#novamicus

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

NEXTON 30th anniversary project and romance visual novel ONE. will launch for Switch and PC (Windows 10 / 11) in winter 2023 in Japan, publisher NEXTON and developer novamicus announced.

A new teaser trailer featuring the romanceable Misaki Kawana was also released. Previous teaser trailers introduced Rumi Nanase and Akane Satomura.

Watch the teaser trailer below. View every teaser visual released so far at the gallery.

Teaser Trailer: Misaki Kawana