#darlingischarming

Maki would unexpectedly enjoy Zen's route. She's someone whose family pushes her towards a prestigious career path of being a doctor, but her true love and passion lie in the arts. She's a musician at heart even if she has a doctor's brain. She'd definitely scold Zen for being too reckless as a teen, but I think she'd find his route therapeutic because she can watch him work hard for his own dreams.

Hanayo would love Jaehee's route. Hanayo was too afraid to follow her dream of becoming an idol until her friends gave her a push. She'd cheer for Jaehee who works so hard but doesn't feel passionate about her work. As soon as Jaehee shows interest in the coffee project, Hanayo would be her biggest fan urging her to pursue her dreams.

Honoka is a dreamer but also a go-getter. In that sense, she'd like Zen's route. He went after his dream without reservations, and she'd admire how he works to make a name for himself. She's also kind of... lacking in the intelligence field, so maybe she'd relate to Zen there.

Umi is no nonsense, so a gut instinct may say Jumin, but she'd feel far too restricted. I think she'd enjoy V's route. Solving mysteries, escaping a cult, getting answers, and freeing an overly self-sacrificing character from the clutches of his own guilt. Umi would probably play one of the OS routes then go "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH V?" She's fixing him. She's pulling his ear and talking sense into him.

Kotori, by contrast, would probably like Jumin's route. She can be strangely possessive herself. She also hates making decisions. But her tender heart would instinctively know which answers could soothe Jumin's troubles and save Elizabeth the 3rd.

Nico is a workaholic who'd also love Jaehee's route. She almost failed in her dream of being an idol, and she'd refuse to let Jaehee give up on choosing a future that made her happy. Nico is honestly super passionate and determined and caring beneath the memes.

Eli is kinning V and really I think that says all that needs to be said.

Nozomi only cares about Rika's Behind Story. Nozomi didn't even want to play until she heard about Jaehee, and then when she saw Rika? Oh, dear. Nozomi is getting the lore and smothering her in affection. Nozomi is gonna either help Rika or make her worse.

Aqours

Hanamaru is going to be a Ray route kind of girl. First of all, since she grew up sheltered in a temple and has little knowledge of modern technology, she would actually hop in a van to a mysterious location because some guy called and asked her to help him. Sob. More importantly, she's a big reader, and she'd fall for the fairy-tale aspect of Ray's route. But she'd be down for the darker parts, too! She's quick to humor fallen angel Yohane, after all. She's surprisingly adaptable.

Yohane might find a weird interest in Jumin. Their autism presents in exact opposite ways: embrace vs. suppress. But I think she'd find him neat. He's intelligent and practical, but he gets caught up in whimsy too. And Yohane did kidnap a dog once.

Ruby isn't playing. She just isn't. Ruby's androphobia would stop her. I'm not even trying to be "oh she's too lesbian" she's literally afraid of men. But she likes hearing Hanamaru and Yohane talk about the game!

Chika is kind of in her coming-of-age story throughout her arc. Finding herself, finding her dream, finding her strength. She'd appreciate Yoosung, who has seen himself as inferior and boring compared to everyone else and desperately wants to be more than that. Chika became an idol because she was chasing a shine in the sky. Yoosung is a shooting star. It works.

Riko likes V route specifically for that one bad ending. You know the one. She's immediately looking for any fanart or doujins.

You is going to adore Jumin. His route may not end up being her favorite from a story perspective, but a character who's diehard loyal to his childhood friend and has been secretly yearning this entire time? She can relate. She will complain when trapped in his penthouse, but she'll also like the aquarium in the background. Pfft.

Mari is going to kin Saeran because she knows what it's like to have an oppressive mother who tries to force her into things and use her as a dress-up doll, a puppet, rather than a person. Mari is eccentric and outgoing and over-the-top at first glance, but she's actually a deeply sentimental person who's scarily dedicated to her goals. Also she'd like Unknown's goth thing. Mari is our heavy metal enthusiast, after all.

Dia is going to be the yin to Mari's yang, as she tends to be. Her favorite route would be Saeyoung's, because she's a devoted older sister and she understands why Saeyoung would go to such extremes for Saeran. I think she secretly embraces his goofy side, too. Dia acts strict and stern, but she's a huge dork beneath it all.

Kanan understands the stress of being torn between duty and passion. She needs to help with the diving shop for her family, but she wants to be an idol at school again. She's self-sacrificing to a fault. So, yeah, she's gonna like V's route. He's torn between his duty to the RFA but his passion for Rika... which, is itself born of his supposed "duty" to his mother by helping a broken young woman all alone. He's complicated. Kanan will like the hug CG.

Nijigasaki

Rina is here for the hacking battles between the twins, whether 707 or Ray route. Ultimately she goes soft for Saeyoung because he makes Meowy and she has canonically made her own Meowy.

Shioriko is gonna like Jumin's route but won't admit it. He's a little too assertive in doing what he thinks is best for MC, and she sees herself in that from before she joined the idol club. They both need a nap and a hug. And therapy.

Shizuku is gonna adore Zen. She's a theater kid! She thinks he's amazing for being true to himself and not hiding! She's writing Zumin enemies to lovers fic though!

Kasumi is going to like Yoosung's route. She's tired of being treated like a baby, tired of being treated as not a good enough club president. But she also prides herself on her cuteness and loves to emphasize it. She's gonna relate to Yoosung a lot.

Ai will love 707 from the start, because he's goofy and she loves bad puns. She loves smiling and having fun. Ai also has a soft heart, and she'll be good about Luciel during the tough days of his route. She'll sympathize with his sorrow, because she felt awful when she thought her sister figure resented her for pursuing a dream and leaving her behind.

Lanzhu is... someone who has always struggled to make friends. And she kind of became a spoiled, isolated tyrant because of it before saved by the power of friendship. I can't believe her favorite "route" is Rika's Behind Story (actually I can).

Setsuna's favorite route is Saeyoung's because she's got masks on masks, too. They both have had to sacrifice their own selves to protect what they love. Also she's super into his cosplay.

Ayumu is DEFINITELY gonna love Ray's route. She'll enjoy the whole route, but she's going to adore Ray in particular because she sees a lot of herself in him. Preparing a fluffy pink room... for the object of his obsession affection... with flowers and floriography sprinkled throughout. Yeah, she's into it.

Kanata is another doting big sister, so Saeyoung for her! She works herself into the ground for Haruka's sake, and she'll empathize with Saeyoung for all he's done for Saeran. Also they both need a nap. Please.

Karin is someone who comes off as cool and mature, but she's actually kind of insecure and has immature moments. I feel like Jumin would be her favorite. Plus she'd understand why he's keeping her there, considering she has an awful sense of direction and needed to be chipped by her friends.

Emma, the sweetest girl, is going to like Jaehee's route. Emma is big on family, and her heart would break for Jaehee who's all alone. Emma traveled all the way from Switzerland to Japan to pursue her dreams, and I know that conviction and huge heart will be cheering for Jaehee all the way.