Chapter 1

**Rebirth** is the 1st chapter of Summer's Gone and the first chapter of season 1.

* (The chapter titles are not their official names, they were put in place to facilitate the readability of the article)

## Brief **summary**

The story "Summer's Gone" revolves around Nika who has a recurring dream about losing Summer. He goes out to buy rolls and meets Victoria at a crosswalk who asks him to talk about the person he's thinking of. The two are involved in a car accident where Nika helps Victoria and disarms the driver, Marla. Nika learns Victoria's identity and goes to visit her in the hospital with his roommate Nami. At the hospital, Nika and Nami meet Victoria's sister Maja who is initially wary of their intentions. The story ends with Nika reflecting on his life and his return to school in two weeks.

Nika starts a new school year at a prestigious university and faces challenges of fitting in and reconnecting with people. He meets new potential friends, including Trey and Mila, and learns about a rival school and the basketball team. Nika also learns about a misunderstanding with Nami's uniform and at the same time meets Bella Von Halen. Nika is intrigued by basketball and shares his interest with Trey, who is also interested in joining the tryouts. Jeffrey asks Nika if he is interested in sports activities and Nami is angry after realizing she was tricked by Bella into wearing a uniform from a rival school.

Nika sneaks out with a group of students and learns about the different personalities at the school, including Bella, Nadia, Ayua, and Mila. Nika also has an encounter later with Maja, who asks him to visit her sister Victoria. Nika meets Victoria and they exchange some words, which helps lift Nika's spirits. However, when he leaves Victoria, she breaks down in tears to face his fate, and Nika is caught by Maja who was listening outside the door. Despite the awkward moment, Nika understands Maja's desire to protect her sister, and she will take Nika back home.

## **Summary**

### **Summer's Gone**

Nika had a dream that haunted him for years, where he saw Summer entering the cabin he used to play in. This brief but sweet moment quickly turned to despair when he realized he had lost her.

He got up, went to the kitchen, and his mother, Nojiko, suggested he go out and take in some air to forget the bad dream. On the way to the bakery to buy rolls for his roommate Nami, he thought about his lack of contact with humanity and how he was used to the comfort of his home. As he stood at the edge of a crosswalk, he uttered melancholically The famous quote that made the name of the series "Summer's Gone."

### **The Crossroad of Fate: Victoria and Nika's Story**

A young girl named Victoria noticed he was speaking of someone dear to him and asked him to talk about them. But Nika did not want to stay outside of his bubble. Victoria was about to leave, when she reversed into the crosswalk at the wrong moment, colliding with a car driven by Marla. This accident would later make Victoria paraplegic. Nika then proceeded to give first aid as his mother, Nojiko, had taught him. When Nika reacted to the accident, Marla threatened him with a gun. Nika laughed and said she was a despicable monster who lacked the courage to pull the trigger. He then disarmed her and, depending on the player's choice, shot her legs or not. He then discovered the gun was loaded with blanks.

Victoria wakes up in distress, realizing her condition after the accident. She is panicked and asks where her sister, Maja, is before losing consciousness again. Nika, who was present at the accident, sees that the situation is being handled by the police and ambulance that had been called. He sets out on the way home and takes the opportunity to retrieve the young girl's wallet that had been lost due to the shock of the accident. Through her ID card, he learns her identity. He realizes that he must return her wallet and initially tries to delegate this task to Nami and Nojiko by asking them to return it to her place. However, due to their insistence and Nami's excitement to help, they both accompany him to Aqualia Hospital where the young girl is receiving care. This gives Nika the chance to socialize and possibly find someone who can help him heal from the loss of Summer.

### **The Road to Recovery**

Before leaving to see Victoria, Nika takes the time to reflect on his life and the upcoming events. He remembers that he needs to go back to school in two weeks and he thinks about how lucky he is to have Nojiko in his life to care for him after his parents passed away in a car accident when he was only three years old. Although he wasn't as affected by their deaths as he was by the loss of his beloved Summer, as he was older at the time. After a nap, he talks with Nami and sets out to return Victoria's wallet. On the bus, He meets a driver who is a fan of exotic drinks and Dave who has the bad habit of always being on Adderall. During the trip, he realizes that after several years of isolation, many places have changed or disappeared, such as the famous Obama's Kebab.

### **Return to Aqualia Hospital**

When they arrive at Aqualia Hospital, Nami asks Nika if he feels strange being there as he's been there before due to a severe accident that he seems to have forgotten. At the reception, Nami pretends to be a family member of Victoria's to visit her, while Nika is only interested in finding out where the candy that the young girl in the waiting room got it from. However, the child, thinking that Nika wants to steal the candy for his friend, doesn't want to tell him. So, they go to room 19 where Maja and Victoria are. Upon arrival, Maja who is devastated and still in shock over what happened to her sister and the threats she received, wonders who these two people are and if they want to harm her sister. (The player can then choose to break the ice by asking if Maja knows the shop where the little girl got her candy or to intimidate by saying something like "We're here to finish the job." or just stare and say nothing). Maja, realizing that Nika is not there with bad intentions and has helped her sister, calms down and apologizes while they wait for Victoria.

### **Reunited with Victoria**

Nika, lost in thought, recalls the memory of his hospitalization in the OR 4 unit due to collapsed lungs. He is interrupted by the sound of the door opening and sees Victoria in a wheelchair being accompanied by a doctor. Maja, Victoria's sister, immediately embraces her, overjoyed to see her alive. Nika takes the opportunity to finally return Victoria's wallet and, along with Nami, they try to comfort her. However, Nika's attempts are awkward and end up making the situation worse. They are forced to leave as they are not family members. Nami, angry at her roommate's behavior, scolds him for his lack of empathy. But when she mentions Summer's disappearance and suggests he move on, Nika snaps and tells her it's not that easy for him to forget and move on, as he is haunted by her every night. Nami leaves, but tells him she still cares for him. The little girl from earlier, who witnessed the argument, offers Nika a donut to comfort him. On the way home, Nika tries to talk to his roommate, but she avoids him, wanting to be alone. When he gets home, Nika isolates himself in his room and reflects on the events of the day. He admits to himself that he feels bad for Victoria, but doesn't want to show it. He feels sorry for her and thinks she doesn't deserve it. Despite this, he finds it amusing, knowing her story with Summer and thinking about her. He sees in his drawer a letter and a rubber that Summer had given him as a child. Holding the rubber in his hand, he promises to do everything he can to discover what happened to her. As he lets the rubber drop, he starts to relive memories of his life with Summer, when she gave him the rubber and spoke of future trips they would take together. (During this scene, we see Nami, who is visibly not happy with their relationship and probably jealous.)

### **Isolation to Integration: Nika's Struggle at a Prestigious School**

Nika is worried about starting a new school year and reconnecting with people after isolating himself. He visits his roommate Nami to talk about his concerns and learns that the school he will be attending is prestigious and has a top-level basketball team, which is a sport Nika used to play. Nami also tells him that there is a school uniform requirement that he was not aware of. They make a promise to support each other and say goodnight.

The following morning, Nami wakes up her roommate, feeling excited and energized. At the breakfast table, Nami reminds him that he needs to order a uniform for school. Nika is skeptical, thinking there is no uniform requirement. The two get ready for the day under the watchful eye of Nojiko. Nika grumbles that this is just another step in the rat race, but his mother reminds him that it could also bring him skills that could be useful for him in the future when he leaves.

As they prepare to leave for school, Nami begins to feel nervous and has stomach aches. She goes out to buy Kaiser rolls, which seems to be an addiction to calm her stress. Finally, arriving at the renovated ZPR University, they realize that strangely, nobody is wearing a uniform except for Nami. Nojiko, who had accompanied them, wishes them good luck in the new stage of their life that is opening to them.

### **Fooled by a Rival: Nami's struggle to fit in at ZPR University**

As they enter the school, they notice the looks directed at Nami, who is the only one wearing a uniform at the moment. They quickly realize something is happening. In the main hall, on the way to the auditorium, Nami is rejected by a student and Bella Von Halen approaches her. It is then revealed that it was Bella who had said that one had to wear a uniform at the same time.

A person in the background screams "MOR SUCKS", it is then revealed that Bella had tricked Nami, who was actually wearing the uniform of a rival school when she didn't need to. She will then be summoned by Miss Marla to discuss. Nika understands that Bella had done something when their eyes meet. Bella, disgusted, says she hopes not to have him in their class, not wanting another ugly guy. (Nika, depending on the player's choice, ignores her or makes a joke about his hands being rated E for equality, referencing the ESRB system. She will then admit to at least finding him funny.)

Then he meets Trey, another freshman, and he offers to go together. Trey shares his excitement for this new year, which is apparently not shared by Nika, but in front of a poster for the basketball tryouts, he admits to being interested and learns that Trey intended to join them, saying he has already played. Nika also meets Mila, who immediately notices his psychological state, admitting to having weird vibes around him and thinking that if he wore a trenchcoat, he could come to shoot up the school. He jokes in response, saying he will kill her last. Nika separates from the group and goes to the auditorium where he finds Jeffrey, who is then joined by Nami, furious to have learned that her uniform was actually that of a rival university and that she had been tricked by Bella. Jeffrey says he knows her and comments that she is a difficult person. Trey comments that she's a weirdo, accompanied by Mila behind him.

After they have all gotten to know each other, Jeffrey asks Nika if he is interested in sports activities, and when he learns that he also wants to join the basketball team, he offers to go to the gym with him. Miss Marla arrives to guide them and take them on a tour of the school with Larissa. Marla will specify that Karen is in charge of reception, but she was not there for any reason.

### **Navigating the Social Hierarchy: Nika's struggle to fit in at a prestigious school**

At the end of the tour, the group, which was formed earlier, sneaks out following Jeffrey. They go and sit in the stands of the stadium, where they see the group of Bella nearby. They learn that Jeff, Trey, and Mila have gone to the same high school alongside Ayua and Bella, and several other students present at ZPR University. They learn that Trey may have entered possibly with some kind of favoritism, and that the Cyrus family were in a high school much more in the west. Nika points out that Jeffrey did not bring them there without reason, and he admits to having brought them there to give himself an idea of what it would feel like to play in front of a full crowd and win a game with a shot from over 20 meters from the basket or make the highest jump in front of the amazed crowd. Nika then says that he feels nothing and does not care about fame or becoming known, and that the only thing that matters to him is Nami. Jeffrey thought they made a beautiful couple, but he is immediately corrected, reminding him that they have a roommate relationship.

Jeffrey then introduces Bella's group, he says that she is not the most frequentable, but that Nadia is the opposite, a good person despite being introverted. He also adds that she is "undateable" because she has rejected all the people who have asked to go out with her. They also learn that she is extremely competitive, which could make her strange for some, and finally, they talk about Ayua. It is said that she is involved in street racing and tuning community, and that she was very strong in combat having already beaten Trey, but despite that, she was rather cool as long as one did not attack her friends, Bella included. Nika also says that he feels her aura surrounding her. Nika will relive old memories with Summer when he played basketball as a child and she used to trash-talk him by calling him Bibi (meaning: baby).

Mila wants to talk to him, she said she recognizes a shattered mind because of a past experience with a girl she knew from high school who tried to appear normal but had a strange aura that she said terrified her. She then says she feels the same thing for Nika, and explains that she had given herself death a few weeks after graduation. She will then say that the worst in this story is that deep down she was aware and that she saw in her eyes her internal conflicts, but still didn't do anything to help her, out of fear of making a mistake. She then thinks that it could be the same thing with Nika, but she feels something different, but whatever it is, she wants to help him. Nami makes a promise to avenge herself against Bella despite the fact that Trey and Jeffrey tell her to be careful.

### **Stealing for Justice: Nika's journey to find fulfillment**

Nika is getting ready to leave and wants to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria before he goes. Along the way, he runs into Bella and sees a feminist demonstration for the liberation of boobies in front of the establishment. Nika, who is feeling hungry, takes the opportunity to steal Bella's sandwich, satisfying his hunger and feeling a sense of justice when he eats it on the stairs in front of the university.

He then runs into Maja, who he had hoped to avoid. She is there to deliver papers and also wants to find Nika because her sister Victoria wants to see him again. Nika learns that Victoria will also be a student at ZPR, which does not please Maja, who does not want him to be connected in any way. However, she still asks him to come with her to see Victoria to support her in her situation. Nika agrees as long as she takes him home.

### **The Power of Support: Nika and Victoria's journey towards healing and hope**

When they arrive at the Frohn's house, Nika enters Victoria's room without knocking, surprising her. She is happy to see him and tells him that she's been dreaming of him since her accident. Nika wants to take her back, but stops in the middle of the sentence, remembering how his dreams haunt him. Victoria says she can no longer feel her legs, but takes it well in front of Nika, saying she makes do with what she has and that it would serve no purpose to dwell on her fate. She wants to get to know Nika. They agree to exchange phone numbers when Victoria gets a new one.

After this discussion, Nika feels a weight lifted off his shoulders and that he seemed unconsciously affected by his fate, but seeing her happy helped him to feel better. Unfortunately, when Nika leaves, Victoria breaks down in sad tears of seeing him leave and dealing with her disability. As he opens the door to leave, Nika faces Maja listening at the door, caught off guard. She will say that she admired the painting, but he won't blame her, understanding her desire to protect her sister and they set off to go home.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

1. Nika Cyrus
2. Summer
3. Nojiko Cyrus
4. Victoria Frohn
5. Miss Marla
6. Unnamed Policeman
7. Nami Cyrus
8. Unnamed Bus Driver
9. Unamed Child
10. Maja Frohn
11. Unnamed Doctor
12. Bella Von Halen
13. Ayua Zane
14. Nadia Venor
15. Trey
16. Sasha Petrova
17. Mila Steiner
18. Jeffrey
19. Larissa

## Impactful choices

* **Shoot Marla or not during the accident**
* **Ignored Bella or insulting her with a joke**
* **Accepting or not Jeffrey's invitation to the gym**

## Notes & Trivia

* In the original version of Summer's Gone, it was shown that Mila used to smoke in chapters 1 & 2, but since the rework, Ocean decided to remove this trait, thinking that it did not fit her character and also that it is foolish to smoke when one is already poor.

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* Summer's Gone Walkthrough 4.5b"