#nexton

Shiravune will release the PC version of novamicus-developed romance visual novel ONE. via Steam and Johren day and date with its Japanese release on December 22, the publisher announced. It will support English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language options.

In Japan, a Switch version is also due out on December 22. It is currently unknown whether it will support multiple language options.

Here is an overview of the game, via Shiravune:

About

ONE. is a remaster of NEXTON‘s genre-defining and highly influential romance visual novel One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e, originally released in 1998, and is currently in production to celebrate the 30th anniversary of NEXTON’s foundation.

ONE. faithfully recaptures the beloved story of the original game and brings refined character designs by the one and only Itaru Hinoue. Further refinements and improvements are also provided for modern systems, ensuring that this classic story will remain a joy to experience for years to come. ONE. is sure to bring back memories for fans of old, and to draw a new crowd of fans to one of the foundational pillars of the genre.

ONE. is planned for release December 22, 2023, on Steam & Johren in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Story What tied me to this world… 1998, winter. I was just a regular student until another world was born in me. Like softly falling snow, it blanketed and began to bury my everyday life. It was only then that I realized… That there were certain things in my life that never changed. The same familiar scenery. The warmth of the one I loved, who filled me with a joy I never noticed. Their existence tied me to this world.

It was when I first started to want these bonds, to want that special someone, that time began to pass, and sunlight caused the season to really shine.

When it did, which world was I standing in, and who was holding my hand?

Characters

Mizuka Nagamori

Birthday: September 26

Kohei’s childhood friend and classmate. A busybody who wakes him up every morning and can’t help but worry about him. If there’s anybody in my life who I should probably thank, it’s you, Nagamori. If we hadn’t met as children, I wonder where I would be now. Since the day we met, we’ve spent a lot of time together… even though you’re a meddler who gets on my nerves sometimes. But still, I have to thank you. You’ll always be my friend, right? But the words you said that day, that saved me… it’s like they’ve disappeared. I could’ve sworn you said—

Rumi Nanase

Birthday: August 8

A girl who transfers into Kohei’s class. She tries her best to be ladylike, but she always messes things up. Possibly because once she sets her mind on something, she single-mindedly sticks to it. On her first day, she ended up bumping into me after turning a corner like we were in some kind of rom-com. Unlike her looks, her personality was kinda… Actually, I’m scared of what she’d do to me if I finished that thought. She always seems to put a lot of thought and effort into becoming the ideal “lady.” Maybe I should reward her enthusiasm with a copy of my manuscript? “Nanase, always chasing the feminine ideal.” Of course, “always chasing” means never quite getting there… (THWUNK!!!)

Akane Satomura

Birthday: April 21

Kohei’s quiet classmate who makes her thoughts known with just a few words. She’s a great cook with a major sweet tooth. It was a gloomy, rainy day when I happened to leave home a bit early and met a girl holding a pink umbrella outside. That girl happened to be Akane. Turns out she was actually in my class. I didn’t think much of that encounter at the time, but I started talking to Akane a lot after that. She kept her distance from others even though all she wanted was for someone to see through her act and get close to her. At least, that’s how it felt to me. But… it also kinda did feel like she was really trying to avoid me, sometimes…

Misaki Kawana

Birthday: June 3

Kohei’s senior who lost her eyesight in an accident when she was little. Despite living in a world of darkness, her personality overflows with light, always positive and sociable. She loves her school’s katsu curry special. I was chilling on the sunset-dyed roof after school when a girl I didn’t know started talking to me. Her eyes were cool, but her smile was warm. I only found out she was my senior in both age and grade later. Also, what that cool look actually meant. Noticing my sudden uncertainty about how to speak to her, she whispered downcast, “Just how you normally would to anyone else.”

Mayu Shiina

Birthday: May 15

A girl younger than Kohei and Mizuka who refuses to go to school. She bursts into tears whenever something doesn’t go her way. Her favorite food is hamburgers. We met her the day she lost her one and only friend. A ferret. I guess she decided we were a good enough replacement, because from then on she stuck to us like glue. However, whenever something happened, she would throw a tantrum and scream that ferret’s name. She was a pain in the butt. But since it was the first time she was reaching out and getting to know other people, I couldn’t be too mad at her. Her beloved ferret might’ve died, but that death was the first step on her road to adulthood. Right, Shiina?

Mio Kouzuki

Birthday: June 4

Romance visual novel remake ONE. will launch for Switch and PC via Steam on December 22 in Japan, publisher NEXTON and developer novamicus announced. The Switch version will be distributed by Ares. Pre-orders will open on May 26.

Here is the game’s story synopsis:

The things that keep us tethered to this world.

Winter 1998. I was an ordinary student when another world emerged within me. Like heavy snowfall, it slowly engulfed my everyday life. It was then that I first realized—the unchanging things that exist within my day-to-day routine; the scenery that I’ve become so accustomed to seeing; the warmth of the person I love, but didn’t even realize I loved.

They all exist as the things that keeps me tethered to this world.

That was the moment I first began to pursue the bond of that special someone. Time will pass, and eventually, the seasons will begin to shine in the sunlight. When that moment comes, what kind of world will I be standing in, and whose hand I will be holding?

Watch a new teaser trailer below.

Mio Kouduki Teaser Trailer

The NEXTON 30th anniversary project teaser website, which initially seemed to tease a remake of ONE: Kagayaku Kisetsu e, but was converted into a MOON -Re:make- teaser website for April Fools’ Day, has reverted back to its original state, now revealing the face of the girl depicted in the previous artwork with a new visual and teaser trailer.

Text on both the website and in the teaser trailer read “Coming Summer 2022,” though it is unclear whether that is referring to a reveal period versus an actual release window.

NEXTON still has not confirmed that this project is related to ONE: Kagayaku Kisetsu e, though the character depicted in the visual appears to be the ONE: Kagayaku Kisetsu e‘s Mizuka Nagamori.

Watch the teaser trailer below.

With that reassurance, I push the backrest down and close my eyes, wanting to pass the day by with a nap. I don't recall when I fell asleep, but I was welcomed by an endless plane of black with marble-like flooring. I recognize it as my personal plane of imagination, where I create and see things with my mind's eye. I wandered as if I was at home in this strange place for hours. Eventually, I am met with a mirror at the end of this mindscape, reflected in myself. The image before me looks curious, staring beyond what my physical appearance is. I gaze at what has my reflection's attention, gasping at the sight. A being made of onyx metal and etched with light. My waking mind stirs, realizing that my position has changed. A mirror turned into a window, an image no longer reflected. I reach out to the Nexton, my creation of dreams and wonder. Our fingers approach, threatening to meet and confirm suspicions that I feel deeply conflicted about. Suddenly, I am jerked away by a hand on my bicep. I jolt awake to see Nikola jostling me to wake up.

"You fell asleep quick, darling." She says with worry.

"I'm tired but don't want to leave this seat," I say while sitting beside the backrest. "I had a dream, a dream of the Nexton."

"What happened?"

"I almost touched it, me, us?" I mumble under my breath

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if I didn't hallucinate? What if everything that happened this morning, in the waiting room, and right now was real." I state with a slight shudder. "What if I changed? What if everything in my head came out to run amuck out here?" Fear staining my voice. "Do you know what that would..."

Nikola touches my cheek, caressing it to pull me out of this fervor.

"I would stay by your side, like I always have, If it was real. I know you're scared of what has happened to you since this morning; it's so much to deal with so fast. I just want you to know that it will be okay. You will be okay. No matter what."

She shifts the car into the park and leans over, hugging me firmly over the center compartment. I pull her in, letting the feeling and warmth wash over me and my mind. With a deep breath, I pull back, steadying my breath as best I can.

"Thank you, amor. I needed to hear that."

"Of course, I will always be here for you, Xylan"" she sighs, kissing my lips. "If you need anything, call me, okay?"

"Okay," I reply before gathering my things and exiting the car.

We exchange blown kisses as I cross the street and enter the complex, finding warmth in my home and comfort in my room. The darkness and knowing where everything is gives me a sense of security. I relax into my daily routine and lose track of time. Hurc paws at my chair, looking for his final outing before clocking out for the day. Heading out, I focus on what music to use, thinking I should try something to mellow myself before sleep. Looking up, I notice color in the sky and bright lights that aren't usually there. Gazing further, my eyes are filled with a beautifully painted canvas resembling a sea filled with bioluminescence algae and fish. My mind recalls the word "Stars," suns, and planets millions upon billions of miles away. My mind begins to ache, forcing my hand to jolt to my temple. My thoughts collide with echoes while my vision splinters into two staggered images. My bones ache with new soreness, and my muscles tighten with unnatural heat. I tear my eyes away from the beautiful sight, thinking they will cause me to black out from confusion. In the corner of my vision, I see myself in the staggered image, hunched and confused. I recall my dream; a reflection turned into a window, and that same window opened. I focus on myself while the reflection does the same. Stumbling closer to this image, I reach out, hoping to whatever may be listening that this is just a dream or hallucination. Our fingers glide unsteadily towards each other, like a drunk missing the keyhole. With a grunt and sudden push, I force my hand to meet theirs. Within that moment, we meet, the imaginary grazing the real. At that moment, I felt everything stop and stare as if the very air was caught in this moment. The staggered reality sures itself as I do the same. We stand straight and lock eyes. Thoughts run through our eyes, endlessly curious and hungry to know more. I push further as the reflection does the same. The perspective of reality shakes and stumbles. The glass shatters as I go through what I assume is a plane of intangible thought and imagination. As I stumble further, I am left with a body of onyx metal etched with light. I am back where I woke up, but this time among my personal plane of thought. Clenching my fists, I feel my mind is loose and springy. Control over each plate I am adorned with, the heat from my body coursing, eb, and flowing with my emotions running high. I begin running, feeling like I could fly if I pushed hard enough, like gravity lost all meaning to me. My footfalls clanking on the false stone floor. Suddenly, I feel a burst of weightlessness take me, sending me up and down until I am surrounded by darkness from all angles.

I think of Nix and my stories with him. The beautiful ideas and fluid movements I had him perform. Swirling chains of metal danced around him like arms in our galaxy. Swinging and twisting as if a star with control over their solar flares. I take that idea and force it into motion. I try and try, but it amounts to nothing. Suddenly, gravity finds me again, pulling me down to where I should be. In a panic, I look for an answer, a way to stay in this dream-like state. Closing my eyes, not wanting this dream to end, I eventually hear someone. I hear myself.

"Come on, all this time spent connected at the grey matter, and you give up."

My eyes spring open as I feel another presence in my head—a sensation I thought had been long gone since my youth.

"Nix," I utter while falling.

"We got this, we finally got our wish." Nix echoes through my mind, sounding so sure of himself—he sounds like I always imagined him to be. We're one and the same, so stop acting like I'm the only one who can control this body."

With his words, I calmed my breath and beat my core. I feel my mind slip into my body like a suit tailored just for me. Nix shares the sensation of carrying the weight equally. I focus on my center of mass, feeling for it and extending everything I have to pull what I have of this new body upward. As if pulling a rope, I think Nix is behind me, supporting me as much as I am helping him. Together, we begin to slow and stop. Feet off the ground, we twirl and spin in place, enamored with the sensation. I feel a grin on our faces, stupid happiness resembling a child climbing to their roof and seeing the stars for the first time. We rocket upwards, letting this emotion drive us faster and higher.