An older version of Hanako's story would always be a Downer Ending and was inspired by Higurashi: When They Cry.
Akira was originally a man instead of a bifauxnen woman.Emi's art was redrawn at the last moment because it was thought she looked too young.In general, while the basic design stayed the same, Rin was more feminine and delicate in appearance.
Her reason for lacking arms was originally meant to be due to Thalidomide, but the final product changed that because it wouldn't fit a modern-day story. One of the alternate designs (shown in the Art Evolution sequences after the good endings and used in the earliest playable version of the game), with jackets and long skirts, would have been justified however, since the story originally took place in winter. What Could Have Been examples for Katawa Shoujo.
