Affinity is a core factor behind most unlockables in the game. Affinity is awarded in the form of "points" for a specific character when certain dialogue choices are selected, indicated by a sound cue and a spinning card on the top left of the screen (though sometimes the card is thrown for separate tracked values). Generally, affinity is awarded at the rate of one point per positive decision.
Affinity cannot be lost by "bad" choices. Some choices give points to multiple characters.
Raw affinity values are not given by the game (outside of decrypting your save file), and instead, Affinity is divided into tiers, which are indicated by which orbit a character's icon is in. The "tiers" for affinity are, on the chart in the pause menu:

• Not on the chart: 0
  
• First ring: 1-4 (Tier 1)
  
• Second ring: 5-10 (Tier 2)
  
• Third ring: 11-15 (Tier 3)
  
• Fourth ring: 16+ (Tier 4)

Additionally, Fang has a hidden self-affinity value, which is relevant for at least one photo. It is not shown anywhere, but will also generally trigger the sound cue and spinning card graphic when it changes.

However, for the purposes of this guide, the visual side of the affinity chart isn't (particularly) relevant. Instead, we are concerned with the raw values that the game is ultimately checking directly for if it is going to unlock stuff.

Included in each section will be the relevant unlocks that max affinity gives (primarily for "Different Kind of Album" achievement), and a list of each* (see disclaimer) option that, as far as I can tell, raises affinity with them, divided per-episode and per-scene.

If a set of choices, scene or entire episode is excluded from a guide, then that means that there are no choices from within them that directly raise affinity with that character.

This guide does not take into account situations where you have Fang blow up at or be mean to characters, even if they don't preclude affinity opportunities. Take said options at your own risk.

This guide also assumes that you do the given character's bonfire scenes in Episode Seven. I'm not 100% certain if not doing them invalidates access to the character's photos even if you get the affinity threshold otherwise (excepting Stella and Sage, who both 100% need it completed, see their respective walkthroughs), but I wouldn't risk it, myself.

The "last call" to raising affinity is the third and final L&L session, hence why the walkthroughs only record options up to Episode Six.

In general, each max affinity guide is a full run unto itself, and these walkthroughs are written as such, though a couple of characters can be woven into others' with some very calculated decision-making.
Eventually, all of these will have to be done for the "Different Kind of Album" achievement, as each character has rewards for reaching high affinity with them, from access to their bonfire scenes (Rosa) to photos earned from max affinity (everyone but Rosa) to wholly unique scenes (Trish).

Contrary to what is claimed in other resources, your choice on whether or not to romance Naomi DOES NOT affect whether or not you get any of the affinity-based unlocks! All affinity unlocks happen regardless of your romance status with her (though her pre-reveal choices are relevant to her specifically; again, see her walkthrough).
Additionally, self-affinity only affects Fang's self-affinity photo, and does not matter for any of the other max affinity photos.

The included walkthroughs are NOT (necessarily) the sole, definitive routes for accomplishing max affinity with each character! A handful of selection wheels across the game have multiple choices that award points to the same character, and it's also possible that I may have straight-up missed some point opportunities here and there.
All the same, these walkthroughs should be fully accurate for getting the job done; all that's missing here, if anything, is some degree of optimization.

---

Target Affinity: 27
Possible Max Affinity: 33 (34 with a savescummable 1/3 chance)

Relevant unlocks:
3 Photos
2nd bonus content scene (for "Worms Forever" achievement) which is so dramatically better than the normal scene, OH MY GOD.

While 27 affinity is undoubtedly an arduous feat to accomplish -- getting her in the innermost ring means you're a bit under two-thirds of the way there -- in comparison to other characters that will be covered here, you get a lot more of a point "buffer" with Trish, and you can get a good bit above the threshold for her. If you're especially daring (though this is much less risky with the affinity requirement reductions in v1.06, which brought her target affinity down from 30), you can skim off the top of this buffer in exchange for getting points with other characters instead.

• Hold On! This decision does not give a Trish affinity point, and is not needed for her Episode Eight scene, but it is required for her photo in Episode Seven. If you have that photo already, though, then you don't need to select this option.

• I do look different.
  
• Hype her up.
  
• Cute...?

• Your face!
  
• Of course it is! (1 for both Reed and Trish)
  
• If Trish is there, it'll be a good time.

• Be sympathetic.
  
• Was I weird?
  
• Summer kinda sucked.
  
• So I was weird.
  
• Definitely.

• Get Bent Jimmy Two-Face (Puke Factory also seems to work here?)

• Pump them up. (ASSKICKERS)

• Yes! (reads like Rosa, but it seems to be Trish affinity?)

• Look at phone.
  
• He seems relaxed...
  
• She's just trying to help.

• It'll be okay. (Trish + Reed)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

• Trish's idea -- the musician (Trish)
  
• Go to the Library! While it is not Trish's first pick, there are dramatically more opportunities to gain points with her here (and points in general; you can get around 12 points across all characters here, versus only 8 in the Crystal Caves).
  
• Head on! (Trish)
  
• I like the old one. (Forlorn Corn Mourners) (Trish)
  
• You did great. (Trish)
  
• Trish and I got this. (Trish)

---

For completion's sake, I will also include Crystal Caves decisions, in case you also need that achievement while also wanting to knock this one out, or if you're trying to get Rosa's photo while doing this. Just note that, if you go to the Crystal Caves, you will have one less point versus going to the Flybrary. This shouldn't be a huge deal unless you're trading Trish points for others elsewhere, however.

• Trish's idea -- the musician (Trish)
  
• Go to the Crystal Caves (Trish + Rosa)
  
• Olly is the coolest (Trish)
  
• Trish, guitar it up! (Trish)

• You're scary smart. (Trish)

• Nope. (Trish)

• Mango Fern? (Trish + Rosa)

• That's awesome, Trish. (will fall to static if unselected, so commit right away) (Trish)
  
• I need a minute... (the other options seem scary to me, though it doesn't affect affinity)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be particularly impactful these guides to work, though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.
This section in particular I feel is pretty unoptimized, but it'll work.

• Go to the Swamp/Forest (Trish + Rosa)

• I want to support you. (Trish)
  
• I'll miss you. (Trish)
  
• You can always talk to me. (Trish)

• I feel good, actually. (Fang?)
  
• I'm happy to share this as well. (Trish)

• Thanks Rosa, for real. (probably just Rosa)
  
• What you draw during the tarot section should be irrelevant, but if you want to be super extra safe, restart this scene until you draw Death, then select "It's gonna be a bloodbath, Trish." for an extra point. It's not necessary with this route, but I would advise considering it if you decided to go to the Crystal Caves instead of the Library. (Trish)

• I love these idiots. (Trish + Reed)
  
• Go away, dude. (Trish)

• We can do this. Together. (Trish + Reed)
  
• Best friends. Best band. (Trish + Reed)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. The final session in Episode Six in particular seems to have the greatest variance between runs depending on rolls.
All the same, it doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.
Also, given how intricate this particular L&L session is, I'm dumping all of my choices at once.

• I guess this is it
  
• We're ready
  
• Let's beat his ass
  
• Beats me
  
• Glad you made it (Naser)
  
• Of course we're siblings (Naser)
  
• We go in together
  
• We've got this
  
• Support -> Olly
  
• Reed, can you roll for me? (I got damaged hard by Braxus earlier in the scene; this is a Naomi point. Don't worry if you don't see this one.)
  
• Heal up
  
• Attack with someone
  
• Attack with Olly (depending on who you attack with prior and if you have Maia heal or not, this option may not appear, as some characters will get defeated by Braxus before the final attack. If this option doesn't appear, you can restart the scene and select another person to attack with to get your desired character at the final "attack" and thus get a point here.)
  
• It's okay. We're together.

---

Target Affinity: 23
Possible Max Affinity: 25?

Relevant unlocks:
2 Photos

Despite being a main character, up until v1.06, Reed's threshold was originally unbelievably strict, with zero apparent wiggle room for errors or the like -- if you missed even one affinity point, you'd fail to hit the threshold (as I had learned the hard way)... and he only gives you one photo after going through all the trouble of endearing yourself to him.
With this patch, however, there is now actual wiggle room with him, and you can either miss or trade up to two points for those from other characters. The attached walkthrough will still focus on getting the maximum possible with him, however.
Reed's max affinity run is, in my opinion, the most demanding of all, not only because you get a relatively thin margin of only 2 points, but also because the choices that affect his affinity tend to be the least obvious when compared to the rest of the roster, as well as a meaningful chunk of his points requiring you to trade point opportunities with other characters for him.

• Wait for Reed

• Of course it is! (1 for both Reed and Trish)
  
• Reed loves this stuff. I'm in.

• Sounds pretty metal.

• People are the best.

• Be sympathetic. (may be just Trish point, but just in case)
  
• Was I weird?
  
• Summer kinda sucked. (Reed) (either this one or the preceding gives the reed point here)
  
• So I was weird.
  
• Definitely.

• My Mother Is a Robot

• Pump them up. (ASSKICKERS)

• It's really great up here.
  
• So... you'll do it?

• Look at phone.
  
• He seems relaxed...
  
• She's just trying to help (may be Trish point only)

• Reed's right.

• Ha! Nice one, Reed!
  
• I wish we could!
  
• It'll be okay.

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be relevant for Reed.
This list is very unsorted as a result of light testing. Some decisions here may not be relevant.

• Go to the Flybrary! The Caves doesn't (appear to) have any opportunities to raise Reed's affinity.
  
• Go head-on. (just Trish?)
  
• What normally happens? (probably doesn't matter?)
  
• Something new -> Something about Braxus (not sure if what you choose for the name in specific is relevant, but choosing a new name definitely is.)
  
• I have an idea.
  
• Like an arrow, flying true!
  
• Never!
  
• Taunt Keph
  
• Cast a spell.

• You made it fun.
  
• I can tell this is important to you.

• Definitely.

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions -- this one especially, I feel like there's another Reed point here that I missed (that would raise his total possible to 26), so I'm listing everything I picked here just to be on the safe side.
As before, there's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. Thankfully, this RNG doesn't appear to be relevant for Reed.

• Go to the Swamp/Forest!
  
• Whatever.
  
• Swing at branches
  
• I want to do something!
  
• Something funny!

• I love these idiots.

• We can do this. Together.
  
• Best friends. Best band.

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go; one specific moment that appears to give a lot of Naomi affinity is dependent on if you get damaged a lot by Braxus. Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be relevant for Reed.
Also, with how many choices there are, I'm just listing everything I did for this section. I only got one point here; there might be more, but it should be enough if you got everything else.

• Are we alright?
  
• We're ready.
  
• Let's beat his ass.
  
• Scythe Slash
  
• Beats me.
  
• I want to end this.
  
• Glad you made it. (Naser point)
  
• Of course we are. (Naser point)
  
• We should go in together.
  
• We've got this
  
• Attack
  
• Gather energy
  
• Immobilise
  
• It's okay. We're together.

---

Target Affinity: 25
Possible Max Affinity: ~30-31?*

Relevant unlocks:
2 Photos

Naomi is interesting. For a majority of a run, it appears as if getting her affinity sufficiently high is going to be very difficult, and if you try to run a tally, the math hints that you might just come up short... and then Episode Five happens, and you get absolutely dumped with points seemingly out of nowhere.
The reason for this: whenever you're receptive to Secret Admirer, those choices build up a second pool of affinity points, credited to "Pretty Hero". Usually, these points end up going unused, but if you get Naomi to Tier 4 (16+) affinity by the end of Episode Five when she reveals herself, then all of Pretty Hero's points are converted to Naomi's. As a result of this phenomenon, Naomi's max affinity run is by far the most generous -- I was at 27 points by the end of Episode Five.
You do not need to romance Naomi for any of her affinity-based unlocks (though you obviously have to do so in at least one playthrough for her romance photo), nor does it hinder you in any way if you do decide to romance her. However, as mentioned, being very receptive to Secret Admirer/Pretty Hero is critical for the affinity "payout" in Episode Five.
While I have not tested this, after you get "paid out" there, you shouldn't need to worry about Naomi's affinity at all, given that 25 is her apparent threshold. You can instead spend the third L&L session in Episode Six trying to work towards other characters (or just goofing off).

*As I focused on Naomi's raw affinity rather than Secret Admirer's affinity (which become Naomi's) during my testing, I have not optimized the Secret Admirer dialogue choices at all past the broad strokes included with this walkthrough. There is a decent chance you can get more than even this.

• Nothing to see here. (doesn't appear to be relevant)
  
• I bother to win the phone minigame. (doesn't appear to be relevant)
  
• Sure, why not. (Naomi)

If you get a not good performance on the rhythm section in this scene, there is an alternate exchange with Naomi afterwards that may award another point with her versus what I got here by selecting "I guess it is." when the option comes up.
I do not go for it here, nor have I tested it, but you can certainly go for it if you'd really like. As far as I can tell you only miss out on a self-affinity point, but at the same time this route doesn't "need" that extra Naomi point either.

• Maybe they're right. (Naser + Naomi + Fang?)
  
• He's got a point. (probably just Naser)
  
• Could be cool, actually. (Naomi)

• Text back. What you select here doesn't appear to be especially relevant, although "Who is this?" and "Do we go to school together?" are the safe ones.

• Stay here. This choice, and the quasi-path that it opens up, does not award any extra Naomi affinity, but the ensuing wedge scene is required for her character achievement. If you have already completed the "Pretty Heroes" achievement, picking this is not mandatory.
  
• She seems... fearless.

• Thanks again.

• I can't believe I said that to Naomi. (PHOTO)

• It was a nice message!

• Naomi's right.
  
• Thanks, Naomi. (will fall to static if unselected, so commit right away)

• Yes!
  
• Advice?
  
• You're the best.

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.
By the way, this specific scene is where you're getting about a third of Naomi's affinity points before Episode Five.

• Naomi's idea -- the student (Naomi)
  
• Go to the Library! (Sage + Naomi)
  
• Be cautious (Naomi)
  
• Name choice doesn't appear to be relevant.
  
• Like an arrow. (Reed, but also maybe Naomi?)
  
• Never! (unclear, probably Naomi)
  
• Attack (unclear)
  
• Cast a spell. (Naomi + Reed????? very unclear)

If all is well, you should get a photo just before the option selection wheel shows up.

• Not prolonging this pain. (shouldn't be relevant if you ask a question, just note that all three questions has Fang being a jerk, which may complicate matters)

• Because FUTURE??
  
• You're kinda great.
  
• I want one (doesn't appear to matter which)
  
• Oooh fun!
  
• I know!!!!
  
• Unselect Aw... -> I do too.

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

• Go to the Temple!
  
• Investigate the scorch marks.
  
• I'm impressed.
  
• MELEE ATTACK (probably not relevant)
  
• Just tell them
  
• Are you sure?
  
• Cute...?

There are a total of 4 Naomi points (or another quarter of the 16 affinity goal for Episode 5 to secure Pretty Hero's points) somewhere in this mess.

• They're kinda great.

• Can't wait! (one of the other ones here might be better, but IDK)

If you have gotten Naomi to 16+ affinity, and thus secured Pretty Hero's points, when Fang notices her walk in to Lava Java, they will choose to strike up a conversation with her instead of going backstage right away. If you do not get this exchange, then you have messed up somewhere, and you should restart the run.

• Be positive. (not sure if any of these are necessarily important, but this is the one I picked.)

• Meet Pretty Hero right now.
  
• What about it?
  
• I'm not ready. (PHOTO)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.
As before, I'm dumping all my choices, due to the sheer quantity of choices that I haven't fully tested.
Also, as mentioned earlier, you really don't need to worry about this session too much, provided you followed the rest of the walkthrough. The instructions here are only if you want to be extra safe (which is reasonable).

• I guess this is it.
  
• We're ready.
  
• Let's beat his ass.
  
• Scythe Slash
  
• I've got a guess.
  
• I want to end this.
  
• Glad you made it. (Naser)
  
• Of course we are. (Naser)
  
• We should go in together.
  
• We've got this
  
• Support someone -> Energy Shroud on Linnea
  
• Reed, can you roll for me? (occurs only if you take a lot of damage from Braxus, which requires you to fail the save roll against Braxus in his first phase; this is one of the only RNG points in the game. If you don't get this opportunity, don't stress over it, you should be well over the threshold already by this point.)
  
• Immobilise!
  
• Blast him with magic
  
• Attack with Linnea (depending on who you attack with prior and if you have Maia heal or not, this option may not appear, as some characters will get defeated by Braxus before the final attack. If this option doesn't appear, you can restart the scene and select another person to attack with to get your desired character at the final "attack" and thus get a point here.)
  
• It's okay. We're together.

---

Target Affinity: 20
Possible Max Affinity: 22?

Relevant unlocks:
2 Photos

For how much affinity Naser needs to be maxed out, he is a very straightforward character to get points with, and outside of the assembly and the final L&L session, you won't ever have to trade points opportunities with anyone else for his. Because of this, with some deft maneuvering, you might be able to integrate Naser's max affinity rewards into a run where you're going for someone else's.
Naser point opportunities are very frontloaded; you get most of his within the first two episodes, and then the final few trickle in over the next several episodes.

• Very funny.

Get a 90+% performance on the song! If you have done so, Naomi will react with "Wow. That doesn't sound like something you wrote".

• Maybe they're right. (Naser + Naomi + Fang?)
  
• He's got a point. (Naser)
  
• Could be cool, actually. (just Naomi, but just in case)

• Anarchist Naser would be cool. (Good call, bro. also works here)
  
• That's nice, actually.

Fun fact: this episode accounts for roughly half of all of Naser's points across the entire game.

• I should just sleep. (You appear to get another point here versus "Gotta move around" even though the scene plays out mostly the same??? very peculiar)
  
• Make him feel better.
  
• Hit me with some verified terror. (not sure if relevant, but marked here just in case)

I have not extensively tested this scene, mainly on if changing the subject matter that you have Naser talk about affects what points you get during the auditorium section, but I believe it's completely optimized. I wouldn't risk messing with anything here, as this specific scene is where you get ~20% of Naser's points as-is.

• Turn off the radio. (only option)
  
• He's got something to say.
  
• That's gotta go.
  
• Sure, what's up?
  
• Oh god, stop.
  
• Help him out.
  
• Be relatable.
  
• And you are.

• Stay here.
  
• Naser.
  
• I'm glad I didn't miss this.
  
• Naser's got this.
  
• He did okay! (+3 to Naser, evidently) (PHOTO)

---

Alternatively, you can still choose to sit with Trish and Rosa, and earn their points as well. At the cost of your point buffer with Naser, this will allow you to theoretically integrate a max affinity Naser run into a Trish max affinity playthrough as well.

• Go sit with them. (no Naser points here)
  
• He did okay! (+3 to Naser, evidently) (PHOTO)

Outside of the final option, what you pick during this argument is irrelevant.

• I know... (at the end of argument.)

• Not prolonging this pain. (the rest of the options from choosing to ask a question seem dangerous, but it shouldn't necessarily be relevant either way)

• How are you doing? (will fall to static if unselected, so commit right away) (does not throw card, but still needed for point)
  
• We work well together. (Probably not relevant)
  
• Sorry about the other day. (PHOTO eventually)
  

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing, and especially in Naser's case, as you really only need one more point once phase 2 of the Braxus fight kicks in.

• Glad you made it. (Naser)
  
• Of course we are. (Naser)
  
• We go in together.
  
• We've got this.
  
• Support someone -> Cast Dark Weapon on Keph! (Naser)
  
• Heal up!
  
• Attack with someone
  
• Attack with Keph (depending on who you attack with prior and if you have Maia heal or not, this option may not appear, as some characters will get defeated by Braxus before the final attack. If this option doesn't appear, you can restart the scene and select another person to attack with to get your desired character at the final "attack" and thus get a point here.)

---

Target Affinity: 10
Possible Max Affinity: 13/14?

Relevant unlocks:
1 Photo (bonfire)

Rosa is the only character in the game that does not have any special reward for gaining a particularly high affinity with her past her bonfire scene. Despite this, her bonfire scene threshold is quite high for a character that isn't one of the "core four" supporting characters (it's specifically double the thresholds for Sage and Stella), and so is quite missable if you're not going out of your way to build affinity with her. However, if you do prioritize her, she has a very substantial point buffer, especially when compared to Sage and Stella -- in fact, it is the third highest among all characters.
A full-ish guide is here anyway just for completion's sake. However, given her lower priority and intensity versus the other characters, this particular route is most likely not completely optimized, but it should work all the same.

• Be cool, Fang. (will fall to static if the resistance prompt is started then cancelled, so commit right away)

• Sit with Trish and Rosa (Trish + Rosa?)
  
• That's cool. (Rosa)

• Yes! (just Trish?)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

• Go to the Crystal Caves! While the Flybrary hands out more points on the whole, you get dramatically more points with Rosa specifically by doing the Caves. Specifically, you get 40% of the necessary Rosa points in this one session.
  
• Attack.
  
• For Maia and Keph!
  
• It is kinda cute...
  
• Violence by vines!
  
• Please, can she do that?
  
• Maia.
  
• That's... touching?

---

For completion's sake, I will also include Flybrary decisions, in case you also need that achievement while also wanting to knock this one out, or if you want to get a wider spread of points with other characters at the same time. Just note that, if you go to the Crystal Caves, you will have two less points with Rosa, but this shouldn't mess you up, assuming you do everything else here. Going Crystal Caves is definitely the safer pick for focusing Rosa, however.

• Go to the Library!
  
• I like the old one. (Forlorn Corn Mourners)
  
• Never!
  
• Attack (unclear)
  
• Spare him.
  

• Mango Fern?
  
• Unselect all It's... -> ...beautiful. (PHOTO)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

• Go to the Swamp/Forest! (Trish + Rosa)
  
• I want to do something! (Reed)
  
• Something funny! (Rosa + Sage?)

---

Due to other, later point opportunities for Rosa, going to the Swamp is technically optional for her max affinity content. At the cost of two Rosa points, you can go to the Temple instead to get that achievement completed, or for trying to secure other characters' affinity points*. I would not recommend doing this if you went to the Library in Episode Three, however, as you will no longer have a point buffer with Rosa, unless you really feel like you know what you're doing.

Decisions for the Temple have not been listed, as I have not been able to find any Rosa point opportunities there.

*From my testing, the only meaningfully profitable character at the temple is Naomi, so this would presumably be for a double Naomi + Rosa max run. However, this specific combo I don't feel is especially obtainable in the same playthrough, as they have a substantial number of mutually exclusive point opportunities in both L&L sessions and the post-BOTB scene content, and you're running on very thin margins to get 16+ before the end of Episode 5. You're more than welcome to test this on your own, however.

• Thanks Rosa, for real.

• Stay here for a bit. (Rosa + Stella + Sage)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be particularly impactful for affinity, though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

There's some very inscrutable decision flowchart stuff, or maybe just total RNG, that crops up here. Sometimes, Maia get's KO'd, other times she's available to attack with. From what I can tell, this is sourced from supporting versus attacking on that first part of Phase 2 of the Braxus fight, then healing, then attacking with another person again, then you should have access to being able to finish Braxus off with Maia.
This specific bit needs to be tested more to ensure complete consistency, but you should be fine even if a point opportunity never crops up here, assuming you followed the rest of the walkthrough up until this point. If you want to be safe, if the final "Attack with Maia" option does not appear, restart the scene and start changing up what you select during Phase 2 of the Braxus fight.

Also, with how many choices there are, I'm just listing everything I did for this section.

• I guess this is it.
  
• We're ready.
  
• Let's beat his ass.
  
• Attack
  
• Glad you made it.
  
• Of course we are.
  
• We go in together.
  
• We've got this.
  
• Support someone -> Cast Dark Weapon on Keph! (shouldn't matter who you support here specifically (probably?))
  
• Heal up!
  
• Attack with Keph?
  
• Attack with Maia? (depending on who you attack with prior and if you have Maia heal or not, this option may not appear, as some characters will get defeated by Braxus before the final attack. If this option doesn't appear, you can restart the scene and select another person to attack with to get your desired character at the final "attack" and thus get a point here.)
  
• It's okay. We're together.

---

Target Affinity: 10
Possible Max Affinity: 10

Relevant unlocks:
1 Photo (technically 3 as you need the point associated with taking the option that leads to his "wedge" scene, as well as the one from his bonfire scene)

For a side character, Sage's max affinity run is especially demanding. Similar to Stella, you need to hit every affinity up with him. Unlike Stella, however, the majority of his point opportunities are in the L&L sections, meaning you won't be able to effectively give attention to other characters during them. Because of this, a maxed Sage route is a dedicated task in its own right, rather than something that can necessarily be cleanly slotted into another playthrough.

IMPORTANT NOTE: you HAVE to do Sage's bonfire scene! While it does not give an affinity point, it does appear to be a prerequisite all the same.

• Aww, that's nice. (Sage + Stella)
  
• Teach me your mystical ways!

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

• Sage's idea -- the heiress.
  
• Go to the Library! You have to go here to get enough Sage points. Specifically, you're getting 40% of all of Sage's points here.
  
• I like the last one. (Havoc Union)
  
• Never!
  
• Attack!
  
• Do something really stupid!

• Totally. (PHOTO eventually)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be critical for these runs to work though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.
Side note: I get the nagging feeling like I'm missing a second Sage point somewhere in this section, but I haven't found it across several test runs through. A second point would add room for error/potential integration with another character's max affinity playthrough, but this route works without this hypothetical second point.

• Go to the Swamp/Forest! Sage says he prefers the Temple, but he doesn't seem to get any points at all there, including for selecting it as a zone.
  
• I want to do something! (this appears to just be a Reed point)
  
• Something funny!

• Thanks for coming out, fans. [Sage]

• Stay here for a bit. (point for Sage, Stella, and Rosa)

NOTE: I haven't done extensive optimization in the L&L sessions. There's some apparent RNG in play here with how both your rolls and the rolls being done by other characters go. It doesn't seem to be particularly impactful for affinity, though, per my (ultimately limited) testing.

There's some very inscrutable decision flowchart stuff, or maybe just total RNG, that crops up here. Sometimes, Jeff get's KO'd, other times he's available to attack with. From what I can tell, this is sourced from supporting versus attacking on that first part of Phase 2 of the Braxus fight, then healing, then attacking with another person again, then you should have access to being able to finish Braxus off with Jeff.
This specific bit needs to be tested more to ensure complete consistency, but this should work as-is. If, for whatever reason, the final "Attack with Jeff" option does not appear, restart the scene and start changing up what you select during Phase 2 of the Braxus fight, as you NEED that final point.

Also, with how many choices there are, I'm just listing everything I did for this section.

• I guess this is it.
  
• We're ready.
  
• Let's beat his ass.
  
• Attack
  
• Glad you made it.
  
• Of course we are.
  
• We go in together.
  
• We've got this.
  
• Support someone -> Cast Dark Weapon on Keph! (likely not relevant who in specific you support here?)
  
• Heal up!
  
• Attack with Keph/Olly
  
• Attack with Jeff
  
• It's okay. We're together.

---

Target Affinity: 9
Possible Max Affinity: 9

Relevant unlocks:
1 Photo (technically 3 as you need the point associated with taking the option that leads to her "wedge" scene, as well as the one from her bonfire scene)


Similar to Sage, you need to hit every single affinity up with Stella in order to get her max affinity photo end of the game. However, unlike him, this is reasonably straightforward to pull off, and only a couple of the choices mean sacrificing points with another character. In my opinion, probably the least demanding character to get to max affinity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: you HAVE to do Stella's bonfire scene! Completing it gives the final affinity point that you need.

• Aww, that's nice. (point for both Sage and Stella)
  
• What should I focus on? (I don't believe what you ask here is relevant, but just in case)
  
• It's good then? (Also unclear on if this is relevant or not)
  
• Thanks for the insight, Stella.

• I feel the same thing.
  
• Is this the right path?

• Thanks for coming out, fans.
  
• Before a huge moment? WHY NOT. (What you draw does not matter.)

• Stay here for a bit. (point for Rosa, Stella, and Sage)

---

Target Affinity: 10
Possible Max. Affinity: 10? (unclear)

Relevant unlocks:
1 Photo

As mentioned in the foreword, Fang has a hidden "self-affinity" value. I have found that it is at least relevant for the given photo in Episode Five, but the jury is still out on if self-affinity has any effects on decisions elsewhere (though my testing has pointed towards "No" being the answer to this). As it is a "secret" affinity, and not on the affinity chart, it is impossible to figure out in-game if what you're doing is raising it.

Despite how ostensibly arcane it is, getting max self-affinity is actually quite straightforward. Outside of specifically two choices, both in Episode Five, you can build points without losing access to other points, and in many cases it is gained while getting points with other characters.

Self-affinity appears to stop changing (or being relevant at all) after Episode Five.

NOTE: This route is not 100% optimized, as it hasn't been tested to the same degree as others here. It'll work, but there's a non-zero chance it's not the most points you can feasibly get.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Try and get a good score on every rhythm game section for maximum accuracy to this walkthrough! I know for certain the Episode 1 piano performance requires this for the Fang point, but I haven't tested every other one yet to see if messing up a lot causes you to miss out on a self-affinity point. To be on the safe side, enabling "Generous Timings" in the Accessibility options will reduce the difficulty of them a bit.

• Let Go! This decision gives a Fang point... even though it technically takes place in the future of all of the following events listed here.

• We got this. (will fall to static if unselected, so commit right away)

• I bother to win the phone minigame. It doesn't appear to award a point, but I haven't tested if it's consequential outside of that.

Somewhere here is a Fang point.

• Aww, that's nice.
  
• What should I focus on?
  
• It's good then?
  
• Thanks for the insight, Stella. (this one probably doesn't matter)

Get a 90+% performance on the song! If you have done so, Naomi will react with "Wow. That doesn't sound like something you wrote".

• Maybe they're right. (Naser + Naomi + Fang?)
  
• He's got a point. (just Naser?)
  
• Could be cool, actually. (just Naomi?)

I'm not sure exactly where the point is in this scene, so I'm listing everything that I selected.

• Be sympathetic. (Trish)
  
• Was I weird?
  
• Summer kinda sucked.
  
• So I was weird.
  
• Definitely.

• I guess.

• Thank you!
  
• She's just trying to help us. (most likely just a Trish point)

• I feel good, actually.
  
• Tonight's gonna kick ass.

• I can do this. (the PHOTO should fire after the BOTB performances, assuming you got to the requisite self-affinity)

As briefly mentioned at the beginning of the guide, with some strategic choice selection, one can map out a set of "golden routes", which strive to get all content for as many characters as possible in a given playthrough in each one, with the aim of minimizing the number of playthroughs needed to see all content and get all achievements. This will require very, very specific decision-making in each playthrough in order to do so successfully, and is risky: blunders may lead to you getting nothing at all for the playthrough.

In patch v1.06, point requirements for Trish's max affinity scene was reduced from 30 to 27, while Reed's max affinity photo was reduced from 25 to 23. These free up five extra points compared to when these routes were originally made, which may make such "golden routes" more tenable.

Prospective groupings, provided by estabrooksd0831, suggest that 3 playthroughs are the minimum needed for full completion:

Note: NONE of these outlines have been mapped out nor tested! These are just possibilities that exist, and are not necessarily known to be viable. Where relevant, spoiled commentary has been provided by me if you're interested in testing them yourself.

• While on the Trish route described here, you may inherently get enough affinity with Rosa to access her bonfire scene, maybe trading a point here and there to reach it if you're short. It is also possible to obtain Naser's content at the same time, due to minimal overlapping points between the three of them.
  
• Reed and Sage may be able to both be completed at the same time with very specific choices. This one is suspect to me, due to both of their points being very dependent on L&L. Not saying it's not possible though, due to the aforementioned wiggle room that Reed has.
  
• Naomi, Fang, and Stella's content can all be done in the same run: Stella tends to slot easily into other playthroughs in general, while Fang self-affinity generally doesn't require you to give up affinity with other characters for it. This one is also suspect to me, as you will have to trade some Naomi affinity for Stella before Episode 5, which may jeopardize getting access to the Pretty Hero point conversion, which my Naomi route relies on. I haven't done any studying on how flexible Naomi's run is, though, so this may work.

Generally, these runs will resemble max affinity runs for the most point-demanding character in them, while taking any points you can for any other characters, favoring the ones that have less wiggle room, with a focus on reaching their thresholds as soon as possible.

REITERATING: nothing mentioned here has been tested by myself, and may not work! Don't say I didn't warn you if results don't pan out.

btw, shoutout to dreesha, without her figuring out how to set up manual saving, enabling the research I did (read: a lot of trial-and-error of selecting choices then seeing where points ended up with backed-up saves for each scene), this guide would have been completely impossible to make within the span of multiple human lifetimes.