I feel like if you’re going for immersion but DO still wish to show stats, text based would be the best way to do it. That way you can write it from either your point of view (as the author) or the MC’s point of view. The actual stat would be hidden by a blurb of text that doesn’t immediately say “relationship with xyz has increased”. You could also say stuff about xyz not liking an action the player does, etc. Anathema does this amazingly well in their WIP The Golden Rose, for example. Hope this helps 
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