About 75% complete with the first part of Act 2: Operation Angelseek. Looking to be done by the 22nd. As for the cover image, well, letās just say Iāve ended up with a bunch of useless train drawings that I realisitically would not be able to use anywhere, so yeah.
As for my excerpt, this is a flashback that occurs at the beginning of Act 2, provided the player is on the Ex-Yakuza route.
A normal monorail ride.
Seven years ago, northern Osaka.
A screech of metal grinding against metal fills your ears as the monorail pulls into the station. Next to you, ${ryoji/ryuko}'s breathing increased at an alarming rate as the doors slowly began to open. Upon seeing two Yakuza members standing in front of them, one with very noticeable blood stains on ${rhis} face, the passengers quickly vacate the carriage.
You and ${ryoji/ryuko} board the monorail, and take a seat in the empty carriage. As the monorail begins to move, ${ryoji/ryuko} takes out a tissue, and begins wiping the blood off of ${rhis} face. "Why, the hell," $!{rhe} begins inbetween breaths, "Are we taking, the monorail?"
Your eyes scan up and down the carriage, before replying, "Sometimes it seems like Busujima-sama is out to get us."
Face now clean from blood, ${ryoji/ryuko} lets out a sigh. "Yeah, one of these days Busujima-sama's ego is going to get the whole family put behind bars."
Shaking ${rhis} head, ${ryoji/ryuko} turns to look at you. "You okay though? We roughed that guy up pretty badly."
Your minds goes back to the alleyway. It was a routine collection job, a guy who had borrowed money from the family, and refused to pay it back. He had it coming, or so you keep telling yourself. ${ryoji/ryuko}, well, let's just say some of it got on ${rhis} face.
*fake_choice
#You had no issue with it, the guy had it coming.
"I'm fine. Bastard deserved it anyway." You say flatly.
${ryoji/ryuko} stares at you blankly for a few seconds, before returning ${rhis} gaze back to the floor.
"Suit yourself." $!{rhe} scoffs, before ${rhe} takes out a cigarette, lighting it, and raising it to ${rhis} mouth. Smoke fills the carriage as the monorail continues on, oblivious to the tension within itself.
#You knew what you were getting into when you joined the Yakuza, but still, ${ryoji/ryuko} didn't have to go that far.
"I knew what the job was going to entail, but stillā¦" You turn your head to look ${ryoji/ryuko} in the eyes.
"I'm sure you didn't need to beat him half to death."
${ryoji/ryuko} is silent for a moment, the gears in ${rhis} head clearly whirring as ${rhe} figures out how to respond.
"He had it coming, his problem, not ours." $!{rhe} scoffs, before ${rhe} takes out a cigarette, lighting it, and raising it to ${rhis} mouth. Smoke fills the carriage as the monorail continues on, oblivious to the tension within itself.
#It was a simple collection job, no violence was needed. Not that that sentiment helps now, after the fact.
You are silent for a moment, as you mull over how to word this.
"It was just a collection job, there was no need to beat the guy half to death. Hell, you didn't even need to touch him in the first place."
${ryoji/ryuko} lets out a large sigh. "Didn't take you for being squeamish ${pcgname}. The guy was refusing to give us what he owed, of course I beat the shit of him."
You open your mouth to refute what ${rhe} said, but you quickly close it. No point arguing here. ${ryoji/ryuko} shakes ${rhis} head before ${rhe} takes out a cigarette, lighting it, and raising it to ${rhis} mouth. Smoke fills the carriage as the monorail continues on, oblivious to the tension within itself.
You stare out of the window, watching the scenery go by, your mind lost in thought. It was no secret among the members of the Busujima family that Kaito Busujima was overly egotistical, and with Shakunetsu getting ever older, and more likely to die with each passing year, his pride only increased.
A year or two back, when Kaito and Toshiko had their little row over succession, there was a group of kobun who decided that they would rather have Toshiko as the kumicho. When Toshiko caved, Kaito collected their fingers like they were going out of fashion. You still remember the almost comical view of the queue outside of Kaito's office, the looks on their faces resigned as they awaited their turn to perform the yubitsume.
And with Shakunetsu increasingly giving his responsibilities to the lieutenants as his health gets worse, a clear trend emerged. While under Shakunetsu's leadership, the family generally kept to "less-violent" activities, Kaito, and Tsukasa in particular, were now pushing more extremes. You and ${ryoji/ryuko}'s recent excursion is a perfect example.
"The next stop is, Kadoma-shi."
${ryoji/ryuko} pats your arm, shaking you from your thoughts. "This is us, I'm going to give Hanabusa-sama a piece of my mind when we see her."
"Still unsure why Hanabusa-sama requested we hand the money to her directly, we could've easily just taken it down to Kamiyama bank." You voice your thoughts, mainly to keep ${ryoji/ryuko} calm, as it is clear as day ${rhe} fully intends on giving Akari a piece of ${rhis} mind.
*choice
#Tell ${ryoji/ryuko} you'll do the talking. You don't want to end up losing a finger today.
As the monorail pulls into the station, and begins to slow down, you hold out a hand. "Hand me the money ${ryoji/ryuko}."
${ryoji/ryuko} sends you a sharp glare, "What? Why?" $!{rhe} asks.
"Because I know what you're like. You've got that look in your eyes where you're about to go do something stupid, and end up losing another chunk of finger."
At your accusation, ${ryoji/ryuko} rubs the end of the little finger on ${rhis} left hand. $!{rhe} had already lost two segments, and was not keen to lose another. With a puff, ${rhe} reaches into ${rhis} suit pocket, and takes out the envelope with the money inside. You hold out your hand, and ${rhe} slams it down. "Here, fucking take it then."
*page_break
The monorail comes to a stop, and the doors slowly grind open. Standing there on the platform, wearing an elegant, yet revealing, sapphire blue dress, was Akari Hanabusa.
As other passengers filed off of the monorail, they gave Akari a wide berth. The Busujima family wasn't exactly well-known by the general public, but Akari most certainly was. You and ${ryoji/ryuko} walk towards her, as you desperately fought to keep the lump in your throat down.
*if gender = 1
*if rin_gender = 1
Akari's smile grows wide as the two of you come to a stop in front of her. "Hey there boys, you got a parcel for me?" She asks in a sultry tone.
*if gender = 2
*if rin_gender = 2
Akari's smile grows wide as the two of you come to a stop in front of her. "Hey ladies, you got a parcel for me?" She asks in a sultry tone.
*if gender = 1
*if rin_gender = 2
Akari's smile grows wide as the two of you come to a stop in front of her. "Hey there you two, you got a parcel for me?" She asks in a sultry tone.
*if gender = 2
*if rin_gender = 1
Akari's smile grows wide as the two of you come to a stop in front of her. "Hey there you two, you got a parcel for me?" She asks in a sultry tone.
You glance at ${ryoji/ryuko}, and after ensuring that ${rhe} isn't going to try anything, you turn back to Akari, and take out the envelope.
Akari holds out her hand in front of her, as if she were a manager awaiting to receive a subordinate's resignation letter. You slowly place the envelope into her hand, wary of her eyes on you. It almost felt like you were in the den of a predator, and she was waiting to pounce.
You move to turn around, having completed your adjective, but something tugs on your hand, preventing you from moving. Akari has grabbed hold of your hand, not letting go. You chance a glance at her face, and her eyes are looking directly into yours, bearing into your soul. Her bright, blonde hair was almost blinding as it reflected the overhead lights in the monorail station.
She slowly curls her lip, and gives it a bite.
*page_break
Before you even realise what happened, she spins you around, and pulls you towards her, wrapping her arms around you, and squeezing you tight.
To any onlookers, it would look like a questionable hug in public, but in actuality, this was one of Akari's most common torture methods.
You breathing is quickly cut off as you attempt to struggle, but to no avail. Akari tuts, making shushing noises, as if she were attempting to lull a baby to sleep. "Shush. Just relax, ${pcfname}-${honorific}."
Watching the display, ${ryoji/ryuko} clenches ${rhis} fist. "What do you want from us Hanabusa-sama? You wouldn't do this without a reason."
Akari looks away from you, and glances towards ${ryoji/ryuko}. "You sure about that, Sasaki-${rhonorific}? Maybe I just want to *squeeze* this little cutie here, and take ${him/her} back to my place, and *play*." She says, the grip tightening on you. You try to sputter, but all you can do at this point is submit as your vision starts to go black.
${ryoji/ryuko} doesn't respond, not wanting to entertain Akari.
Akari giggles at ${ryoji/ryuko}'s silence. "*Hehe*, you were always a smart one Sasaki-${rhonorific}."
You sputter and cough as you are suddenly released from Akari's embrace. You collapse to the floor, desperately filling your lungs with oxygen once more. Akari ignores you, and struts over to stand in front of ${ryoji/ryuko}. Being much taller than most people, she looks down towards ${rhim}.
"In truth, I don't really want anything. But youā¦" She stops speaking to poke ${ryoji/ryuko} on the nose, "Clearly have a problem with me. You disembarked the monorail looking like you had a knife stuck in your throat, so I just want you to come out and say it. What is your problem with me Sasaki-${rhonorific}?"
${ryoji/ryuko} visibly gulps. From the floor, and having now regained your ability to breathe, you look over and see ${ryoji/ryuko} get the familiar look in ${rhis} eye.
The one where a finger segment is about to be lost.
The memory suddenly collapses amidst swirls of colour.
*page_break
*goto awaken
[Just to note, the final choice has several variations, I just didnāt want to make this excerpt too long.]
Keep it up everybody! I know you are all working so hard. 
So itās been going slower than I wanted, but progress is progress. Iāll just make up for it next week.
Maybe I could have done better, but Iām just really happy with that and wanted to share.