Midorijima

As for the means of transportation, It's best to go on foot. It's natural here.

The transportation conditions of this old resident district are pretty bad.

There's a big street running through the center of the city, and sometimes there may be a bus or a train, or even a taxi.

But they may be cancelled unconcernedly or delayed suddenly, so they are not stable anyway.

The roads may be suddenly blocked too, so nobody trusts the public transportation.

Even now there's hardly any cars running the streets. There's about only a taxi waiting in vain, or sometimes a junked car parked by the roadside.

Instead, the sidewalk was filled with people coming and going. The most reliable things were one's own legs.

In such a hopeless old resident district, the area was divided into north, south, east and west. They are similiar but a little different.













For example, this east district where my workplace "Heibon" is and where I live, is a place where the residential area and downtown became mixed.

All the districts are relatively safe, and it's easy to get your hands on various things.













The northern district is off-limits area, and has become like a ghost town. It's unsafe.













The western district is a residential area, and you can't really do any shopping there.













The south district is full of clothes shops, game arcades and entertainment facilities, so a lot of young people gather there.













And, if you go further to the north district, there's "Platinum Jail", full of celebrities and corporate purveyors.













Platinum jail is one of the five Japanese conglomerates, and when Toue Zaibatsu bought this island called Midorijima, they transformed it to a members only entertainment area.

If the stories I've heard are true, everything there seems to be luxurious.













Including the Oval Tower standing in the center of the city, there are huge casinos and movie theaters, shopping malls and hotels... anyway it's packed with various things.

Basically you can't become a member if you're not invited. But, the membership fee is about enough money to buy this whole island... or so I've heard.

Of course the people here in old resident district can't get into Platinum Jail.













The old resident district is, so to speak, almost like a slum so, it's tentatively managed to the degree that one can barely live here.

But that's it.

The police and yakuza who only act big are teamed up and do whatever they want, so there's a great difference with Platinum Jail.

But it's not like we can do anything about it. Even if there's dissatisfaction, we can't do anything but endure and swallow it.

Still it's often said that there's no place like home, so once you get used to it, it's unexpectedly comfortable.

Because we're not cornered so badly that we cannot live, we are having kinda pleasant lives every day.

I don't wish for much. I don't mind if it continues like this. The people in the old resident district live thinking like that.

"Aoba. ......Aoba."




Ren who took his head out of the bag tapped my arm with his forefoot.

"What's the matter?"





"You are thinking too much. My thought circuit is almost doing a short-circuit."





"Seriously? Or rather, just how poor of a thought circuit did I install in you?"





"If the intensity of the thought circuit is temporarily set to 100, and setting a very common adult man as the comparison target, the intensity of Aoba's thought circuit would be..."



"Okay, okay. You don't have to tell me. It's me who's going to short-circuit by that explanation."





"Is that so."





Smiling to Ren's earnest answer involuntarily, I stroked his head.

Ren is a dog type Allmate. They are an artificial life form with intelligence, and they are generally used as support for a network tool.

They can search the internet and virtual space for information, and of course you can also use them to shop online.

Depending on the remodeling, it's possible to use one as a cleaner and to lend a hand around the house, and they play an active part as a partner in a net game called Rhyme.

There are many types of Allmates, among them are animal types which have many different forms, and many people love them as pets.

Me and Ren have had quite a long relationship too. It's not an exaggeration even if I call him a partner.

Though Allmates are improved steadily and new models come out, I wouldn't abandon Ren even if the heaven and earth would turn over.

"Aoba, if you want to take a shortcut, turn right at the next road."






"Uah, that was close. Almost missed it."
















Following Ren's instructions, I entered in to a narrow side street. Once I get through here, the recipient's place is close.

The thing that divides the old resident district into four, is a big street called Aoyagi street.

In Aoyagi street there are lots of almighty stores where you can get common things cheaply. In contrast, there are many maniac stores in the back streets.

Going to the back street, a party who leaned against a dirty wall untidily stood out.

Like guys who take turns biting a silver drug sheet... this peculiar atmosphere. Feels like it's condensing the youth that couldn't be managed.

There was a time when I though that this kind of thing was comfortable too. I was the same.

Hey, it's not like I'm old enough to say things old people say...

I'm finished with that kind of things already. Plenty.

As I passed between the guys who hang out, the contents of their loud conversation reached my ears.

".... So yeah, seems like it really happened. Suddenly being hijacked in the head, like this?






"What's with that? Is it a forced Rhyme participation?"

"Yes, yes, it's exactly that. A Rhyme game suddenly starts at a roadside, and the opponent is seriously strong too."

"But doesn't that mean Usui's not present at the time? If so, is it even possible to do Rhyme?"

"Seems like it's possible. I don't really get it thou."

"And if you're not even prepared or anything, isn't it impossible to fight? You can't refuse?"

"Apparently it's no questions asked. Anyway, being forcibly pulled in and then beaten, it's like a tsujigiri."

"That's bad."





They seemed to be talking about Rhyme.
[The official site says it IS rhyme, so I'm going with that although Lime sounds better.]

Rhyme is a phantom type online fighting game.

When opponents connect their consciousness online with a device, they can experience a virtual battle that feels real.

There's no notice when and where it's carried out at all. When "Usui", who performs the holding and judging of the game, appears like a guerrilla, then that place becomes the meeting place.

At first it was a free game made by an amateur, the rules were loose and apparently there was no Usui either.

When it gained popularity fast, Toei Zaibatsu related companies finally became sponsors.

Then there was the strengthening of the system and adding of Usui, enactment of the official rules and so it became the Rhyme of today.

Well, since I don't do Rhyme it doesn't concern me.

I passed through the alley and appeared in the Aoyagi street again.



NEXT: Childhood friend