So, what's everyone favorite route in After? In the og I was a big fan of Oyama-Yasui-Vagrant routes, with Daisuke coming in 4th. But I was surprised after finishing After 100% and noticing the ending that me hurt the most was Daisuke's - taking the top as my favorite. Let me explain: Yasui and Oyama completely break Ryoka, straight up. In Yasui's case she just becomes this full-blown whore addicted to pleasure by the end, basically fucking anyone (including a nod to now being a QOS slut), and in Oyama's case she's now his baby making machine in this almost-forced marriage, in both endings the sister being wrangled into it. Both are dehumanizing and strong for a hrpg ntr game - but...
Daisuke was... a normal dude. A virgin weirdo for sure but... yea. I think what hurt the most was that it happens because of Keita's inaction. Daisuke approaches Ryoka with the one thing Keita doesn't have in SoS1 - initiative. He talks to Ryoka, addresses her being cute and hot. He notices her curves and treats her like a grown woman - not just a childhood friend like Keita that sometimes still treats her like an annoying kid. He has the attitude to tell her he's interested - never blackmailing, threatening or hurting Ryoka (or even trying to humiliate Keita). One of my favorite things in 1 was how Ryoka at some point just straight up asks Keita if he's really okay with her going on a date with Daisuke after his non-stop advances - almost as if begging for Keita to say no and stop it from happening, as she still loves him the most but he's just not stepping up to it (a bonus added that in this first date Daisuke fucks her for the first time).
And in After it's tough because... Daisuke is truly able to make Ryoka his girl. She comes over and cooks for him, they fuck in the gym, in Daisuke's house, at Ryoka's house - her slowly caring less and less about Keita's reaction and giving herself in to this guy as Keita slowly notices what's going on. Dude did all that in one month while Keita couldn't do it in years.
But the ending was the most brutal - they're now in a official relationship and you can tell Ryoka is still a bit uncomfortable with Keita around. They help Keita move for college while treating each other as bf and gf in front of him. Keita is crushed as he notices in jealousy and regret that he truly loves this girl. They even fuck like crazy in the room beside Keita's in the Seaside Event, adding salt to the injury. And then... months later, the fucking marriage invitation. Attending it is just the saddest thing ever. It's different from the Vagrant in which Keita comes back to see Ryoka pregnant - signaling her body is now another man's. In Daisuke's case it's more of an emotional thing - coming back to watch her getting married. Legit felt bad for Keita in this (even though it's his fault for being such a spineless wimp). Like someone said in another forum - the love of your life being taken away forever because you were too much of a pussy to act on your feelings in time? Ouch.
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