My 2 cents.
Nice update with some more story progression. Looks like we are getting close to find the identity of the fraternity, which would then only leave getting rid of them before the story ends. I have a feeling the mayor and those crooks Leah was spying on are the fraternity or use them to remove enemies/advance their corrup goals?
For me, when playing AVN's i learned that my favorite playstyle is to let the MC with his designated name and have him as it's own entity instead of naming it after myself and identifying as him. I made that change years ago and it helped my enjoyment of AVN's by a lot. Separating myself from the story has made many uncomfortable situations in the past be much more palatable, understandable and even fun from an outsider than if i was thinking in term of it's happening to me, and i usually follow the game's trend if there is one, like for example keeping a girlfriend if the story gives you one, etc. I also prefer games with at least a moderately to good built story with a side of sex scenes than complete fuckfest where everyone jumps pn your magical and overly large sized dick.
When i stated playing this game around update 6, i decided i was going for Haley and Leah, but as i progressed the story, i felt more and more that Haley, Maggie and especially Lidia were side girls mainly added for sex scenes variety and not really relevant to the plot AS side girls. For me, they have the same part as our best hetebro, npc status and small story arcs to link everything together in the first half of the game. They add a bit to the story, fill the world a bit, but in the end, each are only one minor story arc each.
Leah and Emily for me swtiched places and status over time. At first i was thinking with Leah, oh they made you room mate with the forever friend you were always hinting you wanted to date and bang but were too nice and bever asked so i decided i would pursue her to go with the flow and with Emily, she was the bitching hot ex that dumped you because of ego and told you she didn't want anything more to do with you, but in the last few chapters, I'm finding i'm getting more and more annoyed and Leah that is still hiding things, still untrustworthy and put her love of gossip and shit-digging journalism above your friendship and every chapter now i'm feeling like, what's the new stupid BS she will pull on us this time. With Emily, i'm finding myself more and more sad and understanding about her situation and she even mention she wouldn't have dumped you if the decision was left to her.
At first, i didn't really care about Valerie. Not my preferred model facewise, it's the eyes maybe, but i'm find the character becoming more interesting over time. For some reason, even though she wants to be "soo bad and evil", i think she often goes out of her usual way to help us, or ti help Leah as she knows she's important to us. Even if she looked angry that we screwed her fun by warning Leah, i have that feeling that it was her that messed up the security footage, as she was watching through that feed, which they most likely hacked.
I usually do not play harem, as i prefer only a few girls per playthrough and as of now, i've only banged Haley, Leah, Valerie and Alexis, but when the game gets near the finale and i replay it, my personal playthrough will definitely be Valerie main girl, Emily for the redemption arc and a side of Alexis (nice side piece that i think will not make any commitment waves with other girls and i also prefer her much more than the new preppy slave girl) and I hope to have my happy ending with Valerie. Either by reforming her, or becoming the kingpin with her, depending on how the story will be written for her.