There's a New Game + mode, so no worries. I think only the first game and Innocent Sin didn't have a NG+ mode.

Makoto and the Home Room teacher are my second choices as well. Makoto is just so adorable and won me over with her "expert" shadowing skills. She's just so adorkable it hurts.

Also, I am so freaking happy, because I finally found Tanaka in the game, I was so sad when he wasn't running the home shopping network show anymore but I finally found him in the game and his theme is still there as well.