Sparkling Memories

Sparkling Memories is a visual novel set at Shishu Academy, a prominent school known for its persimmon grove and an annual fireworks festival. You play as He Ximing, who found his dream of putting on the best fireworks festival after attending one before his middle-school entrance exams. On entering the academy, he discovers that pursuing this goal will mean overcoming unexpected obstacles and bringing major change to the student council.

Story and choices

As He Ximing moves through his first and second years of high school, he works toward the festival alongside his classmates and student-council members. His relationships with them develop as he faces the pressures of schoolwork and finds he cannot keep up with everything at once. Your choices shape the path he takes, the future he pursues and who stands beside him when the fireworks begin.

The people around you

• Tang Yuge: He Ximing’s kind and considerate deskmate, a literary girl who seems gentle but is decisive, though not necessarily as strong as she appears. She is also Zhao Wanying’s close friend.
• Gu Tongtong: He Ximing’s childhood friend and younger sister, as well as a popular school idol. She is cheerful and innocent, but continues to grow as she pursues her own dreams.
• Shen Wei: A proud, capable senior and the student council’s vice president. She can seem distant as she navigates difficult relationships, while waiting for a chance to show her gentler side.
• Zhao Wanying: A classmate and He Ximing’s work partner, who also befriends Tang Yuge. Beneath her calm appearance is a determined spirit.
• Song You’an: He Ximing’s classmate and unlikely close friend. Though he seems unreliable, he is always willing to stand by him.
• Zhou Yi: A mysterious alumnus who still often visits the school. Skilled in media technology, he offers He Ximing warm and sincere advice.
• Long Xuan: The forceful, confident student council president. His past has left him stern and lonely, and he expects He Ximing to grow in his own way.

The school and festival

Shishu Academy’s persimmon grove, heavy with golden fruit, is a place where students in their final year pray for good fortune. A legend associated with the grove, said to stretch back a thousand years, gives rise to the annual fireworks festival. He Ximing’s goal is to create the best festival, but achieving it calls for a revival of the student council as well as choices about what he can realistically take on.

Story content

The visual novel includes more than 250,000 Chinese characters of text, over 20 CG illustrations, over 25 backgrounds and more than 15 music tracks. Its production features full voice acting, original music and a theme song in two versions: one sung by Qi Inory and one by the virtual singer Stardust.