VN Ren'Py Yesterday's Crossroads [Ch.3 v0.4.1a] [CHAQUINN0]

[cooldevo]

I was hoping this part got rewritten in this version. It really doesn't paint her in the best light.

The important part to remember, at this point in the story, is that you are only seeing specific flashbacks. In the conversations, that's where the bulk of the backstory comes out.

MC looks to have been with Keyla seriously, prior to Kim and Alessa. She left with her family to Japan and then they moved back to Buffalo. After Keyla left, MC went with Alessa; the MC's mom even asked about the correlation between Keyla leaving and him seeing Alessa.

While Keyla was in Buffalo she met Zeke, and they dated. When they returned to New York for Zeke's schooling, she realized Zeke was MC's best friend. MC and Keyla were sneaking around on Zeke around this time... Was it right? Nah, but it was just as much the MC's fault as Keyla's.

At some point the MC and Kim started getting close. Keyla decided to break up with Zeke, but he surprise proposed to her (for an as of yet undisclosed 'desperation' reason). Seeing as the MC was no longer available, she panicked (I guess?) and accepted the proposal instead. This decision is entirely on Keyla.

Even Zeke admits that it wasn't a great decision, due to his desperation. I'm curious to see what this was to force him to propose to someone he didn't seem to be fully into.

Was it all handled perfectly? Nah. But the blame on some of the decisions is on MC's just as much as Keyla.

When it comes time for Kim to leave, Kim asked Keyla not to tell the MC. Keyla obvious agrees to this, which she later admits was also related to her selfish reasons. So it was probably a bit of abiding by the promise she made as looking forward to Kim actually leaving.

 

[Quetzzz]

Was it all handled perfectly? Nah. But the blame on some of the decisions is on MC's just as much as Keyla.

Absolutely. They both made bad mistakes. Keyla agreeing to marry Zeke is just a pretty big one. The way she still pines after the MC makes me think she only agreed to the marriage to have a better chance at staying in the MC's life through Zeke... And to give the MC a constant reminder of how they used to go behind Zeke's back. I can understand desperation, but to keep this desperation up for years, that's something else. At the same time, she played it safe. She could've actually broken up with Zeke, done the right thing, instead of using him like she has. It's not like they got married the same day either.

From a narrative point of view, I don't want the MC to be with her because she wouldn't learn anything that way. Instead, it would validate that all of her decisions were right, since she got the prize. Her decisions are of someone who wants to have her cake and eat it too, who wants the easy option. Cheating on Zeke with the MC, marrying Zeke because the MC isn't available... Time after time she avoided making the difficult choice.

 

[Rexihexi]

I have to admit when I was starting to play this game I wasnt expecting it to be the way it is. Reminds me a lot of Summers Gone. Great intertwined story, great music. Visuals might be not on the same level and I have to admit that it aint a game same as SG for "having fun". Looking forward for the next chapter. Keep up the good work, Dev.

 

[Krytax123]

Absolutely. They both made bad mistakes. Keyla agreeing to marry Zeke is just a pretty big one. The way she still pines after the MC makes me think she only agreed to the marriage to have a better chance at staying in the MC's life through Zeke... And to give the MC a constant reminder of how they used to go behind Zeke's back. I can understand desperation, but to keep this desperation up for years, that's something else. At the same time, she played it safe. She could've actually broken up with Zeke, done the right thing, instead of using him like she has. It's not like they got married the same day either.

From a narrative point of view, I don't want the MC to be with her because she wouldn't learn anything that way. Instead, it would validate that all of her decisions were right, since she got the prize. Her decisions are of someone who wants to have her cake and eat it too, who wants the easy option. Cheating on Zeke with the MC, marrying Zeke because the MC isn't available... Time after time she avoided making the difficult choice.

You could argue that MC and Keyla deserve each other tho

 

[Quetzzz]

You could argue that MC and Keyla deserve each other tho

Maybe... What he did to Zeke wasn't great, and I'd categorize that under youthful mistakes. Certainly with him, as far as we know, having been loyal to Kim for years. If memory serves, he also took the initiative to break things off with Keyla.

 

[Krytax123]

Maybe... What he did to Zeke wasn't great, and I'd categorize that under youthful mistakes. Certainly with him, as far as we know, having been loyal to Kim for years. If memory serves, he also took the initiative to break things off with Keyla.

Dunno, i consider fucking your best friends fiance regularly behind his back, never coming clean about it and letting him marry the girl whos cheating on him all the time without mentioning anything preeeeeeettty bad

Its kinda willingly dooming Zeke to a shitty relationship no matter what due to a reason the mc created in the first place

Some may argue that Zeke maybe cheated too but in this case it would just have been one more reason to tell both of them to NOT MARRY if they are really supposed to be his friends lol

 

[Quetzzz]

Dunno, i consider fucking your best friends fiance regularly behind his back, never coming clean about it and letting him marry the girl whos cheating on him all the time without mentioning anything preeeeeeettty bad

While it doesn't excuse his abhorrent behavior, they weren't engaged at that point. Still, where the MC changed his behavior and (as far as we know) didn't cheat on anyone himself, I choose to see it as him learning from his mistakes.

Its kinda willingly dooming Zeke to a shitty relationship no matter what due to a reason the mc created in the first place

Zeke is his own person, who made his own choices and mistakes. Yeah, what Keyla and MC did was bad, but both him proposing marriage out of a fear of losing her, and Keyla accepting the proposal out of fear of being alone, play a much larger role in his current unhappiness.

Some may argue that Zeke maybe cheated too but in this case it would just have been one more reason to tell both of them to NOT MARRY if they are really supposed to be his friends lol

I don't remember if it's outright stated that Zeke had his own extracurricular activities. He does cheat on Keyla in the present, as a result of his dead bedroom/marriage.
Sure, Keyla shouldn't have accepted the proposal... But I'm guessing that in the MC's mind, he did the right thing by breaking things off with Keyla, and didn't see any value in hurting Zeke even more with the truth. Though, I do agree that from a certain perspective, the MC is a special kind of asshole who's able to sleep with his best friend's partner while keeping that friendship up.
I have no idea how this would feel in real life, but I imagine that the MC would have to be looking down on Zeke in some ways. Or maybe he's just into netori.

 

[cooldevo]

Zeke is his own person, who made his own choices and mistakes. Yeah, what Keyla and MC did was bad, but both him proposing marriage out of a fear of losing her, and Keyla accepting the proposal out of fear of being alone, play a much larger role in his current unhappiness.

I don't remember if it's outright stated that Zeke had his own extracurricular activities. He does cheat on Keyla in the present, as a result of his dead bedroom/marriage.
Sure, Keyla shouldn't have accepted the proposal... But I'm guessing that in the MC's mind, he did the right thing by breaking things off with Keyla, and didn't see any value in hurting Zeke even more with the truth. Though, I do agree that from a certain perspective, the MC is a special kind of asshole who's able to sleep with his best friend's partner while keeping that friendship up.

Zeke is indeed actively dating Miriam while still married to Keyla. If you are on Julia's path, it's put right out into the open in the story; which you don't see on any other path. Also on Julia's path, Miriam and Julia talk and Miriam airs some concerns she has that something is fishy with Zeke.... and it is.

So I don't understand the crosshairs and anger solely on Keyla. Keyla went into the marriage for suboptimal reasons. Zeke did solely for his "desperation reason", that I presume will also suboptimal. Keyla in the past cheated on Zeke. Zeke is currently cheating on Keyla. Both are hiding it from each other. It seems like a 50/50 split for the hate/anger between the two of them right now. Both made bad decisions equally on this one...

 

[cooldevo]

Its kinda willingly dooming Zeke to a shitty relationship no matter what due to a reason the mc created in the first place

Some may argue that Zeke maybe cheated too but in this case it would just have been one more reason to tell both of them to NOT MARRY if they are really supposed to be his friends lol

Zeke is cheating, on Keyla. There's no question about it, and no maybes. She cheated in the past, he's cheating now. That's an even wash. If dating Julia, you come across Zeke on a double date that is NOT Keyla and he essentially admits to cheating.

Neither Keyla nor Zeke cheating doomed the marriage. And both Zeke and Keyla admit that in the story... it was already doomed before it even started due to both having poor reasons to get married. They were not together out of love, they did not marry out of love, and they seem to have never really been in love. Again, both admit as much in conversations with the MC. That's why they are both so casual and nonchalant about it ending.

 

[Krytax123]

Zeke is cheating, on Keyla. There's no question about it, and no maybes. She cheated in the past, he's cheating now. That's an even wash. If dating Julia, you come across Zeke on a double date that is NOT Keyla and he essentially admits to cheating.

Neither Keyla nor Zeke cheating doomed the marriage. And both Zeke and Keyla admit that in the story... it was already doomed before it even started due to both having poor reasons to get married. They were not together out of love, they did not marry out of love, and they seem to have never really been in love. Again, both admit as much in conversations with the MC. That's why they are both so casual and nonchalant about it ending.

Im talking about their college days and wheter Zeke cheated at this time already. Zeke cheating nowadays doesnt really matter anymore anyway lol and the mc being judgemental about it is really really strange behavior considering that he fucked zeke's girlfriend regularly in the past lol.

Zeke cheating nowadays doesnt excuse the mcs behavior and even zeke cheating back than already wouldnt excuse it.

Nothing about this is okay, either he should have pressured keyla to come clean to zeke or should have come clean himself/together OR AT LEAST END THE FUCKING FRIENDSHIP

The mc behaved like a snake

 

[Dessolos]

I forget didn't Keyla or someone else say they knew Zeke was cheating on Keyla even during college. I forget exactly but I recall it was enough that the MC sleeping with Keyla when she was in a relationship with Zeke didn't bother me anymore.

 

[Maviarab]

The mc behaved like a snake

And no one disputes that. What people dispute and get pissed at is all the godamn Keyla hate when in reality, the MC is just as bad. No one hates him though as he is us

 

[cooldevo]

I forget didn't Keyla or someone else say they knew Zeke was cheating on Keyla even during college. I forget exactly but I recall it was enough that the MC sleeping with Keyla when she was in a relationship with Zeke didn't bother me anymore.

Right! It was one of Keyla's friends. I forget the name.. Sarah? Keyla was staying at her place while they moved the furniture and sold the house.

Edit: (added screenshot below) Yeah Zeke was apparently shagging multiple sorority girls while dating/engaged to Keyla. Naughty him. Can we all hate him now too then?

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

 

[Krytax123]

And no one disputes that. What people dispute and get pissed at is all the godamn Keyla hate when in reality, the MC is just as bad. No one hates him though as he is us

Well yeah i have way more empathy for what keyla did compared to the role the mc played in all of this. But as far as im aware i was mostly ranting about the mc and not keyla

 

[SlowGoesSlow]

And no one disputes that. What people dispute and get pissed at is all the godamn Keyla hate when in reality, the MC is just as bad. No one hates him though as he is us

I dislike the MC during that period too. Fuck that guy.
However, thankfully he can be improved later on, maybe Keyla can as well there's room for that. Zeke still sucks since he heavily cheated in the past and did so all the way until they split. So it's harder to be supportive of him.

 

[cooldevo]

I dislike the MC during that period too. Fuck that guy.
However, thankfully he can be improved later on, maybe Keyla can as well there's room for that. Zeke still sucks since he heavily cheated in the past and did so all the way until they split. So it's harder to be supportive of him.

That's the same premise I try to take into any of these games where the LI/MC is broken, has made bad decisions, been misunderstood, or just a general DIK (pun intended).

Keyla will have the chance for a redemption arc in my books. Kim will have a chance at hers, and assuming it's actually something I can buy into it may be let pass. Would require a lot more information about her father/family though, and whether he fear was justified. But then even so, how will she keep the MC safe this time, but couldn't before? I presume the father will find out about him again, like the first one if he's really as dangerous and powerful as Kim says he is.

Same with Zeke. Until he fesses up about what made him so desperate to propose to someone he seemingly never loved, he's going to be a lousy guy in my books.

 

[SlowGoesSlow]

That's the same premise I try to take into any of these games where the LI/MC is broken, has made bad decisions, been misunderstood, or just a general DIK (pun intended).

Keyla will have the chance for a redemption arc in my books. Kim will have a chance at hers, and assuming it's actually something I can buy into it may be let pass. Would require a lot more information about her father/family though, and whether he fear was justified. But then even so, how will she keep the MC safe this time, but couldn't before? I presume the father will find out about him again, like the first one if he's really as dangerous and powerful as Kim says he is.

Same with Zeke. Until he fesses up about what made him so desperate to propose to someone he seemingly never loved, he's going to be a lousy guy in my books.

I like that Chaq's made all his characters flawed so far since it fits with the general story of growth. It'll be neat to see how people's character opinions shift as the game goes on.

 

[Kuokaman]

This would be a great game but why can't I break up with Julia after I kissed Michelle?

 

[cooldevo]

This would be a great game but why can't I break up with Julia after I kissed Michelle?

I don't believe, or have seen a way, to end a path once it's started. The only fix if you want dedicated paths is keep your playthrough separate and don't flirt/date other LIs. There are some interactions if you are dating multiple LIs, but as it's not a harem game you will probably have to choose at one point, either on your own or in a bad way as part of the story.

Aside from that you can change the variables.

If you have Console or URM access, set "julia_route" to "False". There are two variables for *most* characters:

• <li-name>_route - True/False if you are on their path.
• <li-name>_affection - How many affection points they have towards MC.

Zeke, for example, has 'zeke_affection' variable, but no 'zeke_route' variable.

Alessa, Candace, Julia, Keyla, Kim, Kimmy, Michelle, Olivia, and Vera all have both Affection and Route variables.
Cynthia and Riley have route variables, but no affection variables.

Keep in mind that changing variables can break things unless you are thorough. Julia has 9 story variables based on the date and the park date that may also need to be changed. And there could be more interlinked ones. As of current chapter, most filtering is set on if you are on a _route or not, but at some point in time he may check for other variables being set or not.

 

[risky0]

I don't hate Kayle, she's just an idiot and I don't like idiots.

Mc kept his promise and waited for her to come back...
Kayle moved on and became lovers with Zeke...
Still in love with Mc, Kayle pretended to accept his marriage proposal just so Zeke wouldn't be in a difficult situation...
When she saw Mc hanging out with Kim, she married a man she didn't love to forget Mc...

These are the ones I remember. I'm too lazy to download the game and play it again just to count the stupidities.

Other than that, yes Mc is not a clean man, but Mc is the one who put an end to this cheating. Like Keyla, instead of continuing as if this situation is normal, he realizes his mistake and puts an end to this disgusting situation.

I don't like Keyla. No, worse than that, I hate her and Mc is like an angel. What are you going to do, crucify me?
And I'm in love with Kim, she'll be the perfect wife.