in the reader. It's a rare thing, and most definitely needs recognition. All of the characters' personalities do it, and the writer(s) have what appears to be an uncanny grasp of how to do it- Yuki annoys the living shit out of me, Sarah would be my victim, I have a sense of respect for Leah, and so on. It makes the game and story all the more enjoyable, and the subtleties in behavior along the way are a great touch. Likewise the artists are very adept at facial expressions- so much so that for those that understand microexpressions in interrogation and casing rooms, they can actually be detected in some of the stills, and that IS something I have yet to see in most any other game here. That alone is a large part of the natural response many have to Sarah- her expressions are almost too good, aside from the obvious story arc. As to whether that is deliberate or not, I don't know, but they do incorporate it very deftly.
I am GREATLY looking forward to the next progression, Hachi. You're doing an outstanding job with this.