Probationary Girlfriend

Probationary Girlfriend is a novel game about Norio Butabara, a teenage otaku with low self-esteem who struggles to make friends and talk to girls. After his classmate Airi Sasamiya offers to date him for a month to help build his confidence, Norio begins going home with her, having lunch together and going on dates. As their relationship develops, he opens up to Airi, but reverts to his usual ways when she is absent.

Three trial relationships

Tsugumi Kiriya, a student committee member, and Minami Akazawa, a mischievous gal, also make contracts to act as Norio’s girlfriends. He therefore finds himself dating all three at once, as each girl interacts with him as though they are really lovers. Their relationships lead him to an important realization, while he tries to overcome his struggles with confidence.

The characters

• Airi Sasamiya: A popular, sociable classmate who sympathizes with Norio because she has experienced a similar lack of confidence. She proposes the trial dating contract to help him open up.
• Tsugumi Kiriya: Beautiful and intelligent, Tsugumi speaks bluntly and is irritated by Norio’s indecisiveness. Though prickly at first, she is caring and takes it upon herself to change him.
• Minami Akazawa: A blonde-haired gal who understands people with otaku interests and enjoys listening to Norio talk about anime. After learning about his contract with Airi, she suggests making one with him too.
• Norio Butabara: A weak-willed otaku whose low self-esteem and difficulty making friends stem in part from rude comments about his weight and name. He struggles to hold a normal conversation unless it concerns his hobbies and has little experience with girls.