Vyn "Neon Melody"/Rewards

Story Summary

An underground bar in Stellis Harbor is hosting a band competition, and Kiki brings the MC along to look for one of her idols, Louis. When Kiki finds Louis in the crowded bar, the MC and musician are both surprised to realize they know each other -- the MC once represented Louis, under his real name, in a music plagiarism case. The MC drops her phone while searching for a pen for Louis to give Kiki his autograph. While picking it up, a drunken troublemaker bumps into her and demands she drink with him as apology for nearly tripping him. The troublemaker puts his hands on the MC, and the group is surprised by Vyn, who appears and disposes of the drunk by threatening to play "Knife Game" with him. Louis introduces Vyn as "Vilhelm," the newest member of his band. Vyn asks the MC if she's a fan of Louis, and she says she admires his talent as a songwriter, noting that Vyn's tone seems sour. Louis suggests everyone present exchange contact information; the MC declines, saying she already has it, and Vyn frowns again. Louis gives Kiki and the MC his private number, as well as giving the MC a phone number for Vyn that she's never seen.

Back at home, the MC frets over the unfamiliar phone number and Vyn's strange appearance at the bar. She calls him without meaning to, and he says he was about to call her since he didn't get a message that she was home and safe. She responds that she was distracted by thinking about something, but she dismisses it as nothing when asked for details, which worries Vyn. The two agree to meet at the park the next day so the MC can help with a problem. The following day at the park, the MC finds Vyn playing house with two children. The MC agrees to join their game, and the children ask unexpected questions about whether the MC is dating anyone else. Although Vyn takes interest in her answer, the children are suddenly called away by their parents. Vyn tells the MC that he's having trouble composing music for the competition and has stayed up all night working on it. The MC lets him sleep on her lap before offering her suggestions: the theme of the song is cherishing family, which is a difficult topic for Vyn, so she suggests that he should try to think about something or someone he does cherish while writing it.

In an encounter with Vyn at the bar, the MC tells Vyn that the competition is over and asks when he's going to return to his normal life. Vyn refuses, telling her that this is his true self, and his day job at the research center was the lie. The MC wakes up, realizing that she overslept a nap and was just dreaming. She thinks back to earlier at the park, where she asked Vyn why he has two phone numbers and how he met Louis. Vyn answered that he has different numbers for different circles and evaded the question about Louis. She's jolted out of her memory by Vyn, who calls her during a break in practice. She asks if she can come to see him, and he agrees. When she arrives, she joins the band's in-progress Truth or Dare game, where she takes a dare to avoid being asked awkward "truth" questions around Vyn. She's dared to hold hands and look into the eyes of the person with a certain card, which turns out to be Louis. As she hesitates to take Louis' hands, Vyn drops and breaks a wine glass and asks for the MC's help cleaning the spilled champagne off himself, claiming his fingers are numb from over-practice. The MC encourages him to rest rather than worry so much about the composition. When he leaves to clean up in the bathroom, Louis asks if Vyn told her about his composition problems and reveals that he knows him as Dr. Richter.

Louis ends the practice and sends everyone home, but he says he still has something to discuss with the MC. Vyn seems displeased by this, but the MC encourages him to go since Louis has promised to tell her how Vyn joined the band. In a shabby, quiet alley behind the Harbor District's Night Market, Louis tells the MC about the self-doubt that led him to seek psychological help and question Vyn's ability to relate to his problems, since Vyn is considered an irreplaceable authority in his field while Louis is not. Vyn then decided to join the band to better relate to Louis' experience. The MC realizes the unfamiliar phone number is Vyn's work number. Louis says it seemed like a waste of time at first since Vyn can't express his feelings on stage, but he adds that since the MC appeared, Louis has realized that Vyn can panic, too. He then gets a message calling him away to deal with a band emergency, leaving the MC alone to navigate her way home. She quickly realizes she's being followed. She hides around a corner and prepares to pepper spray her pursuer, who grabs her wrist and triggers the spray himself; she realizes it's Vyn, who appears to be crying despite his glasses shielding him from the spray. He questions what she was doing alone with Louis in such a secluded place, but she realizes all the misunderstandings and explains that she was just asking Louis about Vyn. Vyn seems relieved that she cares for him and explains that he was just trying to make sure she got home safely.

On the day of the finals, the MC enthusiastically notes how many people are there and how popular the band will be; Vyn asks whether she wants him to be seen by more people and reassures her that her eyes are the only ones he wants. When they go on stage, the MC pushes her way to the front of the crowd. Vyn's solo goes extremely well, and he dedicates it to her at the end. In an interview afterward, Vyn explains his various fears about the performance. In private, he talks more with Louis about his own fears and self-doubts, continuing their doctor-patient relationship. Vyn suggests that Louis' fears are so persistent because he loves performing so much, not because he hates it, and he should either try to turn that fear into motivation or allow himself to leave the profession if he can't overcome the fear, since his last performance was excellent. Louis asks what Vyn would do, and Vyn explains that he would consider the importance of the other party in his heart, then weigh whether it would be worse to disappoint that person or drift away from that person.

As the competition continues and the MC hears fans of "Vilhelm" plan to find him on social media, Vyn slips in and takes her away from the crowd. He explains that he doesn't care to wait for the results of the competition, already said goodbye to the band, and only wanted her recognition. The two realize they've been followed by Vyn's new fans, but they're prevented from having any further contact with Vyn either by the MC or by Vyn himself (player choice). The MC isn't sure how to feel about how easily Vyn can discard his new friends, concerned that one day she'll be discarded just as easily, but he senses her worry and responds by showing her the contact list of his phone, which only has one entry in it: hers. Vyn explains that no matter how many times he might change his number, he'll keep hers, and he won't leave her side unless she cuts him off. Later that night, Vyn reads about Louis' band's victory and big label signing. He says to himself that he's happy he's not the only one who's afraid and asks to be allowed to walk with the MC until the very end.

Illustrations

IllusionThe cold dim light from the old street lamps flickers. For a moment, I thought he was crying.

TipsyThe faint aroma of alcohol in the air gently lures people into intoxication.

Video Call

Video Call		Vyn: Neon Light Melody (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Vyn: Sorry. I was in class, so I could not pick up the call.

Vyn: What? You sneaked into my class to listen in...? Really?

Vyn: I never knew you were so bold now. So, you've learned to fool me now?

Vyn: ...No, I am not mad. Just like you, I was kidding.

Vyn: Take it as a little revenge from me. I did feel a little nervous just now.

Vyn: I am worried that I was not performing well enough, and knowing that you might have been watching...

Vyn: That is not necessarily a bad thing though. Giving myself some pressure once in a while might turn out better than staying complacent.

Vyn: That is also why I am considering a student's offer to participate in next month's campus singing competition.

Vyn: ...Oh? Looks like you have a lot of faith in me.

Vyn: What if I tell you that I am good at playing instruments but barely sing? I might even be off-pitch.

Vyn: Your expression seems weird... I see more anticipation than surprise?

Vyn: If you are really so curious, then I will just have to find a chance to let you witness my off-pitch singing in person.

Vyn: I can not see why this is humiliating. As long as it something that captures your interest, I am down for it.

Vyn: Speaking of which, I am also curious to see you sing. How about you try singing in front of me as well?

Vyn: ... Deal. I will be looking forward to it.

Story Locations

Russell
Underground Bar

Main Character's Residence

Russell
Training Room

Park

Main Character's Residence

Airport District

Giannovyn Mental Health Research Center

Airport District

Russell
Lounge

Russell
Underground Bar

Airport District
Outside the Underground Bar

Vyn's Residence

Story Characters

Vyn Richter

Vyn Richter

Vyn Richter

Kiki Bennet

Louis

Male Troublemaker

Little Girl

Boy

Band Member

Audience A

Audience B

Host