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PART ONE: FIRST WORLD LINKS
One of the main, if not the biggest characteristics of the first World Links for every group is of a new area appearing in SEKAI, manifested by the changing feelings of either all the members of the group (ex. VBS, MMJ!) or of one specific member of the group (ex. N25 - Asahina Mafuyu). Most of the time, a Virtual singer finds the new area alongside a member, but it doesn't mean the members can't, especially if you have an OC that's very curious. These world links usually occur when the unit surpasses a big obstacle, but don't know what to do from now on. Think of it like finally getting all of the cards of your favorite character—you've got them all, but what now? Related to the last sentence—One other thing I've observed that plays out in all of the World Links, though kind of passively, is all of the members face their future. They go back to/indulge in their past to find out how to proceed in the future during the two episodes of the characters' individual chapters. It usually follows the structure of:
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1. Going back to their past, it can happen in many ways, ex. a memory (mainly seen in the First VBS World Link), conscious decision to change for the better or a dream (Seen in Kanade's chapter when she helped a little girl (most likely little Mafuyu) find her plushie). These are just a few examples, there are many more.
2. Facing doubts or old wounds opening up again (Man in the mirror by RIProducer lyric??! /lh), the character either faces a painful memory of theirs (ex. Toya, when exploring his alleyway in the Plaza, seeing the Fantasie Impromptu sheet music.), starts doubting themselves and their abilities (ex. Ena, when thinking of her future and if she'll go to an Art university, comparing herself and her art, thinking it doesn't do N25's songs justice, compared to her classmate's.) or feeling worse because of encountering the future they wanted to abandon (ex. Akito, when he saw the football and football posters, reminding him of how he used to play the sport.) and many other more ways my brain doesn't think of right now. In short, the character goes into distress.
3. By some occurance, or just a shift in perspective, their mood gets better and the character feels more like themselves (ex. Mizuki, in the midst of figuring out what to do after the aftermath of telling Mafuyu that it's ok to run away when she's about to break and Mafuyu actually running away and settling down in Kanade's home, she thinks what more Mizuki can do for Mafuyu. Reading the last few lines of the children's picture book from the lake in the new SEKAI area, that reflected Mafuyu's current situation, Mizuki finds out her words truly did help her.) and if not figure out, at least get a rough idea of what to do next.
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The names of the World Link events heavily relate to the new area in SEKAI – for example,
VBS World Link "BREAK DOWN THE WALL" - The members found themselves in a Plaza with four alleyways representing each of the members, but all of the alleyways end at a huge wall (that could represent their outlook on RAD WEEKEND - a huge, immovable and indestructible wall, but only if one tries to break it.) Therefore, "BREAK DOWN THE WALL".
N25 World Link "Searching for Sunken Shadows" - The new area in their SEKAI is a lake, resemblant of Mafuyu's feelings. Lakes or any body of water reflect one's self in it if they look deep into it - The same "real self" Mafuyu is trying to find in the lake. Therefore "Searching for Sunken Shadows".
MMJ! World Iink "To One Day Reach that Flowery Stage" - The new SEKAI area is a Flower field, therefore "To One Day Reach that Flowery stage".
L/N World Link "Our Starry Sky leading to Our Future" - Leo/Need's new area in School SEKAI is a train station, though one that doesn't quite make sense sometimes. The train track map leads nowhere and the train tracks seem to lead nowhere as well. KAITO theorised that this train that boarded in the SEKAI area takes the girls to their future, the starry sky. Therefore "Our Starry Sky leading to Our Future."
(OOC: I'll write W×S later aauahheh>.....)
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> But Miraran, how do I decide what the new area for my unit's SEKAI could be?
What usually helps me with this problem is thinking "outside of the box" – What could be beyond this SEKAI? If my OC ventured out beyond the area of the SEKAI everyone knows, what would they find? If that doesn't help, Plan B is making a Pinterest board off of their unit/finding pictures on the internet that give off their vibe. Eventually, if you looked hard enough, you'll find a picture that gives off their essence, yet is a different area than whatever their SEKAI was so far. That (if you're satisfied with it of course), will be their new area. Feel free to get as wild with it as you want! After all, you wouldn't expect a train station next to a classroom, right? (Leo/Need WL)
Another little thing I noticed is the order of character chapters—the order of which character's chapter goes first depends on who got their first focus event first.It's probably the same with second world links too. Of course, it can be switched up a little (imo it's so it's easier for the writers to link the stories together into one big story), as seen with the N25 World link character chapter order (Mafuyu, Mizuki, Ena and Kanade, but the first focuses for N25 are Mafuyu, Ena, Mizuki and Kanade.) Though what is certain and guaranteed, is that the leader always takes the last chapter of the World Link, this also appears in the Vocaloid/VIRTUAL SINGERS World Link as well. If you noticed while reading the Leo/Need WL, if you really want to, you can also hint and foreshadow the new SEKAI area in the trained cards of your character's focus event gacha (Ichika's 1st focus event cards have a train station, that looks similar to the new WL area).