Story Reader / Affection / Nanami: Startrail / Story
Chapter 1001
A Summer of Cicadas and Rising Winds
Noisy cicada songs fill your ears as physical senses gradually return to your body. You try to open your eyes.
Commandant, can you tell what number I'm making?
The gray-haired girl waves her hands in front of you, making shapes that look like a gun and a circle. Sunlight filters through the gaps between her fingers and dances gently across my face.
Maybe it's the deafening cicada songs, or perhaps the blinding sunlight, but you can't shake this feeling that you've forgotten something...
Wrong! It's 70! Looks like you're not fully awake yet, Commandant.
Maybe it's the deafening cicada songs, or perhaps the blinding sunlight, but you can't shake this feeling that you've forgotten something...
Wrong! It's 70! Looks like you're not fully awake yet, Commandant.
Maybe it's the deafening cicada songs, or perhaps the blinding sunlight, but you can't shake this feeling that you've forgotten something...
Bingo! It's 70! Looks like you're wide awake now, Commandant!
Though everything else remains blank, you somehow remember that the girl before you is called Nanami.
You try to move your body, and a slight stinging sensation runs across your back—summer is when the grass grows most abundantly and when its blades are at their prickliest.
It's the apocalypse now, the apocalypse!
The scene before you triggers an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, yet something feels subtly different.
Somewhere far, far away, or perhaps in some far, far distant past, someone had uttered these same words to you...
Except you can't quite seem to recall how it all happened.
This place teems with birdsong and fragrant flowers, brimming with vitality—even the sunlight itself seems alive.
If this is what they call the "apocalypse," it's certainly a lot livelier now than the barren wasteland you'd expect.
Now, Commandant, come on a treasure hunt with Nanami!
The Cardman Rider's Cosmic Belt!
Anyway, let's head out together, Commandant!
You enter the city streets with Nanami. The magnificent buildings stand like crystals, with light bouncing between their staggered forms, painting a dazzling, luxurious panorama.
The cicadas sing endlessly. Yet the city offers nothing but a hollow silence.
Heeey! Anyooone theeeere?
Such questions usually go unanswered in these "apocalyptic" streets, but...
Cosmic Rider v1.0 Arcade Edition is now live! Control your Cosmic Rider as you voyage through space in search of civilization's salvation.
Players who complete the game have a chance to win a Cosmic Rider's Belt! Don't miss out!
Nanami's shout seems to have triggered some kind of voice-activated broadcast. She spins around, her eyes sparkling with excitement, ready to spring into action.
There it is! The treasure—our mission target!
As you voice your skepticism, Nanami gives you a knowing smile, then grabs your hand and rushes toward the source of the electronic voice.
Without another word, Nanami grabs your hand and rushes toward the source of the electronic voice.
Please put on your VR simulation helmets. The game will begin shortly.
I don't fully understand how this game works, but I'm sure Cosmic Rider is a two-player game!
Nanami points at the two player portraits on the screen, then winks at you with an expectant look.
Hooray—!
You put on the helmet together with Nanami. The world around you changes in the blink of an eye, and you find yourself in the boundless expanse of space.
This virtual reality game is designed for two players, and it offers an incredibly authentic space exploration experience. You can take in the breathtaking cosmic vistas...
Wow, Nanami is drifting so far, so very far away...
Floating beside you, Nanami turns her head to look back at Earth as it grows smaller and smaller behind her.
Yet Cosmic Rider doesn't just recreate the beauty of space—it also perfectly simulates the darkness and weightlessness unique to the deep void...
Few can endure the loneliness of traversing deep space alone—perhaps that's why Cosmic Rider was designed for two players.
Thank goodness you're here with me, Commandant!
The girl turns around with a bright smile, takes your hand, and pulls you closer to her.
For all its talk of finding civilization's ultimate answer, the game simply has you drift through virtual space
while collecting various glowing star-like light points.
While "Cosmic Rider" sounds like a title brimming with heroic adventure, the game itself is more of a leisurely journey.
As you drift through the endless river of stars, you'll see that only a few points of starlight could truly be called "answers."
Most of the time, you just keep wandering onward, ever onward, with no particular destination in mind.
After drifting for what feels like an eternity, you suddenly realize the hand you were holding has slipped away, and darkness engulfs everything around you.
Not a single ray of light remains—you are completely alone in this world.
Commandant! Nanami's here, Nanami's right here!
The voice by your ear is barely audible, but you manage to grasp onto that single ray of light.
The cosmos beats a soft, slow rhythm, drawing the lost rider into slumber.
The space around you starts trembling violently.
Commandant!!!
The sudden sensation of free-falling from a great height overwhelms you, forcing you to gasp for air.
Seeing you wake up, Nanami finally stops shaking you.
Her hand feels warm and gentle in yours. She pauses for a moment, then smiles and returns your grip. The sensation of falling gradually fades away.
The panoramic simulation helmet seems to have malfunctioned. I didn't see you take off your helmet when we'd cleared the stage together, and I thought you were just having too much fun in there!
She touches your forehead with concern.
The endless cicada chirping outside the window and the empty streets below echo the cosmic loneliness that quietly creeps into your heart.
And this was only the prologue of "Cosmic Rider"... I wonder if those Cosmic Riders ever managed to save the world...
In this faded world, Nanami is the only vibrant color that remains.
Unable to face the innocent look on Nanami's face, you turn your gaze toward the window instead.
It's super simple! All I had to do was link up with the helmet's central processor, dive into the data stream from the panoramic image generation core, and analyze the data to...
Realizing her explanation might be a bit too technical, Nanami scratches her head sheepishly.
—And then all I had to do was find that one shining star in the universe, Commandant, and yes, that would be you!
Not really... it's only been a minute in here.
While it's only been a minute "here", it felt much longer while she was in the data stream... But before you can ponder this further, your thoughts are pulled back to the present.
Anyway, no matter where you are, Commandant, Nanami will come rushing to find you!
Humming cheerfully, she flashes a peace sign and gives you a playful wink.
Congratulations, players! You've achieved first place in the global leaderboard for "Cosmic Rider"! Please claim your rewards at the shop counter.
Yay!! Come on, Commandant, let's go to claim our treasure!
Still...
The "global" leaderboard meant to celebrate winners only displays two names: yours and Nanami's.
Hey, what's going on?! Why are we the only ones on the leaderboard?!
Congratulations, players! You've achieved first place in the global leaderboard for "Cosmic Rider"! Please claim your rewards at the shop counter.
The pre-programmed system cannot answer Nanami's question and is now repeating its default response instead.
No, that's impossible! I'm sure people have played this game—it even went through beta testing!
Congratulations, players! You've achieved first place in the global leaderboard for "Cosmic Rider"! Please claim your rewards at the shop counter.
On the electronic screen, the barren leaderboard displays only a single, solitary entry at the very top—your name and Nanami's, with an ID code of 000000001.
The vast arcade echoes with nothing but the looping electronic voice and the endless drone of cicadas.
Despite the world being filled with noise and life, you and Nanami are the only ones able to communicate with each other here.
Where is everyone...
I'm sure we're getting more rewards than just this for winning first place... right?
Chapter 1071 Midsummer Hide and Seek
That strange sensation returns—a faint ringing in your ears, followed by an endless, deafening chorus of cicadas. Beside you, Nanami continues her relentless questioning.
I'm sure we're getting more rewards than just this for winning first place... right?
The midsummer sun blazes overhead, and beneath its rays, Nanami's body begins to shimmer—becoming just a little more transparent than before.
...
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience... While the mall is scheduled to be closed for the holiday, this system has issued a return-to-post command to all staff. Your patience is greatly appreciated...
After about 10 seconds, the mall's mechanoids begin to emerge one after another and surround you and Nanami.
Hello! This is the first time I've seen anyone clear Cosmic Rider!
Yes, and we have many, many more games here! Please try them all out!
The bonus prizes are this way—
Oh! Everyone's playing hide and seek with Nanami!
The street gradually comes alive—flying cars weave freely through the air, virtual windows float everywhere, and robots fill the sidewalks. The city now takes on the vibes of a high-tech metropolis.
The cicadas' song gradually drowns beneath the city's clamor. Having been attracted by the cheerful atmosphere, Nanami has run off somewhere and is no nowhere to be seen.
Hello.
A pale-faced young man removes his top hat and offers you a slight bow.
The young man responds with a gentle smile, unfazed by the rather playful nickname.
The young man returns a smile.
What a beautiful world this is, wouldn't you say?
Golden sunlight, a boundlessly prosperous city, an advanced world of artificial intelligence...
Yes, this world is indeed beautiful, but...
You are quite perceptive.
Following a great catastrophe, the original inhabitants of this planet—the humans—faced extinction.
There were no heroes in that catastrophe. They had no choice but to accept their extinction.
The machines, the humans' creations, managed to survive—though only a handful remained.
We recreated <phonetic=Golden Age>the most glorious era</phonetic> of humanity. Yet such a futile endeavor cannot bring them back.
You and the young lady known as Nanami are the most extraordinary beings our establishment has ever hosted. It is my honor to meet you both.
A warm, stuffy breeze drifts by as the young man glances at the gray-haired girl playing nearby, then turns his gaze back to you.
No, unfortunately.
He answers the question with just two words.
That's not true.
A voice within your heart cries out, unbidden and inexplicable.
Buried within those hazy memories lies a conclusion that contradicts everything.
If there's anything I can do...
Mm, perhaps.
The young man remains noncommittal.
But... an apocalypse that isn't as bleak would probably come with an unimaginable burden.
...
It's just speculation. More importantly, the prize for clearing Cosmic Rider is a bit far from here. I hope you don't mind making the journey.
After leaving the game store, you stroll down the street with Nanami. She happily hugs her newfound treasure—the Cosmic Rider's Belt—close to her chest.
In this post-apocalyptic world, vegetation springs back to life and all things recover. The intelligent mechanoids have recreated a human civilization even more splendid than that from before the apocalypse.
The city night is remarkably clear... Yet the interweaving neon lights fill the canvas of the sky with their dazzling radiance, leaving no room for starlight to peek through.
This prosperity... it doesn't belong to you...
Nanami doesn't know either.
She answers softly. After a moment of contemplation, she bounces her way around to face you.
Hey Commandant, you know what? You look so down now that even someone chewing on a bitter melon would look happier than you.
She furrows her brows in an exaggerated imitation of your expression, then breaks into a cheerful laugh.
Nanami doesn't know if they saved the world or not, but what I do know, though, is that...
We need to do something about that look on your face!
She cups your own cheeks and gently squishes them to form an exaggerated smile.
Somewhere out there, there must be a world where you can truly smile...
After all, I...
Time seems to slow as her lips move ever so slightly, her words lost to the city's clamor.
The dazzling neon lights blur together, and her figure slowly fades into nothing...
