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Romance allows the player to date and eventually marry eligible non-playable characters. Player characters can freely date any character, regardless of gender, as long as the NPC is not a child, already or previously married, elderly,[1] or in certain scenarios, creatures or pets.
At high enough relationship levels, being in a romantic relationship with one or more characters allows new relationship perks and social interactions to unlock, as well as new selfie poses that would only be otherwise available with the Photographer skill.
Romanceable characters
Romance is possible only with a character whose relationship gauge in denoted by hearts in the Social tab in the Menu, with the exception of Merlin, who cannot be romanced.
Bachelors
Bachelorettes
Dating
Confession
| “ | The Heart Knot represents a confession of love. When you give it to your special someone, it means you want to ask that someone out! Available at Alice's shop. | „ |
| — Loading Screen Tip | ||
Successfully confessing to Oaks
Romance can only begin after the player confesses to a character. The player can confess after reaching Friend status with an eligible character. Xu is the only character that can confess to the player himself.
A Heart Knot can be purchased at Alice's Flower Shop. When the player has a Heart Knot in their inventory they can give it as a gift to confess their feelings.
There is a chance a character will reject the player's confession. The more hearts the player has with a character the less chance the character will reject them. The chance of successful confession can be increased with Matchmaker social skill.
If a character accepts the player's confession, their relationship status with the player changes, making new interactions available.
Interaction
Successful confession unlocks new new social interactions with a character. The player can cuddle with the character they are dating, ask them for a massage, or kiss them.
Each of the interactions can be done up to three times per day for a small relationship boost. Cuddling rewards the +1 relationship point. Massage rewards +1 relationship point and restores 5 Stamina to the player. Kissing rewards +2 relationship points.
Dates
- Main article: Play and Date
After a character accepts the player's confession they can be taken on romantic dates instead of play dates for a significant relationship boost. A number of locations and interactions are available only when dating.
Dating can be initiated once per week. Only one character can be dated with per day.
Jealousy
Caught on a date
The player can romance several characters at once. They will not get a penalty unless they are caught by the character they are romancing while dating or interacting with another character.
If the player is caught while on a date with another character, the date immediately ends end their date partner gets -50 relationship points. The character who caught them gets -30 relationship points.
If the player is caught while hugging or kissing another character, both the character the player interacted with and the character who caught them get -30 relationship points.
Both characters will be upset and display broken hearts in their social status. They will refuse to talk, interact, or date with the player. They will still accept gifts.
Sonia accepting the player's apology
The broken heart status can be removed by gifting an Apology Bear purchased at the Badge Exchange.
If the player does not gift an Apology Bear within a week after a character gets jealous, their romantic relationship with that character ends. The character is reverted to Buddy (3 hearts).
Romance missions and cutscenes will not trigger jealousy even if several characters the player is romancing are involved in them. Additionally, taking Merlin on a date in News Camera cannot trigger
Breaking up
| “ | In Portia, a Withered Branch represents a breakup in relationship. When you give it to your love interest, you will break up with her or him. Available at Alice's shop. | „ |
| — Loading Screen Tip | ||
The player can end a romantic relationship at any time by gifting their partner a Withered Branch purchased at Alice's Flower Shop. The character the player gives the Branch to will revert to Stranger, Associate, Buddy, or Friend relationship level depending on the character.
Marriage
- Main article: Marriage
The player can earn the ability to marry a character they are dating after upgrading their house to level 2. Though the player can date as many people as they'd like, they can only marry one person, and all other boyfriends/girlfriends will lose relationship points and revert to a non-romantic status with the player upon marriage as if the player has given them the Withered Branch.
Proposal
| “ | If you ever meet your one true love, you can buy the Wedding Ring from the Mysterious Salesman to express your desire for marriage. | „ |
| — Loading Screen Tip | ||
The player can propose to their boyfriend or girlfriend after reaching Lover status (8-9 hearts) with them by gifting them a Wedding Ring. The wedding will take place the next morning, if they accept. Gust, Mint, and Petra [ verify ] are the only characters that can propose to the player themselves.
Certain characters have special missions the player has to complete before marrying them.
Divorce
If the player wishes to break off a Marriage, they can gift their spouse a Broken Mirror to initiate a Divorce. After divorcing, the ex-spouse's relationship level will drastically lower, and others in their relationship network will lose about 20-25 relationship points.
Divorcing Phyllis when Soulmate
Certain characters are more forgiving and may stay Buddies (two to three hearts) with the player after the divorce, though others may be particularly heartbroken by divorce and revert to being a Stranger (zero hearts).
Divorcing Phyllis when Unhappy Wife
The player can remarry the character they have divorced before. After earning enough hearts with that character, the player can confess and propose to them normally. The chances of them accepting the player's confession and/or proposal are the same as if they have never been married to the player before. While most dialogue lines stay the same, a few NPCs have unique lines about second time marriage. However, most romance missions can only be done once and will not trigger again.
Relationship levels
Certain relationship levels will unlock new social interactions.
| Level | Basic interactions | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Boyfriend / Girlfriend  
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| Sweetheart
|
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| Lover
|
|
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| Soulmate (spouse only) |
||
| Full Devotion (spouse only)
|
 |
Romance missions
Some characters have missions which can only be triggered if the player romances them or proposes to them.
Bachelors
Mint- Mint Condition is required to start dating him
- A Near-Departure and Mint's Heart are required to marry him
Bachelorettes
- Emily
- Sophie's Test is required to start dating her
- Winning the Autumn Festival
- Room for a Princess
- Ginger
- Ginger's Little Wish
- A Gift for Brother
- In Sickness
- And in Health
- Tests of Marriage is required to marry her
- Phyllis
- Hotpot for Two
- Phyllis' Dream
- Time To Get Serious is required to marry her
Romance-exclusive items
Certain items or their recipes are exclusive to romance-related missions, and other items are available once the player is married to a specific character.
The exclusive items that can be kept and/or crafted by the player are as follows. Any mission-related items listed here are only included if they are not entirely consumed by their respective missions.
Craftable items
- Decocting Pot
- Experiment Glassware
- Hospital Bed
- Large Office Desk
- Sapphire Photo Frame
Non-craftable items
Spoilers end here.
References
| Social | |
|---|---|
| Mechanics | Relationship • Romance • Marriage • Parenthood |
| Social interactions | Gifting • Party • Play and Date • Rock, Paper, Scissors • Sparring |