You are experiencing the story as it's meant to be played. And no, you aren't being forced into anything.
All these characters are integral whether you have a romantic interaction with them or not. There is an overarching story that involves all of them as well as individual stories that you are going to be playing with them. There's a friendship route and there's a relationship route. Even if you aren't on their route, they are still involved in the game.
You aren't being forced into anything. You accept to play in the card tournament or not. That doesn't mean you won't play cards for fun. Now, there are a few lines in the tournament route that are exclusive to that scene, and if they play during that time, then yes, it's something that needs fixed.
You are on Chapter 3. You're only working on relationships right now. If you really think your choices don't matter, then please, stop playing the game and choose something else.
If your choices didn't matter, then I would have sent you all the way up to Chrysta's office. Instead, your choices decided whether you got part of the story, got caught, or found what you needed.
If your choices were of no import, you would have saved Rylee without so much as a hitch. There are multiple choices you have to get right, and although you don't see if right away, you already got a peek into what that means.
If you want instant gratification and mountains moved in one chapter, this is not the game for you. You are going to have to play, and even make choices with character whether you like them or not. But as the chapters go along, you are going to start noticing a very pronounced difference between friendship and relationship.
You are well within your right to have your opinion, and if that's what you think, please move along. We thank you for playing the game. And we thank everyone for playing the game!
Now, I have a vacation to finish and then I need to get back in the ocean and make a game for those Otters who enjoy.
