It takes a few rounds to get used to the controls, but I'm glad I stuck through it. The action parts turn out to be really satisfying. The main drag in the controls is the delay when turning around; it's too long and makes the character feel unresponsive until you learn to expect it.
While getting used to the controls, I was enjoying the puzzle/dialog sections more, and wished the game would focus more on them. I ended up liking and preferring the main action, but I still hope the next part explores puzzle design even deeper.
It was also unclear how many rounds are remaining in a level, and at first I thought it was just reloading the level when I beat it. A progress bar or "Round 2 / 5" label could help indicate how much is left, as well as a transition animation between scenes.
The scoring system felt kinda inconsequential beyond having something to show at the end of a round. I bet shooting for a higher score could be more appealing if there was a better feedback loop during gameplay about how many points you're getting and how close you are to the next grade.
The graphics were lovely and I enjoyed the characters. Great work, I'll keep my eye on this one!