Would you like otome games to develop relationships between side characters?

[osanajimimi]

Let me give you an example. A female side character develops a crush on a male side character, and the MC or an LI supports them. Would you like to see that relationship develop during your playthrough?

I know some people don't like that because, when an otome game comes out and you find that hot-side-character-you-wish-you-could-date, you hope they'll become an extra route in a possible FD. So, if the writers pair them with another side character, the chances of that happening become much smaller.

There are a few examples I could mention, with spoilers.

For example,

Spoiler: Cupid Parasite

Owen from Cupid Parasite. I thought he would be a secret route, but he wasn't. Instead, he finds love with someone other than the MC.

Another example

Spoiler: Tengoku Struggle

is Fujimori from Tengoku Struggle. I don't know if you consider him dateable, but I honestly like him. In Kikunosuke's route, I ended up rooting for him and Azami, and I liked how their story concluded. Sadly, that development is exclusive to that route, and in the rest of the game, it never goes anywhere.
Even the whole plot about Kamuro... But that's too deep to talk about here. I LIKE HIM

 

[osanajimimi]

I took the time to give my perspective on the question, but I haven't answered it myself lmao

In my case, it's kind of 50/50. If I like a side character, I want them to be happy, so I'd like them to have the spotlight with or without the MC.
Maybe you'll kill me if you're an MC lover and believe every character should have feelings for her, which is valid, but I still feel conflicted because it lacks a certain sense of realism from my perspective :D

HOWEVER, those kinds of relationships outside the MC are harder to develop well unless the story gives us POVs beyond hers.

 

[ninnikuryona]

i think it depends! i wouldnt want them to take too much attention from the main course (that being mc x lis), but i would be lying if i said i dont like gushing over cute side characters getting together. id be sad if a hot side character was shipped off to another girl, but on the other hand, at least it saves me from the heartbreak of knowing he wouldnt even get a route in a fd.. (idiot who never believes)
if anything, to me, the joy of watching side couples develop lies in me fangirling over cute female characters. if a girl is happy by the end of the game, then its a very happy bonus<3

but again, i think it would be hard to pull off in a game. a shoujo manga though? hell yes, bring it all on. i love cheering on everyone!!!!!!!

(slightly related, but it always cracks me up to see side couples developing faster than main couples. what do you mean you already kissed and hugged and slept together? we havent even moved past the handholding stage!! but theres just something so precious about that)

 

[Lilia]

It depends for me too. Sometimes I like it. I enjoyed the side character romance in Cupid Parasite. I thought it was very sweet.

 

[nerim-w]

I think it can be very cute. Even as a die-hard fan of Owen and not really being interested in the rest of the cast, I was so excited that he got to be with Melanie and their romance was soo cute!!! Its was actually the only enjoyable part of Ryukis route lol, and it helped give me the crumbs I was craving since he didnt have a route himself (not even a proper one in the fd :/) That said id generally prefer for the side romance to be a miniplot and not the main focus of the story since i still want to focus on MC and their LIs the most!

 

[AmnesiaArya]

If the romance subplot between these two side characters helps advance the main story, then I can accept it. But if it's just extra content added purely for the sake of shipping a couple, then I don't think it's necessary at all.