First to Fall [NTE Fangame]

“First to Fall” is a short, choice-driven fan-made visual novel set in the neon-lit streets of the metropolis Hethereau, based on the universe of Neverness to Everness.

Your second week as an intern Appraiser at the Eibon antique shop was supposed to be quiet and peaceful. Routine work, counting fons, listening to Miss Hotori's endless grumbling... What could possibly go wrong?
Well, everything. Especially when the charismatic Captain of ETD-4, Baicang, chooses your shop as his ultimate hiding spot for a “tactical retreat” from his worst enemy: paperwork.
Will you help him escape his responsibilities, or hand him over to his breathless Lieutenant? One impulsive escape through the city might change everything between you.

 Supported Languages: English, Русский
 Age Rating: 12+ (Contains mild romantic themes, comedic situations, and intense meta-humor)

 Interactive Main Menu (The Captain Listens!): Baicang isn't just a static sprite – he reacts directly to you! He will welcome you with random voiced lines when you launch the game, softly say goodbye when you quit, and personally comment on the last ending you achieved. Betrayed him to Skia for the month's report? He will look at you differently in the menu next time!

 5 Unique Endings: Your choices matter! Will you reach the heights of romance, end up as nothing more than friends, break his heart with cold reality, betray him for the meme, or trigger the infamous, looping Cursed Route?

 Ultimate Customization & Premium UI: Don't worry about being locked into a choice – freely change your protagonist’s name and gender at almost any point through the Settings screen! Immerse yourself in a customized glass-morphic layout featuring a smooth, dynamic parallax main menu.
The customization menu may contain more than customization ~

 Interactive Claw Machine: Play a functioning arcade mini-game! Try to catch a plush Serenetti or a ridiculously soft Trash Can. Your luck and skill will directly influence your relationship score!

 Cozy, Close-Up Interactions: Take care of the “mortally wounded” Captain after an anomaly fight. Wash off the dirt in an intimate interactive sequence.

 Visual Style: Authentic game backgrounds paired with beautifully posed MMD character sprites, a clean minimalist pastel UI, and cozy background music.

Appraiser (You)

An intern at the Eibon shop who is completely exhausted from yesterday's Bureau of Anomaly Control mission. Pragmatic, slightly sarcastic, and desperately trying to survive the daily chaos (and strange dreams).

Baicang

A brilliant squad captain whose actual superpower is delegating authority. Dramatic, smug, and catastrophically allergic to paperwork, Baicang treats desk work like an S-class Anomaly. He loves pushing your buttons, but if you look past his playful grins, you might just catch a glimpse of the lonely, defenseless person behind the mask.

Miss Hotori: Your boss, who is currently calculating if the day's earnings are enough for a bottle of wine to survive Baicang's aura of idleness.

Lieutenant Skia: A furious coworker currently chasing the Captain down the streets with a stack of monthly reports.

AI Disclosure: AI was used to assist with programming, to generate one background element (parallax bridge), and to create a few chibi plush versions of monsters for the claw machine mini-game. All character sprites, renders, writing, and UI were handcrafted by the developer.

Developer: Xogua
Engine: Ren’Py
Art / Visuals: 
Backgrounds: in-game screenshots from Neverness to Everness (edited/composited)
Character models: MMD models (see individual credits in-game)
Additional edits & UI: Xogua
Characters:
Baikang – © 异环, rig by 矩阵映
Skia – © 异环, rig by 矩阵映
Baikang (Bath version) – Code Vein MMD base edits by Ayuchan513 (original mesh: Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Music / Audio: Pixabay (royalty-free library)
Fonts: Comfortaa, Noto Sans SC (SIL Open Font License 1.1)

This is an unofficial, non-commercial fan project. All rights to Neverness to Everness and its characters belong to their respective owners.