Is there a "right" way to play this or will most of it be spent skipping parts you already read?
Yes, the only right way to play it - is not to play it.
Isn't there a flowchart in the game directory? Just follow that simple table...
Use a Walkthrough because the flowchart is a mindfuck
>>16944088
That's what I intended on doing, but looks like I'll still have to skip a lot.
Arc-->Ciel-->Akiha-->Kohaku-->Hisui
Read it in that order (do Hisui's good end last).