The next day, when I wake up and take a bath, I notice a wristband around my wrist… Wait, a wristband? From the game?! How was I able to bring it back to here? I shouldn't have been able to… if that was a game. If that was just another world and I was teleported to and from it… then it's possible. Does that really mean… that I just got back from another world?! Calm down, Hotaru. Don't get too excited now… I still haven't gotten any solid answers. All these are just assumptions. Maybe I just forgot that I put one on last night… Nope, I can't remove it, meaning this is not a normal wristband and could very well be the one from the game. I have to ask Ryouta!

I immediately go to The Alpha building to finally get my questions answered. Since I'm visiting, I only get a guest pass which is only valid until I get out of the building. I teleport using the teleportation pads up to the 101st floor. When I get there, I ask the "cute" (I, for some reason, am unable to see cute, thus the quotes) front desk lady where Ryouta is.

"I'm sorry, but he's not in the building right now. He mentioned going to lunch with old friends. Shall I call him?"

"Yes please. Tell him it's something important."

After calling him, the lady tells me that he is currently at a nearby karaoke place. I thank her, then immediately go to the said karaoke place since I had no other business in the building anyways.

Wow, quite a place! I thought it's just gonna be a normal karaoke place but I suppose they can be as elegant as this! Well, this is one of the richest parts in town, so I shouldn't even be surprised. I ask for Ryouta in the front desk, and they promptly lead me  to his room. Before meeting Ryouta, I have to hide the wristband just in case he recognizes it. Last thing I want to happen is to be put in jail for intentionally using an exploit for my own gains while working.

"Oh hey, Hotaru! Come in, come in!"

Ryouta invites me in to the room. Wait, isn't this a hall? This place is huge! I've never seen a karaoke room this big before. The biggest I've seen is probably only 1/6 the size of this! He then beckons me in to his karaoke party. Or rather, isn't this just a party? No one is even using the karaoke machine; everyone is just eating and socializing with each other. I did not expect this much people either; he did say lunch with his old friends, unless these are all his old friends?! I didn't know a man can have this much friends until now! (This is coming from a man with only one friend… I'm so lonely…)

Enough about feeling bad for myself, I have so many questions to ask Ryouta.

"Ryouta, I have a lot of important things to ask you. Can we talk outside?"

"The host should never leave his party early. Just tell it to me here."

He drags me a bit farther from the others.

"So, what could possibly be important that you can't ask me some other time?"

"It's about the game. The game is a VR MMO using that capsule, right?"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Yes, why?"

"Well, I've looked through the code like usual and I've found everything to be weird. I mean, so many things are not there yet, like AI and events and world generation… Unless you didn't give me all the code?"

"No, that should be everything. Are you telling me the game is incomplete?"

"Well, not really. You see, when I looked at the code that handles creating the world, I only found one function there named Teleport. Now I'm thinking that maybe the code is lacking because that's really all that's needed and that there's no need for more because…"

"Because…?"

"The pod teleports the player to another world instead? I mean, that would be amazing! Why haven't you told anyone yet? I'm sure many-"

"Hahaha, that's ridiculous! There's no way that could possibly be true! Maybe the code I gave you is lacking, after all. Don't worry about it. I'll ask around. But for now, just enjoy the party!"

"But-"

"Everyone, cheers for my friend here!"

"Cheers!"

"Now drink up and forget all your worries for once!"

"Okay, I'll just try a bit. I can't handle my drinking after all…"

"You'll be fine! Hahaha! Just drink up!"

"Okay, here goes."

…

"Uuughh… Where… am I?"

My head aches like hell... So this is what they call hangover. How much did I even drink? At least I'm in my apartment now. Thanks, Ryouta! Ugh, I don't think I can work today. I'll just call in sick.

(After a day of puking and severe hangover)

Finally, my head is a bit clearer now. I'll never drink alchohol ever again! Just thinking about it makes me wanna pu- no, don't even think about it. No, I can't stop thinking about it! I'm gonna puke aga-

"Bleeerrrghhh!"

(After two more pu- blleeerrghhh- 3 more)

Ahh… I'm really feeling awful now. I can't work like this! I gotta call in sick again. Good thing I still have a year of vacation days…

(After finally resting and putting all that traumatic experience behind)

"Aaahhhh… I'm feeling way better already. Thinking about it doesn't make me puke anymore. Now that I think about it, the whole thing is just ridiculous and silly! I can never understand why people drink!"

While preparing for work, I remember that I still haven't told Ryouta about the exploit I found.

"Oh right! The exploit! I'll just pass by there and quickly tell him about it."

I went to The Alpha building early in the morning and into their floor.

"Is Ryouta-san here?"

I asked the front desk lady.

"Sorry, he left for a business trip and won't be back until the end of June."

"That's about 30 days from now."

Should I tell the others instead?

Hmm…

Nah! I'll just wait until Ryouta gets back. I'm sure it won't be discovered that quick. Plus, I wanna play around with it more; I still have many things I wanna try. I can't possibly be that bad, right?

I leave the building and quickly go to my work.