"I'm asking you—why do most gal games have multiple heroines? What's the real reason?"

"Hmm... most players are otaku, right? So it's probably to satisfy their fantasies?"

"It's not just that. I feel... well, simply put, it's like a backup plan for when things go wrong?"

"...Uh, though that sounds a bit harsh, thinking about it a little, it's true."

My cold had finally healed completely, and work was back on track.

As Wang Yun said on day one, our easy time lasted only that first day. Almost a week had passed at Shi Yue's family hotel. Yet in that week, except for meals, we hadn't left our rooms—not once. Forget enjoying summer on the beach.

Today, the three of us from the creative team—me, Willow然, and Yao Star妍—sat face-to-face across a table in the center of one room. Each had a laptop open. The discussion was heated.

"So, the story should follow that logic too."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Even if one route doesn't touch a player's heart, other routes can win them over. A player unhappy with the first route will keep playing. Imagine if the game focused only on one ending or route. Players not interested would quit instantly. Once they leave, you can't get them back. So, favoring one route risks losing supporters."

Our trio was debating route extensions that led to endings completely unrelated to the first route.

"But if they can't connect... I can't help feeling these two routes aren't about the same person's experiences..." Yao Star妍 was about to sketch CGs for upcoming scenes—that's why she joined us. Working with the writer lets her tweak visuals on the fly. Still, she had serious reservations about potential issues.

"Sigh, the first route felt too solid. First impressions stick. So later plots and scenes? We subconsciously lean back toward it..."

"Uh... Willow然, was that a compliment?"

What I wrote had sunk deep into their minds, skewing their judgment.

Honestly, from an outsider's view, it proved my skill as a writer—which trapped us in this awkward spot.

The dilemma boiled down to two things: boredom and abruptness.

Simply put, polish one ending too much, and other routes feel dull. But make endings wildly different? Then it feels like a different game, just as Willow然 said.

"Seriously, Gale Splendor—we're making this for ourselves, right? So why..."

"You mean, 'ignore players who won't follow us anyway'?"

"..."

"That won't work. Especially in gal games."

"Why?"

Willow然 and Yao Star妍 questioned me together: "Gale Splendor, you're new to this too. Where's your confidence coming from?"

"Even as a newbie, obvious things aren't hard to spot."

"Like what?"

"Gal game players are far fewer than novel readers."

"...Really?"

"So what's your point?"

With my script, I'm confident I could get 90% support for the main ending from most players.

But hitting near 100%? Almost impossible.

There's only one true ending. Other routes must align with it. No writer can reshape every player's unique tastes.

"So if we do this, we do it better. Aim for 'how many players can we make happy'."

Exactly. We must strive to win over 100% of players. Like comedians forcing smiles even when jokes fall flat—we push through.

Even if players think it's not the same game. Even if it feels cliché or familiar. Even if it's blatant flattery. None of that matters!

"Stories shouldn't have just one ending. We need more possibilities—plots that please every single player!"

After my fiery speech, Willow然 and Yao Star妍 nodded blankly.

...

"So, Gale Splendor, I think this part needs tweaking?"

"I already revised it."

Willow然—who'd started with gal games around the same time as me—raised another question. Actually, if we're talking pure experience, she was my senior.

"Sigh, Gale Splendor, remember: in a three-choice scenario, each option must lead to totally different stories!"

"I know that. I understand gal games."

"No, no—you don't get it! You understand nothing, Gale Splendor! You're still acting like a total newbie."

"Uh..."

Did she have to exaggerate that much? I thought my writing was decent.

"Plainly put, Gale Splendor—your three-choice options? Except for the 'correct' one, the other routes' plots and reactions are dead boring."

"...Isn't that overstating it? Is this really that serious?"

"Not at all. You said it yourself—we must interest everyone."

I nodded. Willow然 continued: "By that logic, players must feel 'I should try the other options too'! Otherwise, there's this... hmm... a sense of dissatisfaction?"