It was dark.
The girl's face was covered by her hair that fell forward.
The darkness was all-consuming, enveloping the girl in its embrace.
She slowly woke up, lifting her head.
She couldn't see anything in front of her, only the sound of her own breath echoing in the void.
But suddenly, a blinding light burst forth, illuminating her surroundings. The stark white light felt like it was burning through her eyelids as she squinted against it.
As her eyes adjusted, she realized that she was kneeling in an underground tunnel, surrounded by rusty walls and a duct pipe on the top left, leading to an unknown destination.
Behind her, the darkness remained, but in front of her lay a scene that seemed almost out of place.
A pile of CRT monitors towered above her, blocking the way.
Some of the screens were on with static display and some were with bright lights that seemed to watch her every move.
Each one was nearly half her height and 5 of them were cracked. One of them had a knife embedded in them for some reason.
But as she looked down, she noticed the random objects and cables scattered on the ground beneath the monitors.
Everything seemed to be unused and forgotten.
The air was thick with a musty smell and mold could be seen growing on the ceiling. In the glow of the monitor lights, small particles of mold were flying around.
Reacting quickly, the girl covered her nose and stood up from where she had been kneeling.
A low, authoritative voice resonated in front of her.
[Greetings.]
The girl spun around, searching for the source of the voice. But all she could see was concrete walls and darkness behind her.
[I am located here, subject.]
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She turned to face the screens lining the tunnel. Her hand instinctively tightened, as if she were gripping a sword.
"TV screen?"
[Affirmative. Your presence indicates that you are deceased.]
"So, is this hell?"
She spoke softly, with a tired tone.
[Negative.]
The monitors spoke slowly, each word carrying weight and echoing through the room.
[I am Kami-sama. The designated 'God' of this system.]
Some blank screens flickered to life, while others remained lifeless. But that was the extent of their capabilities.
[Your consciousness persists despite your physical body's dormancy. All visual input here is real.]
"In that case, are you going to kill me?"
[Execution is beyond my capabilities. I lack physical form. I am an artificial intelligence created by The Architect. The molds in this environment will serve that function.]
The girl paused, a realization dawning on her. She immediately reached out to touch her own abdomen and then her mouth.
There was no blood, no stains on her clothes, no damage, no hole. Everything seemed to have been fixed.
Her body was brand new…again.
She snapped, looking at the monitors again. Her confused expression shifted into upset.
"Tell me, what is this place?"
[This is a subconscious reality construct. Further details are unnecessary.]
"How do I get out of here?"
[Memories are required for extraction. Exchange them for life points to facilitate teleportation to a new world.]
"What do you mean?"
[Participants engage with this system to escape undesirable realities. They inhabit lives with insurmountable hardships. This environment provides refuge.]
The girl frowned.
"Thanks, but that doesn't answer my question."
[Continue to listen. Unfavorable memories are the currency. You must relinquish some of them to revive.]
"I just want to leave real life."
[Reiterating: I am incapable of terminating you. Weapon usage here is futile.]
"Then I'll sit here and wait for the mold to kill me."
She settled on the cold, grimy ground, her eyes defiant. The mold spores floated around her, and she felt the thick, damp air filling her lungs.
[Your death will result in immediate respawn in this location. Rebelling is illogical.]
The girl stared defiantly at the monitors, forcefully inhaling the mold spores that drifted close to her. The bitter, earthy taste filled her mouth, and she fought the urge to gag.
[Advisory: Inhaling mold spores is detrimental to your health.]
"The hunger will kill me…someday."
Her voice was weak and desperate.
The monitors sighed.
[Query: Why do you wish to exit life, despite efforts to survive in the school building?]
The girl's expression shifted to shock, her lilac eyes growing serious.
===
Locking in with that creature, her once dull lilac eyes blazed with a bright light, illuminating her entire face.
The frying pan held with her hands morphed into a gleaming Katana.
As the creature's arms came within range, she swung the Katana. The sharp blade sliced through the limbs like they were made of butter.
===
The girl snapped again.
"How do you know?"
[As previously stated, I am God within this system. I possess access to all events and data within this world.]
"So, this subconscious world is software?"
[Affirmative.]
The idea that her reality was nothing more than lines of code made her feel insignificant. Now that she was in software, her entire size was probably smaller than the feet of an ant.
"What can I expect though?"
She leaned forward.
[Experiences that are adverse in your previous existence; maybe companionship, financial resources, or relationship.]
The girl froze for a moment, her eyes widened a bit.
"Friends..."
She whispered, almost to herself. The word hung in the air, laden with the weight of unmet desires and the loneliness she had carried for so long.
[The prospect is appealing, is it not?]
She hesitated, contemplating the AI's words. The promise of a better life was, of course, tantalizing. At this point, dying and entering hell shouldn't be something she should worry about. After all, committing suicide was what she really wanted.
"I have a question."
[Proceed.]
"If you know everything in this world, then what is the name of this girl that I am possessing?"
[Kirishima Ayame.]
The name echoed in her mind.
Ayame.
She repeated the name in her mind.
Ayame.
On the third call, everything became pitch black with the echo of a clock's tick.