Story Reader / Affection / Nanami: Startrail / Story
The tower bells chime in the distance.
Even in your imagination, your mind keeps reshaping how you see this world...
You're running out of the time you've received from the deity, and you've still got to find the "treasure"... You know you'll have to find Nanami as soon as you can, even if you're the only person in this world who knows her.
Through the sea of people at the celebration, you manage to find a motorcycle, a means of transportation that can actually take you to places.
[player name]?
Just as the motorcyclist is about to start the engine, he catches sight of you from the corner of his eye and spins around with unbridled excitement.
I'm the courier around here, but that's not important! I saw you drive back that dragon with my own eyes, I can't believe it! Such size, such ferocity, such terror—that legendary dragon!
As he speaks, his arms sweep through the air to trace the dragon's massive shape, his voice trembling with excitement.
I heard you're looking for someone called Nanami? I'm about to make my deliveries, and I'll be going to many places. Why don't you come along?
Wherever mail is delivered, there must be recipients—often in sizeable settlements... Knowing that she loves being around people, you speculate you just might be able to find her where there are people.
What do you say? Shall we head out together?
As the motorcycle races along the bumpy road, the enthusiastic courier strikes up another conversation.
I've been delivering mail on my motorcycle for years, but this is the first time it feels awesome—I can't believe I've got a real hero riding with me!
Yes. You see, we used to have communication networks years ago, but all of humanity's technology was destroyed in an instant when the dragon attacked... Now, everyone relies on motorcycle couriers like us to deliver their mail.
As he speaks, he proudly slams down on the accelerator.
To the harbor. We'll be taking a ship, and that's gonna speed up the rest of our journey.
You recall Nanami was sailing out toward the sea when you last saw her...
So you're saying this girl, Nanami, went searching for something—uh... an "answer"—and disappeared into the sea with some "knight"?
The captain's eyes widen in disbelief, seemingly unable to comprehend how such bizarre questions could come from the mouth of a "hero."
Now that's strange. I don't know anything about answers... but there's only one continent in this world, and since the dragon came, mine's the only ship still sailing these seas.
The captain throws his hands up helplessly, but still agrees to help search for Nanami. The ship sails through nearly every possible route.
Yet the sea stretches out like a blue desert, offering nothing but rolling waves and not a trace of what you came seeking...
When the ship docks, the motorcycle carries the two of you over mountains and valleys, eventually reaching the ruins of a city the dragon has destroyed.
Some of these people have come back here since you drove the dragon away.
These people first greet you with joy, then they look confused—before they hold your hands firmly as they promise, in tears, that they will help you find this girl called Nanami...
Knocking on doors, asking about Nanami, saying goodbye—you go through this cycle countless times as you go door to door with the courier to deliver letters.
But there's no news of Nanami—not even the slightest trace.
Don't worry! Let's head to the next place!
The motorcycle sets off again. The two of you go from one settlement to another yet have absolutely no luck.
Following a yellowed map, the two of you arrive at a magnificent, gleaming metropolis.
This is a city built by mechanoids. They fought alongside humans against the dragon, which earned them the title of humanity's knights.
They are human creations, after all... although I'd say they're being kind rather than loyal to humanity.
Not that I recall. Mechanoids and humans get along really well with each other. I even have a mechanoid friend who looks just like a sniper rifle...
Guests! Guests!
As you talk with the courier, an adorable robot comes up this way.
Hello! My name is Snowball. Welcome to Loving Community! This is a charming neighborhood designed for humans. Are you here to visit?
The mechanoid tilts its head, looking confused.
That's such a lovely name... I've searched our database, and while we have many wonderful human residents here, I find no visitor records of anyone called "Nanami"...
With a roar of engines, the motorcycle comes to a stop in a city of ruins.
Before the dragon attacked, this was my home.
In silence, the courier wanders through the empty houses, occasionally pausing to nostalgically leaf through damaged notebooks and photographs, before stuffing them all into the mailbox attached to the motorcycle's rear.
Let's go... This place is long-abandoned.
Mountains, forests, city-states, snowy plains... The sun sets again and again as the courier searches almost every corner of the world...
But there's nothing—nothing at all. She's nowhere to be found.
Night falls over the post-apocalyptic wasteland bereft of any light... Only the crystalline starry sky shines upon the endless darkness.
The stars twinkle like they're winking and smiling at you. Suddenly, Nanami's words echo in your mind...
No matter where you go, the stars will always be in the sky, lighting your path forward.
You don't know if you're just exhausted, but the stars seem to form two patterns—one resembling a handgun, the other an egg...
The stars disperse, then converge into a new pattern—
A cute silly face! With a short ponytail, and cross-shaped stars in the center of each eye...
The stars disperse, then converge into a new pattern—
A smiling face making a peace sign! With a short ponytail, and cross-shaped stars in the center of each eye...
You blink in disbelief. The stars look normal again, leaving you utterly confused.
What's that? Speak up! I can't hear you over the wind!
Who?? Where are they??
These words seem to barely make any sense, and the courier's mind fails to conjure up any suitable associations.
Nanami is up in the sky—she went to space searching for answers. If there's no trace of her on land or out at sea, then she's gotta be up there somewhere.
The starry sky is so beautiful tonight!
The courier shouts joyfully while riding through the clear night.
But what good is knowing Nanami is in the sky? During this age and time when basic communication is barely even a thing, there's no way you'll ever make it up there...
Phew... Today's work was a breeze—I even managed to deliver the next few days' worth of mail.
My motorcycle seems to be running incredibly fast, and I bet it's because we have a hero riding with us today!
The motorcycle... what?
Since departing at noon, the two of you have covered the entire ocean, crossed mountains and valleys, dashed between countless human settlements, and even combed through every uninhabited wilderness...
But how in the world did this motorcycle manage to cover the entire world in less than a day?
Why are you interested in the dashboard all of a sudden?
The courier remains utterly confused. On the speedometer marked with various speed readings—there is no needle.
The motorcycle races at a speed beyond what the speedometer could possibly display. The scenery blurs into indistinct shapes, yet the very fabric of this world makes such an impossible sight seem natural.
You figure that if this is indeed a fairy tale world the deity has created for you and Nanami, then it doesn't have to follow the conventional laws of physics.
I want to keep these memories together with you, Commandant.
I'm sure we're getting more rewards than just this for winning first place... right?
Commandant!! No!!!
It changes according to Nanami's wishes... and since that's what it does, you're sure that it will change according to your wishes, too.
The motorcycle has been traveling at an impossible speed because you wanted so much to find Nanami.
You know exactly what you need to do now...
You try as hard as you can to picture the starry sky and imagine yourself soaring through the cosmos...
You try as hard as you can to picture Nanami and imagine yourself looking for her in the cosmos...
When you open your eyes, however, you find yourself still seated on the courier's motorcycle.
No... I'm missing a "medium." If I need a motorcycle to search the world, what do I need to reach the stars?
I feel like a Cosmic Rider riding like this.
Ah—I see you know them, eh! They soar through the universe in search of the ultimate truth!
A treasure one-of-a-kind in this world—your Cosmic Rider's Belt is still in my mailbox!
When you take the Cosmic Rider's Belt from the mailbox, a faint luminescence pulses across its surface...
Well, Aerospace City would be your best bet.
With a piercing screech of tires, the motorcycle comes to a halt at a place known as Aerospace City.
Following the courier's lead, you head toward a tower-like structure. With the elevator to the top floor long out of service, the two of you have no choice but to climb up yourselves.
Huff... Puff...
Upon reaching the top floor, the courier is completely out of breath. Before the two of you stretches a magnificent track extending endlessly into the sky.
When you look down, you see that most buildings in the city are weathered and rusted, with a few lights flickering like dying candles scattered across the streets.
This is Aerospace City, the place closest to the stars in the world. And here...
He points down at the platform where he stands.
This is The Bifrost, the closest point to the stars in Aerospace City. It's a starship acceleration track built by mechanoids, designed to reach the heavenly expanse of space.
But there aren't many things around here that can fly anymore since the disaster the dragon brought about... Apologies, but I meant to say that there isn't anything around that flies anymore.
Without any starships, this place is nothing but an ordinary viewing platform.
What are you trying to do here, though?
Nanami... Is she somewhere in Aerospace City?
You're going to space??
He takes several steps backward in disbelief. While his face is hidden behind his mask, you're sure it's got to be quite a sight to behold.
He takes a deep breath.
How do you know Nanami doesn't have a spacecraft up there how are you even going to get to space how will you breathe once you're there do you know her coordinates which planet is she on how will you find her and then how will you get back—
...I've got a billion things I want to ask you.
But that didn't come out quite right.
...To be honest, sometimes I wonder if you've lost your mind.
But here I am, following you on these wild ventures, perhaps hoping you'll create some kind of miracle.
And I'm sure this Nanami girl is waiting for this miracle, too.
I see... I've got nothing but respect for you. Nanami must be someone very important to you, I assume?
So much so that even if the whole world doubts Nanami's existence, even if no one else can find her, you'll press on without hesitation.
She must be waiting for this miracle, too.
The metal briefcase containing the Cosmic Rider's Belt opens with a solemn click. Under the starlight, the silver miniature "launch pad" gleams brilliantly while the frosted starship model beside it silently awaits ignition.
When you place it around your waist, elastic straps shoot out from both sides of the launch pod with a swift motion and secure themselves firmly to your body.
IGNITION SEQUENCE START
A deep metallic hum resonates from the belt as brilliant light emanates from its center. The armed courier stands tall and straight, raising a hand in salute.
10
Now... best of luck.
9
Electric motors whir on both sides of the belt as it pulses with light—the magnetic levitation acceleration track is charging the belt automatically.
8
One by one, the scattered lights throughout the city fade out as Aerospace City's energy flows inward to The Bifrost, then into the miniature launch pod at your waist.
7
All light sources vanish as the world beneath the night sky returns to endless darkness... You haven't exactly figured out how you're going to find Nanami.
6
No matter where you are, Commandant, Nanami will come rushing to find you!
5
4
Charging complete. With the countdown, the light strip around your waist lights up one section at a time like a loading bar—your body becomes the only light between heaven and Earth.
3
2
The Bifrost gradually tilts upward, pointing straight into the clouds.
1
0
Your feet explode with tremendous force, launching you forward like a starship ready for takeoff as you sprint with all might toward the far end of The Bifrost—
ALL ENGINES RUNNING
As the starship model slides into the belt launcher, metal triggers interlock, and pure white light courses through the photon circuits covering your body as it bursts forth from your chest—
As the starship model slides into the belt launcher, metal triggers interlock, and pure white light courses through the photon circuits covering your body as it bursts forth from your chest—
Metal triggers interlock, and pure white light courses through the photon circuits covering your body as it bursts forth from your chest—
LIFT OFF
You're clad in pristine white armor from head to toe, and your visor has transformed into a starship's forward viewport, with flight speed constantly updating in the lower right corner.
Before the courier's awestruck eyes, you launch from the acceleration track and soar skyward in a prismatic arc that gleams like a rainbow.
You radiate as brilliantly as the sun as you blast your way through the clouds, illuminating the vast darkness of the earth below.
7.9km/s, 11.2km/s, 16.7km/s—the speed readings on the viewport climb higher and higher.
Breaking free from Earth's grasp and escaping the Sun's binding force, you soar into the endless galaxy in search of the girl everyone has forgotten.
