Stagnant Dawn on Wastelands

Talk to Valentina

Valentina: The Black Shores recovered the Threnodian's Gem not long ago... I mean, Leviathan's essence. The Tethys System ran a deep analysis and expanded its frequency feature library. This enhancement allows us to detect previously unidentifiable special frequencies.

Valentina: Fortunately, not all these frequencies are Leviathan-related, so there's no immediate risk of Its revival. That said, the closest anomaly is right offshore.

Valentina: Exactly. None of us can identify this abnormal frequency, so it might lead to new discoveries.

Valentina: The Shorekeeper is in the Error Cell. You can go there to speak with her.

Take the elevator to the lower level of the Error Cell

Talk to Shorekeeper

Shorekeeper: This marks the Tethys System's first large-scale expansion of its frequency feature library. We needed to deploy it while it's still under validation. The data stream is immense, and I need more time. However...

Shorekeeper: Yes. The source identity is unclear, but we have isolated a set of constantly shifting spatial coordinates.

Shorekeeper: One points to an unknown location. The other... points here, to the Black Shores.

Rover: Whoever left that message knew exactly where to find the Black Shores. And if they do…

Rover: I'll check it out.

Shorekeeper: Understood. I will send the coordinates to your Terminal. I must remain here to continue isolating and tracing embedded messages in the surrounding frequencies. I entrust this to you, my star.

Head to the source of the commotion and figure out what's going on

Buling: This is bad, really bad! Just look at my Casket of Fate! It's been rattling nonstop all day! All day! I haven't seen it this jumpy in years!

Ria: Ms. Buling, we understand your concern. But the Tethys System hasn't completed its analysis yet, and your talisman divination isn't always—Ahem, what I mean is, without proper clearance, we can't initiate a high-level response...

Buling: You trust those wires over me? I dreamed last night of three upside-down houses right outside my window. That's a horrible omen! And I felt Yin energy. That means something living is behind it. It's not an ordinary frequency, okay?!

Ria: It's not that we don't trust you, Ms. Buling. It's just... last time, when you dreamed of a black cat dancing ritualistically, it turned out your Casket just had water in it.

Ria: We'll begin parallel observation once Tethys completes its full spectrum diagnostics. It's for everyone's safety here in the Black Shores...

Buling: I know, right? Thought I'd come back to do some quick biz... You know, fix up the feng shui, zing up some romance luck for the lonely hearts... But wah, this one is a big, big problem.

Buling: Delicate threads, twisted webs. A deadlock. It's trapped in a formation... It shouldn't even exist in this world.

Buling: Got any leads, Boss? Maybe I can help crack this one too.

Rover: Actually... I've got a pair of shifting spatial coordinates.

Buling: Oh really? Show me! I can try to track them down.

Ria: What is that?!

Adrian: A city... submerged underwater?!

Adrian: But... it looks like it's been completely destroyed...

Buling: The world's flipped. Rivers run backward. The sun and moon fall out of sync. The jade Buddha lowers his gaze—Boss, that is not a good sign.

Rover: That is...

Travel to the Error Cell through the Beacon

Gather more info inside the Error Cell

Ria: Good. Let me give you a quick briefing on what we've learned so far. This spatial rift leads to an unknown Sonoro Sphere.

Ria: Some Bloom Bearers attempted to enter for investigation, but... the rift appears to resist all forms of entry and interference.

Ria: The mirage we're seeing is a projection leaking from the Sonoro into reality.

Rover: (The researcher from earlier said it might have been a real city...)

Rover: (But if that's true, why is it being projected into the rift? And why were its coordinates sent to the Black Shores?)

Rover: (Maybe I should try using the power of separation? I might be able to split the projection from the rift...)

Buling: Hey, Boss! You zoned out again. Still thinking about the creepy rift, huh?

Rover: ...Something about this isn't normal.

Rover: The frequency data sent to the Black Shores, the coordinates pointing to this rift, this Sonoro of a ruined city... It's hard to make sense of the info we have. If only we could enter it ourselves...

Buling: Would've been nice, huh? But this thing's got its doors shut tight to outsiders. But you Rover, you might be different! You're always full of surprises.

Buling: Still, are you sure you want to? I've "seen" it... That's a Death Gate, clear as day.

Abby: Hm? I smell something special...

Escape from the city in chaos

Rover: Urgh...

Rover: Abby? ...Abby?

Rover: (The comms are cut... and Abby isn't answering.)

Rover: (That girl... She's not here either. And the hand that pulled me in... It wasn't hers. That one had a wristwatch.)

Rover: (These people... Why are they tinted with such strange colors?)

Rover: (Judging by the tower's position, I didn't land where I came in. Was it that girl's doing? Or just the nature of this Sonoro?)

Rover: (The chaos just moments ago... and now, everything's back to normal. What changed so fast?)

Rover: (...No. That's not right.)

Rover: (Something strange is definitely going on here.)

Rover: (I should look around first.)

Ask the office worker what happened

Office Worker: What is this place? This is downtown Honami.

Office Worker: ...Ah, I see. You must be a traveler! This is a nice season for sightseeing, after all... Shame I can't take any time off. It's even my daughter's birthday today...

Office Worker: Today... I just said, it's my daughter's birthday. I need to clock out early and get the cake and...?

Office Worker: Isn't it... Isn't it her birthday today...? Then why am I not home...?

Ask the girl what happened

High School Girl: Huh? Maybe you were... sleepwalking? Everything's fine here. I'm on my way to school... Please don't go saying weird stuff like that!

High School Girl: Oh, I see. You're not from around here, are you? This is Honami! It's really nice!

High School Girl: Just across the street is the Sakura Pedway. People like to walk their dogs there, or take pictures. And if you turn right up ahead, that's the entrance to Hanakage Underground Street. A great spot to pick up souvenirs.

High School Girl: Oh, and I heard there's a new exhibition today. I was thinking... maybe I could buy some flowers for my mom after school. We... had a fight a few days ago. I still haven't found the right moment to say sorry...

High School Girl: You really think so? Thanks! When I get home, I'll—

High School Girl: Wait... Am I... fading? But why? I just want to go home...

Cheerful Girl: Huh? What just happened...?

Cheerful Girl: What do you mean? We've only just met.

Cheerful Girl: What happened here? Oh, you mean in Honami?

Cheerful Girl: Well, you know, everything's really nice here! Honami is so big and busy, a lot livelier than the little town I'm from!

Ask the salaryman what happened

Salaryman: How many times do I have to say it? It's not my fault! I already finished my part! So why the hell is it all on me? Hello? Hey!

Salaryman: What's the point anymore...? It's all so damn pointless. Getting paid like a part-timer while doing a full-time load... Getting treated like dirt but still sucking up to bosses and customers. For what? Is this what living is?

Salaryman: I came all the way to Honami ten years ago. I was young. Hungry. Full of dreams. Thought I'd build a life here. And now what? So the thirty-year-old me could wake up to this?

Salaryman: My life… My time... Does any of it mean anything?

Continue exploring

???: Cross the footbridge, and you'll find some nice supplies waiting just for you. Look out for the red vending machine... Oh, and watch your step when you see a coffee cup tile on the ground.

???: When you spot an adorable statue and a wooden sign with coffee beans on it, that means you've arrived.

Rover: (What's that sound?)

Rover: (I'll go check it out.)

Head to the source of the sound

Rover: (These people are clearly not in their right minds. No point pressing for answers, I'll only get fragments. Best to see for myself. Maybe I can connect the dots.)

Rover: (Is that... a box? Must be the supplies mentioned before.)

Examine the Storage Bag

???: Over here! Over here!

???: Coming! Wait for me...

Rover: (Are they... both heading to that place?)

Rover: (This place... isn't right.)

Rover: (The people act like everything's normal, but the city itself... It's long been abandoned.)

Rover: (Why can't they see how strange this all is?)

Follow and see what's ahead

Rover: (An abandoned city... Could there really be this many people going about their lives?)

Approach the people

Eliminate the TDs

Rover: What is that?

Rover: These Tacet Discords... Something's wrong with them!

???: Watch out!

Rover: You... you're the one from before.

???: This area isn't safe. When the Tacet Discords become crystallized, they become harder to handle... Get down!

???: The Lament is looping. We need to get out of here first.

Escape the Lament

Rover: You said the Lament is "looping"...? So this has happened before?

???: Yes. It's like a pair of scissors... slicing Honami City into hopeless, broken pieces.

Proceed to the next area

???: ...Just like what you're seeing now.

Rover: What's happening?

???: They've overlapped from the distortion. Stay close.

Mysterious Capybara: Chisa! Over here! Over here!

Chisa: Drop the supplies and follow it!

Chisa: The next Slice is almost here. I know you have a lot of questions, but hold onto them for now. Just follow me.

Platya: A mirage from nowhere, a shadow of ruins... Just looking at it sends a chill through me.

Platya: That city... looks just like my hometown. The one swallowed by the Lament. I sensed a familiar frequency from it...

Platya: I've been away a long time. My memory could be wrong. But when facing the unknown, even the smallest thread might lead somewhere.

Platya: Maybe it once... really existed.

Adrian: I've never seen anything like it. But that city... it's nothing but ruins now.

Adrian: Rover, do you think it's a projection of the past or the future?

Return to that long-ago destroyed city and cut through the obstacles in your way once more...

Escape from the chaotic city

Explore the strange city

Chisa: (Steady breathing... No signs of Irideglow crystallization. I can rule out the possibility he's one of the Left Behind.)

Rover: (She's the one who came at me when I first dropped into this Sonoro.)

Rover: (So why did she save me this time? And even...)

Rover: You're injured.

Chisa: Hm? It's fine. Just scratches. That won't slow me down.

Chisa: My apologies. I just had to be sure you hadn't turned into one of them.

Chisa: The safe house is just ahead. Come with me.

Mysterious Capybara: We've arrived. The brawl has ended. Breeze slips through the shutters. Coffee stain dries slow.

Chisa: You're welcome. Like I said, I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But first, please allow us to introduce ourselves.

Mysterious Capybara: Ah Chisa, so formal, as usual. I think he looks like a good person.

Chisa: ...Then you can handle the introductions.

Namipon: Hehe, new friends knock like a spring breeze... Oh, I mean, I'm happy you find me cute.

Namipon: And this is Chisa. A strong, mysterious...

Chisa: An ordinary student.

Chisa: Sorry again. Things were chaotic when we first met, and I couldn't tell whether or not you were one of the Left Behind... I didn't have time to explain.

Rover: A rift opened up. A hand came out of it and dragged me in.

Chisa: A hand from a rift? But why didn't that person escape themselves? Why pull you in instead?

Rover: What exactly is this place?

Rover: Before we go any further, I need to know where we really are.

Chisa: You're in Honami. A city that was destroyed decades ago. You'll still see its name on bus stop signs, in street ads, and in local textbooks for kids.

Chisa: Remember that tall tower? The one in the center of the city? That was Neon Tower, Honami's tallest communication facility. I once saw a billboard for a radio show there: "Voices in the Morning, broadcast citywide from Neon Tower."

Chisa: But its last broadcast wasn't a morning greeting. It was the Lament. Records show that on the day of the disaster, it came pouring out of Neon Tower, wiping Honami off Solaris entirely... and sealing it inside this Sonoro.

Chisa: But don't worry. You're safe here.

Chisa: This coffeehouseShashou Cafe is a safe zone I created using my "clipping" Forte. The location is ideal and the space stable, so I made it our base of operations.

Rover: Your "clipping" Forte?

Chisa: Everything has a structure. And with these, I can see how it all fits together.

Chisa: Inside this Sonoro, time and space are brittle. With enough Resonance Energy, I can trace their "threads" and cut through them.

Chisa: That's what I did earlier. I cut through the gaps in space to bring you close to the base.

Rover: When I was in the center of the city right before the Lament hit?

Chisa: For the past two months, I've lived through countless repeats of the Lament. Time and space keep getting sliced up and rearranged. What you see now—that chaos—is the result.

Chisa: It's like the whole city's trapped in amber. The people here are caught in one moment, reliving the same day over and over.

Chisa: I suspect they're no longer truly alive. Just... residual Reverberations. I call them the Left Behind.

Rover: How long has this been going on?

Chisa: I wish I knew. Like you, I'm not from here. I was pulled in by the Lament and trapped in this unfamiliar city.

Chisa: By objective measurement, I've been trapped in Honami for two months. But even when I first arrived, this endless loop was already underway.

Rover: So you've only tracked the last two months. To get the full picture, I'll need to talk to someone who's been here longer...

Namipon: You're barking up the wrong capybara, Passenger. It's true I'm the guardian of Honami... but by the time I woke up, the city was already like this.

Chisa: That's right. I asked Namipon before. It doesn't know more about this than us.

Chisa: But here's what we do know: After the Lament, Namipon gained a physical form and a will of its own. And as Honami's mascot, it knows the city like the back of its paw. The layout, the pathways. I believe that makes it a pretty reliable partner.

Chisa: And apparently... it's made itself right at home.

Rover: Mind if I take a look around?

Chisa: Go ahead.

Talk to Chisa

Chisa: Because of its location. It's well-placed, with passageways on both sides. Ideal for monitoring movement.

Chisa: No, not at first. I brought most of it in myself over the past two months.

Chisa: I didn't focus on decorations. Durable and low power, that's what mattered. Like that coffee machine over there. It was half broken, but the inner heating pipe still worked. I modified it. Good for a cup of coffee now, at least.

Chisa: Also rearranged the power grid. Added voltage regulator stabilizers. It may be cobbled together... but it's stronger. Should be able to handle a sudden blackout now.

Chisa: ...Oh, sorry. Rambled on there. You might not be interested in such things.

Chisa: Why not walk around the coffeehouse and relax a bit? We've still got time before the next Lament hits.

Talk to Namipon

Namipon: It's something special. Since you're new here, it's only right I lend a hand. Whether you're in trouble or just need to rest your feet, come find me anytime, alright?

Search the cafe for key items

Rover: An old clock... its hands are still ticking.

Chisa: Someone I knew left it here. She believed time flowed strangely in this Sonoro. Used timing devices to find a loophole. So I brought it to the base.

Rover: Someone you knew? Was she... also from the outside and got pulled into this Sonoro?

Chisa: You could say that. I don't know who she is exactly, but she understood this place far better than I do.

Chisa: She suspected the Sonoro doesn't just loop. It also has a different inner time flow than the outside world. To test her theory, she took apart countless clocks and logged everything. Even her wristwatch was...

Rover: ...Her wristwatch?

Chisa: Hm? What?

Rover: Was it covered in moss?

Rover: Whoever pulled me into this Sonoro wore a watch like that.

Chisa: ...Could it have been her? But why? If she reached you, she found a way to contact the outside. So she did figure it out... Then why didn't she leave? She was always careful. Never acted without calculating the odds.

Chisa: Unless... she knew that was as far as she could go.

Rover: Maybe she brought me here because she knew that's where you are.

Rover: You said she never acted without weighing the odds. It must've been a calculated decision. I'm here because she figured you'd need some help.

Rover: Maybe she couldn't move forward herself. Maybe she got stuck somewhere. But she didn't give up. She kept looking for a breakthrough, and I'm probably part of her plan.

Rover: You don't have to carry this alone. She might've already seen this coming, and now she's waiting for you to catch up. You're not the only one trying to solve this puzzle.

Chisa: ...

Rover: You said she knew a lot. Where is she now?

Chisa: She's...

Chisa: In the tower.

Chisa: She once told me she suspected the only way to break this loop and reconnect with the real world was through the Lament's source, Neon Tower. The closer you get, the more spatial fractures you see.

Chisa: ...And the more dangerous it gets. But she went alone. Left only a message. Said she'd use the Tower to find others to help, and I should wait here.

Rover: And then?

Chisa: She never came back.

Chisa: After that, I left our previous base and came here, hoping to find her. I kept trying to reach the Tower... but every time, I failed. At the Lament's edge, space splits apart. You might feel closer, but in truth, you're not.

Chisa: My "clipping" Forte works like slicing a shelter out of earthquake rubble. Slabs structured just right, just enough to hide in. But that's all it does.

Chisa: It's nothing against the Lament.

Namipon: Well... I used to be able to open the path to Neon Tower. But...

Namipon: During the Lament, my "existence" was torn apart once, so I lost that ability. The Honami you see now looks whole, but inside it's been cut into countless tangled paths like Chisa's kirigami.

Chisa: ...Mine would have been better executed.

Namipon: To find the right path again, we have to reconnect with the Tower. And that means—

Rover: Finding a frequency that shares its source with the Tower.

Namipon: Like this! The Longings from Honami's Left BehindHuman Reverberations. They're what woke me up, and they'll guide us to the Tower.

Chisa: Namipon and I have been collecting them for a while. It hasn't been easy. My ability... still isn't where it needs to be. But we've managed to rule out some wrong routes. We're narrowing it down.

Namipon: No, it's not about ability! You just haven't fully learned to filter out the negative emotions while collecting.

Rover: So you collect them... with this bottle?

Chisa: For some reason, these Longings resonate with the Tower, the source of the Lament. Namipon believes they can lead us to the right route faster.

Rover: Count me in. The more of us, the faster we can do this.

Chisa: ...Most people's abilities won't protect them from that level of emotional interference. Having you there might only—

Namipon: It's not about that. She's just afraid you'll hear the voices and get sucked in too!

Chisa: I'm not afraid. I just think... it's unnecessary.

Rover: I'll be the judge of that. She chose to bring me here, and that means she believed I could help. Maybe it's time you believed in a new possibility too, Chisa.

Chisa: Then let's move.

Namipon: Mmm... f-finished. How considerate.

Namipon: Ah, Honami City... It's a good place.

Namipon: I like it here. Flowers drift by the riverside. A tunnel glows with rainbow light. Even though some of it has changed, I...

Namipon: I'm still... fond of it. It's like every time I open my eyes, I already know what the view will be.

Namipon: Hmm... I don't remember how I "woke up." One day, I just knew this city like the lines of my paw.

Namipon: Perhaps they created me? All those people in this city, they built things, opened shops, and lived their lives... In the end, all those little pieces came together. And out came me.

Namipon: If you think of it that way, maybe I'm just a strange dream they all had together. Or maybe even... a ghost? Hehe.

Namipon: Ah, but don't worry. If I am a ghost, I'm a nice one. After all, the people who once lived in Honami loved it dearly. Whatever they left behind... must be gentle, too.

Namipon: Me? I'm Namipon! A little critter wandering the city, patching things up here and there. I can help you find your way, too.

Namipon: I know every alley and corner of Honami like the back of my paw. I'll be a good travel buddy. All I ask for is a cup of coffee or a Rice Dango. Well... it's also okay if you don't have anything.

Namipon: I'll still help. Because helping you means helping everyone in Honami.

Namipon: Say, Passenger... will you bring us a new story? Chisa's been stuck in this loop for two whole months. You're the only change we've seen.

Namipon: That's why... I feel like you might open a new path.

Namipon: I'm really looking forward to our journey ahead.

Bowtie Butler: Yes! I manage everything in ShashouTrain Conductor Cafe! Would you care for a hot cup of our freshly brewed house special?

Bowtie Butler: Here you go! Careful, it's hot. If the sweetness isn't just right, just let me know, okay?

Rover: This sofa has seen some years, but somebody's taken good care of it.

Rover: That little dip on the left side. Hmm... kinda looks like a capybara butt.

Rover: I guess Namipon really likes this spot.

Start Challenge

Leave "Phase Ascension"

Rover: The plastic casing's gone a bit yellow. Some scratches here and there, but the drip tray's spotless.

Rover: The "Espresso" button is too worn to read, but the milk frother knob still looks new. Looks like someone's got a clear taste preference.

Radio: *Light, upbeat melody*

Radio: Good afternoon, everyone. You're listening to the city radio, drifting gently beneath the early summer sun. Now for your daily dose of happiness—

Radio: A hundred blind picnic baskets have been scattered across the lush lawns of Central Park by City Hall! Each one holds a surprise: maybe a hand-brewed coffee kit paired with a poetry book, or a handcrafted picnic bag for two sweethearts.

Radio: A friendly cleaner even let slip that someone found open-air concert tickets tucked in a flowerbed this morning!

Radio: Meanwhile, the Geiei Gallery Summer Exhibit is in full swing at Hanakage Underground Street. Rare vintage video tapes are on display, inviting you to take a slow stroll through the long river of history.

Radio: And don't forget: today's bus stop announcements are hiding snippets of the song "Melody in the Rainbow." The passenger who finds the most will win this month's city tram pass!

Radio: Keep your heart tuned to joy, and may your day in Honami be a beautiful one.

Radio: *A soft outro melody plays*

Mahe: Everything here is fresh and carefully selected. We take pride in our produce and proteins, handpicked and prepped each morning.

Mahe: They taste amazing even without any seasoning!

Mahe: Just make sure to cook everything thoroughly to avoid an upset stomach!

Mahe: Oh, also. Please don't try to cook weird meat. Like... Gulpuffs.

Mahe: A young girl visited my store with her sheep dolls, looking for ingredients for a dish she was making. She asked for Gulpuffs, claiming to have had them before without any issues.

Mahe: I mean, no one in their right mind would think it's a good idea to give a child Gulpuffs to eat... If I ever find her parents, they're in for a helluva lesson on food safety.

Head over to the preparation station and get ready to explore

Follow Namipon to the Honami Commercial District to collect Longings

Sales Champ: Wow, didn't expect to see you again so soon!

Namipon: Huh? You came back real quick this time...

Sales Champ: Hello, hello, hello! I'm your friendly mall guide, a goldstar salesbara! Thanks for waking me up! Thought I'd come here too...

Chisa: That was my... Forte.

Sales Champ: Oh, is this young man injured? Hold on. I've got some meds!

The sales champ rustles through its pouch, pulling out some meds. You lay the young man down on the sofa and tend to his wounds.

Chisa: I'm fine.

Chisa: I just... need a little rest. I'm alright.

Chisa: ...I thought you'd be sent straight to this safe house. But my Forte was unstable. You ended up at the bus stop nearby.

Chisa: So I asked Namipon to find you.

Namipon: Hehe, no need to thank me. I'm just happy to meet you, Passenger.

Injured Young Man: Ugh...

Sales Champ: Oh! He's awake! He's awake!

Chisa: How are you feeling?

Injured Young Man: Oh... It's you! You two saved my life... Thank you...

Chisa: You're welcome. It's dangerous outside. You can sleep here tonight. We've got enough food for one more person.

Injured Young Man: Thanks... I have to get home. My grandma's there alone. She must be worried sick.

Chisa: Just focus on recovering first. You can leave once you're back on your feet.

Injured Young Man: No, I promised her yesterday... I said we'd watch TV together when I got back. I can't leave her waiting there alone—

Injured Young Man: No. Not yesterday. The day before...? I... I don't know.

Injured Young Man: I remember the sky was gray when I left the supermarket. It was raining. Then... I haven't seen daylight since.

Injured Young Man: The TV had no sound. The phone wouldn't connect. The road outside the window was... I keep trying to go home, every day. But why...

Injured Young Man: No. No, no. I have to go home! Someone's waiting for me! I—

Injured Young Man: ...No... Wait. Did I... already...

Injured Young Man: No... I...I still haven't...

Chisa: ...

Check on Chisa

Chisa: Oh, good evening.

Chisa: I scavenged it earlier. Some kind of fruit? Not sure if it suits your taste.

Chisa: Ever since Honami fell under the Lament, food here became part of the Remnant Energy. Living things in this Sonoro no longer feel hunger... but to me, that's dangerous in itself.

Chisa: ...I don't want to go numb.

Chisa: I don't want to get used to people disappearing into thin air. I don't want to get used to this loop. I have someone to find. Things to do... and a place to return to.

Chisa: Our goals align. I don't care how impenetrable the Tower is, I'll cut a way right into it.

Chisa: No matter how tight this cage is, I'll tear it down.

Chisa: The more Longings we collect, the more leads we have. I trust that day will come.

Rover: Speaking of leads... do you know when the Fractsidus came to Honami?

Chisa: The Fractsidus? You mean the ones in red we ran into just now?

Chisa: So that's their name... Sorry, I wasn't familiar with it. It was my first time in that zone. I've mostly explored the port area. Still no confirmed route to the Tower, but at least we've ruled out several dead ends.

Chisa: So there are other normal people in the city... I thought only the Red Cicadas in my hometown liked moving in swarms like that. Didn't expect to find another type like that here.

Chisa: …Comparing them to the Red Cicadas might be rude. An invalid analogy too, forget it. Sorry.

Chisa: And they've been running experiments here.

Chisa: I can't decipher their methods from their files, but something's clearly wrong.

Chisa: Space in Honami is already shattered glass. Anything too forceful could make the entire city collapse. These are hardly ideal conditions for experiments.

Chisa: I think... they must've discovered something.

Chisa: Maybe a clue about the Tower. Or some secret of the Lament, hidden in this Sonoro. Something so important, they're willing to take the risk of their experimental site crumbling.

Chisa: We're not the only ones looking for a way out. They might already be ahead of us.

Chisa: But tonight, we can take it easy.

Chisa: No Irideglow. No Lament. Just Honami, a quiet city at night.

Chisa: Thanks for sharing this late-night snack with me... even if it's just canned fruit.

Chisa: But still, thank you. See you tomorrow.

Sales Champ: Yes, yes! It's such a nice day today, so Chisa went out scavenging for supplies. We wanted to do our part too... so we started tidying up!

Bowtie Butler: Once we're done, maybe there'll be space for a few new decorations? Hmm... It might be a nice surprise for Chisa! Passenger, do you have any ideas?

Bowtie Butler: Wonderful! This way, if you please!

Complete the cafe's decorations

Chisa: …Didn't expect the cafe to be this clean. For a moment, I thought I walked into the wrong place.

Chisa: But it looks nice. Really lifts the mood. Thank you, all of you.

Head over to the preparation station and get ready to explore

Search for clues in Honami City together with Chisa

Chisa: Actually… after reading Sumika's notes, I noticed something we might have missed.

Rover: What is it?

Chisa: The Lament we're experiencing here in Honami... it doesn't feel like the real thing. It's weaker, like the power is fading...

Namipon: Welcome back, dear Passengers!

Chisa: If we want real answers, we'll need to reach the Lament's source... inside Neon Tower.

Namipon: Would you like a cup of Coconut Cheese Latte made by yours truly? It's called Cloudy Coconut Sea.

Rover: At the very least, we can now confirm this is tied to the Fractsidus's Controllable Sonoro Project.

Namipon: Hello? Heelllloooo?

Chisa: …Ah. Sorry. Didn't mean to ignore you. We got a little distracted.

Namipon: It's okay. I'm used to it.

Namipon: By the way, Passenger... there's something I need to tell you.

Chisa: Is it... coming from the outside? Is the connection between this Sonoro and the outside world growing stronger?

Namipon: Correct. It's beyond Honami City. Mm, part of it resonates from within you, but… it's not your frequency. What could it be?

Chisa: Maybe it's looking for you, just like Namipon said.

Chisa: But this space should be completely sealed off... unless the restraints around this Sonoro are weakening. Could it be... because of the Longings we gathered?

Namipon: Hmm... If you're in a hurry to meet it, I can try recalibrating Neon Tower's coordinates. But it'll take a little more time. Please wait patiently.

Namipon: Don't worry, Passenger. I'll do my best.

Namipon: So please, get some rest... for those who care about you.

Chisa: Okay. Whenever you're available.

Head to the cafe terrace and find Chisa

Chisa: No. To investigate what could possibly cause a sunset so unusual...

Chisa: See that child by the signpost?

Chisa: The cashier keeps wiping a stain that isn't there... The walls are barely standing, but her uniform is spotless... just like it was.

Chisa: The vending machine is due for restocking. With soda bottles that are already decades old.

Chisa: That cat has been lying there for two months... maybe longer. I've only known it for two.

Chisa: Middle school students are still taking photos of the sky after class, one that is now torn apart by Resonance Cords. But in their eyes, it's still clouds. Birds. Rainbows... the perfect sky of that single day.

Chisa: The store keeps playing pop songs from the last century. The window that never shut all the way is still stuck at the notch it was left on years ago.

Chisa: They've all been left behind in the past.

Chisa: As for me... I'm starting to forget what day it is today.

Chisa: …Heh. Interesting analogy. When I was little, every summer break was spent with cool fans, watermelons, and an old TV. I loved watching anime and was always curious about those... special worlds.

Chisa: I think it's kind of like... an unanswered call.

Chisa: My parents were always busy. Whenever I missed them, I'd try calling... but most of the time, they couldn't answer. Even when they did, we never had much to say.

Chisa: After I became a Resonator and was placed under supervision, those chances became even rarer. I think the things people said about me ended up putting a lot of pressure on them, too.

Chisa: In my hometown, Resonators aren't really accepted. Someone who can't control their abilities is like a ticking time bomb... feared and resented.

Chisa: I can't say we're very close.

Chisa: ...It's not that I hate them. Things were just... ordinary. They had their jobs, I had school. We hardly spent time together.

Chisa: But... sometimes, I do miss them. Just a little.

Chisa: I really... really want to end this vicious loop.

Rover: Every time the Lament struck, you moved toward Neon Tower, against the tide of fleeing citizens, knowing full well it was the most dangerous place to be.

Rover: You knew you couldn't save those who were already "gone," and still, you reached out. To the mother and daughter. To the injured young man. To me, when I first fell into this city.

Rover: You knew that in this endless loop, saving someone didn't change a thing. But still, not once did you ignore a cry for help. So...

Chisa: So you appeared.

Chisa: At a time no one should have. In the most dangerous place. Beneath the Lament's shadow. It wasn't luck or coincidence.

Chisa: The Sonoro isn't fully sealed anymore. Sumika cracked it open. And from the moment we met, the loop had already begun to loosen.

Rover: Which means there's a chance to break it completely. I'm willing to put my faith in you. Let's seize that chance together.

Chisa: Why would you...

Rover: Because we're partners. Isn't it only natural for me to trust you?

Namipon: Chisa—! Passenger—!

Namipon: I-I just confirmed Neon Tower's coordinates!

Find Namipon and figure out what's going on

Namipon: Whew… The way to Neon Tower is in disarray, but lucky us! We've got this!

Namipon: Press this... and that should do it!

Namipon: Now we have a route to the Tower's base. Once you're all set, we can move out!

Talk to Namipon and leave for Neon Tower

Namipon: Ah, Ginga Street. A good place.

Namipon: Hello! Old friend!

Chisa: You know this place well.

Namipon: Hehe... that's why I want to bring them back. I want to bring everyone home.

Chisa: Just some old friends.

Namipon: Hmm. Looks like we haven't gathered enough. Maybe we need to find somewhere with more people?

Namipon: How about a bit farther ahead?

Namipon: Follow this road... Mm. This used to be Honami's main shopping street. Always full of life!

Namipon: During the holidays, you'd see stalls on both sides. Shoppers everywhere. You could find all sorts of treasures… like me. In all kinds of shapes.

Follow Namipon

Fractsidus Member: Hm? Who's there?!

Chisa: Incoming!

Rover: The Fractsidus... How did they get here?

Defeat the Fractsidus members

Rover: They left behind some kind of... device?

Chisa: Looks like Frequency Detectors. But it's rough. Like something rushed the night before a lab demo. Even the most basic Frequency Stabilizers are missing.

Chisa: I'm not saying they're completely useless. Just that, performance-wise, it's not very reliable.

Namipon: Chisa! Passenger! Come quick! There's a lot of... strong Longings here!

Chisa: Let's meet up with Namipon first.

Head to where Namipon is pointing

Namipon: This way! Over here!

Namipon: You can start collecting now. Oh, and, um... More troublemakers might show up...

Namipon: Wow, collecting in a crowded place really is different! We've got quite the catch. Let me sort them out...

Chisa: This is just my speculation, but something tells me a powerful, hidden force is behind these Tacet Discords, directing them to drive away all... outsiders.

Rover: (Under what circumstances would you want to drive away outsiders...?)

Rover: (When you see this place as your own territory... your "home.")

Rover: What's the matter?

Chisa: Did you hear that...?

???: Help...

Enter Meishin Passageway and check the situation

Injured Young Man: It hurts...

Injured Young Man: Help... Please help me...

Chisa: He's wounded badly. Not good, already unconscious.

Chisa: If we don't get him out, he won't make it.

Rover: Is it... the Lament?!

Chisa: ...Slicing has started.

Chisa: Space fractures and is rearranged. Everything caught inside, people included... they're all twisted into absurd, broken shapes... until the Lament ends.

Chisa: …

Chisa: ...Thank you.

Chisa: The slicing is getting closer. Space will break down any moment now.

Chisa: We need to get out of here immediately.

Rover: Chisa?

Chisa: Hold on to him. And hold onto me.

Chisa: That's direct... Well, efficiency first.

Rover: Might as well make use of it.

Chisa: Here we are.

Chisa: Vaguely. But I do recall the first occurrence hit three days later.

Chisa: At that time, Irideglow bled through the cracks in the gray sky, like the world had been sliced open by an invisible pair of scissors. People, buildings, even space itself… everything fell into chaos.

Rover: Then we need to recreate the city as it was before the Lament to uncover what really happened…

Chisa: Who's there?!

Polmes: Ahem. Sharp as a tack, you two.

Chisa: ...

Polmes: Since you've caught on, the game is afoot. Listen up, young folks! This district is full of secrets!

Chisa: ...

Polmes: I've been staking out this area for three days, five hours, and... well, a long time! And guess what? I've spotted something really fishy!

Polmes: Those red coats sneaking around and tinkering every day... Mark my words, they're up to no good!

Rover: Red coats...? Could it be the Fractsidus?

Polmes: So, what do you say? Care to join my Super Detective Team and hunt for the truth?

Chisa: Super detective team.. and hunt for the truth?

Polmes: Exactly! Just follow me. We're two clues away from cracking this wide open!

Polmes: Well, well, you seem quite familiar with this place, young lady.

Chisa: So do you.

Polmes: Naturally. That's basic detective work... Wait, over there! That's it!

Chisa: The Fractsidus must have left this device here.

Chisa: But... it's inactive. Something's covering it.

Rover: Irideglow Crystals. We need to clear them off first.

Follow Namipon to the next area

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Polmes: By Jove! My instincts were right! They are up to something shady!

Chisa: These should be the Fractsidus's experimental devices.

Polmes: Huh, first time seeing a report like this. "Lament Residue"… could that be those iridescent things we just saw?

Polmes: Hmm? Why so quiet, all of you?

Chisa: ...This is absurd.

Chisa: If the Sonoro could be controlled, then why... why hasn't this loop been broken? The Left Behind are still trapped in this false memory of peace.

Chisa: Controlling it can't be their objective. They're using it. Seeing if each Lament occurence is slower or the deaths more orderly... It's like throwing people into the fire just to test the temperature.

Rover: There might be more clues in other test sites.

Polmes: That's right! There's another one close by! This way!

Polmes: By the way, I didn't expect you to see through my disguise... Keen eyes like yours make you perfect candidates for my Super Detective Team!

Chisa: And what exactly does this team do?

Polmes: Why, investigate those red-coated troublemakers, of course! But come to think of it, I haven't seen them around lately. Suspicious...

Chisa: May I ask how many members are on this team now?

Polmes: ...Just the one capybara.

Polmes: Ahem! Anyway, we've arrived!

Proceed to the next area

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Polmes: The plot thickens... this one's almost identical to the last report.

Chisa: Same sequence number... but different data.

Rover: So they've been running the same experiment repeatedly, with different results each time.

Rover: But... why are they both labeled as No. 20?

Chisa: Yes. I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you her name. It's Sumika.

Chisa: This is where I first met her, where our old base was. I left after the Lament sliced and stitched this place over and over… and I never returned.

Chisa: Back then, Sumika used to tease me. She'd say I had to map everything out—routes, terrain, vantage points, exits and entrances. All of it. But she… always went with her gut. Terrible sense of direction, though.

Chisa: Even so, she chose to go to that tower alone.

Chisa: Thank you. For accompanying me.

Polmes: I-I'm deep in deduction! Still need more clues to uncover what those red-coated rascals are really after.

Polmes: I'll take my leave now. It's been a pleasure working with two sharp tools like you. Until next time!

Examine the old magazine

Rover: A stash of old science magazines with notes scribbled on a few pages.

Chisa: I found some too. Must've been Sumika's. She used to read here during her downtime.

Rover: What about you?

Chisa: I'd be with her. Sometimes we'd read the same thing.

Chisa: But most of the time, I'd be maintaining my weapon.

Examine the clock

Rover: That stash in the corner... they're all clocks.

Chisa: There used to be more. Sumika collected them, placing them all across the city before the Lament struck. Then she went back to retrieve them one by one. It was pure madness... but it proved her theory.

Chisa: The closer you get to Neon Tower, the slower time moves. In other words, all of Honami City might be lagging behind the outside world.

Chisa: Remember that moss-covered watch? That's what first made Sumika notice something was off about this city.

Examine the top of the box

Rover: Is this a piece of amber?

Chisa: Sumika left it here.

Chisa: Her Forte allows her to create amber that stores memories or moments in time.

Rover: Memories or moments...

Chisa: Yes. Just hold it like this...

Chisa: …And you'll see what's been preserved inside.

Rover: Sumika mentioned the strange flow of time here.

Chisa: She told me that time within this Sonoro moves slower than it does outside.

Chisa: The plants grow like everything's normal, yet those who died remain trapped in this loop. It's like something very powerful is holding them back.

Rover: What's holding them back might just be their unfulfilled Longings.

Chisa: They awakened Namipon to a city that still needs him.

Rover: Look. More amber behind us. This piece looks like it was created recently.

Chisa: Go on. Hold it like you did before.

Rover: Judging from her notes, she really did make it to Neon Tower.

Chisa: We need to find a way there. The sooner, the better.

Rover: Let's return to the cafe first. We'll need to check with Namipon and see if the Longings we've gathered are enough to guide us to the Tower.

Namipon: Over here! Over here! Yup, right there!

Namipon: The big tall Tower, hiding in the broken city... it's finally opened up for us! Let's gooo!

Chisa: (Coughing)

Namipon: (Coughing) So much dust!

Chisa: So much rubble from the city scattered in here... debris and loose junk. Watch your step, everyone.

Chisa: We need to bypass all this and find a way to get to the top...

Chisa: If Sumika really made it this far, she would have left a sign for me to follow.

Examine the statues covered by Irideglow Crystals

Namipon: Whoa, this is...

Chisa: The Fractsidus referred to these as Light Irideglow Crystals in their reports. Might be Lament residue.

Chisa: Just like before, we should be able to clear them out to restore the area.

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Namipon: Look! A shiny stone!

Chisa: ...It's Sumika's amber.

Chisa: Sumika might have taken this path straight ahead.

Rover: Let's go check it out.

Investigate the next location

Namipon: More Irideglow Crystals here!

Rover: Let's clear them off. Sumika's notes might have been buried beneath.

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Chisa: She said the path ahead is wrong...

Rover: We need to go back!

Namipon: Hey, wait... w-wait for me... I'm freezing out here... Brrr...

Proceed to the next area

Approach the cherry blossom tree inside the tower

Namipon: Whoa... look how big! And that tree!

Chisa: Look at those chairs.

Rover: They're covered in Irideglow Crystals too… Sumika's notes must be hidden underneath.

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Proceed to the next area

Split the Light Irideglow Crystal

Chisa: ...

Namipon: Sumika... She marked every correct path. That's an amazing deed.

Sumika: What's... that sound? Am I just... hearing things?

Sumika: Are those... people from the Black Shores?

Sumika: Hey! You... Can you see this "entrance"?

Sumika: Please... help the people here... They're trapped...

Sumika: My friend... she's trapped here...

Sumika: Please...

Sumika: Just once...

Sumika: Let me win.

Namipon: Ahh... what an incredible girl.

Namipon: She got so close to finding the source of the Lament in the city. But as long as someone keeps going where she left off, she wouldn't have regretted it. Not once did she live with regret.

Rover: Did you hear that?

Namipon: Argh... Sounds like the space inside the tower is being sliced up.

Chisa: How did we miss it? Is it because the Lament here is different from the one outside?

Chisa: Or maybe, the Tower itself has already been consumed by the Lament and has become a part of it.

Chisa: Rover, Namipon. Take my hand.

Namipon: A-aachoo! O-okay, Chisa!

Namipon: Huh?

Namipon: Aaaaahhhhh—

Rover: Space has just been sliced again.

Rover: The temperature's dropping, but there's no frost or ice anywhere. Could it mean this "Tower" really is absorbing warmth from human bodies, just like Sumika suspected?

Check the research record

Rover: (Test No. 20 again...)

Fractsidus Member: Who's there?!

See what's up ahead

Rover: What is this—?!

Rover: Is it running to...

Rover: …the very heart of the Lament?

Pursue the source of the Lament

Continue to the source of the Lament

Eliminate the Tacet Discords blocking the way

Continue into the city's depth

Rover: Chisa...

Rover: Is she inside that space now?

Head to the top of the tower and face ???

???: You...

???: GET… OUT—!

???: Take your cursed, bloated luxury of time—!

???: Don't touch our cocoon... Woven for ██ years…

???: Buried here… is our home…

???: GET OUT—

???: GET OUUUUUT——!!

Rover: This place... it's where I first arrived in Honami.

Chisa: Back then, Neon Tower was engulfed by the Lament. But now that the warped space has settled… even the wind feels calmer.

Chisa: At last… we've reached the end.

Chisa: ...Or maybe... this is where it all begins.

Rover: ...Abby?

Abby: Wahh! Wh-why didn't you answer me?! I waited outside forever! I had to force my way in to find you! Seriously, I thought you were—

Rover: This Sonoro was sealed off from the outside world. But it looks like it's reopened now.

Abby: Yup! All thanks to our pals at the Black Shores! They've been working nonstop to install all kinds of devices. And with the connection getting stronger, I finally managed to slip through when the rift popped back up and... Wait...

Chisa: Hello.

Abby: A new face! Hiya! Is she coming with us?

Rover: Of course. We're just about to leave.

Rover: Someone's still waiting for us.

Re-enter Neon Tower through the portal

Explore inside Neon Tower

Chisa: ...Hm.

Chisa: It's just… I still can't quite accept it.

Chisa: No choice, I have to face it... Let's go.

Namipon: Sunlight through the glass, sugar cubes crackle in sun, the scent of tea drifts—Hey! No snatching, no snatching!

Chisa: ...What... How are you—?!

Namipon: Hm? I'm brewing tea for you.

Chisa: But you said... "this is as far as I go"?

Namipon: Uh... yes. It was as far as I could go because I had to go back to the cafe first...

Chisa: ...

Namipon: It just… took a bit longer to finish that sentence.

Namipon: Wh-what's wrong?

Chisa: Nothing... forget it.

Chisa: I'm just... glad you're back.

Chisa: There's something I need to finish. But...

Chisa: ...

Namipon: Always so reserved, Chisa. I'll say it for you, then—

Chisa: My Overclocking symptoms are—

Chisa: My Overclocking symptoms... they're not fully resolved. Inside this Sonoro, things are stable. But once I leave... I don't know if it'll spiral out of control.

Chisa: Still... even if I do Overclock, I wouldn't just attack someone. Sumika once mentioned she had some friends, researchers, who might be able to treat me. But... but I...

Chisa: ...Huh?

Rover: Come to the Black Shores with me.

Rover: To the place where Sumika once lived and worked. To where a new beginning awaits.

Namipon: What I said earlier… wasn't quite right. This is the real ending.

Namipon: Mm. So wholesome.

Namipon: Now… it's time to take that step toward a new beginning.

Namipon: Wait... that's...