So once again thank you for the quick update! Really appreciated!
I love your work! Period, and this update you got me to laugh a couple times beyond my control. Still chucking a bit 4 hours later. So your writing remains top notch. IMHO pacing has improved from the intro.
It is my hope that you'll take what follows as constructive criticism.
No one's sponsor play's the games you have Matt playing with the MC. Period. No room for games. No room for bullshit. And that goes both ways. Matt would be up front about his reactions and the MC would tell him at least what he could while protecting the identities of the women who inspired him. Either of them break that trust and one or both easily end up homeless or worse. I'm not sure why you want the alcoholism theme in this game, but, in my unsolicited opinion, you have to do it justice, which means you should respect the trust required between a drunk and their sponsor. That is NOT something you can play fast a loose with to move your plot.
It's hard to see how Belle is going to carry this VN as the female lead. Her appearance doesn't have that "hook". She's a little to bland. There's nothing about her that grabs me. Maybe Haley wasn't everyone's bag of tea and maybe in the conventional sense she wasn't the bombshell of her game, but she was damn cute and her personality was by far the most engaging.
Now since the prolog you've let Belle's personality, when alone with the MC, blossom a bit. Obviously a good thing, but physically she's still pretty bland. Sure she's pretty, but put her in a crowd and she's lost in the background. Hell I don't know maybe that's your intention.
So take it for what you paid for it. Love how this game is starting, I'll shut up now and wait for the next update.