When one steps into the virtual realm of gaming, does it truly mirror their real self from the real world? The real-life persona and the virtual persona exist as distinct entities, both used by a single consciousness. In the real world, your name is bestowed upon you by your parents at birth, and your physical appearance is based on the genes that you inherited from them. Conversely, within the virtual world, you possess the authority to freely change your avatar and craft every aspect of its appearance as it shall be presented to your fellow players.
The year is 2045, an epoch wherein human ingenuity has automated nearly every part of society, to lessen the burdens such as "hard work" from their existence. Humanity's profound mastery of computers persists, as they harness their capabilities to perform awe-inspiring feats that streamline their daily lives. Moreover, they have honed their comprehension of the internet and networking to the fullest, uniting themselves within a singular virtual expanse. This interconnected network spans the globe, facilitating everything from communication and video consumption to multiplayer gaming and beyond.
"IntegReality," a revolutionary invention that serves as a portal bridging the chasm between the real and virtual domains. Created and endorsed by ASTE Inc., this groundbreaking device empowers users to transform their corporeal selves into digital data, granting control over an exclusively customized avatar within the huge virtual cloud.
October 20, 2045, Sunrise. The story unfolds as an alarm clock rouses our protagonist, Ichino Haru.
"Yet another day begins," Haru said as he woke up.
Haru, a second-year student at Ichiban High School, is the son of a renowned scientist and a celebrated idol. Their family resides in an opulent mansion on the outskirts of the city. Blessed with his mother's striking physical features, he boasts a finely tuned physique, impeccable manners, and a graceful demeanor among his peers, earning him the moniker of a modern-day prince.
[Good morning, Master Haru. The forecast for October 23, 2045, predicts a sunny day with a minimal chance of rain, making it an ideal morning for your jog.] responded a virtual assistant as Haru awoke. It's AVA (ASTE Virtual Assistant), seamlessly integrated with his phone, and has the ability to hop to other electronic devices and override them around its user.
"Thank you, Ava," Haru acknowledged.
As he prepared for his morning jog, Haru meticulously tidied his bed and donned his jogging attire. Stepping outside the grand mansion, he was greeted by a cadre of dedicated butlers and maids diligently carrying out their tasks in the early morning hours. They leveraged an array of advanced machinery to facilitate their work, a testament to the modern era in which they lived.
"Good day, Master Haru, as productive as ever in the morning," a butler tending to the garden greeted Haru.
Haru returned the greeting with a warm smile. "Not nearly as productive as you, Mr. Toshida, and all the other butlers and maids," he replied as he strolled closer to the garden.
Observing the diligent household staff going about their morning routines, Haru exchanged waves and pleasantries with them. One of the advantages of residing outside the city was the respite it offered from the urban clamor and pollution. As he engaged in his morning exercise, Haru relished the invigorating fresh air. While jogging and gazing at the ascending sun, a contented smile graced his lips, a harbinger of a promising day ahead.
[Today, you've completed 5000 steps in your morning jog. Don't forget to rehydrate after your exercise] reminded by his digital assistant.
Returning from his morning jog, Haru made his way back to the mansion. As he stepped through the grand entrance, he was met by a captivating woman with lustrous pink hair. It was none other than Haru's mother, Yukari Ichino.
Known as The Quintessential Idol, she had been a prominent member of an idol group before transitioning into acting and modeling. Although retired from the limelight, she remained an enduring icon in the idol industry.
"Good morning, Haru. Just back from your jog?" Mrs. Ichino greeted her son with an enchanting smile.
"Yes, Mom. I'll take a quick shower so I can head to school after breakfast," Haru replied.
"Alright, my dear. Please ensure you have a good meal today, okay? I put a lot of effort into preparing your breakfast with the help of the maids," Haru's mother responded with enthusiasm.
Haru ascended the stairs to his bedroom, retrieving his school attire and then taking a refreshing shower. Despite the mansion's abundant staff, the Ichino family maintained a familial closeness and refrained from complete reliance on their household help.
Returning downstairs, Haru joined his mother in the dining room, where a sumptuous spread awaited them. As they settled at the table, Mrs. Ichino inquired, "Has Ayuna woken up yet?" She was accompanied by the other maids who had assisted in preparing the meal.
"I haven't seen her, so she's probably still asleep," Haru replied as he took his seat and began preparing to enjoy his breakfast.
"May I join you for breakfast?"
Suddenly, a man in a sharp suit entered the dining room. It was none other than Haru's father, Kazuma Ichino. A renowned scientist and engineer responsible for the development of IntegReality, he currently holds the position of CEO at a company called ASTE. Haru's AVA prototype was one of ASTE's upcoming products. As he entered the room, Mr. Ichino exuded the air of a businessman with a warm demeanor.
"Of course, Dad. Please, have a seat," Haru promptly stood and pulled out a chair for his father, a gesture of respect.
"Thank you, Haru. You know, you truly resemble a prince of the modern era," Mr. Ichino remarked, expressing his appreciation for his son's actions.
"Indeed, he's our remarkable son. Handsome, well-mannered, excelling in his studies, and possessing a unique hidden talent that sets him apart," Haru's mother chimed in, piquing her husband's curiosity about this concealed aptitude.
The Ichino family gathered around the dining table, savoring their meal. After a satisfying breakfast, Haru's father inquired about the performance of AVA.
"How is AVA, Haru?" Mr. Ichino asked, his curiosity piqued.
Haru glanced at his phone, where the virtual assistant resided. "There haven't been any signs of errors, and it's functioning perfectly. Although I haven't tested it in IR," he replied.
"Keep me informed if you encounter any issues with its system. You can use your IRChat for that," his father suggested.
IRChat was a messaging application seamlessly integrated with IntegReality, offering communication between the real world and the virtual cloud within IR. It facilitated not only cross-world communication but also communication within the same virtual realm.
Once their meal was finished, Haru and his father made preparations for their respective departures. Haru's father left ahead of him, and just as Haru was about to leave, his mother called him over.
"Haru, please let Mrs. Saito know that you can go on ahead. I'll be the one to escort Ayuna to school," she informed him.
Haru stepped outside, where a car was waiting. The driver was none other than Mrs. Fuji Saito, the head maid of the mansion. She courteously opened the car door for Haru, who had one more question before getting in.
"Where is Rena, Mrs. Saito?" Haru inquired.
Regrettably, Mrs. Saito responded, "I'm afraid my daughter has already left." She started the engine, preparing to transport Haru to school.
As Haru arrived at Ichiban High School, he found himself in an institution brimming with cutting-edge technology, where students were well-versed in handling various computers and machinery. The school owed its technological prowess to its sponsorship by ASTE, a company known for producing computer scientists and engineers among its alumni. However, the cost of maintaining such advanced equipment led to steep tuition fees, making the majority of the students affluent. Exceptions existed in the form of ASTE-sponsored scholars, who received financial assistance to attend. To avoid drawing undue attention, Haru kept his true identity as the CEO's son concealed, recognizing the potential issues it might pose among his fellow students.
Exiting the car, Haru bid farewell to Mrs. Saito and proceeded towards the school's entrance. The students' gazes swiftly shifted in his direction, curious about his arrival.
Suddenly, a girl came running and collided with him, causing her to tumble to the ground. She was the one who exclaimed, "Coming through!" before bumping into Haru.
Haru, his demeanor unshaken, promptly retrieved her fallen bag and extended his hand to help her up. "You should be more careful next time, okay?" he advised with a composed tone.
"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next ti- Haru?! Yes! Thank you! I'm sorry!" The girl hastily accepted her bag, ignoring his hand, and hurriedly walked away, her face flushed with embarrassment. Whispers from the surrounding students became audible after the incident.
"What a gentleman."
"He didn't even get mad at the girl."
"I wish I were that girl so I could talk to Haru."
"He looks like a prince."
Ignoring the murmurs, Haru continued on his path toward the school doors. Inside the building, he proceeded to his shoe locker. However, before he could open it, a fellow student called out to him.
"A prince, huh? So how was your morning, Prince Haru?" Kuro teased with a grin.
Haru raised an eyebrow and replied, "It was alright, and why are you calling me prince, Kuro?"
Approaching Haru, Kuro casually slung his arm around him. "I saw what happened earlier; you act like a prince. I'm pretty sure most girls in this school adore you. It's like the same in RiosEl Online, but—just kidding. Wanna play tonight?" Kuro asked, displaying his ID in front of the lock scanner.
"Yeah, sure, as long as it won't be too late," Haru agreed.
Haru proceeded to open his locker, only to find three love letters inside. He sighed, realizing that it would be another exhausting day. Pulling out his phone, he whispered a command to AVA.
"AVA, inform Mom that I'll be going home late."
[Request granted.....Informing Mrs. Ichino... Done]
Kuro, ever mischievous, left with a laugh after teasing Haru. Haru held the letters, knowing he would have to address them later.
Skipping through the school hours, Haru dealt with the girls confessing their feelings for him, repeating his one-liner response to each of them: "I appreciate your feelings, but I'm sorry, I'm too busy to have a relationship with someone." After the last confession, Haru waited for the girl to leave before calling out a name.
"You can come out now, sis Rena," Haru called out.
A girl gracefully leaped from the second-floor window, landing with a gymnast's finesse. Wearing a typical gyaru fashion, it was Rena Saito, Haru's personal maid and bodyguard.
"I'm sorry for stalking, but it's necessary for your security, Master Haru," Rena apologized.
"Don't worry, sis Rena, I don't mind if it's your responsibility to protect me. We train together, so you don't need to watch over me all the time. You deserve to live your life as a high school girl too," Haru assured her.
"You're working so hard to make time for everything, so I must do the same by assisting you in all that you do," Rena replied, bowing respectfully before Haru.
"Please, sis Rena, lift your head. Oh, I have an idea. How about we walk together today?"
Rena raised her head and agreed, joining Haru for a leisurely stroll. As they walked, their conversation flowed naturally, until Rena brought up the topic of the frequent confessions Haru received, a nearly daily occurrence.
"I still feel bad about rejecting the girls. They gathered their courage to confess their feelings to me. However, I just can't commit to a relationship right now, as it would interfere with my schedule," Haru explained with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Master is a busy man, but at least you still take the time to address those confessions," Rena replied with understanding.
"I don't want to be seen as an ignorant or arrogant person who ignores their confessions. It could damage my reputation as a student," Haru responded logically.
The two of them continued their leisurely walk, eventually reaching the mansion as night fell. They were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Saito.
"Good job, you two. Rena, help me in preparing dinner, and Aina, come take Master Haru's bag to his room," Mrs. Saito instructed.
Rena bid farewell to Haru and went to assist her mother in preparing dinner. Aina, Rena's younger sister in a maid's outfit, approached Haru to collect his bag.
"I see Aina is already helping her mother, but don't forget to enjoy being a kid, okay?" Haru advised Aina as she took his bag.
"I want to help Mom so Ayuna and I can play after eating," the little maid replied, walking upstairs with the bag.
In the kitchen, Haru's mom was busy preparing dinner, and a little girl was trying to assist. It was Ayuna, Haru's younger sibling. As soon as she saw Haru, Ayuna rushed over, unwashed hands and all, and embraced her big brother.
"Big bro, you're home!"
"I'm home, Ayuna," Haru replied, returning her hug and not minding the dirty hands.
"Before hugging your big brother, you should wash your hands, Ayuna," Haru's mom reminded her while offering a small towel to clean her hands.
After Haru's mom and the other maid finished preparing the meal, the Ichino family, along with the other maids, gathered to eat. Haru's mom inquired why he had been late, and Haru reluctantly revealed that he had to deal with some students.
"It was confessions from his schoolmates, Mrs. Ichino," Rena explained, causing Haru to sigh, not having intended to share this with his mom.
"As expected from my son. In my high school days, more than 15 boys confessed to me, of course, I turned them down," Haru's mom replied with delight, proud of her son's handsome appearance that led to his schoolmates confessing to him.
Haru's mom asked why it had taken him so long if only one student had confessed. Haru raised three fingers to indicate that three female schoolmates had confessed to him that day, leaving his mom surprised by the revelation. After dinner, Haru headed upstairs to his room to log into the IntegReality (IR).
In his room, there was a cube on his desk with a button on top, the IntegReality or IR. After Haru pressed the button and inserted a card into the cube, it scanned his body and projected a portal. Stepping into the portal, Haru began shifting his physical body into his virtual avatar.
However, his virtual avatar was quite different from his physical appearance. As he reconstructed his body to match his avatar, he now resembled a girl with pink hair, wearing a crop top, jeans, a beret, and a black coat.
Earlier, Haru's mom had mentioned his special talent, the ability to imitate voices regardless of gender. As he shifted his voice to match his mother's, Haru transformed into a female persona with a cheerful disposition. In this avatar, he called himself Reina and behaved quite differently from his real-life persona.
"Reina! Logging In!" Haru exclaimed in his mom's voice, embracing his virtual identity with enthusiasm. A persona perfectly crafted by Haru in the virtual world.
[ Player: Reina logged in successfully . . . . . . . prepare for virtual transfer]
Online players often project their own selves into the virtual realm, seeking connection within the digital community. However, certain players opt for avatars that diverge significantly from their true selves. Is it to shroud their identity? Perhaps to deceive fellow gamers? Or simply an emulation of their cherished fictional characters? The motivations vary, but beneath the well-crafted mask is an individual striving to conceal their true identity.