General Stuff:

• Tab enters skip mode, F2 brings up the load menu (does not work on the main menu) F3 brings up the save menu, Escape exits the save menu and skips credits as well as opens the pause menu

• Close as many windows as you can to keep you CPU usage to a minimum, skip mode can lag sometimes

• Clicking or pausing the game (using escape) will stop skip mode

• Make sure Disable adult content, skip unread text (just in case), and keep skipping after choices are on (I also have text speed set to the highest setting, but I'm not sure if this matters)

• Make sure all your save files are deleted (if you want to keep them, copy them somewhere else, they are found in the katawashoujo_actual_1.3 folder on your PC, I just do a search for it)

• Make sure you have seen up to the following cutscenes for each route (just having the save files doesn't work):

  • Emi: Act 3
  • Hanako: Act 4
  • Lilly: Act 4
  • Shizune: Act 4
  • Rin: Act 3
  • Your main menu should at least look something like this: ()
  • This allows for skip mode to skip all of the act transition cutscenes

• [Edit: I don't know if the wiggling actually works any more. Recent testing has shown little to no difference in speed. I think whatever was causing this to work might have been patched out of the most recent version of the game.] The fastest way to skip through text is to have skip mode on and wiggle the mouse constantly within the Katawa Shoujo window (I have no idea why wiggling the mouse makes it faster. This does get tiring, but not wiggling the mouse is much slower. I am pretty sure the speed of the wiggling doesn't matter as long as the mouse is moving, so slow circles may help keep your arm from getting tired.)

• You have to turn on skip mode every time you load a save.

• When wiggling the mouse, keep the cursor close to the middle so you don't have to move as far when making decisions.

• Hanako and Lilly's routes can be done in either order. Emi's route can be done before or after Hanako and Lilly, but not in between.

• This route is the fastest route I have found given testing up to this point, but is subject to change.

• Katawa Shoujo route flowchart: ()

The Route

Decisions with a ¤ after them indicate decisions that may save a few text boxes but are not run ending if you make a mistake.

Yeah of course. Ask about Shizune's deafness. She has a point. Attack aggressively! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. She was cute. SAVE at Read my book, Wait for Shizune and Misha to come to a decision, Go talk to Hanako (will be referred to as read, wait, talk) Go talk to Hanako Yes. Hey, come on. Cut me and Lilly some slack... SAVE at go for it or take it easy Go for it Offer to run with Emi¤ Press Emi¤ Sorry I have important things to do Downplay the issue --EMI END--

LOAD at go for it Take it easy Sorry, i'm not in good condition SAVE at Take a walk into town, Go to the library Go to the library I've done enough work for the council already¤ Admit it¤ Let's call it a day Trust my own judgment¤ --HANAKO END--

LOAD at town or library Take a walk into town Avoid the subject¤¤ Ignore his insane ramblings¤ Ask about Hanako¤ Wave her off¤¤ Talk about Hanako or Talk about school (whichever decision is closer) Drop the subject¤
--LILLY END-- ¤¤ If you picked Tell the truth AND Address the issue, then Drop the subject is mandatory

LOAD at read, wait, talk Wait for Shizune and Misha Maybe Don't drag me into this! I've done my part! Try to dodge the subject Comfort Misha --SHIZUNE END--

LOAD at read, wait, talk Read my book. Maybe. Hey, come on. Cut me and Lilly some slack...¤ Sorry, I'm not in good condition SAVE at I'm just stuck with her or I'm interested in the art club. I'm just stuck with her. --KENJI END--

LOAD at art club decision I'm interested in the art club. You're amazing! (Unlocks You'd be a big hit choice) It's refreshing.¤ I want to be more like Emi. (Unlocks You should aim high choice) You'd be a big hit or You should aim high (Whichever decision is closer to your mouse) What about me?¤ I want to be with her more.¤¤ Why did you turn away from becoming an artist?¤ Then explain. --RIN END-- ¤¤ Picking the other option here unlocks a third option for the very last decision, which is unnecessary but doesn't technically lose time. It could increase your chances of making a mistake though.

GG