I was smiling from ear-to-ear and laughing at many parts of the Erynn and Layla paths in this update.
I've known some girls similar to Layla - flirty but also innocent in a lot ways. Yes, that choice of music made me burst out in laughter. She's like a lot of young women of that age. They really put their all into a relationship, thinking and believing with all their heart that this guy is the one they will be with forever. It works out some of the time, but most of the time, you end up with their first devastating heartbreak. I'll have to play to see how awful breaking Layla's heart is. I don't doubt your description of it.
The Erynn scenes at the shoot, afterwards and in bed are delightful. It's consistent with someone getting over her trauma and trust issues of being in a blackmail sex tape as well as her personal history baggage with the MC. While Erynn and the MC are at the same spot Santi and Emily were 18-20 years ago, you can see Layla and Val jogging in the background.
Regarding Val, isn't that inconsistent writing on Nyx's part? During the training camp, Darryl also gropes Val on the second training day which angers her. She shoves him away and tells him to back off.
Everything Layla was perfect this episode, the break up... oh boy, i'm a person who criticized the scene where you pick Alexis over Layla, i thought Layla was too non-chalant about it, the guy she's been so invested with is dumping her... for her freaking sister!!!! She was too cool about it and has been too much of a good sport since...
This time it's truly a tough scene to watch, and the girl is so freaking hurt by this, this scene delivers the emotional punch necessary, kudos!!! Nothing else to add.
And the romance scene, yeah this girl is 100% invested and convinced this guy is the one for her.
And you can feel how tense she is to take this step, very sweet and also emotional, again perfect delivery.
Erynn can be a bit frustrating given how slow it is, how much hesitancy is there, but despite being older than Layla she's close to the same level of inexperience and she has closed off in a huge way following her trauma, she also puts so much expectations into this guy, that he's the one for her.
If anything, imo, the real breakthrough is when she starts relaxing after we "diddle" her... rather than the fact that we made her cum.
She's getting closer to learning that she doesn't need to be afraid.
Val... her "girl with attitude" was absent in that scene, very passive.
And in the scene with her trainer she was in full, "girl who hangs out with guys" mode, the guy grabs her ass, they joke about it, she gives him a lighthearted kick...
Do you think there's a possible ending where the MC ends up alone, alone, alone?
Off topic, I like that the Layla path gives you a moment showing Darryl's character with more nuance and in a little bit more sympathetic light. Otherwise, he's just a one-dimensional douche.
I'm fairly sure it will be possible to blow it with every girl, maybe Tori will still throw you a bone lol.
Yeah in a group where most people seem to have money(the Monroes obviously have a lot, the MCs mom is doing better than alright, Zach got a sports car despite not working), Darryl is a guy who has to work to get anything, he obviously has his rough edges, no excuses here, but i can see why he's hostile, he probably worked hard to be the number 1 prospect and becoming the big guy at school...
And here comes this new guy, challenging him for number 1 spot and grabbing girls attention... i understand why he's not "welcoming", he feels he must defend "his territory".
I feel like if we had "Intertwined next generation" he'd probably turn out like a cool dude... i know a few of those that were assholes back in school but turned out ok later, maybe he'll cool off before the endgame.
