Reciprocal Hearts Event/Birthday Celebration
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
- Unlock Condition: Complete 40 Field investigations, Complete venue setup, wait until Sept. 27
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Birthday Venue
Vyn: This is...?
Beneath the boughs of the autumn leaves, colorful decorations adorn the area.
Two chairs and an elegant table decked with afternoon tea pastries decorate the center of the clearing. The venue and the autumn backdrop complement each other.
You: Happy birthday, Dr. Richter!
Vyn: Did you... prepare all of this?
You: That's right! I prepared it all by myself, from the decorations to the desserts! Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.
Vyn: Ah, you really are...
Vyn starts analyzing the decorations and asks you about every single of them.
Vyn: That hanging over there... Is that the plant you wanted to gift your friend? Is it the same one?
You: That's the one. It was always meant for you. I don't have a friend like that.
Vyn: You wrote "happy birthday" in French on this sign? I do not recall you knowing French...
You: I wrote it myself! I specially asked my friend who majored in French.
You: But it's pretty hard to write on a cake. It took me a lot of tries until I got it right!
Vyn: Well, and this message... "Happy birthday, Professor Richter"...
Vyn: It looks like you prepared more than I expected, my teaching assistant.
Vyn's golden eyes beam at you as if eagerly seeking your response.
His gaze is enchanting and compels you to tell him everything.
You: ...Well, when I was doing the evaluations, I asked the students about what you like...
You: They... asked me to give you these gifts and these notes.
You: These are their blessings. You have to accept them!
Vyn: Since you say it like this, of course I shall.
Vyn: But before that... Would you mind if I tried your cake and tea first?
You: Ah, yes! You should try the cakes first! I completely forgot!
Following Vyn's reminder, you quickly seat him at the table and have him try the desserts.
A light breeze whistles through the boughs and flowers, and the chirping of birdsong instills an aura of tranquility.
It's like a paradise for only you and him.
You: I just suddenly felt like this place resembles a part of your garden!
You: Of course, there aren't as many plants here.
Vyn: Is that so? However, at this moment... I like it better here.
With a gentle swirl, his exquisite teacup sparkles and shines.
Vyn: I am quite curious as to why you chose this location. Surely it was not to recreate my garden at home?
You: That was part of the reason, but most importantly, I promised to spend your birthday with you.
You: I want to... do the best I can to make happy memories that can replace your unpleasant ones.
You: This way, you won't hate birthdays anymore. After all, birthdays are supposed to be joyous occasions!
Vyn: ...
Vyn: Yes, you are right.
Having said so much, you suddenly realize that you almost forgot something very important.
You: Make a wish! After all that, you haven't made a wish yet!
You hurriedly try to grab the candles, but Vyn lightly holds your arm.
His twinkling, golden eyes look at you with an extreme gentleness. You can only look back at him, as if bewitched.
Vyn: I have already made my wish.
You: You're done?
Vyn: Yes. Do you not want to know what it is?
You: I'm a bit curious, but I heard that your wish won't come true if you say it out loud.
You: I want to know, but even more so, I want your wish to come true.
Vyn: ...
Vyn: All right, then I will tell you when it comes true.
Vyn: [Player], I am very happy that you spent so much time preparing for my birthday.
You: I just asked everyone some questions when I was doing the evaluations. It wasn't anything special...
Vyn interrupts you with a gentle yet firmly resolute tone.
Vyn: Truthfully, I knew about your birthday preparations from the beginning.
Vyn: That day, you suddenly asked to be my teaching assistant, and your abnormal behavior was as if you were hiding your nervousness. I took a guess.
You: That early? Then the course evaluations were also...?
Vyn: Yes. There indeed were evaluations this semester, but having you conduct them was a personal wish.
Vyn: I apologize for having you work so hard recently.
Vyn: To show you my gratitude, how about you come to my home next weekend and try my best cakes?
You: Oh, okay!
Once your thoughts come back from the cake, you think of another question.
You: ...Wait. You mean that having me collect information from your students was your plan all along!?
Vyn: Yes. On the day when you left your phone on my desk, I happened to see a notification about the venue's successful reservation. It confirmed my initial guess.
You: So... You also asked to see the venue on purpose? And when you asked about my friend at the florist's? You knew everything, so...?
Vyn gently smiles and affirms your suspicions with a nod.
You: But... Why didn't you tell me?
Vyn: One of the reasons was... I could not ruin your goodwill.
Vyn: Another reason was that... I was very much looking forward to the surprise that you were planning.
Vyn: You made me realize that these kinds of expectations are not only from my subjective view. More importantly...
Vyn: Your intent and consideration made me realize the possibility of my expectations being satisfied.
You: ...Then, did my preparations meet your expectations?
Vyn: Your work not only met them, but far exceeded them — a true birthday surprise.
You: So, you won't oppose celebrating birthdays anymore after this?
He can't help but let out a tiny sigh. Complicated emotions flow within his golden eyes.
Vyn: ...Yes, or rather, something about me changed ever since you said that you wanted to celebrate my birthdays with me.
Vyn: I used to dislike birthdays because I opposed the intractable displays of ostentatious wealth and hypocritical kindness.
Vyn: Once upon a time... All of my birthday memories consisted of such things.
Vyn briefly closes his eyes before opening them again.
Vyn: But it is different now.
Vyn: In the face of todays' birthday surprise, those extravagant halls and distasteful memories have all but crumbled into dust.
Vyn: Because of you, I can once again look forward to birthdays and their significance.
Vyn: ...Or perhaps not only birthdays.
You: !?
As the sunset grows in intensity, it imparts a fantastical shimmer to Vyn's argent hair and golden eyes. The sight is breathtaking.
Vyn: For me, every day with you is worth looking forward to.
You: ...Dr. Richter...
Vyn: Moreover... You have been trying to better understand me through others, wanting to know what I want most.
Vyn: But... Would it not be more accurate if I told you such things myself?
Vyn draws close to you. His warm breath lightly sweeps across your ear as he tenderly looks at you.
Your cheeks bathe in the glow of the setting sun, and they subconsciously burn red-hot.
Vyn: Your sincere feelings are the most precious gift.
