Writing my opinion about Starry Sky in 2019 feels kinda surreal, but sometimes old games played on PSP are more enjoyable than brand new ones.

Before I start talking about After Spring, the fandisk I’ve just completed, I’ll explain my personal story and my overall feelings about this series, since I’ve never reviewed any game.

I won’t lie: the simple school setting and the almost non-existent plot make it kinda boring, it’s not worth playing for the writing or for emotional involvement; but somehow, playing it now, made me feel nostalgic and happy.

I started playing Spring 5 years ago, because I’ve been told it had simple kanji and it could be useful for me to practice reading. It was true, there are a lot of hiragana and simple sentences perfect for beginners, so I’d give the same advice to everyone who has just begun learning Japanese.

I remember myself enjoying Spring boys, being kinda ok with Winter guys and dragging out Summer, so I stopped there without bothering to complete the whole Zodiac signs.

At that time, my Japanese was getting better and my passion for otoge was increasing everyday, so I soon realized which kind of settings and characters I enjoyed more; school themed games were not a priority at all.

I’ve never thought in a million years that I would ended up playing After Spring one day and enjoying it a lot, but I guess miracles happen for real!

Now, let’s talk about this fandisk.

Before getting into individual routes (which are After Stories that start where the first game ended), I had to play a prologue where two new characters were introduced.

They even had some kind of short route.

Izumi is younger than the heroine and madly in love with her, so he tries desperately to be noticed by his senpai and become her boyfriend even before getting to know her.

Well, she’s the only girl in the school after all, these poor guys have not much choice, if they want to avoid BL stuff they need to hook up with her.

I’m not complaining since he was kinda cute.

Haru was very sweet, I bet he could have been a nice route among teachers.

I wish these characters were better developed in a complete route, instead of just shoving them into the main story without giving me a chance to get them know better.

Then, I finally started dating properly my main boys.

I was really glad to experience some romantic interactions, since the first game was so innocent I think I didn’t even get a kiss CG, but just the guy getting closer to the screen (which is cute but also kinda creepy, am I supposed to kiss the screen? Probably, since, as the ending credits say, the heroine is me).

I started with Yoh, who was leaving abroad with his family to pursue his father’s career.

It was basically a long distance relationship, even if he somehow managed to make surprise appearances for the school festival and Christmas while staying in Japan only for a night or a day.

I know it’s supposed to be romantic, but all I could think about was “why are you taking a plane for hours and hours, spending a lot of money, just to stay there for a few hours?! It’s stupid!”.

Yeah, I know, I’m thinking too much.

Anyway, I was happy to see the heroine fulfill her dream, even if the last scene was bittersweet: I could hear Suzuya’s heart breaking from the screen, ‘cause I’m Cancer like him and I imagined myself in his place. That’s why I decided to play him last.

Kanata’s sign is Pisces and I admit I’ve always had trouble getting along with this kind of people in my life. But I really loved him in this game, his relationship with the heroine is so sweet and pure, they are a lovely couple.

As usual, his health problems play a huge part in his route and I kinda wish the angst was left aside in this fandisk, to focus more on their cute interactions. Also, am I the only one who disliked his mother? I know she was just joking, she had fun teasing him, but I don’t think it’s funny if you keep saying to your son that he’s stupid and hopeless.

In the end I’ve played my love, my prince, my angel, my everything: Suzuya!

I’m probably biased because he’s Cancer like me, but we think and act exactly the same, both for good and bad things. I could understand perfectly his feelings, so I wished I could enter the screen and give him a hug, he deserved all the love in this world.

Is it weird? It feels like I’m saying I love myself, even if I’m the first one to admit that being a Cancer is a sweet hell: too many emotions, too much love too give, a constant fear of being betrayed, the desire to monopolize everyone we love…… our souls are always too busy, it’s frustrating.

Did I enjoy this fandisk?

Isn’t it obvious? I’ve never thought I could love school games again, but it was refreshing; now I remember why everyone was addicted to this series years ago, somehow despite his simpleness it gives addicting vibes, it makes you want to know every boy just to compare their reactions to people you know in real life, who share the same Zodiac signs.

I plan to play every fandisk, so I can write a ranking of my most compatible and appreciated Zodiac signs. I hope you’ll enjoy it, when the time comes!