Good morning,
I woke up to a fair few messages sent while I was asleep. Some positive, a lot negative. I did see some misconceptions about the latest update too, so I thought it'd be best if I cleared them up before I went on my trip and maybe left a poll to let people decide how they want me to handle this.
Now, the main criticism I've seen levied at the update was that things felt out of character for them. While Yuuichi's fast acceptance of what was happening definitely is a little out of ordinary for him, I did also state when this route went into production (and several times since then) that it is a short/mini route. I simply can't spend several updates on Yuuichi simply mulling how he feels about things before he takes action/voices his concerns on certain topics. Not only that, it's usually in his nature to go along with the flow and only really think afterward about how something wasn't okay/up his speed, at which point he can begin processing it.
Haruki in general is a foil on Shoichi, and there's a reason the two are so present in each other's routes. Even this is a similar take on what happened during Shoichi's first love scene, where things were pushed too far too fast and Yuu only started dealing with his feelings on it afterward. Just because he went along with it at first doesn't mean things are totally fine and no conversations are to be had about it in the future. That would be insane.
As for Haruki himself? No, it's not out of character for him. Haruki as a character is defined by how out of touch he is with his own feelings, in great part because he goes to great lengths not to be. He doesn't want to accept that he cares for someone (and even if he does, doesn't want to show it) because that gives them power over him. He's been hurt a lot in the past (both in ways that have already been shown and one that hasn't) and so he's not quick to trust. Even if he does think someone is mostly harmless, he still keeps them at a distance, ready to pull the plug on it at any moment. It's a self-preservation instinct. Not a good or healthy one, but it's how it operates.
So, yeah, he's the type to do the impulsive thing and then pretend he doesn't care. The reason he's shown going back (on a, as mentioned before, fairly long commute) to check on Yuu before he leaves for his trip is already there to serve as indication that he tried his hardest to play aloof and pretend it all meant nothing to him but he just can't. He hovers, and he doesn't communicate that he feels bad/worries he crossed a line, but he does go out of his way to check how Yuu is doing.
So on to the biggest concern people have shown (from, again, what I was able to parse. I have to catch my ride in about 30 minutes and so haven't had the time to read all the feedback yet, sorry): the two are still going to talk about what happened. It's not some dirty secret that will get brushed aside and never mentioned again. It's very much the elephant in the room. Their relationship has changed fundamentally and while they're both (for different reasons) trying to play it cool, they will have to discuss it. That's the point.
Preface done. With that said, here's the thing about Haruki's route and what the original plans for it are (IMPORTANT, and beware potential spoilers to the themes of the route): it's very much meant to be a take on a relationship starting very backwards. Instead of going through the getting to know each other stage, vibing with one another, developing an attraction, confessing feelings, dating and making things physical, the steps are all out of whack. Haruki is much more comfortable being physical than he is expressing himself. The whole point is to portray a relationship where one party is more invested (or at least where one party pretends it's just a physical fling and that they don't have feelings) until things become untenable. Haruki and Yuuichi becoming a couple isn't the starting point of the route. It's the ultimate goal. All the other steps will come before, and they won't "kiss and make up" until the very end. That was the whole point of it. Haruki will be rough and a dick and talk about how he's not interested in a relationship for a while. He's afraid of intimacy and of being vulnerable around someone.
WITH that said, I do understand if people find the idea of that uncomfortable. While I can't wholly change the plot of the route as that would go completely counter to who Haruki is as a character, I can try to soften it up. Rewrite the current update in a softer lens (tho the art can't be changed, so that's staying even if the text around it might change) and make the themes of the route a bit less divisive. It's up to you guys what you want. I'll leave the poll and I'll see your feedback when I get back.
Thank you for your attention. Have a great weekend and happy Valentine's day!