I found this game a couple months ago with the last update and finished playing this update. I found it to be pretty good and liked it. Usually, when a game gives you a girlfriend, i always roll along with her as i play the story and i do not make the MC as "me". My thoughts about the Kaija arc is that i think it was actually implemented very well. It came pretty quickly so you arent stuck with her for long if you dont want to and she behaves the way "you" choose her to. The player decides if it reconcile or breakup. Also, a very good thing is that the game tutorial clearly mention that the relationship will be tested hard at the start of Ch2 which i prefer as i dont get blindsided and can decide right away if i pursue her or not.
My first playthrough is always blind. I played as pursuing Kaija from the start. After the reveal, i decided to continue with her as honestly Elea and Fiona didnt interest me seeing as they didnt seem like as "regular world" people it would need some weird convoluted excuse to bring them in the neverwhere story. Then i met my Queen, Medb. Kayja => insta friendzoned. I cut every romance and kept it at friends and i went and banged some side hoes since the elves wont really care for now. I also dumped the parents and the templars. Most of the leaders, including the dad seems way to fishy and it really looks to me like they really want the war, while at least the elves let us try. And yes i do think they will move Sayo in a hiding area and she will just get promoted to a desk position so we cant find her.
I decided to try another path after i finished with Kaija main and friends with the elves and be ok with the parents. I wonder what will be the optimized lore path, as i noticed you can learn what i think is very important stuff and look smart depending on who you bang and pick. For example, if you bang Kari, you learn from Finabair that she is a valkyrie and suggest asking her about the other sword, or if you speak to the mom, you learn who Jai is to actually help nightingale. I like decisions, but i feel like its not fun to miss on what can be important info and even "side?" content.
I usually play 2 paths at most, but since there is only 4 LI's (great amount, not too many but enough to like 1 and pick and limits massive branching) and its still early, i may over time do all 4. I think the only way i wont play is as the full templar asshole and killing Finnabair. I dont like playing an obnoxious conterproductive character that just created negative drama. I have the feeling the other sword will end up with the sister and be a magic booster or something.
A few negatives is that im not super fond of the models. Some girls look like they have kinda elongated heads and look more masculine. ALso, that MC is one of the creepiest i played. Long head, mega forehead, eyes that look like they will pop out of his head. Cant wait for the next update and the completion of the story.