Hello! This is now the second draft on a possible overall plotline for Rainy.

I’ve
made sure to try reading all the feedback associated with the first, and have also
added ideas or scenes that I thought can be added towards the mod​
​
Also do note, these are 100% just ideas, if you guys do not think these properly
fit into the plot, or you have different things in mind that you believe would fit
these goals more, do tell me so I can adjust. Regardless, feel free to tell me
whether or not you think these would work at all.

Anyways! Let’s get started.

New Additions:

In planning the plot for the successive days, I felt that there were two major,
diverging approaches for the dynamic between Hikiko and Mari.

Hikiko is Mari’s “shell”, her avatar where she may act to her ideal mind’s content,
a perfect complement to a perfected Mariland. Through Hikiko, Mari is able to live
a life, a identity she wished she could be.

However, the events of the Real World then come, forcing her to more readily live
in reality. The circumstances, the state of her friends and her future are becoming
impossible to ignore and have begun to affect her own dreams as well. The
question is how?

With this, I felt there were two major approaches to its effects, and how it impacts
Hikiko and her relationship to Mari.

Approach 1: Perfect Shell

“I’ll hold on, but your world’s falling apart. What will you do, MARI?”

-​ Hikiko’s personality remains perfected all throughout the story, reacting to

the changes made in Mariland from Real World influences and Mari
herself.
-​ Solidifies Hikiko as her own character, separate from Mari
The first approach, Hikiko maintains her own personality, independent of Mari’s
own as the story progresses. This keeps Hikiko as her own character and self as
she gradually comes to confront Mari herself regarding the near futility of
Mariland. A landscape beginning to fail its only purpose of being an idealized
world.

This is similar to Omori, who maintains his purpose and personality completely
independent of Headspace’s own reactions to the Real World, even continuing
his “purpose” of maintaining complete suppression of the truth as he attempts to
kill dream Basil, restarting Head Space.

Approach 2: Broken Shell

“I’m changing… you’re changing, MARI. I don’t think you can hide anymore, what
will you do?”

-​ Hikiko’s personality begins to show cracks, momentary lapses that mimic

Mari’s personality together with Mariland’s own changes.
-​ Establishes a link between Hikiko and Mari

The second approach, Hikiko herself begins to change due to the events of the
real world. Mari’s own fragile shell beginning to crack as the reality of life is
addressed.

These lapses of personality mimic Mari’s, giving clear hints as to her own inability
to ignore the truth.

Personal Preference: This is only my opinion, but if asked, I would choose the
Broken Shell approach. Mari’s maturity and awareness of the truth from the very
start forces her to address it much more clearly than Sunny. This, with Sunny
being known to be the more imaginative of the two would result in Mari having a
far harder time keeping her own “self” away from the events of real life.​
​
Of course, regardless of my thoughts, I hoped to write how I felt the story should
go in both approaches since its important you guys see all the ideas there could
be.

Legend:​
​
No Highlight: Was present in the prior draft.

Yellow Highlight: Represents the Perfect Shell approach

Blue Highlight: Represents the Broken Shell approach

Green Highlight: Represents changes (New changes) that apply to both

approaches or are independent of them.

Light Green Highlight: Represents example dialogue text (Just another way of
trying to portray how I think they would be written, and helps set the tone of the
current scene, if ever)

​
Pre Day 0 Plot thoughts:

While I do think Hero would eventually lessen his efforts in bringing back the
original friend group, I don’t think he would have given up entirely. The whole
explanation of what I think so will probably be brought up in one of my continued
writeups in the future, but essentially, I think a Hero that has (comparatively)
been much less destroyed from this incident as opposed to Omori’s incident
would allow him to push through far more effort to bring back Aubrey and Basil
compared to before. At the very least, I believe even in the future, Hero, Kel and
Aubrey would have an amicable relationship due to his efforts.

Plus, having the three already have an established friendship, even if a far cry
from the past, helps in establishing what I think Day 2’s main arc should be.

Day 1 Real World: Establish the setting of the Real World. Introduce
Mari to the current state of the town, its people and her best friends
(Aubrey, Hero, Kel and Basil).
She stood there, and the way her eyes widened staring at Aubrey for the first
time in so long, like everything was different.

It was different, and the singular pink strand that stood on her shortened hair
would make sure that was a permanent reminder.

Mari… Mari just kept in place, clothes so perfectly kept and free of folds or
imperfections. But that's how they always have been. Her paled skin, the pause
as hesitation was under every movement. Everything in Aubrey’s life had
changed, but it felt like Mari’s had never taken a single step forward.

And it looked, felt horrible. more than Aubrey could imagine. Maybe it was why
she didn’t hesitate to rush in, nearly causing both of them to fall as she hugged
Mari as tightly as she could.

“Mari” She wouldn’t even respond, taking a small eternity before shaky arms
would wrap around in response. They felt frail. It hurt.

“...H-Hello, Aubrey”

Mari gets forced into finally leaving her house, courtesy of Aubrey’s efforts.
Despite her clear hesitation to push forward, Mari decides to do so due to
Aubrey’s insistence.

“C’mon…” Aubrey gently tugged at her arm, trying not to think on how little
resistance was made at all, like they were lifeless. She already wanted to cry for
awhile. Seeing her was already becoming too much, but it didn’t seem like
sadness was the only emotion coming out. “Hero misses you. Kel misses you,
Mari. I mean it! Come with me!”

But Mari wasn’t budging, a quiet voice so painfully uncertain that it should never
have come from her. “They wouldn’t…”

“Well, I miss you!” It came out a bit louder than it should’ve, and it showed far
more irritation towards someone who was (no, is) one of the only semblances of
guardian in her life. “And… and you can’t say that when you haven’t seen them in
forever!” But maybe it just rung true, maybe Aubrey was more angry than she’d
like to admit. But that conversation, if it ever came up, would be for another day.
Right now all it did was make her seem like a jerk.

They take a trip around Faraway Town, this will be where all the new areas and
people can be showcased by the mod. Together with any minor characters.

Eventually, introduce Hero’s current academic life, and the new character that is
eventually shown to have went to prom with him. (Also, I personally think that
Aubrey woud initially be quite hesitant to ever mention that detail with Mari since
she’d know more than enough about Mari and Hero’s relationship. I feel like it
would be something she would knowingly stay silent to until Mari decides to
pester her about it)

“...Don’t you wanna see him?” Two years. Two years Mari’s stayed inside doing
god-knows-what, and she’s hesitating? On seeing Hero?

But she shook her head “I’m sorry… I-I need more time.”

‘You’ve had enough time!’ but saying that wouldn’t help. Getting her out was
already pushing Aubrey’s luck, and maybe there was something between them
she was never privy to (even if their relationship seemed so natural, so perfect).
So for the time being, they left, moving towards wherever interested Mari the
most, as promised. She needed more time. Kel would just have to take the short
end of the stick today, too.

But that wasn’t the problem now, it was the question that came next as they
walked, one that had no easy answer.

‘How’s… How's Basil? Is he okay?”

Basil’s current relationship with a new “gang” of people is shown. His

not-so-hidden anger towards Mari and the others.

“It’s been hard on him.”

The introduction of this character is honestly what I think is by far the hardest part
of writing this chapter. If you’ve seen my last writeup of him, trying to gauge his
nature and how he would react to Sunny’s death really does feel like it could be
anything. However, at least in my eyes, the way he would show it is less outward
and brash like Aubrey’s, but a much more quiet yet obvious resentment. Basil
can have outbursts, but his first interaction with Mari together with Aubrey would
be more of complete shock, followed by clear anger and sorrow, one that easily
catches the attention of Boss and his group but isn’t elaborated (I don’t think
Basil would ever mention the details of Sunny to them). Maybe he would decide
to immediately leave for the time being just to avoid the two, causing the gang to
confront Aubrey and Mari about it?

“Wait! B-Basil!” For a few moments, she almost forgot the stinging that radiated in
her knee. Almost. But like everything else, it was far too painful to ignore, and her
short sprint nearly came crashing down to the pavement.

Aubrey was already catching up, probably about to tell her off for being the
careless idiot she was. But there was already too much to bear.

Time and time again she would try to run, chasing something that just wouldn’t
ever come close enough to hold onto. She couldn’t grab him, and would suffer for
the rest of her life. Now it was Basil, and he was so, so far away. Almost
impossible to reach now.

…As if there was any way of beginning to make up for what she did, and what it
did to all of them.

Mari would try to get to Basil, knowing full well why he would be so angry at her,
and for what she did. At first, she would try asking Aubrey to help him open up
but her mentions of their life before Mari left the house and Hero’s numerous
attempts at doing so cause Mari to decide that it would be something she has to
do herself.

Maybe she would finally find him (in his house?), and try apologizing for the first
time, only for Basil to completely refuse of it with a small outburst, before either
running to his room or breaking down then and there, causing Mari to decide to
leave for his sake. This can end up being one of the sources of her self-hate to
become more apparent, and can be brought up in the dreamworld’s blackspace
sections.

“How could you do that…” Basil’s voice barely screeched out between hacks and
sobs, hands desparately covering his ears, it was too loud. “You killed him!
Sunny just… he just wanted to be with you and you k-killed him!” It was repeated,
more and more incoherent than the last as he closed in on himself.

It burned into Mari’s ears, into Mari’s head. It was all agony.

She knew. She knew the moment it happened. She knew Sunny only wanted to
spend more time with her. If only that was obvious before, and not from her
minds endless reminders after it was already too late.

…It was obvious. At least to anyone who actually cared, anyone who wasn’t a
horrible human being. He was right. The push might’ve been accidental, but
everything before? Mari did it knowingly, willingly.

She might as well have pushed Sunny on purpose.

“Mari? Mari! Wait!” Aubrey’s voice was fading, she had already left the room.

Day 1 Mariland: Establish how the events of real world have now
begun to slowly influence the state of the dream world, much to both
Mari and Hikiko’s dismay.

So far, I’m actually really content with the Prom plotline. It definitely feels like Mari
to both feel a sense of acceptance but also resentment towards the girl’s
relations with Hero. A resentment that she’d probably rather drop dead than
admit, since she knows she hasn’t exactly done much herself. But she does feel
it, and doesn’t know whether to be angry that she has the audacity to do so.

Perfect Shell Approach: This would mark the first ‘cracks’ in Mariland, and
Mari’s efforts on stopping it from spreading.
During the prank, Various unnamed characters surround and laugh unnaturally at
Hikiko, who would start to show her first sign of irritation in Mariland’s changes.
Darkness would slowly surround the screen, and once returned to normal, all
unnamed characters would disappear, removed by Mari (The Dark King) entirely
as both Hikiko and her gang would pretend it was completely normal. She would
then continue, looking for the prank’s culprit.

Broken Shell Approach: This marks the first cracks in Hikiko, and in extension,
Mari.

During the prank, various unnamed characters would surround once again, but
now Hikiko would show an emotion of sadness, of doubt in her own confidence,
similar to the emotions brought out during Real World.

However, Sunny would come to her side, promising that her performance in the
prom even to be amazing in his eyes. Eventually, the surrounding darkness
would fade again.While the figures have disappeared, Hikiko (Mari) would give
one heartfelt “thank you” to Sunny, before completely returning to her confident
self. The search towards the “prank”s culprit then begins.

Day 2: Introduce the remaining characters, and Mari’s eventual

hidden dismay and frustration at their apparent acceptance of Sunny’s
death.

Mari can be brought back outside again (most likely also due to Aubrey’s
persistence in ensuring she does go out again).

This time, Hero encounters them (much to Aubrey’s… fear in doing so due to her
prior mention of the girl towards Mari), and despite Mari’s still lingering hesitance,
does follow him.

(and potentially even Kel too, who is currently feeling a sense of conflicted joy
towards Mari. He’s happy that Hero has begun to lighten up in her presence, but
is still secretly upset at how his brother has begun to neglect him. Of course, this
is still no yet known in this part of the story, probably would only be revealed in
Day 3)

Hero’s joy in seeing Mari outside and walking together with Mari becomes
extremely apparent, this can be shown from a clear acceptance to avoid anything
Mari ends up showing hesitance in discussing or visiting, and the eventual idea
of going to college with her the moment it’s brought up.

Mari brings up her current situation with Basil, and the group tries to find him so
she could try getting to him. (I’m personally not yet sure how this would go, but
Basil would only initially open up how how he feels, refusing to delve further until
the final day)

Meanwhile, Mari begins to have thoughts about how much of her friend group
has seemingly been coping well despite Sunny’s death. She starts to feel an
initial sense of dismay, but completely hides it. She would never accuse them of
something like that.

While doing one of their activities for the day, with Hero trying to catch up with
Mari with what’s happened (all while avoiding any mention of Sunny), Mari could
try teasing him about the girl he went to prom with. This would cause him to react
with pure shock and even fear, before immediately clarifying that he had
absolutely no intention of having a relationship with her and that it was just a
formal dance. Mari would probably chide him for it. insisting that it was okay.

Eventually, the end of the day would come. Before they retire for the night, Mari
would (even if it hurt her to say) tell Hero that she knows it’s been awhile and she
hasn’t done anything with them for a long time, and it was okay if he did want to
go with someone new. Hero would promise her that he has eyes for nobody else,
and that he was truly happy Mari was going back outside, and that with her, they
could bring Basil back and have the group together.

Mari wouldn’t be sure how to reply. His, Kel and Aubrey’s (in her view) optimism
had only caused her conflicted feelings about their moving-on to grow. Maybe
she would quietly have asked Hero if it was “...that easy?” for them to move
forward, but immediately stops the thought. The day ends with them retiring for
the night, and Mari’s thoughts on Hero’s love for her that she doesn’t deserve,
their recovery from Sunny’s death and the self hate within her grows.

DAY 2 MARILAND: The influence of Faraway and Mari’s feelings

towards Mariland has only continued to increase, and Hikiko is
beginning to lose her grip on its control.

Perfect Shell Approach: During the chosen journey, something would happen to
Sunny, and Hikiko would begin to very slowly show signs of irritation, even anger
towards the apparent carelessness or ignorance of the group towards the harm
on him. Eventually, Sunny himself would become concerned with Hikiko’s
emotions. Realizing what’s become of her, blackspace would begin to trigger.

Broken Shell Approach: By this point, more of Hikiko has been influenced by
Mari’s own thoughts and personality. During the chosen journey, Hikiko would
become noticeably more protective of Sunny, gaining reactions from the group,
possibly even reaching a point where she would ask Sunny to stay in the Picnic
for his safety (He would refuse, saying he prefers being with her.). Possibly
growing irritated at her groups sudden lack of care regarding Sunny’s health.

The trigger to Blackspace would happen similarly to the Perfect Shell approach.

DAY 3: REAL WORLD: Mari begins to fully acknowledge her thoughts

of herself, and of Sunny. Potentially giving all of them to Basil in an
effort for him to open up himself

The details of this are… difficult to say the least, there are ideas I have but I still
need to think more on how it can be executed, but I think this would be the day
where Mari would be willing to show the thoughts of her self-hate, her
conflictedness towards the others and the feeling of truly being left behind
towards Basil, as she would believe it’s the only way for him to maybe believe the
pain she was feeling too

DAY 3: MARILAND: Mari confronts the dark king, and herself.

Mari’s strive for perfection was always what she believed was the cause of
Sunny’s death. In a way, Hikiko’s entire journey could be seen as the same thing.
A futile attempt to keep everything the way she thought it should be, only to
realize her very efforts to do so paralleled the very behavior that sparked the
incident.

Regardless of which approach is chosen, I felt there would be two endings that
would fit the sombre tone of the story. However I must also admit I have a
general preference for these kinds of endings.

Possible “Good” Ending 1: Removal. (Possibly obtained by allowing Hikiko to be

defeated in the final fight)
-​ Confronted by Hikiko, Mari’s experiences in Real World have become far
too much to ignore. Hoping to truly dedicate more of her life to atone for
Sunny and to her friends, she decides to allow Mariland to fade away,
permanently. With it gone, she hopes to approach college and her future in
a different perspective, one willing to let live with mistakes and
shortcomings in the promise that it would never happen again.

Possible “Good” Ending 2: Retainment (Possibly obtained by allowing Mari to eb

defeated in the final fight)
-​ Unable to bear truly saying goodbye to Sunny, Mari opts to keep Mariland,
wishing that she may still be able to fix all the mistakes she has done in
reality, while still being able to dream of a better time. Mariland has been
forever changed, but it would have to make do. She has begun to accept
what she nowhas to do in the Real World

These draft “good” endings are less meant to be against eachother, and more of
an option to what the player themself would believe to be the right outcome.
Would it have been right to let go completely, allowing semblances of a new life
to possibly emerge? Or would Mari have opt to let them stay, not wanting to truly
say goodbye?

I’m aware that this might… not be a very positive outlook for a good ending. In
my thoughts, I believed that for a situation as grave and tragic as Mari’s, merely
being willing to open up about her suffering to others and taking the slightest step
forward in what she hoped was both life and an opportunity to atonement would
be the best outcome within the 3 day period of the story.

One can hope that she would recover completely in the future (or not), but it
would most likely be done over the course of very slow developments over long
stretches of time.

Of course, the mention of good endings means the existence of bad endings…
however I’ll still have to figure that out!