A virtual reality experience unlike any other.
The game is called "Nostalgic Daily Online," a fitting name.
In simple terms, it allows players to relive their past daily lives—at least, that's the concept.
Set in a slightly outdated version of modern Japan, it captures the essence of eras like Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa.
For me, those specifics don't matter much, but for adults, the chance to revisit their childhoods has made this VR game highly anticipated.
The quality is top-notch.
Players immerse themselves in a realistic world where they can enroll in school as avatars of elementary or middle school kids, play with friends, and experience a nostalgic summer vacation in the countryside.
Moreover, it includes skills and stats, and if players encounter wild animals or delinquents, combat elements come into play.
With well-integrated gameplay mechanics, there's also a demand for those interested in action, as skills may lead to encounters with yokai, ghosts, or even aliens.
For those who prefer a purely everyday experience, avoiding combat skills will keep them away from supernatural encounters. Still, urban dangers like muggers exist, and running into them could mean death—though players can resurrect easily, sparing them the hassle of recreating their avatars after a death.
Furthermore, there are hidden secrets within daily life that cater to puzzle enthusiasts, making it a free exploration VR game packed with various elements. Compared to the recent plateauing B-grade VR games, this one stands out with impressive quality and engaging features. It's no wonder that people from all over the world have taken notice. Though the game is primarily set in Japan, it doesn't feel dated to foreign players, and it has gained a unique popularity.
Due to its high demand, I wasn't selected as a beta tester, or rather, the lottery had already concluded. However, I was able to study RTA videos that had been uploaded online.
Above all, I had a singular goal, and I had developed a method to pursue it. On the release date, I secured the game chip I had pre-ordered and inserted it into the machine I had bought with my meager savings.
This machine is a premium model, unlike standard VR setups where you lie down and play. It allows you to lie back fully, eliminating worries of accidents since it features an automatic restroom function. Thanks to its self-cleaning capabilities, even if something goes wrong, it remains as good as new—my personal device. My savings vanished in an instant, but it was worth it.
To ensure the headgear doesn't come loose due to poor sleeping positions, I'm using a sleeping bag-style harness. They say it's easy to overdo it, but I bought it specifically for this game. I intend to enjoy every moment.
To ensure that my body doesn't wither away while I sleep, I plan to use the fully automated fitness machine that provides moderate exercise. I intend to maintain my muscle strength. It's said that one can achieve a chiseled physique, but I've heard that many can't even stand after their first workout, so I'll start with just enough exercise to stay healthy.
While I do need to eat normally, the fact that I don't have to move much otherwise is a huge plus.
Now, as I dive fully into this game, I reflect on my purpose for starting it...
"Hehe, let's have some fun together!"
Before me appears a translucent girl with porcelain skin that seems to glow faintly. She has a bob haircut, is dressed in a white blouse, and wears a striking red suspender skirt.
This is one of the game's mascot characters and the first major boss from the school horror tales, frequently featured in commercials.
A malevolent spirit that beta testers faced at max level 10 but never managed to defeat – the infamous **Hannah from the Restroom**.
The testers explored the school at night and finally discovered her. She emerges when someone knocks three times on the third stall of the girls' restroom on the first floor, saying, "Let's play, Hannah!" She is a level 40 boss character.
Naturally, this is an enemy designed for players with strong spiritual sensitivity, and encountering her is not something an ordinary player would experience. However, she is my target.
An overwhelming aura of a powerful presence. A level of strength I could never hope to match. A reckless charge, fully aware of the inevitable defeat at level one. Yet my goal was clear…
"Hannah, I'm in love at first sight! Please let me tame you!"
With all my might, I prostrated myself before her. I had fallen for her after watching the commercial. That's why I chose the taming skill during the tutorial and ignored the easy-to-obtain initial pet selection to come here.
Little did I know at that moment, this would set off an unforeseen chain of events that would shake the very foundation of the game.
As usual, exhausted from work, I found myself wandering through the city. The TV in a shop window streamed commercials and news clips, and there she was.
"Why not relive the everyday moments of yesteryear?"
It felt as if the words had called out to me, halting my steps. On the screen was a girl with pale skin, her image part of a commercial for a newly released VRMMO game.
"I'm Hannah from the restroom. I've been waiting to meet you, hehehe…"
The girl's subtly mischievous smile inexplicably drew me in. As the commercial ended, I rushed into the store, eager to learn more about the game and hurriedly placed my pre-order.
I rushed home to search for beta tester opportunities, but it seemed the recruitment had already closed. Instead, I found a forum where experienced players were sharing their impressions. I delved into strategy information and searched for ways to encounter Hannah.
It turned out that Hannah was the game's mascot character, appearing as a boss early on, yet she was an unbeatable presence during the beta test.
The method to meet her was straightforward: sneak into the school at night, head to the girls' restroom on the first floor, and knock three times while saying, "Let's play, Hannah!" If done correctly, she would respond, and I would be transported to her designated combat area.
In this confined space, I would face the spectral "Restroom Hannah" in a forced battle. Hannah's level was 40, while beta testers maxed out at level 10. The raid format allowed only one party to enter the combat area at a time.
The forum was filled with despair as players lamented their chances of victory. There were speculations about her being a gimmick boss or merely a mascot, but that didn't concern me.
The real issue was the means of summoning her. While the players had developed various skills to counter spirits, minimizing nighttime movement was essential for a swift encounter.
At night, it seems that ghosts roam the school freely. If I were to sneak in after dark, it might take me days just to reach Hannah. By then, she could very well have been dealt with by someone else. Fortunately, I've confirmed the official launch date at the store I reserved, and I'll be able to buy both the game and the console that day, so that's not an issue.
Now, I just need to figure out how to encounter Hannah while at level one... Hmm, is there a taming method?
Interesting, all the NPCs in this world can be tamed. If I choose the taming skill, it seems I'll be able to tame any creature once during the tutorial, which will feature a dog. Taming the dog completes the tutorial, but if I skip it, I might end up with a cat or other options instead.
Taming, huh? I'd like to give it a try. Is it possible? Hannah is a boss, but as an NPC, she should be tamable, right? That means I have to act quickly before someone else gets to her first.
But how do I proceed? I need a higher level to sneak into the school at night... Wait, the girls' restroom where Hannah appears is right here. Until nightfall, the teachers are patrolling everywhere. If I'm caught by a teacher while still in the school before it gets dark, they'll escort me outside.
Moreover, it seems that the teachers are quite formidable.
In other words, rather than sneaking into the night school, it might be best to avoid their patrols and linger inside the building, taking the shortest route to meet Hannah.
I stumbled upon a forum discussing "Hannah RTA" and scanned through it. Apparently, someone else had the same idea. There was a fool who decided to take a chance during the brief one-minute window between 8:59 PM and 9 PM, when the evening shift transitions to the night session.
Rumor has it that a classroom next to the girls' restroom is one of the seven mysteries, known as the "room that never opens." While it can be accessed freely until the evening, it suddenly closes at night. Those left behind inside are said to endure some horrifying fate.
However, if you hide in that classroom until 8:59, the teachers won't check it, probably because they don't want to be trapped either.
With just that one minute before 9 PM, if I could step out into the hallway, I would be able to rush straight into the girls' restroom where Hannah would be right after the night session starts.
It's worth a shot.
I'll seize the opportunity. I'll enjoy my daily life with Hannah.
Now, it's time to make my move!
By the way, the fool who tried to execute the Hannah RTA ended up running out of time and got trapped in the "room that never opens," facing a terrifying ordeal akin to trauma. Better luck next time.
"…So, if you attack regular people, the police will come. If you go too far with the police, riot squads, the Self-Defense Forces, and even the U.S. military will come after you—so be careful." I think, with my current abilities, I'm done for as soon as the police show up. "If you're dealing with delinquents, the police might not come, but there's a chance they're connected to gangs, so watch out. You could get caught up in a conflict." I'm actually relieved that the modern world doesn't resemble this too closely. But then again, there are probably people who want to join those kinds of organizations and play the villain.
In short, my strategy is to avoid those dangerous types and run away if confronted. Even if I see someone being attacked, I'll help without revealing my identity. Yeah, let's make that my basic policy.
"Alright, let's head back to my starting location, home sweet home."
Once the explanation was done, the scenery around me shifted dramatically. The previous pitch-black background had made visibility awful. Compared to that… wow, it's like I've returned to the real world. My room has transformed into a spacious personal space that's slightly different from reality.
It features a gray carpet and a bed in shades of blue. The bed—an artifact of the past that no longer exists in my life. At least in this world, I can make full use of it. By the way, I had various options for my room, but I went with the most classic choice.
There were options like a tatami room where you could lay out futons, a room surrounded by fancy stuffed animals, and a grim Halloween-themed space done in black and brown. However, I chose this room because I missed having a traditional bed, even though I had been sleeping in one just until yesterday.
"Please check the map. The flashing location indicates the school you should attend," I was told. I selected the map from the menu at the edge of my vision.
It seemed I could choose how the map was displayed: full screen, hidden, or a small map at the edge. I decided to keep it as a small map for easy reference, as it would help me learn the layout until I got the hang of it. While having it visible increased the game's immersion, I could always hide it if it became bothersome.