Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter! Well, that sound means Akina is back downstairs. “There’s a bonus code. Do you want it?”
“You can have it, Sis. Beta testers have even better perks! We get to carry over all our money, and even a few items too.”
“Oh, that’s right. By the way, what’s this premium character customizer?”
“That’s one of the few cash shop items. You get a few more options in the character creator. Beta testers started off with an unrestricted creator, so I’m all good.”
“I see. Then I guess I’ll keep it.”
You’ve got mail! chimes the connection board Akina brought down with her.
“Hmm? Oh, a reply! And quick service too. Ah, you love to see it! Management’s so generous, hooray!”
“They’re letting you keep it?”
“Actually, they originally sent one out for both of us.”
“Hmm?”
“Well, I told them I wanted the console so I could give it to my sister.”
“Oh, so I see.”
“By the way, I’ll get banned if you sell it, so don’t even think about it, Sis!”
“I’m not going to sell a gift, Akina.”
“Then I’m gonna go initialize mine right now! Catch ya later!” Akina quickly scampers up the steps, cardboard box in hand.
“Have fun! You know, I guess I should try this out too…”
Sometimes, I think Akina took all the energy in the family and left me with the mellow vibes. One quiet older sister and an active younger sibling—what a pair we are! The biggest difference is that I have our dad’s fairer skin and hair while my sister has our mother’s Japanese features. Our mom met dad while she was working overseas: My sister and I are both half-Japanese. All that said, I get along with Akina well enough. And despite her personality and looks, Akina does actually think things through, so I’m not too concerned about her future.
Now then, it’s about time to configure the device. After placing all the loose papers back into their respective boxes, I carry them up to my room. It’s quite a simple place, furnished with a bed, a shelf, a round table, and a large floor cushion. There are a few animal plushies by the pillow. I tend to like darker colors, the complete opposite of my sister’s tastes.
I take out the main console unit, plug in the power cord, and connect it to the internet. It’s not like I’m going to be doing a lot of moving, and since I need a good connection, Ethernet it is. Thankfully, the cord is long enough to accommodate me.
Now, let’s make an account while it charges. Email, username: Oh, there’s a space for my special-edition code! Hmm, yes, yes, that should do it. Quite a bit of time passes as I scroll through Future Soft’s newsfeed. Once I’m done, the device is powered up enough for me to use it.
I lie on the bed and equip the VR headset. It’s like a headset and visor that covers my ears and eyes. The equipment was made with the idea that you’d be lying on your back, so all of the important parts are on the front so the user can lie comfortably. Also, it was designed so that your nose and mouth are clear, letting you breathe easy while immersed in the game.
Welcome to Free Life Fantasy Online! I am your support AI. We will now proceed to the virtual reality setup. Please fill out the necessary fields.
Instead of typing like in the real world, I just have to think what I want to say to enter the data wherever the AI directs me to.
Your physical information can be a rough estimate. We will only reference during the scan.
My height is 158 centimeters, I think. Weight…hmm, I think I weighed around 52 kilograms last I checked. To be honest, I really haven’t weighed myself lately. My bust size is…well, it’s a number. All right, next is my waist, then my hips. Mmm, I think that should do it.
Please do not use any pillows while the scan is being conducted. Additionally, please remove any blankets and lie as still and relaxed as possible. For feminine players, we recommend wearing clothing that follows your body lines or advise conducting the scan in your undergarments for more accurate measurements. Would you like to begin the scan?
Okay, okay, gimme a second. Now, let’s tuck in the pillow in the corner and take off the blanket. My clothes, well…it’s springtime anyway, so off they go. Let me just shift things a bit more and make sure I’m lying flat. All right, that should be good.
Commencing scan. Please wait.
There’s silence, only occasionally broken by the electronic chime of the AI’s voice as it announces its progress each time it passes a multitude of ten. 10 percent…40 percent…70 percent…and then…
Scan complete.
Height: 160 centimeters. Weight: 54 kilograms. Bust—
Whatever personal data this AI politely tells me, I politely ignore, eventually hitting “OK.” After that, a hologram of myself gets constructed right before my eyes. It’s a truly familiar sight, though the colors are all wrong. Despite my Japanese heritage, my eyes and hair color aren’t black, you know. Though I must admit, the scan was quite precise in nearly everything else. I carefully ignore it and hit okay.
This is your basic data. It will be utilized in various ways during your gameplay experience. When playing a game, it will be read by the character creator and used as a basis over which you can add personal customizations. It is possible to update your basic data as necessary.
Well, looks like that’s it for initialization. So quick!
The system has been configured. What would you like to do next?
Next, let’s install the game.
Please select your method of installation.
Well, I have a physical copy, so I don’t have to download it. I squirm around and insert it into the console.
Reading data. The disk has been identified as Free Life Fantasy Online. Genre: FDVRMMO. Would you like to begin installation?
Yes! Of course I would!
Initializing installation. Expected time remaining: two hours. You may now remove the VR headset or use it to load other software. Please note that because the installation process will continue in the background, you may experience stuttering or lag while using other software.
Ah, time to take it off, especially since it’s almost time to eat. Plus, it’s not like I have anything else to do in VR right now. So, after doing a bit of this and that IRL, I return to find the installation is complete. Now all that’s left is to link my account to the game, apply the Day One patch, and wait for FLFO to go fully online.
Eagerly, I start gathering information only to realize that nighttime has come. I get up, stretch, and prepare to go to sleep.