I just got to the point the first town is pretty much leveled.

And I can't bring myself to care.

The only character you really grow to like is Doc Uzuki. You know he loves that one chick, but really only because the game pretty much flat out tells you. You don't really feel a connection between the two in the slightest.

It does, however, work as an event ot get the plot moving. So while it's not really impactful at all, It's not really wasted per say.