AIR is a Visual Novel by the studio KEY, released in 2000. KEY and the main scenario writer, Maeda Jun, are well known for their emotional stories and you can expect a similar experience from AIR.

I decided to make this guide because I could not find one that detailed which choices are optional, and do not impact the routes or the endings. I appreciate being about to enjoy making my own choices while still being guided to specific routes and avoiding bad endings, and I hope you will too.

Aside from identifying optional choices, I have updated the choice dialogues to match the language in the Steam version. The Steam version is all ages, so adult scenes that were part of the original release, and some related choices, are not present.

Credit to Flutterz from Fuwanovel[forums.fuwanovel.moe], whose guide I used as a starting point.

As well as this PSNProviles guide[psnprofiles.com] which helped my track down achievements and CGs.

It is worth noting that I have not tested every possible combination of choices, but I am relatively confident that sticking with the guide will lead you to the correct endings. I'm also sure that some of the choices I have listed are also optional, so I hope to update more later. It's more work than I expected though, so no promises.

Recommended route order is Misuzu > Kano > Minagi > Summer > Air.
The first three together make up the 'Dream' portion, and completing all three will unlock Summer. Completing Summer will unlock Air.

July 18:
- 'Tell the truth' or 'Start running' (don't lie)
All other choices on July 18 are optional

July 19:
All choices on July 19 are optional

July 20:
- Ask about the bandana (if you plan to use saves as route shortcuts later)
- Give it a shot (This is only needed for 100% CG completion and achievement)
- Do the puppet show (if you plan to use saves as route shortcuts later)
All other choices on July 20 are optional

July 21:
- I'll give it to you when I pay for it
- 'Say it's no problem...' or 'Show off...'
- Let her add details (Save here for Kano & Minagi routes)
- Trust Misuzu's notes
- 'Get on the bike' or 'Get in the cart' (This choice may not be presented)
- Yeah

July 22:
- Fine, then
- Push back
- Finish her with a final blow
- I'm waiting for Misuzu
- Go to the school
- Yeah, I would
- Go to bed

July 23:
- Borrow the stegosaurus...
- Keep it on
- I'll treat you
- It's solar powered
- The shopping district
- Go in
- Give it a shot
- Hang out (Save here for Misuzu Bad End 1 & Achievement)

July 26:
- Stay there (Save here for Misuzu Band End 2 & Achievement)

July 27:
- Okay

Misuzu End (Daybreak achievement)

If you made a save in Misuzu's route to skip ahead, load and start from the point marked on July 21

July 18:
- 'Tell the truth' or 'Start running' (don't lie)
All other choices on July 18 are optional

July 19:
All choices on July 19 are optional

July 20:
- Ask about the bandana
- Do the puppet show
All other choices on July 20 are optional

July 21:
- 'I'll give it to you...' or 'I'll think about...'
- 'Say it's no problem...' or 'Show off...'
Load from Misuzu's route will start here
- Decline
- 'Get on the bike' or 'Get in cart' (may not be present)
- Absolutely not

July 22:
- Hang out with your other friends
- Push back
- Throw her to the ground
- I don't have anything to do
- Do the puppet show
- Go to the Kamios' house
- They're not bad
- Go out for a walk
- Go a bit further
- Wait to see what happens
- Try to explain somehow

July 23:
- Borrow the stegosaurus...
- Change into the wet shirt
- The shopping district
- Inside the clinic
- Find something to do
- Walk toward the station
- Pick up the stray and give it back to her
- Do it

July 24:
- Try putting the bone in your mouth
- Eat before leaving (Save here for Minagi route)

July 25:
- Leave her to it
- Stick with her to the end
- Tease her a little more
- Don't ask about the bandana

July 26:
- Go to the shopping district to make money
- Search on your own
- Practice puppet shows

July 28:
- Agree

July 29:
- Say you'll help her look

July 30:
- Lab coat
- The cyborg has escaped!
- Try opening it
- I'm only interested in younger women
- Eavesdrop a while longer
- Keep listening

August 2:
- Use Houjutsu to open the lock

August 3:
- Don't get on
- I'll stay with Kano from now on (save here for Kano Bad End 1 & achivement)
- The bus stop
- The shrine (save here for Kano Bad End 2 & achivement)

Kano End (Magic achievement)

If you made a save in Misuzu's route to skip ahead, load and start from the point marked on July 21
If you made a save in Kano's route to skip ahead, load and start from the point marked on July 24

July 18:
- 'Tell the truth' or 'Start running' (don't lie)
All other choices on July 18 are optional

July 19:
All choices on July 19 are optional

July 20:
- Ask about the bandana
- Do the puppet show
All other choices on July 20 are optional

July 21:
- 'I'll give it to you...' or 'I'll think about...'
- 'Say it's no problem...' or 'Show off...'
Load from Misuzu's route will start here
- Decline
- 'Get on the bike' or 'Get in cart' (may not be present)
- Absolutely not

July 22:
- Hang out with your other friends
- Push back
- Throw her to the ground
- I don't have anything to do
- Do the puppet show
- Go to the Kamios' house
- They're not bad
- Go out for a walk
- Go a bit further
- Wait to see what happens
- Try to explain somehow

July 23:
- Borrow the stegosaurus...
- Change into the wet shirt
- The shopping district
- Inside the clinic
- Find something to do
- Walk toward the station
- Pick up the stray and give it back to her
- Do it

July 24:
- Try putting the bone in your mouth
Load from Kano's route will start here
- Better not

July 25:
- Offer help
- Hand over the doll
- It's too hot. Please for a break
- Call her to come up
- Don't ask about the bandana

July 26:
- Go to the shopping district to make money

July 27:
- Accept it obligingly

July 29:
- Start with the 'S' words
- It's a dictionary though
- I'm jealous

August 7:
- Better luck tomorrow (Save here for Minagi Bad End)

Minagi End ('A Promise' achievement)

Summer is a linear story with no choices. Enjoy!

Summer End ('Dream of the sky' achievement)

Note: The Air route will be impacted by choices you made on your most recent playthrough of Misuzu's route. These are mostly minor, with the exception of one that I had marked which will lead to a unique CG.

July 16:
- Follow the girl

July 17:
- Fight

July 19:
- Go with the man (for a scene with Yukito) OR 'Go with Misuzu' then 'Try going in' (for a scene with Kano)
- Go outside
- Escape

July 20:
- Go out for a walk
- Try going down the narrow road (appears if you chose 'Give it a shot' in Misuzu route)
- Fight (may not appear)
- Circle around (may not appear)
- Go and find out

July 21:
- Go with the man
- Seize the paper

July 22:
- Think about long-ago days some more

July 23:
- Wander around the nest
- Turn right
- Turn right

Air End ('Departure' achievement)

Congratulations, you have completed the main storyline. If you are a completionist, you can continue reading to complete bad / normal endings, associated achievements, and the remaining CGs.

'First Sky Chapter' achievement

Upon clearing the Air route, you will unlock one additional short route through 'Start' on the main menu, 'First Sky Chapter'. Upon finishing this short story, you will unlock the 'First Sky Chapter' achievement.

--

'Re-departure' achievement:

Load the 'Misuzu Bad End 1' save, from July 23.

July 23:
- Go home

Misuzu Bad End 1

--

'Failed' achievement:

Load the 'Misuzu Bad End 2' save, from July 26.

July 26:
- Leave the room

July 27:
- I don't know (Save here for Misuzu Bad End 3)

Misuzu Bad End 2

--

'Outset' achievement:

Load the 'Misuzu Bad End 3' save from July 27

July 27:
- Okay

Misuzu Bad End 3

--

'Parting' achievement:

Load the 'Kano Bad End 1' save, from August 3

August 3:
- I shouldn't be around Kano anymore

Kano Bad End 1

--

'Resolve' achievement:

Load the 'Kano Bad End 2' save, from August 3

August 3:
- The school

Kano Bad End 2

--

'Dreams and Reality' achievement:

Load the 'Minagi Bad End' save from August 7

August 7:

- Give me a good morning kiss
(This story continues a fair bit before ending, so just keep reading)

Minagi Bad End

--

'MUSIC' achievement:

On the menu scroll to the right with the blue arrow, and select 'MUSIC'. If you've finished all the stories, you should get the achievement, as all the music has been unlocked.

--

'GALLERY' achievement:

On the menu scroll to the right with the blue arrow, and select 'GALLERY'. If you've finished all the endings, including bad endings, you should get the achievement. The routes themselves should cover all the CGs, with the exception of that one sneaky one in Air, which is more easily missable.

--

'Completion' achievement:

If you've been following along, this should unlock along with the 'GALLERY' achievement. It is awarded for getting all other achievements.

Thanks to KEY and Maeda Jun for making such amazing stories. If you enjoyed AIR and have not read their other works, everything I've read from them has been great. Check them out.

Thanks to those who made the guides I used for my playthrough, as mentioned in the into. Flutterz from Fuwanovel[forums.fuwanovel.moe] and PSNProfiles guide[psnprofiles.com].

Thanks to you for reading.

Special thanks to Kazamatsuri[kazamatsuri.org] for making an amazing Clannad guide that gives the reader a ton of freedom to explore and make your own choices without straying from a route. This guide is what made me appreciate the value of making your own choices through a story. It's much more meaningful, and much more complicated in Clannad, which makes it all the more impressive and appreciated. You can find it on Steam as well, from Sophilautia.