Lifespan
*sigh*
(You’re always free when you’re here.)
(This is the kind of metaverse space I wanted to create… Here, you can become something different and repeat the cycle of life and death as many times as you’d like…)
(I just had to say that I wanted it, like how Mehmed wanted Constantinople.)
(Nayuki would turn my wants into reality, just like the janissaries who risked their lives to conquer the city. That’s the way it always was…)
(He’s been desperate to fulfill my wishes ever since he found out about my death. That was why he took us to Matama Coast…)
(If I were to give love a name, it would be Nayuki…)
(I feel like I’ve been nothing but a terrible brother to him…)
*sigh*
Raito. You are awake.
Kinari? Is everything okay?
I predicted that you would log into a full-dive space, but you were excessively quiet, so I performed a body scan on you as precaution.
I see. I’m sorry I worried you. But I’m okay. I won’t die before the end of my lifespan, remember?
Lifespan…
I was logged into a metaverse space called mahorova. Nayuki and I created it together. You should make an avatar on it, Kinari.
Knowledge of it exists in my database. Although it entered into the metaverse market relatively late, it achieved the largest share of the market in JPN in under 10 years.
It is widely acclaimed, as user accounts have a limited lifespan that is reduced based on the amount of logins. When the login limit is reached, the account dies, and users are required to create a new one. This encourages users to be more active…
You know a lot. You gather information from the internet pretty easily, I suppose.
…I find it strange that you would include a lifespan into a metaverse space, where it is possible to be immortal. Was it perhaps a marketing tactic?
No, I’m not that savvy.
It was just because… Well, knowing when you’re going to die influences how you live. If there’s a limit placed on you, you’ll want to achieve things.
This is the main reason why the mahorova community has grown so much.
But that’s only what I say to the public.
In reality, I…wanted other people to be put in my own shoes.
I wanted them to feel what it was like to live knowing that death was knocking on the door…
When I came up with the idea, my death prophecy was still fresh in my mind, so I was a bit irritated at people who lived their lives in such a trivial fashion. I wanted more people to live while being aware of the end, even if it was just in a metaverse space…
I figured it could change the world. That’s what I wanted to see happen. But…
It didn’t amount to anything. Dying in the metaverse doesn’t accurately translate to dying in real life.
I’m still the only person who’s living while knowing of his end.
Haha, sorry, I went on for too long…
…Raito.
I have been actively collecting and analyzing data on human emotions. The precision and accuracy of my analysis is still imperfect, however…
Based on your explanation, I believe that you did not wish for a change in the world, but rather, a vehicle with which to better understand yourself.
……
Master ordered me to make friends with the members of Ev3ns. I would like to fully understand each member.
I do not have a lifespan. If it is possible for an android to make an account, I may be able to experience a simulated death.
I believe that may offer me solace. If I share my feeling from the experience, will I be of help to you?
…You want to help me understand myself?
…I would like to make friends with you.
……
So even an android can love people.
I do not know if this emotion can be described as love yet.
You’re practicing your smile. It’s wonderful that you’re trying to return the love you get from your fans.
I’m sure you could say “I’ll love you forever” if a fan asked you to…
It is an android’s main function to obey a human’s commands.
That’s true, but…you were trying to make me feel better with what you said just now, right?
……
On an unrelated note, we have started taking reservations for our first tour. Have you decided on a concept?
…Not yet. Do you have any ideas, Kinari?
The chief told me that it should be something that represents what we want to achieve as idols.
But I haven’t really thought about what kind of idol I’d like to become…
Chihiro said that idols are people who show their true selves to their fans, love others, and are loved by others.
I also aim to become an idol who loves and is loved by others.
To love and to be loved…
Raito-san, I really… Um, I-I love you!!
(I couldn’t even handle someone telling me that they loved me. She cared about me so much, but I can’t say that it made me happy…)
To love and to be loved… If that’s what being an idol is about, then maybe this isn’t for me.
…It might be time.
…Raito?