1 The beginning

My name is Shinji Tokihiro and I was leading the normal life of a high school student. I lived with my parents, went to school with my friends, did my homework afterwards, and prepared for the next day. My mother was a doctor in one of the most famous hospitals in NeonDown (my hometown) and my father was an excellent computer scientist who worked for a company called E.O.T (Eye Of Time), one of the most famous and richest computer and software development companies in the country.

I always saw my father doing his best to make the world a better place. He inspired me a lot, and I wanted to do the same as he did. So I got this wonderful germ about general technology and programming. I started learning many things about this industry from my father's books, and then I really spent hours trying to create an algorithm, but what kind of algorithm, you will say. It about an AI that I wanted to create. Many times my father gave me some instructions, but I created most of it myself.

"Shinji, you will get tired, you should rest".

"No, dad, I must continue with the development of the algorithm."

"Rarely have I seen such a hardworking person, especially a child. I am proud of you, keep up the good work, but do not forget to rest."

"Fine."

With these words I became more and more excited, so I ignored my father's advice and stayed awake all night. The next day my father found me sleeping on the carpet, he took a blanket and covered me.

"This child....for real is so talented."

After a few months and many hours of work, I finally finished the algorithm. Finally, I had done it, I had created an AI. I was so excited to show my father the results, but...

In the blink of an eye, I had lost everything.

On a rainy day, the company my father worked for came to our house and told us that my father had died in an accident.

I remember exactly how distraught I was when I heard the news. It took me two years to get over it. My mother was no better off than I was. Even when she smiled at me every day, I could see how sad she was. But we can not always wallow in the past. We have to look forward.

I still do not know why this happened to my father. They said a thief tried to steal my father's laptop, which had the plans of an AI that was probably much better than mine. But it still does not make sense.

So I promised myself that I would finish my father's work. I knew it was not going to be easy. But I had already decided that I would honor my father by reviving his work.

NeonDown 2132

"I finally managed to buy the Dive Gear. Ok, I know it was the first release and there would be a lot of people waiting in line, but wow, I did not think I would have to wait 3 hours. Thank God the money my mom gave me for my 18th birthday was enough, otherwise I would not have managed to buy it with my money alone. Of course, I have to thank Rubi for waking me up in time to go to the store."

Then I heard a voice saying, "My pleasure, master." I took my phone out of my pocket and saw that the screen was open and Rubi was watching me with a smile. She had the avatar I had created for her when I finished the program. She had long black hair and was wearing clothes that looked like the ones the girls at my school wear, the color of her eyes was a mixture of blue and purple. Everything was just as perfect as I had imagined her to be.

"I told you not to call me master, Shinji is fine."

"Hmm, okay. Like this?"

She put a finger to her mouth and said with a smile.

"Shinjiii."

At that moment, I felt my soul light up and my heart beat fast.

"Yea... Just like that."

I said and blushed.

You see, when I wrote the program closed in my room, my mother came in to wish me a happy birthday and slammed the door with all her might. At the sound, I jumped up from my chair, hit my head on the desk top, and accidentally spilled my coffee in my PC. Thank God I had saved the program's data, because my PC had shorted out and I had to buy a new one. I believed that the program was fine because I had saved the data. But that was not the truth. When I closed the program and saw Rubi for the first time, I realized what had happened. Apparently, some variables in the emotion code had been corrupted and now she would fall in love with the first person she would see as soon as she "woke up." And since I was the first person she saw, she is now in love with me. Not that I minded telling the truth. I had designed her to be the ideal girl (at least in my eyes).

"Hey Shinji, what do you think? You got a serious look on your face. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine, I was just thinking about something that happened in the past."

"What exactly were you thinking about?"

"About the first time we met."

"That's one of the happiest days in my life."

"That, too.

Before I knew it, we were home. Apparently I was so engrossed in our conversation that I completely lost track of time. I opened the front door and said, "I am home." My mother replied, "You are finally here. Dinner will be ready soon". I nodded and went to my room. I took the scuba gear out of the box and connected it to my computer. Luckily, the day before I had gotten and downloaded the first game that was available for the dive. It was an open-world mmorpg game set in a medieval time. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time because it was the first console that could simulate the five human senses in games. While I was engrossed in my thoughts, I heard my mother say, "First the food and then the games." I sighed and went to the kitchen. My mother was already waiting for me at the table. She had prepared my favorite meal, so of course I sat down to eat right away.

"How was school?"

"Everything's fine. The usual."

"Is Rubi okay?"

Suddenly Rubi appeared in the TV that was on the other side of the table.

"I am fine. Shinji is taking good care of me. Thank you for your concern."

"You need to find a girl like her, Shinji"

"Mom, stop it. I have Rubi. I do not need another girl."

My mother sighed and decided to change the subject.

"Did you buy what you wanted? Was the money enough?"

"Yes, yes, it was enough. Even though it took me 3 hours to get through the line, I managed to buy one before they sold out."

"I am sure you are very excited and can not wait to see Rubi in the game, but you do not have to eat so fast."

While my mom was telling me this, I was eating the last bite of my food.

"Oh, I am full"

"Logical"

"Anyway, I ate so I am going to my room".

"Eh well, but do not stay too long."

Before she could finish her sentence, I was already in my room calling "OK" and closing the door.

I sat down on my chair, took the Full-Dive headset and opened the game from my PC.

"Rubi, see if you can get into the game."

"Ok Shinji."

For a few minutes I lost all contact with Rubi, but after five minutes she reappeared on my computer screen.

"Are you all right? Did you make it?"

"Of course I made it. I am the best AI there is in the world."

"And the only one," I wanted to say, but Rubi looked so happy that I could not spoil it for her.

"All right. Rubi, are you ready to meet face to face for the first time?"

Rubi took a serious look at me and nodded affirmatively. I smiled and put on my helmet.

"Well Rubi, I'll see you on the other side."

"Okeee."

And I pressed enter to log into the game.