# BU$TAFELLOWS 💰 (Visual Novel Book Club) // Completed **URL:** \ **Category:** Book Clubs\ **Created:** [November 17, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306 "2022-11-17T11:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/1 "2022-11-17T11:54:04Z")
# Welcome to the BU$TAFELLOWS 💰 ! This is part of the [visual novel book club](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/57316). Check out the club’s home thread if you need an explanation of visual novels themselves. ![bustafellowsCover](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/a/5/5/a55d87652e623e50ff3e2afb8fa666a284719926.jpeg) BU$TAFELLOWS is a otome visual novel. Otome = female protagonist dating men. [VNDB on BU$TAFELLOWS](https://vndb.org/v25197). > **Description** > > From VNDB: > > Arrive in New Sieg, a beautiful fictional town. Step into the shoes of a strong, smart and gifted journalist in this romantic adventure. You play the part of a young woman with the ability to leap in the past for a very short period in the bodies of others, which you use for data collection and helping people. After witnessing the murder of a crooked lawyer – she goes back in time in an attempt to save him. Thus, the journey begins as our protagonist goes back in time in the body of another person and tries to warn Limbo. It’s up to you to figure out how to save him! ### Sample Screenshots > **Screenshots for difficulty (from VNDB)** > > ![Bustafellows1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/4/f/3/4f3aa0dae5cd91b3dd0e98660143bc32cc9e5a4d.jpeg) > > ![Bustafellows2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/4/3/4/4349744b32a07aaae9165bba371ccded8906d54b.jpeg) > > ![bustafellows3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/f/2/6/f26aa76737c869fcb698026f9a5d05c36172c099.jpeg) > > ![bustafellows4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/5/a/6/5a61ee9c29d8a5fd2fab67180c95405f4898f8e1.jpeg) ### Where to Purchase [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.joqrextend.bustafellows)\* (this one isn’t region locked) [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1469502826)\* (while it says English for language in the Swedish app store, I saw only Japanese inside, but I didn’t try buying it, but likely the Japanese version) [Switch JP](https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000015044.html) (The ones in EU and US eshop is English only), physical also exists \*Chapter 1 of the VN is free to try. OBS! There is a PC version via Steam, but it is **English text only**. It does have Japanese audio. So if you want to only practice listening and still read with us, for sure join! ### Schedule | Week | Start Date | Chapter | | --- | --- | --- | | Week 1 | Dec 16th | [Prologue + Chapter 1](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/59742) | | Week 2 | Dec 23rd | Cont. | | Week 3 | Dec 30th | [Chapter 2](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/59909) | | Week 4 | Jan 6th | Cont. | | Week 5 | Jan 13th | [Chapter 3](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60113) | | Week 6 | Jan 20th | Cont. | | Week 7 | Jan 27th | [Chapter 4](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60319) | | Week 8 | Feb 3rd | Cont. | | Week 9 | Feb 10th | [リンボ A](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60506) | | Week 10 | Feb 17th | Cont. | | Week 11 | Feb 24th | [リンボ B](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60679) | | Week 12 | Mar 3rd | Cont. | | Week 13 | Mar 10th | [シュウ A](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60854/) | | Week 14 | Mar 17th | Cont. | | Week 15 | Mar 24th | [シュウ B](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60988) | | Week 16 | Mar 31st | [モズ A](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60996) | | Week 17 | Apr 7th | Cont. | | Week 18 | Apr 14th | [モズ B](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60989) | | Week 19 | Apr 21st | [ヘルベチカ A](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60997) | | Week 20 | Apr 28th | Cont. | | Week 21 | May 5th | [ヘルベチカ B](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60992) | | Week 22 | May 12th | [スケアクロウ A](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60998) | | Week 23 | May 19th | Cont. | | Week 24 | May 26th | [スケアクロウ B](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60993) | | Week 25 | Jun 2nd | [“Chapter 5”](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60994) Full Circle (title spoiler) | | Week 26 | Jun 9th | Cont. | | Week 27 | Jun 16th | [“Chapter 6”](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60995) Auld lang syne (title spoiler) | **OBS! [How to unlock all paths but リンボ’s!](https://community.wanikani.com/t/x/60725) (リンボ’s is in threads for chapter 1-4, links in the schedule above)** > **Guides** > > There is a link to both two Japanese guide and an English guide; all of them are spoiler free (see the additional info for the English one). There is some possibility of the true route to the good ending being different between them (and other Japanese guides). Meaning that one will have to be picked as the true route and one as the additional (or more). > > How those will be picked, will be decided by vote (for those who don’t care about spoilers) or by MissDagger if no one votes. > > [Japanese guide #1](https://maistar.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-6674.html) > [Japanese guide #2](https://choro-game.com/blog-entry-3057.html) > [English guide](https://otomekitten.com/2021/07/26/bustafellows-review-nintendo-switch/) - this is a review (that links to all the guides), so don’t read past the walkthrough links unless you are okay with spoilers. It does note when minor spoilers start and then major spoilers. Reader beware! ### Spoiler Courtesy Please follow these rules to avoid inadvertent ネタバレ. If you’re unsure whether something should have a spoiler tag, err on the side of using one. 1. Any potential spoiler for the current week’s reading need only be covered by a spoiler tag. Predictions and conjecture made by somebody who has not read ahead still falls into this category. 2. Any potential spoilers for external sources need to be covered by a spoiler tag and include a label (outside of the spoiler tag) of what might be spoiled. These include but are not limited to: other book club picks, other books, games, movies, anime, etc. I recommend also tagging the severity of the spoiler (for example, I may still look at minor spoilers for something that I don’t intend to read soon). 3. Any information from later in the book than the current week’s reading (including trigger warnings that haven’t yet manifested) need to be hidden by spoiler tags and labeled as such. ### Membership _Poll ([view on site](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/1))_ _Poll ([view on site](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/1))_ If you participate, don’t forget to set this thread to **Watching** in order to be notified when weekly threads get posted! ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 11:54am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/2 "2022-11-17T11:54:21Z")
So we have a few different things to vote on. Currently, voting on schedule would be hard since I know nothing about how the VN works (we can only hope it has some kind of dividers beyond routes…). So I guess that will come. But lets start with this: _Poll ([view on site](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/2))_ If anyone is, we’ll have to wait at least 2 weeks before we start. Depending on where they buy it from and such. So this first start date vote is preliminary (if we pick starting soon). I’m putting in several different options, pick 1-2 you prefer. _Poll ([view on site](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/2))_ These polls will be open for about a week, or less if voting seems to dry up. ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/3 "2022-11-17T11:56:18Z")
Anyone who have read this and happens to see this, I have a question. 🙇‍♀️ Are there any dividers during the routes? Like dates, chapters, choices (can you save there/aka easily pause, quit and return later)? And am I correct that there is a long common/main route first, and then it divides into the 5 (?) romance routes? Thank you for your time! It will really help with organizing this club. * * * I went forum searching and found a couple of people who’ve read Bustafellows. I hope you guys don’t mind that I tag you. 🙇‍♀️ @Yoshimaster55 and @luluchan ---
**Author:** ![Akashelia](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/akashelia/32/576782_2.png) [@Akashelia](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Akashelia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/4 "2022-11-17T12:20:35Z")
The option is not in the poll, but I’m going to read along with the English Steam version, let me know if it’s not okay! ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/5 "2022-11-17T12:21:14Z")
It is absolutely okay. I’ll see if I can redo the poll! **Edit:** I could add a new poll. Sorry for anyone who had already voted! @polv I edited the new poll too, so your new vote disappeared. Sorry. 🙇‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![pm215](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/pm215/32/510099_2.png) [@pm215](https://community.wanikani.com/u/pm215)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/6 "2022-11-17T12:27:39Z")
To expand on my “maybe” vote – I’m going to read at least the free-on-Android chapter one, and then decide whether I’m enjoying it enough to buy the full game and continue. ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/7 "2022-11-17T12:28:11Z")
Totally legit way to do it. That is a really good way to go about it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Akashelia](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/akashelia/32/576782_2.png) [@Akashelia](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Akashelia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/8 "2022-11-17T12:34:41Z")
Cool thanks 🙂 I’m waiting a bit before buying it, I saw in the other thread that there should be a Steam sale around Nov 22nd, so waiting to see if there will be a discount on Bustafellows! ---
**Author:** ![polv](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/polv/32/572691_2.png) [@polv](https://community.wanikani.com/u/polv)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/9 "2022-11-17T12:38:16Z")
I don’t worry. I am just passing by. I saw the free demo, easy to buy on Android, and I just have to try; and the opening looks interesting. I saw the price also, converted to my local currency. ---
**Author:** ![ccookf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/ccookf/32/482054_2.png) [@ccookf](https://community.wanikani.com/u/ccookf)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/10 "2022-11-17T12:55:45Z")
I can’t do both this and 9-nine-, especially since this would be too lookup heavy for me without hooks, but I’m definitely down to follow along in English. Totally leaving the voting to serious people… For anyone else nabbing the Steam version it looks like they put it on sale for [~$32 last year](https://isthereanydeal.com/game/bustafellows/history/) during the Autumn Sale. So it’ll probably go on sale at the end of next week if you’re looking to save a few bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshimaster55](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yoshimaster55/32/365537_2.png) [@Yoshimaster55](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Yoshimaster55)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/11 "2022-11-17T13:18:28Z")
It’s divided into chapters which makes it easy to split it up. The good thing about Bustafellows is that it doesn’t have a route lock so you can play through anyone. That being said, you would have to use a guide or you would end up with a bad ending…or the game can end during the prologue. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshimaster55](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yoshimaster55/32/365537_2.png) [@Yoshimaster55](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Yoshimaster55)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/12 "2022-11-17T13:20:35Z")
Oh and there is a common route. The choices you make in the common route decide which romance route you play. Limbo is supposed to be the poster boy but IMO he has the least interesting story. ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/13 "2022-11-17T13:35:57Z")
@Yoshimaster55 Thank you for the info! Are the chapters similar in length, did you notice? Also do you know how many chapters there are? Maybe that depends on route. I guess I have to go looking for a spoiler free guide. ---
**Author:** ![Yoshimaster55](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yoshimaster55/32/365537_2.png) [@Yoshimaster55](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Yoshimaster55)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/14 "2022-11-17T13:49:16Z")
Each route has four chapters which includes the common route. I can’t recall if they are all the same length but I would imagine they would all be similar. I don’t recall any being exceptionally long. Also, the four chapters are side A which is kind of the story. After that, there is a side B which is like a small chapter that focuses on the romance. ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/15 "2022-11-17T14:10:29Z")
So after you’ve done your first route, how much overlap in story content is there in the four chapters? Basically, the more I know, the better I/we can plan how to read this together. Really appreciate the help. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Yoshimaster55](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yoshimaster55/32/365537_2.png) [@Yoshimaster55](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Yoshimaster55)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/16 "2022-11-17T14:23:20Z")
The first chapter is the same with everyone except you make different choices so there can be some slight variation in character response. After that, the story is entirely differen. There isn’t any overlap between routes. ---
**Author:** ![Sylph](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/sylph/32/36171_2.png) [@Sylph](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Sylph)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/17 "2022-11-17T14:26:31Z")
I haven’t played the game (that’s what I’m here for P:) but I did some investigating and found this about the structure of the game and recommended route order: > **Summary** > > > Regarding the structure, _BUSTAFELLOWS_ ’ story is split into the common route (prologue and four chapters), romance route (sides A and B for each of the five love interests), and finale (two chapters). Which love interest one gets is determined as early as in chapter two of the common route, but players are only shown more concrete hints in the subsequent chapters with three short scenes that will change according to the romance route obtained. All romance routes are immediately available right from the first playthrough and their storylines are self-contained with no overlaps. Therefore, they can be played in any order safely. Still, considering the topics and information presented in each route, I would recommend a play order of Limbo, Scarecrow, Helvetica, Mozu, and finally Shu. > > From: [BUSTAFELLOWS - Review | A Gripping Roller Coaster Ride - NookGaming](https://www.nookgaming.com/bustafellows-review/) > > I have also found a slightly different route order recommended: Limbo ► Shu ► Helvetica ► Mozu ►Scarecrow, but I have no idea which is better… I mean they’re both probably fine. It could be nice if we could do one chapter per week so 5 for the common route (prologue + 4 chapters) and 2 more per route (sides A and B), plus 2 more for the finale (whatever that means) for a total of 17. Then again 17 weeks is exactly what Loopers lasted and this game is supposed to be almost 6 times as long so… we are in trouble 🥲 I’d say we’d have to at least double those times (and that’s a reaally long time for a club but it’s still a higher pace than we’ve done before, I’m scared), but I also don’t know if the lengths of the different chapters are similar at all… VN clubs are hard 😵‍💫 I guess another option is to start with the common route, do one character route and depending on how long we take and how the group is feeling we can continue or sink into despair. ---
**Author:** ![Scylie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/scylie/32/379243_2.png) [@Scylie](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Scylie)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/18 "2022-11-17T15:19:20Z")
> [@Sylph](#): > > 5 for the common route (prologue + 4 chapters) I’d combine the prologue and chapter 1, the prologue is _really_ short (just one scene) ---
**Author:** ![Book9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/book9/32/594086_2.png) [@Book9](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Book9)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/19 "2022-11-17T15:51:31Z")
> [@Yoshimaster55](#): > > The first chapter is the same with everyone except you make different choices so there can be some slight variation in character response. After that, the story is entirely differen. There isn’t any overlap between routes. Do I understand you right to say that the common route is different between the different routes too? Because according to the info @Sylph found the common route is four chapters long. Or are you calling the common route’s four chapter as one chapter? I’m just checking so I understand things correctly. If the different choices in the common route actually adds a lot of new content, then that would explain some of the length. > [@Sylph](#): > > VN clubs are hard 😵‍💫 Word. > [@Sylph](#): > > I guess another option is to start with the common route, do one character route and depending on how long we take and how the group is feeling we can continue or sink into despair. I definitely think picking one route (and we’ll vote on which one) to start will be the path. Then as we finish it, or get close to finishing it, we can start to figure out what to do about more routes, and such things. * * * There is also like bad endings. Which is, of course, something people can do on their own time, or if that should be part of the club. (Also like, how to know when an option leads to a quick bad end or onto another route… -.-’ ) But as I understand they unlock CGs. I have found two different fairly spoiler free guides in English (I haven’t looked for them in Japanese yet, I wanted something I could skim quickly), one with seemingly the most critical decisions plus some guidelines on picking, the other one giving all the choices (but without context, literally just listing them). I’ll have to look for one in Japanese though, to get the actual correct Japanese answers. * * * Remind me again why I nominated this? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![pyororon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/pyororon/32/706046_2.png) [@pyororon](https://community.wanikani.com/u/pyororon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306/20 "2022-11-17T16:29:53Z")
> [@Book9](#): > > I haven’t looked for them in Japanese yet, I wanted something I could skim quickly [Here’s](https://choro-game.com/blog-entry-3057.html) a japanese one from the site I usually use, this one’s also just a list of the choices as well as where to save to get the bad ends. [Next page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/butafellows-visual-novel-book-club-completed/59306.md?page=2)