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Tear Jerker / Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!

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https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nightcord_prologue.jpg
"I must compose... I must compose..."

Despite being a rhythm game, there are plenty of moments in the main story and events of Colorful Stage! that will drive the players to tears.

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    Main Story 
  • Honami's situation in Leo/need's main story will tug at your heartstrings. Simply put, the reason why she avoids her childhood friends is because her classmates bullied her back in the middle school for "sucking up to everyone" and basically never picking sides, even though Honami is just simply being nice and wants to hear everyone who came to her. In the end, her desire not to get bullied again made Honami decides to stick with one friend group in her current class while constantly fearing that they'd turn away from her if she did a single mistake, and in the process hurting her Childhood Friends who actually care about her.
    • To put into perspective on how much Honami suffered from the situation, in Kanade's first initial 3* side story (which take place during both Leo/need and Nightcord's main story), Kanade noticed Honami's eyes looking just like her father's during the latter's visit to her house to clean and cook her food. Kanade, fresh from being rejected by Mafuyu and how her song had failed to save her, asked Honami whether she had ever wanted to disappear; Honami's answer is a quiet yes. The fact that she then asked Kanade on what she does when she starts having such thoughts implies that Honami had entertained the thought during Leo/need's main story, which shows just how much her current situation tore her apart.
  • Despite the cheery look and being themed around idols, MORE MORE JUMP! main story can get deceptively dark, focusing on the harsher reality of the idol world:
    • Airi quits because her agency sees her better suited for variety shows rather than as an idol, and while at first it was a mix between being an idol and coming to a variety show, at the end she's scrapped off from being an idol entirely. This, coupled with seeing Shizuku rising more and more, made it too much for Airi to bear, and even the second agency she went to afterwards ends up doing the same thing.
    • While Shizuku has the looks and natural talent to be a good idol, it only invites resentment and jealousy from her fellow groupmates, who sees her as stealing their opportunity and being given everything on a silver platter thanks to her looks, even though Shizuku puts in as much effort as anyone else, if not more. It became so bad and toxic that even when Shizuku finally quits, they still complain about how she should have done it better, because "quitting" makes them look bad.
      • The scene where Airi lashed out at Shizuku is also one; Airi unwittingly became the straw that broke Shizuku's back as hearing the person she looks up to saying the same thing as her groupmates is too much for her to bear, and she quits being an idol not long afterwards.
    • The reason why Haruka quits and sees herself as unworthy of being an idol is because of what happened to Mai, her friend back in ASRUN. Mai was eerily similar to Minori, being inspired by Haruka and working hard to become an idol before finally managing to join ASRUN. However, she entered a slump three years after joining, and in her lowest moment Haruka once again encouraged her, saying that tomorrow will be better and that she just has to work hard to overcome her slump. Once again inspired, Mai ended up practicing so much that she damaged her vocal chords, forcing her to quit. Seeing someone who admired Haruka so much lashed out so badly is horribly sad.
      Mai: Haruka... You're a liar! You said hope was all I needed! This all happened because I kept working so hard! All that time I wasted... My dream of being an idol! Give it back!
      • The incident traumatized Haruka so much that she could no longer stand on stage, as her legs will just give out whenever she's even near one, and she ends up quitting ASRUN; this is also why she didn't join Airi and Shizuku in mentoring Minori, as she couldn't see herself worthy to be an idol or to mentor an aspiring idol again. Seeing just how melancholic Haruka is in the main story is heartbreaking.
        Haruka: I have nothing more I can give (as an idol).
      • It's a sad one for Mai as well, as she regretted what she had said to Haruka, but before she could properly apologized Haruka quits being an idol, with Mai realizing that she's likely the reason why. In the end, both Mai and Haruka suffered from what happened, not meaning to hurt the other from their actions, but by the time they managed to reconcile in the main story the damage was already done.
  • Chapter 14 of the Vivid BAD SQUAD main story has Toya essentially dumping Akito after giving into his insecurities about his supposed lack of motivation when it came to chasing his dream with Akito. What really sold the scene was the amount of passion Fumiya Imai, Akito's voice actor, put into his line delivery, with Akito's voice shaking as though he was on the verge of tears himself. Chapter 19 has the pair reconciling, with Akito giving Toya a passionate speech about how Toya believing in him gave him the will to continue on despite being told that he wasn't cut out for street performing.
  • Chapter 13 of Wonderlands x Showtime is a big one. With their show ending in failure for such a trivial mistake (Nene-Robo running out of battery because Nene practiced too much the day before), Tsukasa understandably blew up, frustrated at their failure, but when Nene apologized and said that it's all her fault, Tsukasa turned his anger towards her, asking why someone who couldn't even face the crowd would want to perform on stage, and that none of this would have happened if she could just perform herself; this hurts Nene so much she ran off crying. Rui, while admitting that Tsukasa had valid points, points out how in the process Tsukasa had forgotten that the greatest show couldn't be done alone, and that attacking Nene who already felt guilty enough so viciously made Rui lose his respect for him before he walked away to chase after his childhood friend. Left alone with Tsukasa, Emu tried to salvage the situation by saying that she had fun and that they could do better next time, but Tsukasa simply said that he obviously didn't have any fun before storming off, leaving Emu alone and at a loss on what to do as everyone's smile disappear just like that. Seeing such a fun and wacky group breaking apart, with everyone's reactions being understandable and no one truly at fault, is a huge gut-punch that will left you reeling.
  • Nightcord at 25:00, being the group that tackles the heaviest and darkest themes among the groups, naturally has plenty of tearjerkers in its main story:
    • In contrast with all the other group's prologue which are hopeful and inspiring, Nightcord's began with Kanade hugging her knees as the room she's in is in a state of disarray, repeatedly muttering to herself that she must compose songs that can save someone while a music box is playing in the background. Even with the little context given to the players, seeing Kanade in such a state is already sad enough on its own, and it sets the tone on what to expect from Nightcord's main story.
    • Ena's love for getting likes in social media stems from her inferiority complex of having no talent in art compared to her father and brother, and in a desperate bid to be recognized for something, Ena turns to posting selfies of herself that became pretty successful. The happiness that she gets, however, is temporary, as her art account receives little to no likes and comments at all, and seeing her getting angry and frustrated at her father, her brother, and Mafuyu to the point of tears in chapter 8 is very upsetting.
    • The incident that made Kanade dedicate her life towards writing and composing songs. Her father was her source of admiration and inspiration to become a composer, but Kanade's talent far surpass that of her father's; it was her part that is used in a commercial instead of her father's, and all of the job offers that came afterwards asked him to create songs like hers. Kanade's father tried and tried to create something that can rival or surpass his daughter's music, but the moment he thought he had done it, Kanade presented him a song that she made on her own in an effort to cheer her father up. Listening to it made him realize how amazing Kanade is and that he'd never match her, and the next day he collapsed from all the stress, falling into a coma and leaving his daughter alone. When Kanade find out what happened from reading her father's diary, she blamed herself for driving her father over the edge, and after thrashing her father's room while crying and wishing she'd never written that song, Kanade finally settled down, her face and eyes blank, wondering if she could disappear by starving herself.
      • What makes it even more heartbreaking is that Kanade's father is a genuinely good father to Kanade. Even after realizing her talent and listening to her song, never once did he curse or express envy towards his daughter in his diary, even expressing that he must find more work and try harder so that he could continue to support Kanade; it's just that in the end his mind simply couldn't take the burden.
      • Seeing Kanade's father's last words, which was supposed to be encouragement, turning into a curse as Kanade sees no more reason to live aside from composing a song that can save someone as a form of atonement for what she perceived as her fault, will bring out the waterworks.
        Kanade: I've got to make more. All this happened because my songs couldn't bring happiness to anyone. I have to be able to write songs that will bring happiness to others. Songs that can save anyone. I must compose... I must compose... I mustn't ever stop composing...
    • Seeing Mafuyu's gradual descent into depression and losing her sense of self in chapter 13 is utterly heartbreaking. She originally wanted to be a nurse, but because her parents think it's better for her to become a doctor, Mafuyu relents because it will make her parents happy. This is further supported by her classmates and teacher expressing how fitting of a dream it is for Mafuyu to become a doctor, and from then on Mafuyu began to act according to what people expect of her and what makes them happy. Eventually she lost her sense of taste, and thinking that she's just tired from all the studying, Mafuyu tried to take a break by doing something that she likes, only to realize that she doesn't even know what she likes to do or the last time she'd been genuinely happy.
      • If that wasn't enough, in chapter 16 Mafuyu finds out that her mother is planning to throw out her synthesizer because she'd never seen Mafuyu use it since her father bought it for her, oblivious to the fact that Mafuyu had in fact been using it. And before she can say anything, her mother proceeds to talk about getting Mafuyu a private tutor before going out, not giving Mafuyu a chance to even say anything; this ends up being the straw that broke the camel's back.
        Mafuyu: ... I can give up now, can't I?
      • From the main story and Nightcord's Virtual Singer story, you can also feel just how helpless Miku felt throughout all of this. Despite being Mafuyu's confidant and Only Friend, it's clear that all of her efforts to save Mafuyu and helps her find her true feelings wasn't enough; it hurts to see someone as innocent and kind as Miku struggling to find a way to help, from taking a walk to find an idea and giving Mafuyu some space, to singing the first song that Kanade made, to simply just sitting with Mafuyu and gives her some much-needed company when she needs it... all the while knowing that she couldn't truly help Mafuyu and hoping that Kanade and the others would come back and stop Mafuyu from "disappearing" is so very sad, especially for those who had experience in trying to stop someone from committing suicide.
    • Mafuyu's breakdown in chapter 17 and 18 as she tries to rebuke the help of her fellow Nightcord's members. Hearing the real Mafuyu, normally so emotionless and never raising her voice, screaming and crying her heart out at how ''tired'' she was for failing to find herself despite searching and searching will make you cry, especially for those who could relate to what Mafuyu is going through.
      Mafuyu: I'm tired! I look and I look and I look and I look! But I just can't find it... Then when I look again, it's just not right and I get depressed... What am I supposed to do?!
    • The fact that Kanade doesn't give up on Mafuyu and promises to continue composing songs until Mafuyu can find herself, despite the fact that Mafuyu herself doesn't know when or if she'd even ever find it in the first place, is a tearjerker of a different kind. ​

    Events (1st Season) 
  • In Imprisoned Marionette, Mafuyu had a dream of becoming a marionette in the exhibit she visited earlier in the story, with Ena and Mizuki admiring her before moving on. When Mafuyu realized her predicament, her response to it shows just how empty she really feels, how little she thinks of herself even after the conclusion of the main story, and it's quite depressing to see.
    Mafuyu: (I don't mind. Being a doll, that is. It means I don't have to do anything or think anymore. I don't have to keep looking for myself anymore. I just have to do as I'm told. Everyone will be happier that way, right?)
  • Insatiable Pale Color puts Ena's past in the spotlight. When she was younger, she had a closer relationship with her father in the past and was a Daddy's Girl even, optimistic about her future and wanting to become an artist like her father was. However, come her third year of middle school when she tried to ask her father for advice on which school she could go to in order to pursue her future career as an artist, instead of giving her a good advice to improve herself, her father chose to brutally tell her that Ena is talentless instead and that she should give up. Ena, who had grown up wanting to be like her father and even continued to draw until that day, was clearly angry and also hurt that the person she admired tells her that the things she had done till that point meant nothing. From then on, Ena's relationship with her father has become strained.
    Ena: ...What is that supposed to mean. So you're saying that everything I've drawn till now, is all meaningless? Since I had no talent, my hard work means nothing!? ...Don't decide it by yourself... Don't decide what my future would be by your own self!! I had it, I'm not depending on you anymore...! I'm going to show that I'll be an even better artist than you with my own hard work!
    • When Ena wants to enter an art competition in the present day, her father warned her that she won't be able to win any prizes as most of the submissions will come from pro artists, but predictably Ena ignores the warning and enters anyway. What makes it so heartbreaking is that her father was right, Ena didn't manage to win anything, and after lashing out at her father, her brother and the rest of N25 for her failure and trashing her art supplies and tablet in the process, Ena went to the Empty SEKAI to be alone and forget everything...
  • Hear Me! Hopeful Show:
    • This event put Minori's struggles to the next level; Minori has always been the least popular member of MORE MORE JUMP!, with plenty of people forgetting her, dismissing her or even mocking her, but their collab with Nanamin - who has 800,000 subscribers - really puts Minori through the wringer, as her screwing up when trying to copy Nanamin's dance after the latter tries to introduce her strong points only make things worse, and when they reveal the collab live show with Nanamin, most of the comments asks Minori to not drag the others down and to just sit on the sidelines. Not only that, while well-meaning, Haruka told Minori afterwards that an idol should know when to say yes or no to a fan request, which implies that she shouldn't have tried to copy the dance when asked; coupled with her seemingly not getting any better in singing or dancing and all the negative comments about her thus far, even someone as bright and optimistic as Minori was driven to tears. What makes it even sadder is that the main reason she cries is because she thinks that she's holding everyone else back instead of helping them.
      Minori: *Sob*... (Why aren't things going better...? I'm trying to become an idol that can bring hope to everyone, like Haruka... I feel like I'm trying my best, but I'm no match for everyone else... Instead of helping, I'm holding them back...)
      Minori: I... Can I really be an idol...?
    • Minori's chance meeting with a certain girl on her way home, who turns out to be her fan, is this in spades; this anonymous girl is the first person who's explicitly her fan, and it's heartbreaking to see that Minori is so used to negativity and people either dismissing or hating her that she seems to actively trying to discourage this girl from being her fan, from saying she's not as beautiful as Haruka, to how she's not as good at dancing or singing as the others, to her screwing up in the last livestream... but the girl's insistence on being Minori's fan because of how much she admires Minori's hardwork, and Minori swearing to do her best in order to show this one fan that even someone like herself can succeed and inspire her fan to do the same, will make you cry for a different reason.
  • Carnation Recollection:
    • In Episode 3, Kanade's father is finally awake during one of her regular visits to the hospital... only for him to think that his wife is still alive and telling Kanade that they're expecting a daughter. Yank the Dog's Chain doesn't even begin to describe how crushed Kanade must have felt from that interaction; she left before the nurse attending her father could finish telling her something, walked home during a downpour without an umbrella, and cope by focusing on creating a song that can save Mafuyu because she thinks she doesn't have the time or right to be sad despite having every right to be.
    • The flashback to Kanade's past became extremely bittersweet because we knew how this loving family would end up: her mother died, her father hospitalized, and Kanade dedicating herself to composing a song that can save someone because that's all that she has left. She doesn't think that she deserves to be happy or sad, to the point of forgetting the happy memories that she does have until she saw the flowerbed that reminds her of them.
      • Kanade crying from remembering the time when her family was whole and happy - you can hear her voice cracking - and Mizuki crying from seeing that and how much Kanade trusts them that she shows her vulnerable side, will make you tear up yourself.
    • Seeing that after everything that Kanade went through, she finally managed to compose a song that made Mafuyu smile is tearfully heartwarming.
  • The end of Happy Lovely Everyday! event is a Heartwarming example, a little girl came up to Airi to tell her that Airi's time as Happy Everyday in the past managed to make her feel less lonely whenever she was alone at home, before adding that she loves Airi as both Happy Everyday and as an idol. For Airi, who had been struggling to view her past in a positive light, the knowledge that she managed to give someone hope as Happy Everyday was enough to brought her to tears, marking a point where she could truly accept that while her time as a variety show idol might not be what she wanted, it was not useless or pointless after all.
  • Mirage of Lights:
    • Seeing a photo album of little Mafuyu being so happy is so bittersweet because of the sheer contrast between her past and current self. Even Mizuki comments as such, saying that little Mafuyu must have been able to feel happy in a different way from the current Mafuyu.
      Mizuki: The girl in this pic seems a lot different from the girl sitting next to me. (...) I mean, this little girl looks so happy while eating her birthday cake. Like turning five is the best thing ever.
    • Mafuyu asking Kanade not to leave her alone when she is burning up and going in and out of consciousness also counts, because it shows what Mafuyu really wants deep down: warmth, company, and affection. It's clear that she had been deprived of such things for a while now, and to make it even worse, her mother used to fulfill that role so well... until she no longer did, leaving Mafuyu empty and lost until she found N25.
    • Mafuyu's memory when her mother takes care of her when she was sick is this in spades. Seeing the contrast between the past mother, who genuinely cares for Mafuyu's well-being to the point of skipping the neighborhood association meeting and indulging in her daughter's requests, to the present mother who asked Mafuyu not to overwork herself because it will affect her grades, is heartbreaking.
      • To drive the point home even further, both Kanade and her mother cuts some apples for her in the event, and yet it was Kanade who reminds Mafuyu of her memory above instead of her mother, showing just how far Mafuyu's mother has changed from the woman we see in her memory.
  • Someday, From the Depths of Despair has a few:
    • This event gives a look on Kanade not long after her father gets hospitalized, and it's incredibly depressing. Kanade back then took care of herself even less than her present self, fully committing herself to compose song after song, to the point that she can forgot to eat or drink at all, and if she does remember, she'd either ignores the need or eat something extremely simple like jelly, not even cup ramen. In this period, people are also shown to make fun of her songs, saying that it's so bad they can't believe someone is posting it online. When her grandmother asks her if she's okay and if it's okay for her to hire a housekeeper to help take care of her, Kanade almost angrily refuse the offer and says that she's perfectly fine despite clearly under great physical and mental duress. It culminates in Kanade experiencing severe headaches, tinnitus, and fading vision after a lack of sleep and eating, collapsing when she tries to get water in the kitchen, and if not for her grandmother contacting a housekeeping agency despite Kanade's wishes and Honami insisting to open the door and call an ambulance after hearing the sound of her collapsing, Kanade might have died then and there.
    • This event also shows what Mafuyu's life had been like before she came across Kanade's song. At one point, Mafuyu and her mother were discussing about what graduation present would Mafuyu get for graduating middle school and while Mafuyu said that she needs time to think, her mother eventually went on to buy a watch without waiting for Mafuyu's input at all, and expecting her to take it. It's a sad thing, seeing how much Mafuyu's parents pushed their ideals of their own daughter to said daughter who is slowly losing her sense of individuality by that point.
  • Guiding a Lost Child to What Lies Beyond has a lot:
    • Remember when Mafuyu's mother wanted to throw out her synthesizer in the main story? Apparently Mafuyu secretly brought it back to her room, but her mother found it now when she was cleaning Mafuyu's room, and confronts her about it when she got back home. Mafuyu said that she got into music because of a friend of hers (Kanade), and lied about looking into music therapy, but while her mother believed the lie she's still concerned about Mafuyu's future with her dabbling into music. When Mafuyu stands up for herself and said that she still wants to give music a try, her mother shifted tactics and used Kanade against Mafuyu; asking whether Kanade is studying for entrance exams properly, if she has the same wonderful goals and aspirations like Mafuyu, and finally hitting Mafuyu with the classic line that she'd support Mafuyu if she really wants to get into music... as long as Mafuyu has no regrets in doing it. Seeing Mafuyu's heartbroken expression before her eyes lost its light is bad enough, but then for the first time in the game she smiles and nods at her mother, agreeing that she would quit music and study hard for her exams... while still sporting the same dead eyes she only ever show around Miku and the rest of N25, showing just how much this affects Mafuyu that she couldn't even maintain her regular fake smile properly. It ends with Mafuyu agreeing with her mother that she doesn't need the synthesizer anymore, and it is incredibly heartbreaking.
      Mafuyu: Sorry, mom... I'll quit music now. and I'll study hard for my exams for the sake of my future. So don't worry anymore, mom.
    • What happened above hurts Mafuyu so bad that she's constantly second-guessing herself on the way to the mock exam, convincing herself that she must go because it'd make her mother happy, but at the same time fearing what would happen if she doesn't meet her mother's expectations. It's gotten so bad that getting a message from her mother was enough to make the light in her eyes disappear and send her on the verge of a panic attack.
    • The flashback to little Mafuyu visiting Phoenix Wonderland with her mother is this in spades. Seeing little Mafuyu getting lost and crying is bad enough, but then things seems to look up as when her mother found her she seems genuinely worried about Mafuyu, saying that the most important thing is that Mafuyu is safe... before asking Mafuyu why she left her side when she asked her not to, wondering if Mafuyu has become "a bad girl" with tears in her eyes for not following what she said. Not only did this drives Mafuyu to tears, it might also be the reason why Mafuyu tries so hard to please her mother and be "a good girl" in the present. To finish it off, Mafuyu's mother gripped her hand so tightly afterwards when she brought her back home that it hurts her daughter.
      • To twist the knife even further, as she finished reminiscing the scene above, Mafuyu saw a lost girl crying for her mother. However, before she could step in and help, the girl's mother found her in a strikingly familiar scene... but unlike her mother, this girl's mother didn't scold her child, instead asking her to take her hand and not let go before they go on their way with smiles on their faces. A striking contrast to how Mafuyu's own mother treated her.
    • Card Story 2 of Mafuyu's 4* card of the event, "In the Glowing Sunset Warmth", shows that Mafuyu's mother now constantly asks her questions about her classmates to possibly find out who is the friend that Mafuyu mentioned to her. This, combined with her skipping the mock exam, caused her to be unable to sleep in her room at night; only by going over to the Empty SEKAI and having Miku and Len by her side could Mafuyu fall asleep. The fact that Mafuyu felt more at home in the Empty SEKAI than at her own house - and more comfortable with the Virtual Singers than her own parents - is tragic.
    • What makes this even sadder is that unlike Toya or Ena, who openly comes into conflict with their own respective father's, it's clear that Mafuyu dearly loves her mother, and thus couldn't understand why she feels so cold whenever she is with her compared to the warmth that she felt when she's with the rest of N25 - or she does understand, but refuses to acknowledge it because it feels painful for Mafuyu to even consider it, let alone acknowledge it as the truth. The poor girl just can't catch a break...
  • While The Twilight Color on this Festival is a largely heartwarming event, there is one moment that will tug at your heartstrings: when Mafuyu opened up a little to Rui and Emu. Throughout the event, Mafuyu met different people from different groups, all of whom has a clear and passionate goal they're working towards: Leo/need with wanting to become a professional band, MMJ with wanting to spread hope to their fans, VBS to surpass RAD WEEKEND, and WxS to make a show that can make everyone smile. Meanwhile, Mafuyu doesn't have anything like that - she doesn't have any goal or dream to strive towards - and it's painful for her to see people like them while she herself has nothing, which leads to her inadvertently breaking her good girl facade and opening herself up a little to Rui and Emu.
  • Similarly, Someday, This Wish Will Transcend the Morning Sky is a mostly heartwarming event, but seeing Mafuyu unable to comprehend the joy of harmless bickering in the Shinonome household is quite sad, as she doesn't understand why she feels lighter in Ena's house despite dinner in her own house being much more calm and peaceful (and thus logically should be better for her, as Mafuyu dislikes noise and prefers peace and quiet).
  • Draw Your Bow in This White World:
    • Seeing just how much Shizuku struggles during her idol career with Cheerful*Days is quite sad. She struggles to follow the script to follow her image as the "perfect idol", has difficulties in archery, and couldn't even help Airi and has to watch her only friend leave the agency due to disagreement with her manager and the company's president. It's possible that Shizuku would be in a much worse state at the beginning of the main story if Mafuyu didn't help her during this period.
    • During Shizuku's flashback, Mafuyu had been nothing but kind, supportive, hardworking and talented, someone who Shizuku admires because Mafuyu is the "perfect girl" that Shizuku is trying to become. In chapter 4, however, Shizuku caught a glimpse of the real Mafuyu: Training alone during snowfall, failing to clear her mind as she's muttering to herself, and yet all four of her shots hit dead-center all the same. As Shizuku observes, it was amazing and scary at the same time, and yet more than anything else this scene radiates loneliness, symbolizing Mafuyu's lonely struggle as the "perfect girl" with nobody none the wiser. Indeed, Mafuyu is so good and perfect that Shizuku doubted what she just saw after talking with Mafuyu for a bit - chalking it off as her misreading the situation - and it must be terribly lonely for her to remain perfect when she's so troubled, because nobody realized that she desperately needs help in the first place.
    • After the scene above, the advice Mafuyu gave to encourage Shizuku sounds more like Mafuyu trying to encourage herself. She's trying to cope by forgetting all of her responsibilities and studies, if only for a moment, by doing archery, and failing.
      Mafuyu: (...) During those times, your head becomes all jumbled up inside, and you might feel like you want to give up on everything... Though as long as you clear your mind and compose yourself like this, then I'm sure you'll be okay. I have no doubts that you'll still be able to do your best and keep moving forward.
  • Amidst a Dream, Towards the Shining Stars:
    • This event tackles the inevitability that WxS may have to disband in order for each of them to pursue their dreams in a much more direct manner, something that fans of the group weren't ready for. Unlike Rui, who decided to find a way to strike a balance that allows them to stay together, this event focuses on Emu and her feelings on the matter while Tsukasa attends an acting workshop in order to improve. Emu spends much of the event trying her best to remain positive in light of the realization that they will eventually separate which is already painful enough. But even though she ultimately decides to support them no matter what, it's incredibly hard to watch who may very well be the most optimistic character in the cast become even more dejected than in her first event at the prospect of losing her closest friends.
  • Towards the Phoenix at the Sky's Edge:
    • There is something particularly heartbreaking about someone as confident and self-assured as Tsukasa on the verge of breaking down. While this wasn’t the first time we see Tsukasa struggle with a role, it’s the first time we see truly see him truly close to defeat as he grapples with the difference in levels between him and veterans such as Sakurako and Asahi. To see it come close to crushing him had many fans close to tears if they weren't already crying.
      • Immediately after this scene, he gets called to the Wonderland Sekai by his friends who want to help him. While this in particular is a tearjerker for a different reason, one can only wonder what would have happened had they not called when they did.
    • This then becomes even more heartbreaking when we see the lengths he willingly goes to in order to understand it. Tsukasa starving himself for three days left many fans in pain which were only made worse when it was revealed in his side story that he had hidden this from Saki and Toya who were worried about him. And that's without getting started on how he basically forced himself to have a breakdown when watching his idol perform, all so he could fully grasp the feelings of inadequacy the character he was auditioning for felt.
      • The implications of it aren’t much better. Given that Tsukasa is the type of actor that "finds something in common with the role and connects with it" and employs the use of method acting, fans have pointed out how each Tsukasa event steadily has him working harder and sacrificing more for the sake of a show.
    • A subtle one, but Tsukasa's tears. Fans are used to seeing his loud wails whenever he feels overcome with pride at the love and affection his sister, juniors, and friends show him. This, however, was not that. Tsukasa's silent tears were another punch to the gut and the game blocking out his face as he cried did not help at all. What makes this even worse is how the only reason Tsukasa let himself feel these emotions because he needed to for the role. It's very possible that without that reason, he would have never let himself come to terms with his feelings.
  • Immiscible Discord:
    • Finally seeing Mafuyu's full-on denial on how her mother treats her on-screen is so, so heartbreaking. KAITO might have a point, and she'd have to confront the truth at some point, but seeing it play out on-screen is still upsetting, because it's perfectly understandable for Mafuyu to want to believe that her mother cares for her and is doing everything for her sake; the alternative is just too scary and hurtful that Mafuyu doesn't even want to entertain the thought at all.
      KAITO: The person you're facing... she's trying to kill your feelings. Why should you show sympathy?
      Mafuyu: ...Kill...? —You're wrong... My mom... she would never do that...
      KAITO: Enough. Stop turning a blind eye to it. Deep down, you already know, don't you? You're just—
      Mafuyu: ...You're wrong... It's not true! My mom is...!
      (Mafuyu runs away)
      • The fact that for the first time ever, Mafuyu ran away from her SEKAI to her room; she no longer felt safe and comfortable in it, and whenever she visits she now make sure that KAITO isn't around first. Again, this might be necessary in order for Mafuyu to grow, but seeing the one place she could run to and just be herself now (somewhat) taken away from her is still upsetting.
      • KAITO grilling Miku in "The Manifestation of Fury" side story also counts, because it feels like seeing an adult questioning and getting angry at a little sister who's trying her best to be take care of her older sister despite not really knowing how, aside from providing comfort and company; Miku just looks so sad and lost throughout the entire thing, unable to properly answer any of KAITO's hard-hitting questions, and it's also clear that the thought that Mafuyu's mother might end up killing Mafuyu's feelings if nothing changes had never even crossed her mind before. Again, KAITO might have a point, but saying that Miku had coddled Mafuyu too much when she's pretty much the reason Mafuyu managed to hold out as long as she does feels a bit too cruel, especially when Miku understandably doesn't want to see Mafuyu gets hurt. The fact that she'd spend the rest of the event looking sad and defeated is just the icing on the upsetting cake.
        Miku: That is... but... I don't want Mafuyu to be in pain...
    • Seeing Kanade trying so hard to make Mafuyu's mother understand Mafuyu's pain and struggle and how music had helped her cope is absolutely heartbreaking. Like Mafuyu, Kanade wanted to believe that all of Mafuyu's mother's actions came from a place of worry, that she's doing all this out of genuine love and care for Mafuyu. But as each and every one of her attempts to make her understand fail one by one, Kanade was forced to reveal that Mafuyu had wanted to "disappear" before as a last-ditch effort to make Mafuyu's mother see just how bad Mafuyu's feeling the pressure of her life. And Mafuyu's mother response to this earth-shattering revelation about her daughter is to promise Kanade that she'd make sure to listen to Mafuyu and have a proper talk with her... and make sure Mafuyu understands that being a doctor is the best path for her to take. It's at this point that both the player and Kanade realized, without a shadow of a doubt, that Mafuyu's mother had never actually cared about Mafuyu at all, no matter how much Mafuyu tried to believe otherwise.
      Kanade: Yes, she's her mother... because this person is Mafuyu's mother, I thought I could find some kind of warmth from her. But... I was wrong... Just because she's her mother... doesn't mean that's always the case. (...) At this rate, Mafuyu is going to be broken by this person. She'll kill her own emotions to answer her mother's wishes... Then, Mafuyu will—
      • Just the fact that Kanade and the rest of N25 had shown Mafuyu more care and love than her own parents, to the point that Mafuyu doesn't even know or understand what unconditional love is, can make you cry.
      • Seeing just how much Kanade cares for Mafuyu compared to her mother, to the point of standing up against Mafuyu's mother and declaring how she'd never leave Mafuyu's side no matter what Mafuyu's mother say, can make you cry for a different reason.
  • Our Escape for Survival:
    • This event continued where Immiscible Discord left off. It starts with Kanade, Ena and Mizuki wondering what they can do for Mafuyu, with Kanade deciding to hold off from telling Mafuyu how her meeting with Mafuyu's mother go out of concern that Mafuyu isn't ready to accept and face the truth that her mother never really cared about her as an individual - given how she reacted badly when KAITO pointed it out for her - leaving them torn with what they can do to actually help her.
    • Following the previous event, Mafuyu's mother decided to "intervene" by revealing that she not only threw away Mafuyu's Synthesizer for good, she also broke Mafuyu's laptop, isolating her from the people that actually cared about Mafuyu further. While the laptop can be fixed, there's also the chance that Mafuyu's mother will potentially control and survey her laptop's activities so all that Mafuyu had left was her phone, and even that will potentially be taken away if Mafuyu's mother decided so. Mafuyu's reached her Darkest Hour and there seems to be no way out unless Mafuyu faced the truth that she had been denying for so long out of love for her mother.
      • When her mother told her this, Mafuyu actually gained a new sprite/expression that managed to convey her heartbreak and disbelief while still (barely) maintaining a smile; it's clear that despite Mafuyu's best efforts her mask is slipping more and more, to the point that it is now incredibly obvious that she's forcing herself to smile, and her mother either still doesn't notice or simply doesn't care at all despite noticing it...
      • What makes this worse and chilling is that everything Mafuyu's mother had done is all in line with what an emotionally manipulative and abusive parent and/or spouse would have done in real life, and anyone who had such an individual in their life would find this scene hitting close to home.
    • When Mafuyu told the others of what happened, Ena finally couldn't hold it anymore and told Mafuyu that she should get angry at her mother - because if she doesn't, then she'd get broken by her mother - and Mafuyu's response is heartbreaking.
      Mafuyu: I can't! It's impossible for me...! ...I'm scared... I don't know why, but... I've always... I've always been scared...!
  • Light Up the Fire:
    • The event is one Wham Episode roller coaster after another. Vivid Bad Squad and the people they gathered to surpass the Rad Weekend together started out with high hopes for their dream. The main quartet later got their hopes crushed when Taiga finally dropped the bomb that Nagi's been dead for the past three years and Nagi requested everyone that her death is kept secret from An. The Rad Weekend is essentially Nagi's In-Universe Swan Song.
    • Before they could properly process the fact that Nagi is gone for good, Taiga decided to have them all challenge him. The end result is that the group got completely crushed, crushing their hopes further.
    • Ken later tells the team what really happened behind the scenes some time after and Nagi herself is crushed at her diagnosis of having only a few months left to live and can do nothing about it. So Nagi eventually devotes herself to spending as much time as she can performing and spending time with An, all while Ken, Taiga and everyone in Vivid Street can do nothing but watch as Nagi tries to live and spend her final days happy and accomplished despite her impending mortality. If you are suffering from cancer, and/or know someone fighting from cancer, this will be a strong Player Punch that hits you where it hurts.
    • While getting the group to challenge him right after he told them about Nagi's death is a dick move on Taiga's part, the fact that he was her brother, and was there to hear and see what Nagi really felt behind the stage, and the flashbacks of the past, and comparing that to his present self hints that Taiga hasn't fully moved on or coped well from his sister's death as well as he seemed, and consider the RAD WEEKEND as the last piece of memory connecting him to Nagi.
  • Farewell to My Persona, as the 2nd arc-ender of N25 and ending with Nothing Is the Same Anymore, is the most heartbreaking event in the game yet:

    Events (2nd Season) 
  • The Tone Played on That Day:
    • The flashback to Kanade's childhood, while extremely heartwarming and adorable, is also quite bittersweet because she could never go back to those simpler and happier time, when she still had both of her parents and composed music because she truly loves it from the bottom of her heart.
    • Kanade's attitude towards composing, and her future, is this. Despite remembering that she originally composed because it made both her and her parents happy, Kanade always referred to that love in past tense; she didn't answer when asked if composing actually made her happy in the present, and couldn't think of anything when asked about her future other than composing songs because she felt like it's her duty to do so. Even though there's nothing wrong in wanting to save other people and make them happy, as Ena said, it's very tragic if Kanade had given everything she had for others yet felt no happiness from the act at all.
      Kanade: (...I have to make a song that will save someone. From now on, and forever more...)
    • Kanade talking to her sleeping father at the end of the event is extremely bittersweet; We finally see Kanade's personal, selfish reason for wanting to compose a song that can save someone, and as her voice trembled and her eyes glistened with unshed tears, she made a wish, hoping that even if it couldn't come true now, it will come true one day; seeing someone as kind and selfless as Kanade making such a small, simple wish after everything that she'd done for other people, and knowing that there is a chance that even such a small wish might not come true, is simply heartbreaking.
      Kanade: ...You know what, dad? Ever since that day... I've been making music that will make someone happy. I still can't make music like yours, but... there have been people who need my songs. That girl is in a difficult situation right now... and I'm going to do my best to save her. (...) If I can save her, if I can make lots of people happy... I wonder if I can become someone like you, even if just a little. If I can do that, and you can remember me... Will you praise me and tell me that "You did well", or "You've gone a long way", like in the past? And then, even if just a little, it'd be like back then...

    Misc 
  • Luka's 2022 FES card story explores the nature of SEKAI a bit more by having her visit a seemingly abandoned SEKAI, a world filled with ruined structures, forests and mountains. The SEKAI is filled with "eggs", which Luka identifies as a representation of something the SEKAI owner tried to create, but most of them are either petrified or destroyed; Luka speculates that the petrified eggs represents ideas that couldn't be properly expressed or conceived, while the destroyed ones represents a large setback in the owner's life which discouraged them from ever trying again. It's sad to see a SEKAI so abandoned and devoid of life, with barely any feelings remaining in it, and Luka couldn't even feel the owner's presence, suggesting that they haven't been there for a long time.
    • As if that wasn't sad enough, Luka was called there by that SEKAI's Miku, who was left all alone to tend to the last remaining egg that's still alive in the SEKAI. This Miku doesn't have any other Virtual Singer to keep her company, and from Luka's observations it's likely that the owner had abandoned her for years; and yet Miku keeps on planting flowers around the last remaining egg and protecting it, faithfully waiting for the owner of the SEKAI to come back. Despite not having a sprite, seeing such wholehearted devotion from Miku will likely make you shed a few tears.
  • Miku's 2022 FES Card story has her explore a fragmented SEKAI and come across items that can be said as incomplete presentations of an individual's dreams and aspirations such as an unanswered career path surveys, unfinished music sheets and so on. The SEKAI is filled with feelings of individuals who are unsure of their own path to the future which could hit close to home to several players who may have similar thoughts of their own futures.

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