Rosa

* In-game
* Lava Java
* Render

>
> *"Since everything's ending, my parents are trying to figure how we can see family again. Or if we want to be with them when it hits. There are some parts of the family that don't want me with them as I am right now... and I think I'd rather be with people who do. I'm really glad I know you, Fang. I wish we had more time..."*
>

**Rosa** is a character featured in *Goodbye Volcano High*. She is a student at Volcano High who also works as a barista at Lava Java for LJ.

## Appearance

Rosa is a short orange aquilops who stands at 4'11". She has pink eyes and long brown hair. She typically wears a black dress that has a transparent layer over with pink magnolia flowers embroided over her chest and around the hemline. She wears brown wedge-heeled shoes with pink straps.

## Personality

Rosa is shown to be kind, although somewhat shy and introverted. She enjoys plants and the study of herbology and her dream is to become a botanist. In a text conversation, Trish suggests Rosa is not a very good driver, commenting her driving skills are terrifying and she hopes the two of them don't die in her car.

## Background

Rosa first met Fang and Trish during their second grade, when the three of them shared science class. Rosa's attempted paper-mache volcano is suspected by Trish to have caused their science teacher, Mr. Perea, to quit.

At some point, Sage, after he changed his appearance, approached Rosa on the school roof. Sage said he needed a break from being being himself. Rosa replied she understood and asked Sage if he ever felt like support staff for other people, to which Sage said all the time and they love you for being there when they need you, but don't really know you. Rosa said to Sage it was nice to meet the real him now.

Rosa worked at a movie theatre over the course of the preceding summer. This summer, Rosa attended Tendrils Summer Nature Intensive (TSNI). There, she became closer to Trish, becoming friends. Trish has recently been spending a lot of time with Rosa, making Fang wonder who will remain Trish's best friend in the future.

Rosa is experimenting with plant life, working on creating a new species of fern. She thinks she can show colleges what she knows about grafting and inter-species selective cell regeneration.

## *Goodbye Volcano High*

### Episode One

On the first day of the new school year, Trish reveals to Fang that she reconnected with Rosa during her time at the Tendrils Summer Nature Intensive, where the two worked together to care for plants and bugs. While planting moss that velvet worm needed for their habitat, they found a lone velvet worm that Trish adopted and named Mango. Later, Rosa would be added to the Dinogang group chat, to Fang's chagrin, though they may choose to be accommodating with a bit of effort.

### Episode Two

Rosa is awake during the Dinogang texting session after the short blackout. On top of miscellaneous conversation-making, Rosa goes out of her way to confirm that the Asteroid should be called as such, and not a meteor.

The next day, once inside the assembly hall, Fang can choose to remain alone during the assembly, or choose to sit with Trish and Rosa and talk with her a bit before Naser's speech begins. Whether spectating Trish and Rosa or sitting next to them, Fang can choose to either see Rosa as someone nice, or be skeptical of her. When Fang decides to hang alone in the back, they can also choose to fan their internal anxieties and fears about being "replaced" by Rosa as Trish's best friend.

If Fang decided to hang back, Trish will properly introduce Rosa to them.

If Fang decided to sit with Trish and Rosa, when Fang is going to their locker, Rosa will be there, as the two have lockers next to each other, which Rosa regards as the two of them being "locker buddies."

### Episode Four

After the second L&L session, Fang and Trish decide to take a walk together, and Fang ruminates over how they would talk about Trish's statements about wanting to "take a break" from the band. Just as Fang finishes organize their thoughts, however, their interest in actually having that serious conversation is thwarted when Rosa is present when they meet up with Trish, as Fang had thought that it would just be them and Trish.

### Episode Seven

During Rosa's bonfire scene, Rosa reveals she is not feeling great and that things are rough with her family, but is happy she has caring friends. Fang asks what's wrong with her family and Rosa replies that while her parents have accepted her being transgender, she still feels as if she has a cultural barrier with her family. Fang tries to relate to her struggle due to being non-binary. Rosa mentions because things are ending, her family is contemplating who they want to spend their final time with since she still has some unaccepting family members. Fang and Rosa wish they spent more time together, and Rosa laments she has been merely known as the second grade volcano girl.

## Gameplay

Rosa's achievement, Surprise Friendship, requires seeing the bonfire scene with her. This is generally the hardest bonfire scene to unlock as it requires decently high affinity with her, which can be difficult to obtain due to limited opportunities. Past being nice to her whenever possible, many opportunities to raise affinity with her come during the L&L sections: go to the Crystal Cave and then to the Swamp, let Rosa have turns, etc. Try to approve of her crush on Keph.

## Development History

Rosa was planned as one of the three player characters of the first draft of *Goodbye Volcano High*, along with Fang and Leo, back when the game was initially a dating sim. Rosa would have had multiple romance options through the story, and official concept art exists of her and Stella kissing, but exact details are not known.

When the game's dating sim concept was dropped and Fang was made the central player character, Rosa became a secondary character.

Rosa appears in both the Reveal Trailer and the Teaser Trailer, but is absent from the Story Trailer.

## Quotes

* *"I'm glad we finally met. Trish talks about you, like all the time."*
* *"I'll be sending good vibes at the audition!"*
* *"I created a new species!"* (regarding her fern)
* *"I guess I'll just have to marry him."* (regarding Keph)
* *"Cultural barriers are a thing that makes it hard to get to know your family. When you grow up in a different place than they do, that gap only widens when you're trans."*
* *"Our show."* (reminding Fang the group cares about the concert too)

## Trivia

* Rosa's L&L character, Maia the vine mage, is likely a allusion to Gaia.
* Character designer Lucie Viatge mentioned Rosa's design is inspired by one of her best friends named Lola.
* Some players are disappointed about Rosa's role in the story, wishing she had more screentime and characterization. However, Rosa's role in the story is likely to represent "the other" as part of the friend group, with Fang being envious of Rosa and feeling she is taking Trish away. It is only if Fang goes out of their way to get to know Rosa that Fang and even the player will even learn she is transgender and of her strained family dynamics, and the two lament about wishing they spent more time together. Rosa could be seen as a commentary on how being too introverted can make people miss out on friendships, and how this can be detrimental. Even at a low point for Fang, Rosa will always approach Fang in Lava Java and remind Fang that Trish still loves them.
	+ Ironically, it could be seen Rosa's lack of character is her point as a character. Arguably, if the developers spent a lot of time characterizing Rosa and trying to make her more focal in the story, then it would fundamentally change the message the game is attempting to convey about life and relationships. The fact that Rosa is also struggling with her family dynamics, and will only mention it if her affinity is unlocked, also carries the theme that many people have their own burdens and problems they are dealing with. Rosa appears to hide this struggle with her optimistic behavior and smiles.
		- During the Cant Get Out scene, players get to see the Dinogang in their houses and living spaces, adding depth to their personalities because it shows what their worlds are like. The player gets to see Sage's/Stella's house, and Naomi's and Trish's rooms for the first time. However, when it is Rosa's turn, the player merely sees her working at Lava Java for LJ, which is nothing new about her, and the developers intentionally keep her a bit mysterious. This can be seen as a moment of Fridge Brilliance when this context is considered.
	+ It is also notable that of the Dinodang, Rosa could be viewed as being much more difficult to being reduced or coded to be a mere one-dimensional stereotype. Some of the other characters share some stereotypical qualities, such as Fang being an introverted punk emo goth, Naomi being a preppy upbeat student who is a high achiever, and Reed being a chill guy who smokes. Rosa also lacks eccentric qualities like how Sage is extremely upbeat and constantly mentions baking, or how Stella brings up tarot cards almost every time she appears. While Rosa enjoys gardening, she is far from being a caricature of a gardener, and she does not constantly bring up gardening whenever she appears. Even Trish accuses Fang of constantly being obsessed about music during the possible end of the world.
* Rosa being transgender is only revealed during her bonfire scene. Unlike with Sage's transgender identity, this was also kept secret by the developers until the game was launched.
* In KO\_OP's Discord, development member Hope (Hoperin) posted on June 12th, 2020, "right now there is no character who is a trans girl in the game -- we are trying to only pull from the identities of those of us on the team and while we have nonbinary members (me haha) we don't have a trans woman on the core team". This must mean Rosa was originally imagined as a cisgender character.
* Rosa's design sheet has an error, claiming she is 150cm but stands at 5'11". However, it should actually be 4'11".

## Gallery

### Art

Rosa's reference sheetRosa's cellphoneDesign first passDesign second passDesign third passHead shape revision3D head reference (bottom left)Rosa (center) in the 2020 key artRosa with Sage and Stella in a promotional illustration by Ellen Alsop
### Screenshots

Rosa (center) at the beach campfire in the Reveal TrailerRosa (top, second from left) at the beach campfire in the demoRosa speakingRosa as MaiaMaia powered upRosa and Fang in Episode TwoRosa celebrates with Worm DramaRosa as Maia in L&L"Trish still loves you. You know that, right?"Rosa during the final dayRosa and Trish on the school roofRosa having her fern photographedRosa at the beachRosa with her friendsRosa giving Fang a bracelet on the final dayRosa on the final dayRosa weeping on the final day
## References

1. ↑  KO\_OP Newsletter: Volcano High Bulletin February 2021 dispatch

**Other Volcano High students****Abby • Adanna • Alanna • Alexis • Alvin • Bag Girl • Chris • Claire • Damon • Dani • Dee • Des • Francesca • Jess • Kaylani • Kris • KT • Leo • Lina • Marcela • Mark • Marty • Mel • Morgan • Nick • Noor • Rando • Sam • Sarah • Saturday • Serena • Smoker Dino • Steve or Derek • Tom**