#keyframes theory

So as much as it pains me to say this, there's a very good chance the break up route is Jamie. Think about it, he's new to relationships and is about to graduate. How can he assume long distance will work while you're still going to classes? So it may be "for the best" to break things off when he graduates. He also has trust issues probably from being seen as an object of attraction rather than a human, so he might need some time to find himself and really unpack that. HOWEVER, while it makes sense for his character, it doesn't make sense as a player. Like why would the devs make him disproportionately difficult as a LI? Like Percy and Elio get routes that stay together the whole time and it's relatively sunshine and rainbows, meanwhile Jamie has the highest friendship threshold AND probably relationship threshold AND he's gonna graduate sooner than MC AAAAND he's the break-up route? Why cram all the good angst into one guy? He feels so "live and let it be" about a break up too, like he'd just accept it and move on if they broke it off. Maybe this disapproves everything I just said, but I hope he's not the break-up route for the sake of adding depth to the others guys honestly.

As for Elio, he's also a possibility that we aren't considering enough! The devs keep saying that he's their golden boy and such a sweetheart, golden retriever, perfect boyfriend. Why? Isn't that sus if it's supposed to be realistic? How can my boy be faultless? They keep saying they want to cram as much good shit into him as possible, but maybe that to throw us off the trail of his route. Not necessarily a red herring, but a way to keep us guessing. Maybe his overwhelming love is his hubris! What if the reason it's "for the best" is because he's so in love. Too in love for how inexperienced he is. It's his first relationship, so maybe he starts love bombing. He doesn't know how to do this in a healthy way, maybe even becomes codependent! So the reason MC needs to leave him is for both of their growth. He needs to grow and learn apart from them before coming back to really feel like he deserves them. OR if you have a masc presenting MC, he needs time to unpack his sexuality! Like it's his first real relationship AND he's battling with a sexuality crisis? Maybe he needs some time to accept himself. That would be mighty interesting....

Lastly, I'm gonna play devil's advocate and defend Percy for a second. I know the entire fandom is like "yep it's Percy", but maybe it's not! And here's my take on that can of worms. So we all kinda guessed he had commitment issues, but maybe that why he'll stay with MC. HEAR MY OUT! He needs to proven wrong. He needs an MC who's going to stay with him through his faults, show him that he's worth fighting for and that he's worth the effort. What better to help with commitment issues than clear communication? MC is like "no, dumping you is not what's best for us. What you need is someone who will stay unconditionally." Percy might need that kinda of unwavering devotion to learn to accept a relationship. I'm not sure if this even makes sense, but I think Percy being totally with MC the whole time without a necessary breakup is possible.

so I think percy break-up route, if that happens might have something to do with realising him and mc want different things out of a relationship? or identity stuff like percy realising he's not that into romance as he had thought before

ok so, things we know from the game (not much because that man is PRIVATE, more than he lets it show) include that he tends to deflect when topics about himself or his family come up, tends to self deprecate (one instance is rain event when he kept tearing down his art), would rather just go along with everyone else's wishes than what he wants (instances: when he talked ab why he went into bio, also if you choose to all do different things at the spring festival and you go to games, mc noticed that was the first time he seemed excited), and such.

things we know from dev asks: percy has dated before, he has gone through various sexuality labels and that might change as he thinks a lot (currently demi), he has brought people home in the past, and also his reaction for mc falling him husband was omitted...

we also (know/someone had theorized I cannot remember ugh) that he's not for the traditional romances

so from all this I started thinking what if he dates MC because they want to, but he's not that sure (I won't go as far as to say he's a people pleaser, but he does prioritize other people close to him especially) or he is sure he is into MC at first but then they actually get into a relationship and he just. is uncomfortable but thinking that this time, if he pushes through for long enough it will work out?

ok I didn't word that that well. so he identifies as demi (at the moment) right? meaning he has to have a strong bond with someone to feel attraction at all. what if he's just starting to have feelings when mc confesses, and they kinda get into it without communicating about what they want out of it and things like that

and then... well it's a serious relationship but MC might want it to move too fast, and he's just not ready, but he's so bad at letting that show bcs he never talks ab himself...

or maybe he realises that why all of this relationship stuff never worked out for him is because he actually isn't that into romantic relationships in actuality or that it makes him uncomfortable???