✅ Phase 1: Foundations (Completed)

Status: Implemented

• [x] Introduction: Bellona’s backstory and life introduction.

• [x] Tutorial: Implementation of base game systems (UI, Movement, Stats).

• [x] The First Week: Linear "Slice of Life" gameplay loop established.

🚧 Phase 2: The Open World (Current Priority)

Focus: Player Agency, Relationships, and Route Selection

• System Expansion:

  • Unlock full Relationship mechanics (Affection/Trust meters).

  • Unlock gameplay freedom (non-linear scheduling).

• The Route Split:

  • Implement tracking for the Three Paths:

    1. Toma (Love Interest A)

    2. Ever (Love Interest B)

    3. Casual (Solo/Friendship focus)

• The 12-Week Loop:

  • Extend playable calendar to 12 weeks.

  • Draft and script events for Weeks 2–12.

• The 6-Week Checkpoint:

  • Implement "Early Endings" (Game Over states or early exits based on poor stats/decisions).

🔮 Phase 3: The Commitment & Career

Focus: Deepening Systems, World Evolution, and The "Casual" Conclusion

• Route Lock: The narrative firmly sets the player on their chosen path.

• Career Expansion:

  • Implement 3 Distinct Jobs (Mini-games/Management).

  • Fashion Company (Phase 1): Create the "Startup Phase" mechanic (Naming company, basic designs).

• World Evolution:

  • The Time Skip: Narrative event advancing the timeline (uncertain duration).

  • City Hub Update: New stores open; new opportunities appear in the hub world.

• Relationship Status Update:

  • Selected Love Interest title changes to Boyfriend.

  • Cohabitation: Unlock the ability for the boyfriend to move in.

• Branching Content:

  • Main Narrative splits completely into two separate script files/event lists for Toma and Ever.

• Casual Route Conclusion: The Casual path reaches its final ending here.

💔 Phase 4: The Reality (Intensification)

Focus: Unique Route Mechanics and High Stakes Drama

• System Depth:

  • Fashion Company (Phase 2): Deepen the design system (trends, marketing, sales).

  • Social Web: Deepen friendships; introduce sub-plots regarding trauma and drama.

• Route A: Toma (Healing & Stability)

  • Joint Finances: Mechanic for managing a dual-income household.

  • Life Planning: Marriage planning gameplay.

  • Mental Health: A focus on therapy, supporting Toma, and managing his recovery.

• Route B: Ever (Growth & Hardship)

  • Pregnancy Arc: Status effects, narrative events, and preparation.

  • Parenthood: Caretaking mechanics for early childhood stages.

  • Harsh Reality: Narrative focus on the struggle of balancing a new family with limited resources.

• Consequences:

  • Implement several Bad Endings derived from high stress, broken relationships, or financial failure.

🏁 Phase 5: The Aftermath (Resolution)

Focus: Long-term Consequences and Route-Specific Finales

• Route A: Toma’s Conclusion (The Farm Life)

  • Aftermath: Successful management of mental health and finances leads to a change in scenery.

  • Setting Shift: The couple leaves the city to start a Farm Life.

  • Ending Tone: Peaceful, pastoral, and healing-focused.

• Route B: Ever’s Conclusion (Harsh American Life)

  • Aftermath: Raising a child while managing the fashion career in the city.

  • Setting Shift: The couple remains in the urban hub, facing the Harsh American Life.

  • Ending Tone: Gritty, realistic, and focused on resilience/ambition.

🤫 SECRET: The True Ending

Hidden Branch

• Availability: This path is hidden from the standard UI/objectives list.

• Conditions: Requires specific, counter-intuitive choices in Phase 4 and distinct relationship prerequisites that contradict the current route.

• Content: [REDACTED]

• Outcome: Unlocks the "True" state of the game's narrative.